Are there any middleweights that look likely to step forward and present a tough challenge to the current champ Anderson Silva?

Henderson would be the obvious choice for me, but besides him who else is out there at this weight?

Robbie Lawler
Frank Trigg
maybe Matt Lindland or Marquardt again.

Get Filho now!!!

lawler would be fun to watch, he's much tougher than rich franklin and can take more of a beating. when pete spratt exposed him, though, it was because robbie can't defend against leg attacks, so maybe this isn't such a good idea... what happens when spider gets robbie in the muy tai clinch?

lawler would be fun to watch, he's much tougher than rich franklin and can take more of a beating. when pete spratt exposed him, though, it was because robbie can't defend against leg attacks, so maybe this isn't such a good idea... what happens when spider gets robbie in the muy tai clinch?

Robbie has gotten a lot better since the Spratt fight, that much is obvious. But you're right to point out that weakness, which may really cost him against a guy like Sylva. It'd be a good fight though, Lawler is better than Franklin imo. However, I don't see him coming to the UFC at this point.

Hes on TUF. I bet hes back in the UFC in a few more fights. Even Dana admits the middleweight division needs some new players. Even tho i really doubt he beats Silva.

Hes on TUF. I bet hes back in the UFC in a few more fights. Even Dana admits the middleweight division needs some new players. Even tho i really doubt he beats Silva.

You mean Lawler's on TUF?? Thats news to me. I'm not in the states so haven't been following that series (link, anyone??). If thats the case, than I guess he is back in the UFC. Just it seemed like he had a good thing going with EliteXC and I figured he'd be the type of talent that EliteXC would go out of their way to keep.. but UFC does have the stiffer competition right now so it could be a positive move.

I don't see any "natural" middleweights that can take Anderson, but I would like to see some guys drop down in weight that are struggling in the LH division.

Oh, how about Kang, he's a middleweight isn't he?

Hes not of TUF as a fighter. Lawler is a Team Hughes coach.

speaking of TUF, last nights fight was pretty good.

Hes not of TUF as a fighter. Lawler is a Team Hughes coach.

Oh, well I wouldn't want to infer too much from that. But I'm sure him fighting in UFC isn't out of the question.

Didn't Diaz knockout Robbie?

Robbie Lawler
Frank Trigg
maybe Matt Lindland or Marquardt again.

I forgot about him, he would come in as a underdog but on 1 of his good nights he would have a chance.

Maybe if they signed up Murilo Bustamante again, that would spice up the division abit.

Didn't Diaz knockout Robbie?

Yeah, he did. Diaz was a big underdog as I recall, yet he basically beat Lawler's ass all around. I think this was pretty much the fight that made people take notice of Diaz though. Diaz seems to fight very well in the role of underdog, at least if his last couple fights are any proof.. in the last one, he was a big favorite, and just squeeked it out, and that after beating Gomi's ass in the fight before. Maybe it has to do with his attitude.. he likes to stick it to people who count him out I'd say.

Yeah, he did. Diaz was a big underdog as I recall, yet he basically beat Lawler's ass all around. I think this was pretty much the fight that made people take notice of Diaz though. Diaz seems to fight very well in the role of underdog, at least if his last couple fights are any proof.. in the last one, he was a big favorite, and just squeeked it out, and that after beating Gomi's ass in the fight before. Maybe it has to do with his attitude.. he likes to stick it to people who count him out I'd say.

Thanks for the clarification