1: Junior ‘Cigano’ Dos Santos: The champ is here! Junior Dos Santos’ meteoric rise is complete; the heavy handed Brazilian went from a shocking upset over Fabricio Werdum to capturing the most coveted title in MMA in the space of just a few short years. After brushing aside former champ Cain Velasquez without a second thought in November, Dos Santos looks untouchable.  Next up: Frank Mir…

2: Alistair ‘The Reem’ Overeem: While Overeem’s lofty position in the rankings is due in no small part to the recent losses and inactivity of Fedor, Lesnar and Carwin, its clear for all to see that the boy has skills. He proved the doubters wrong with a brutal demolition of Brock Lesnar in December of last year, setting the former K-1, Dream and Strikeforce champion up for what could have been a clean sweep if he hadn’t run into the Nevada State Athletic Commission…

3: Cain Velasquez: It may have lasted over a year, but in real terms, Cain Velasquez reign over the UFC heavyweight division was a short one. Rendered unconscious by Junior Dos Santos in just 64 seconds, Velasquez now finds himself in the unfamiliar position of going back to the drawing board.

4: Frank Mir: After being unable to claim back to back wins since 2008, Frank Mir has now gone three for three following his gut (or arm) wrenching submission over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira late last year. Mir has been gifted an opportunity to fight for the title at UFC 146 with the high levels of testosterone forcing the Nevada State Athletic Commission to effectively ban Alistair Overeem from action for nine months.

5: Fabricio ‘Vai Cavalo’ Werdum: Despite dethroning the greatest heavyweight mixed martial artist of all time, Fabricio Werdum’s tepid performance has seen the Brazilian receive few plaudits of late. That all changed with his three-round demolition of Roy Nelson in February. Werdum still has some way to go before he’s in line for a rematch with Junior Dos Santos, but his battering of ‘Big Country’ was a step in the right direction.

6: Shane ‘The Engineer’ Carwin: You’ve got to give it to Shane Carwin, he’s got some testicular fortitude. With that said, he’ll need more than guts if he is to recover from a torrid few years worth of high-profile losses and massive injury lay-offs. With the biological clock ticking, 2012 will be a crucial year for Carwin.

7: Josh ‘The Babyfaced Assassin’ Barnett: When we removed Josh Barnett from his number 3 spot in the ranking following his failed drug test back in August 2009, little did we expect that it would be nearly two years before he would make his return. Still, the MMA maverick continues his climb back to the top with a successful run to the finals of the Strikeforce GP.

8: Daniel Cormier: Some might say that’s it’s too early for the decorated, yet relatively inexperienced Daniel Cormier to be making an appearance in the heavyweight rankings, and they might have a point. But respect is certainly due for the man who knocked out the previously number 6 ranked ‘Bigfoot’ Silva in September, the latest in a series of spectacular performances that could see the Strikeforce GP finalist becoming a regular feature in the top ten.

9: Travis Browne: The six-foot-seven prospect has finally burst into the top ten following his “Submission of the Night” win over Chad Griggs on the UFC 145 card in April, stopping the former Strikeforce fighter in the first round. The only blemish on his record remains that draw with Cheick Kongo although he has shown vast improvements since those days.

10: Mark ‘Super Samoan’ Hunt: A year ago it seemed unthinkable, but with three straight wins in the UFC heavyweight division, capped off by a first round mauling of formerly 9^th-ranked Cheick Kongo, Mark Hunt takes 10^th place in the heavyweight rankings. He’s appearance in the top ten may be fleeting with the likes of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Stefan Struve and a resurgent Fedor Emelianenko nipping at his heels, but for this month at least, he’s earned it.

(Updated May 1^st, 2012)

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