By T.P. Grant

Mixed Martial Arts can be a difficult sport to follow at times, to all but the most hardcore of followers of the sport it can seem a confusing mess of weight classes and champions. The UFC roster currently sits at over 500 fighters, not to mention the thousands of fighters outside of the promotion, so it’s understandable to have a hard time keeping so many names straight.

So to help with that, FloCombat is going to run down each UFC weight class and highlighting fighters that the new or casual MMA fan should be watching.
Middleweight is a division at its peak right now. While the mid-level of the division can be a bit of a chore to watch, the top end of the division is better that it ever has been before. Once rule over by the great Anderson Silva, the Middleweight division has come into its own as Silva’s star has fallen.

Luke Rockhold

The current UFC Middleweight Champion, Luke Rockhold was a star prospect in the Strikeforce promotion in the late 2000’s and won the Middleweight title there before Strikeforce merged with the UFC. After suffering a setback loss to Vitor Belfort, Rockhold earned his way to a title shot in December of 2015, where he defeated Chris Weidman to become UFC champion.

A high school wrestler turned jiu jitsu grappler, Luke Rockhold initially seemed like a top flight American grappling prospect as he won 2 lower belt world championships in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition. He was invited to the American Kickboxing Academy to train. Once there Rockhold impressed the coaching the staff, and it was then Rockhold made the decision to switch over to MMA.

Coming out of AKA, many would expect Rockhold to have the ‘house style’ of a relentless, pressuring wrestling attack, but instead Rockhold has developed into an opportunistic out fighter. A diligent and heavy body kicker, Rockhold floats on the outside, stinging at opponents until he finds the right opening and the results have been stupendous. Rockhold has the power to drop fighters with his hands or his kicks and on the mat he is one of the very best submission grapplers in MMA. Rockhold excels at taking the smallest opening on the mat and turning it into a dynamic finish. Every Luke Rockhold fight is a must watch for MMA fans, and his first title defense is set for early this summer.

Chris Weidman

Now former UFC Middleweight Champion, Chris Weidman is the man who dethrone Anderson Silva in spectacular fashion. An All-American wrestler out of Hofstra University, Weidman originally attempted an Olympic bid but when that failed to materialize he began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with Matt Serra and the Renzo Gracie team. After just one year of formal jiu jitsu training Weidman qualified for the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships, the most prestigious no gi tournament in the world. He had strong showing, making it to the quarter-finals and marking him as a prospect to watch. Training under Matt Serra and Ray Longo at their MMA gym in New York, Weidman went from East Coast regional star to UFC fighter in just under two years, and after two years in the UFC Weidman found himself fighting living legend Anderson Silva for the UFC Middleweight crown. Weidman knocked Silva out in the second round to claim the title.  

A pressure striker on the feet, Weidman is constantly coming forward looking to land powerful strikes. In the clinch Weidman is incredibly strong, and his wrestling is top notch. On the mat Weidman has a heavy passing game he uses to reach dominant positions, and when an opponent tries a little too hard to escape he latches on with his excellent series of front head lock chokes.

Weidman is primed to be an elite Middleweight for years to come and there could be a great rivalry between him and Rockhold shaping up.

Jacare Souza

One of the greatest jiu jitsu competitors of all time, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza has also become the one of the most successful jiu jitsu crossover to MMA. Early in his MMA career, Jacare entered in the Japanese promotion Dream Middleweight Grand Prix and made it to the final, but lost in the final to Gegard Mousasi. When Dream collapsed, Jacare moved over to Strikeforce where he became the Middleweight champion. In 2011 he lost that title to Luke Rockhold, but Jacare continued to pill up wins as Strikeforce merged with the UFC. Between 2012 and 2015 Jacare won 8 straight fights, including avenging his loss to Gegard Mousasi. In December Jacare lost a fight with Yoel Romero, who failed an out of competition drug test.

Jacare is an athletic monster and has developed into an extremely dangerous striker on the feet with powerful punching, and a strong wrestling game. On the mat Jacare is otherworldly, flowing through guard passes, positions, and submissions with apparent ease. Jacare’s championship window is likely closing, he’ll likely be pushing for a title shot in his next few fights, and he is sure to be involved in some high profile, exciting fights.

Robert Whittaker

A lifelong martial artist, Robert Whittaker started karate at a young age. Whittaker trained in more traditional martial arts until his school switched over to MMA and he took to it very quickly. He went pro in 2009 and was a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes, which pitted an Australian team against a team of U.K. fighters, and Whittaker won the season. In the UFC he has developed into a very good, up-and-coming MMA striker with a fun and diverse game. His last fight Whitaker was featured on the main card of the UFC 193 PPV and it is likely as he continues to win matches.