5. Yoel Romero Is Next In Line For Luke Rockhold
After his split decision victory over Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Yoel Romero is likely now the number one contender to new champion Luke Rockhold. While the win may have been controversial - many people, including myself think Souza should have won the bout, "Soldier of God" presents a definite challenge for Rockhold. The fight between Romero and Jacare was between the #2 and #3 ranked fighters in the middleweight division. It was a hard fought contest featuring some crafty fence-grabbing by Romero and a brutal spinning backfist that almost finished Jacare in the first round. The loss obviously sends Ronaldo back down the ladder, while lurking just beneath them in the rankings is Vitor Belfort, who handed the new champ one of his only two losses. Lyoto Machida is somehow clinging to the top five but his last two fights were knockout losses to both Romero and Rockhold so I don't see him back in the title picture any time soon.
Brad Hamilton
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Brad Hamilton is a writer, musician and marketer/social media manager from Atlanta, Georgia. He's an undefeated freestyle rap battle champion, spends too little time being productive and defines himself as the literary version of Brock Lesnar.
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