This week’s power rankings feature the middleweight division where UFC Champion Michael Bisping takes the top spot. The division will be getting the spotlight at UFC 204 on October 8th as Bisping takes on Dan Henderson while Gegard Mousasi goes against Vitor Belfort. Another matchup to look forward to in the division is the one between Chris Weidman and Yoel Romero in November at UFC 205. And not to be forgotten is the fight between Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo Souza at UFC Fight Night 101 in late November in Australia. Let’s take a look at the latest power rankings for the middleweight division and also glance at the welterweight division.
Middleweight Rankings
1. Michael Bisping (29-7) –UFC (Champion)
2. Luke Rockhold (15-3) – UFC
3. Chris Weidman (13-1) – UFC
4. Jacare Souza (23-4) – UFC
5. Yoel Romero (11-1) – UFC
6. Derek Brunson (16-3) – UFC
7. Gegard Mousasi (39-6-2) – UFC
8. Vitor Belfort (25-12) – UFC
9. Lyoto Machida (22-7) – UFC
10. David Branch (18-3) – WSOF (Champion)
UFC 204 will have Bisping taking on Henderson and it is Bisping listed at -215 in UFC odds at BookMaker.eu with the rounds total at 2.5 under.
The fight between Bisping and Henderson is being called a rematch since it was Henderson beating Bisping at UFC 100 but Bisping said it shouldn’t be called a rematch.
“This isn’t even a rematch. The two versions of ourselves are so completely different. I’m much better improved mentally and physically,” Bisping said, “Dan Henderson is kind of the opposite. He’s not on the steroids. He’s older. If you look at the muscle mass he has in that first fight compared to now, he looks like two different fighters.”
Also taking place at UFC 204 it is Mousasi listed as a -350 favorite against Belfort. Mousasi said that if Belfort doesn’t catch him with some big shots in the first two minutes then this fight is over. Mousasi said that Belfort is “explosive” in the first two minutes but “fades out very fast.”
Weidman is listed as a -170 favorite against Romero at UFC 205. Weidman is 13-1 in his career while Romero is 11-1. Weidman is a New York native so he will get a lot of crowd support at MSG as he looks to bounce back from his loss to Rockhold. Romero is unbeaten since he joined the UFC in 2013.
Two other bouts that involve Top 10 fighters in the middleweight division have Rockhold listed as a -117 favorite against Souza at UFC Fight Night 101 on November 26th in Australia while WSOF champion David Branch takes on Vinny Magalhaes at WSOF 33 on Friday, October 7th in Kansas City.
Welterweight Rankings
1. Tyron Woodley (16-3) – UFC (Champion)
2. Stephen Thompson (13-1) – UFC
3. Robbie Lawler (27-11) – UFC
4. Rory MacDonald (18-4) – Bellator
5. Demian Maia (24-6) – UFC
6. Ben Askren (15-0) – ONE FC (Champion)
7. Andrey Koreshkov (19-1) – Bellator (Champion)
8. Dong Hyun Kim (21-3-1) – UFC
9. Johny Hendricks (17-5) – UFC
10. Donald Cerrone (31-7) – UFC
Another big fight at UFC 205 has Woodley taking on Thompson. You might think that because Woodley is the champion that he would be favored but that is not the case. Thompson is listed at -196 in UFC odds at BookMaker.eu.
Woodley said he is not bothered at all by being the underdog in this fight.
"I like being the underdog," said Woodley said, "I think my last five or six fights I've been the underdog, and I've only lost one. In general, statistically showing, I do well as the underdog."
Woodley said he doesn’t think he is going to be an underdog by the time UFC 205 rolls around. "I don't think I'll be the underdog before the fight when they see how I'm training, when they see my focus, when they see what I'm bringing to the table," said Woodley.
Also taking place at UFC 205 it is Cerrone listed as a -170 favorite against Gastelum.
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