By Michael David Smith
- Lead Blogger
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The main event of
UFC 110 represented a generational shift in the UFC heavyweight division, with
Cain Velasquez, in just his eighth professional fight, knocking out
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who has been one of the sport's elite heavyweights since Velasquez was in high school.
But where does that leave Velasquez in our rankings of the top 10 heavyweights in MMA? And does Nogueira still make the rankings at all? Find out below.
(Editor's note: The individual fighter's ranking the last time we did heavyweights are in parentheses.)1.
Fedor Emelianenko (1): We still don't know when we're going to see the best heavyweight in the world again, although an April bout with Fabricio Werdum seems likely.
2.
Brock Lesnar (2): The UFC heavyweight champion will finally return to the Octagon in July, and I think he'll pick up right where he left off, showing that he's the best heavyweight other than Fedor.
3.
Frank Mir (3): His fight with Shane Carwin at UFC 111 could earn him the opportunity for a third fight with Lesnar. I'd see that one playing out a lot like his second fight with Lesnar.
4.
Shane Carwin (5): If he can beat Mir he'll be an interesting stylistic match-up with Lesnar, but it's hard to see him winning the UFC heavyweight title: He's not as big as Lesnar, as strong as Lesnar or as explosive as Lesnar.
5.
Cain Velasquez (8): Yes, he has officially arrived. We already knew that Velasquez -- an All-American wrestler at Arizona State -- was good on the ground. Now we know he can beat an elite opponent on his feet as well. Velasquez may get a title shot before the year is out.
6.
Alistair Overeem (7): It's hard not to lose patience with Overeem, the Strikeforce heavyweight champion who has been fighting high-quality opposition in kickboxing while taking squash matches in MMA. But he's such a powerful athlete and such a dynamic striker that it's also hard not to think he's among the half dozen best in the world.
7.
Junior dos Santos (9): His bout with Gabriel Gonzaga on March 21 should tell us a lot about dos Santos. He's still a little raw, but dos Santos is two years younger than Velasquez and has a very promising future ahead of him.
8.
Brett Rogers (10): No word yet on whom Strikeforce will give Rogers in his return fight after his loss to Fedor. An Overeem-Rogers bout would be great but is probably not in the cards.
9.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (4): Yes, I still think Nogueira is Top 10. But probably not for much longer. It's sad to see the great ones get old.
10.
Fabricio Werdum (NR): Has a chance to move way up on this list by beating Fedor. But not a very good chance.
Read More: m-1 global, Alistair Overeem (MMA), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (MMA), Brett Rogers (MMA), Brock Lesnar (MMA), Cain Velasquez (MMA), Fabricio Werdum (MMA), Fedor Emelianenko (MMA), Frank Mir (MMA), Junior dos Santos (MMA), Shane Carwin (MMA)
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