| There is no doubt about it, the UFC heavyweight | | | | ove Tim Sylvia. The rematch with Sylvia looked like it |
| division is the most volatile in MMA. There have been | | | | was going to be the same thing when suddenly |
| many changes over the last year, champions have | | | | something happened. Arlovski landed a crushing shot |
| come and gone and now with Randy Couture leaving | | | | and Sylvia went down, but Sylvia got up and when |
| the question must be asked; who is the best | | | | Arlovski moved in for the kill big Tim nailed him, |
| heavyweight in the UFC? | | | | knocking him to the canvas and then rained down |
| Here are the fighters that I am considering for the top | | | | strikes to finish him. Still, I think Arlovski is a contender |
| dog position. | | | | on any given night for the heavyweight title. |
| - Although Randy Couture has left, I feel that he must | | | | The "Next Big Thing" in the UFC heavyweight division |
| at least be on the big list. | | | | may be Brock Lensnar, but not yet. Brock needs to |
| - The "Maine-i-ac" Tim Sylvia is the former UFC | | | | prove himself against real competition before he rises |
| heavyweight champion. | | | | to the top of this list. |
| - Andrei Arlovski also a former UFC heavyweight | | | | Mirko Cro Cop was/is one of the most feared strikers |
| champion. | | | | in MMA, but back to back losses have taken the snap |
| - Brock Lesnar, former WWE superstar and | | | | off of his devestating leg kicks. Many fans have |
| outstanding amateur wrestler. | | | | written Cro Cop off, but I believe he still has some |
| - Mirko Cro Cop, former pride standout and Pride open | | | | great wins in front of him. I can't give him top dog |
| weight champion. | | | | status because of those losses, but a win over a big |
| - Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira who was a long time Pride | | | | name might just give him a title shot. |
| heavyweight champion. | | | | Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira ( Big Nog) was the Pride |
| - Frank Mir, former UFC heavyweight champion. | | | | heavyweight champion and as such deserves respect. |
| - Gabriel Gonzaga, the guy who KO'd Mirko Cro Cop. | | | | The only fighters to defeat Big Nog are Fedor, Josh |
| So, who is the best of the best? Who is the number | | | | Barnett and Dan Henderson. Fedor is not fighting in the |
| one heavyweight in the UFC? First of all, I'd like to take | | | | UFC and Big Nog has avenged his losses to |
| Randy Couture out of the competition. Randy certainly | | | | Henderson and Barnett. Until Nogueira gets beaten by |
| has the credentials to be considered among the best | | | | someone in the UFC he must be considered one of |
| heavyweight fighters in the UFC if not the world, but | | | | the top dogs in the UFC heavyweight division. |
| Randy has resigned. The resignation if taken seriously | | | | Frank Mir hasn't done enough lately to deserve to be |
| essentially eliminates him from this group. | | | | the number one ranked fighter in the UFC. However, |
| Tim Sylvia is the former UFC heavyweight champion | | | | Mir has a long history of winning big fights and he's |
| and prior to him loosing decisively to Randy Couture | | | | been looking better and better lately. Something tells |
| would have been my pick as the number one | | | | me that we'll see the championship quality version of |
| heavyweight in the UFC. A lot has changed since his | | | | Frank Mir again before it's all over. |
| reign of terror however and Tim has lost to three of | | | | Gabriel Gonzaga has made his name mostly off his |
| the fighters on my list. He lost of course to Randy | | | | big win over Mirko Cro Cop. Gonzaga started by |
| Couture in a five round decision. Tim also lost to Andrei | | | | catching Cro Cop's leg kick to the body, taking him to |
| Arlovski by submission. Tim's most crushing defeat | | | | the ground and then ground and pounding him for most |
| was to Frank Mir. Mir broke Sylvia's arm and submitted | | | | of the first round. When the ref stood the fight up, |
| him, but it's worth noting that even with a broken arm | | | | Gonzaga KO'd Cro Cop with one of the nicest kicks |
| Tim did not submit, the ref who heard the snap | | | | to the head (aside from Cro Cop's) that I've ever seen. |
| stopped the fight. Tim Argued, but of course the fight | | | | So, that's the quick and dirty on all of our contenders. |
| had to be stopped. Most recently Tim won over highly | | | | Who is the best UFC heavyweight? Well, I already |
| touted contender Brandon Vera in a three round | | | | said that Randy Couture was out of the running, so I |
| decision. Tim is certainly a top runner as one of the | | | | must give the honors to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. |
| best heavyweights in the UFC. | | | | With his only recent losses being to Fedor and Barnett, |
| Andrei Arlovski was at one time considered the most | | | | Nogueira holds the title of best heavyweight in the |
| dominant heavyweight in the UFC. He was knocking | | | | UFC. I look forward to seeing who eventually takes |
| out and finishing opponents at a feverish pace. His | | | | Randy Couture's title and look forward to a great year |
| quick victory over a very tough Paul Buentello was the | | | | of heavyweight fights in 2008. |
| last in a series of six dominant victories, including one | | | | |