Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva (25-4)
With Dan Henderson’s brutal knockout of Michael Bisping and Nate Marquardt’s quick smashing of Demian Maia, Silva now has two former victims primed for rematches. Even if Marquardt and Henderson are not next for “The Spider,” there remains the option of another alluring super fight at light heavyweight.

2. Nate Marquardt (29-8-2)
On the back of his scintillating knockout of Demian Maia, Marquardt became the popular choice for many fans and pundits alike to challenge Anderson Silva in a rematch for his middleweight crown. Now, it appears the fight Zuffa brass prefers for Marquardt is a de facto title eliminator against Dan Henderson later this year, provided Henderson inks a new deal with the company.

3. Yushin Okami (23-4)
Inopportune injuries have slowed Okami’s bid to earn a rematch with middleweight king Anderson Silva. A healthy Okami will have the chance to solidify himself as a top contender on Oct. 24 when he takes on Chael Sonnen at UFC 104 in Los Angeles.

4. Dan Henderson (25-7)
Henderson was adamant that he deserved another shot at Anderson Silva, who handed him his last loss in March 2008. However, it appears Henderson’s position has softened enough that both he and Zuffa expect the former Pride champion to sign a new UFC contract soon that would see him take on fellow top contender Nate Marquardt. The winner would get his chance to rematch Silva.

5. Demian Maia (11-1)
In a fight that could have earned him a crack at middleweight overlord Anderson Silva, Maia found out what competition is like at the top of the 185-pound division. Nate Marquardt blew him away with a single right hand in just 21 seconds at UFC 102.

6. Jorge Santiago (21-7)
Arguably the cruelest victim of Affliction’s demise, Santiago finally may have himself a fight. After watching his slated August opponent, Vitor Belfort, main event a UFC, the Sengoku middleweight champion is expected to return to action at Sengoku’s Nov. 7 show.

7. Vitor Belfort (19-8)
Though it was fairly anti-climactic, Belfort earned arguably the biggest win of his career in his UFC return on Sept. 19, punching out Rich Franklin in the first round of their 195-pound catchweight bout. With Belfort’s UFC future coming at 185 pounds, he has already become the favorite of UFC President Dana White to challenge Anderson Silva for the middleweight crown.

8. Robbie Lawler (16-5, 1 NC)
Lawler appeared to be in control on the feet in his June 6 bout with Jake Shields. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was tapping out to a Shields guillotine choke, leaving his next move in Strikeforce’s middleweight division uncertain.

9. Chael Sonnen (23-10-1)
After grinding out a nice win over former International Fight League middleweight champion Dan Miller in May, Sonnen’s climb up the 185-pound ladder will only get more difficult. The Team Quest product will take on Yushin Okami at UFC 104 on Oct. 24.

10. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1, 2 NC)
It was not his best performance, but Akiyama gritted through a split decision verdict over a game Alan Belcher at UFC 100 in July and has thrown himself into the UFC’s deepening middleweight mix.

Other contenders: Michael Bisping, Patrick Cote, Paulo Filho, Dan Miller, Kazuo Misaki.

* Since the Sept. 19 bout between Rich Franklin and Vitor Belfort was contested at 195 pounds -- within the limits of the light heavyweight division -- it is treated as a light heavyweight bout. However, Belfort’s previous two bouts and subsequent bouts will be at middleweight, so he remains ranked at 185 pounds.

* With his formally announced return to the welterweight division, Frank Trigg exits the contenders list, giving way to Kazuo Misaki.