Middleweight
| Rank | Fight Matrix | Diff | Diff | Sherdog |
| 1 | Chris Weidman | = | = | Chris Weidman |
| 2 | Anderson Silva | = | = | Anderson Silva |
| 3 | Vitor Belfort | = | = | Vitor Belfort |
| 4 | Yushin Okami | = | = | Yushin Okami |
| 5 | Hector Lombard | Next 5 | -3 | Michael Bisping |
| 6 | Ronaldo Souza | -3 | -1 | Mark Munoz |
| 7 | Mark Munoz | +1 | -2 | Luke Rockhold |
| 8 | Michael Bisping | +3 | Next 5 | Costas Philippou |
| 9 | Luke Rockhold | +2 | +3 | Ronaldo Souza |
| 10 | Mamed Khalidov | = | = | Mamed Khalidov |
| Next 5 | Costas Philippou Tim Kennedy Alexander Shlemenko Thales Leites Cung Le |
Tim Boetsch Francis Carmont Tim Kennedy Hector Lombard Alexander Shlemenko |
Contrary to the prior two divisions we looked at, Middleweight shows some considerable differences. Also, the table just got a lot harder to read.
Although we have Hector Lombard quite high at #5, I feel that having him in the “Next 5” is too low — to me, a position in the bottom of the Top 10 may be the “perfect” place for him. After all, his most recent contest was a very close (aren’t they all?) split decision with Yushin Okami, a fighter who most have almost always seen as a perennial Top 5 Middleweight.
Ronaldo Souza at #6, is placed at #9 by Sherdog, partially as a result of them still honoring the Rockhold/Souza outcome from 2011. This and Rockhold’s position are two more placements that are certainly up for debate.
I have always felt we were the most fair with Bisping, who Sherdog (IMHO) has always overrated. #5 in my opinion, is much too high.
The “Next 5” is a total crapshoot on both sides as well — while I agree we are probably being hard on Tim Boetsch, Sherdog is being too kind to Francis Carmont.
But what was my biggest surprise, is Sherdog finally agreeing with our position of having Khalidov in the #10 spot.
I personally deem this one, “Too Close to Call”.
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