Cain Velasquez. Pic by SHERDOG.COM -click for source- click for source- Credit: Dave Mandel

Please note that Daniel Cormier has vacated the weight class to light heavyweight and as a result will no longer be ranked as a heavyweight. Also note that the previous heavyweight rankings were updated and posted on January 12th and that those ranks are listed in parenthesis:

~ 1 (1) ~

Cain Velasquez

While he’s still recovering from his shoulder surgery, Cain Velasquez get’s to watch two potential opponents fight for the right to face him.

~ 2 (3) ~

Fabricio Werdum

Fabricio Werdum is now one win away from a title shot against Cain Velasquez but he has to go through the dangerously improving Travis Browne. The best strategy for Werdum in this match would be to take it to the ground.

~ 3 (4) ~

Junior dos Santos

It is really hard to determine where Junior dos Santos goes from here considering he’s lost to heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez twice.

~ 4 (5) ~

Travis Browne

Rising prospect Travis Browne ran through three tough veterans in a row in order to get this far. He now faces his largest test against Werdum.

~ 5 (6) ~

Josh Barnett

Josh Barnett was starting to gain momentum in his career comeback but that was spoiled by Travis Browne. He has time to rebound though.

~ 6 (8) ~

Alistair Overeem

With his back against the wall, Alistair Overeem set out to keep his job in the UFC and accomplished it by controlling Frank Mir for fifteen minutes. Though he was eyeing another fight with Brock Lesnar that won’t happen and he’ll have to settle for another opponent next.

~ 7 (6) ~

Frank Mir

We are now waiting to see whether Dana White will indeed cut Frank Mir for his fourth loss in a row or whether he’ll be kept for another go. Regardless, since Mir has expressed interest in continuing to fight, he has several options including Bellator, WSOF and ONE FC.

~ 8 (9) ~

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has shown that he has no intention of going down quietly and his upcoming match against Roy Nelson is another opportunity to prove it. That being said nowadays it seems “Big Nog” does great against everyone except top 10 level fighters.

~ 9 (10) ~

Mark Hunt

The “Super Samoan” hasn’t fought since his Fight of the Night performance against Antonio Silva and has nothing scheduled as of late.

~ 10 (N/A) ~

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva

Antonio Silva will have another seven months to think about how he can go about legitimately training for a fight rather then shooting TRT.

Please stay tuned for the final installment for the Best of 2013 series. Feel free to leave a comment!