Which contender at 185 is closest to the top?

That was the though once upon a time BUT we can't really use that argument. Rich Franklin, Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson are not weak fighters. I agree that 185 doesn't produce consistently good fighters but those 3 wins are good.

Okami, Stann, Bisping all wait in the wings for a title shot and they aren't incredible but they are respectable defences. Silva just needs to perform when he isn't fighting the top fighters.

 

If it weren't for Anderson, who would be champ at 185?

 

anderson will kill anyone at 185lbs

 

Good question. It would be a pretty balanced division if Silva wasnt in it

 

Ive got a lot of love for Lombard mate , but youve hit the nail on the head , when is he gonna move on ???

Im supremely confident that Lombard would demolish a large percentage of the current UFC MW division , namely Mike Bisping who is currently considered a MW stand out , i wouldnt give him a prayer with Lombard .

Once upon a time Lombard was contracted to the UFC have a read of this :

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He's got to make the switch soon mate , cant wait til he does , even him against Souza would be an excellent fight IMO , i really do rate Souza and id like to see him in the UFC too ............

 

At the top of there game Sonnen , Belcher Lombard and Souza would / have present/ed Silva with problems in my honest opinion , Souza should be seen as a risk candidate because of lack of real competition in MMA but his ground game is sick , he's a more accomplished grappler than Maia and IMO the current #1 grappler in MMA (when looking at relevant mma fighters not just pure JJ practitioners who compete in MMA) . Id love to see Souza fight a few well rounded mixed martial artists who provide problems in most area's , people like Kendall Grove , Patrick Cote , Denis Kang and the likes , just to boost his experience

Belcher needs 2 maybe 3 fights then he will be in contention , that leaves Sonnen (who's suspended) and Lombard (who fights in a seperate organistaion) in that order who would be ready to go straight in with Anderson , quite frankly the rest of them isnt worth tuning in for . That for me sums up the title picture at MW currently

 

chael sonnen, the rest are cannon fodder

 

No love for Tim Kennedy? :verysad

I'd love to see Jacare but that isn't going to happen. Let's all hope they get Lombard on board arty

Lynchburg