6. Rashad Evans (13-0-1)
While Rashad Evans' immediate future has some flexibility, neither option will be easy. Evans' teammate Keith Jardine will take on former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 96 on March 7 in Columbus, Ohio. Should Jackson best Jardine, Evans can likely look forward to Rampage at UFC 100 on July 11. Should Jackson falter, things get no easier, as Evans would then risk his 205-pound crown against enigmatic, unbeaten Lyoto Machida. C'est la vie in the sport's premiere division.
7. Forrest Griffin (16-5)
After 2008 ended unceremoniously for Griffin, who was pounded out by Rashad Evans in their Dec. 27 title tilt, the former UFC light heavyweight champion's misfortunes have spilled over prominently into 2009, where a broken right hand required corrective surgery. While he was originally said to be out for 2009 and likely to make an autumn return, healing has gone well, and Griffin has stated that he hopes to be back by summer, where there will never be a shortage of marquee matchups at 205 pounds.
8. Quinton Jackson (29-7)
Quinton Jackson's bid to regain his UFC light heavyweight title and 205-pound supremacy began super-stylishly at UFC 92 in December when he destroyed arch-nemesis Wanderlei Silva in the first round. Now, Jackson faces a win-and-you're-in proposition at UFC 96 on March 7, as he was gracious enough to his employers at Zuffa to step into the main event against Keith Jardine. Should "Rampage" be victorious, he'll have earned the chance to face Rashad Evans on July 11 at UFC 100 in a major 205-pound marquee bout.
9. Thiago Alves (16-3)
Save for his scale indiscretion prior to his June bout with Matt Hughes, Thiago Alves had a sensational 2008 in ripping up three straight top-10 opponents. He is now faced with the daunting task of unseating welterweight ruler Georges St. Pierre later this year in a blockbuster of a welterweight bout, and while the "Pitbull" has more than earned himself a healthy contingent of fans, his in-ring handshake with St. Pierre following the Canadian’s win over B.J. Penn more than firmed up who the fan favorite will be in their contest.
10. Mike Thomas Brown (20-4)
Despite being the sport's featherweight kingpin, it isn't rainbows ahead for Mike Thomas Brown. First, Brown must march into Corpus Christi, Texas on March 1 to defend his WEC featherweight title against brutal banger Leonard Garcia, a Lubbock native who will be in his own backyard. Should Brown emerge victorious, he'll then have to prove to the world he's no fluke, as former WEC king and poster boy Urijah Faber awaits the victor for a summer showdown. Should he win both of those bouts, the world would be forced to accept Brown as a serious pound-for-pounder. Of course, that does very little about the likes of Wagnney Fabiano and Jose Aldo –- both waiting around the corner.
While Rashad Evans' immediate future has some flexibility, neither option will be easy. Evans' teammate Keith Jardine will take on former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 96 on March 7 in Columbus, Ohio. Should Jackson best Jardine, Evans can likely look forward to Rampage at UFC 100 on July 11. Should Jackson falter, things get no easier, as Evans would then risk his 205-pound crown against enigmatic, unbeaten Lyoto Machida. C'est la vie in the sport's premiere division.
7. Forrest Griffin (16-5)
After 2008 ended unceremoniously for Griffin, who was pounded out by Rashad Evans in their Dec. 27 title tilt, the former UFC light heavyweight champion's misfortunes have spilled over prominently into 2009, where a broken right hand required corrective surgery. While he was originally said to be out for 2009 and likely to make an autumn return, healing has gone well, and Griffin has stated that he hopes to be back by summer, where there will never be a shortage of marquee matchups at 205 pounds.
8. Quinton Jackson (29-7)
Quinton Jackson's bid to regain his UFC light heavyweight title and 205-pound supremacy began super-stylishly at UFC 92 in December when he destroyed arch-nemesis Wanderlei Silva in the first round. Now, Jackson faces a win-and-you're-in proposition at UFC 96 on March 7, as he was gracious enough to his employers at Zuffa to step into the main event against Keith Jardine. Should "Rampage" be victorious, he'll have earned the chance to face Rashad Evans on July 11 at UFC 100 in a major 205-pound marquee bout.
9. Thiago Alves (16-3)
Save for his scale indiscretion prior to his June bout with Matt Hughes, Thiago Alves had a sensational 2008 in ripping up three straight top-10 opponents. He is now faced with the daunting task of unseating welterweight ruler Georges St. Pierre later this year in a blockbuster of a welterweight bout, and while the "Pitbull" has more than earned himself a healthy contingent of fans, his in-ring handshake with St. Pierre following the Canadian’s win over B.J. Penn more than firmed up who the fan favorite will be in their contest.
10. Mike Thomas Brown (20-4)
Despite being the sport's featherweight kingpin, it isn't rainbows ahead for Mike Thomas Brown. First, Brown must march into Corpus Christi, Texas on March 1 to defend his WEC featherweight title against brutal banger Leonard Garcia, a Lubbock native who will be in his own backyard. Should Brown emerge victorious, he'll then have to prove to the world he's no fluke, as former WEC king and poster boy Urijah Faber awaits the victor for a summer showdown. Should he win both of those bouts, the world would be forced to accept Brown as a serious pound-for-pounder. Of course, that does very little about the likes of Wagnney Fabiano and Jose Aldo –- both waiting around the corner.
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