Bleachers Report
Brock Lesnar pummeling Randy Couture
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Sending shock-waves through the mixed martial arts community, news that Brock will not compete at UFC131 has altered the landscape of the entire heavyweight division.
The avalanche of a man who some believed was an impenetrable force was first de-throned by Cain Velasquez to relinquish the UFC heavyweight championship in October of 2010, and now has been sidelined by a second case of diverticulitis.
With his return to the Octagon unknown, most experts state that this bout with the intestinal disorder could place Brock on the shelf for up to one year.
What is certain, however, is that competition amongst the sport's best heavyweights will battle on.
And, Brock's absence has had a cascade effect on the sport's heavyweight division reshuffling the top 10.
With Lesnar out of the picture, the following is my list of the top 10 heavyweights across all of mixed martial arts including both the UFC and Strikeforce.
Honorable Mention: Sergei Kharitonov
Sergei Kharitonov is a skilled veteran in the world of mixed martial arts.
Holding notable victories over Andre Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, and Alistair Overeem, Kharitonov has fought many of the sport's best heavyweights.
Destroying a shell of his former self in Andre Arlovski during the premiere round of the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament, Kharitonov proved that he is still more than capable of competing inside the Octagon.
At an aged 30 years old, with 22 professional fights to his record, the Russian kick-boxing sensation is no longer considered a major threat within the heavyweight division.
However, careers can be resurrected with a few well-placed punches. And Kharitonov possesses the striking ability to knockout any of MMA's top heavyweights.
No. 10: Frank Mir
Prior to his motorcycle accident in 2004, Frank was one of the top heavyweights within the UFC.
His return to the UFC has been a roller coaster ride of head shaking defeats, such as his first round TKO loss to Brandon Vera in 2006, and eye-popping victories, as with his upset win over Brock in 2008.
This former UFC heavyweight champion is currently ranked the No. 6 heavyweight according to Sherdog.com.
When in shape and mentally focused, Frank Mir is extremely dangerous, especially off of his back.
Seemingly unmotivated at times, his enigmatic presence inside the Octagon still draws concerns and skepticism from his harshest critics, including myself.
No. 9: "The Hybrid" Brendan Schaub
Making a name for himself as a contestant on
The Ultimate Fighter Season: Heavyweights, this one-time University of Colorado football stand-out continues to rise up the UFC heavyweight division.
With a very impressive overall MMA record of 8-1 with seven knockout victories, Schaub's skill-set evolves each and every fight.
Possessing excellent stand-up striking skills and dynamite in his hands, "The Hybrid" has added a devastating clinch-game to his arsenal and is becoming more versed in jiu-jitsu.
Bull-rushing through Mirko Cro Cop en route to a third round TKO of the Croatian superstar, Schaub has shown tremendous potential inside the Octagon and continues to develop into a formidable heavyweight capable of one day competing for the championship.
No. 8: Roy "Big Country" Nelson
Is Roy "Big Country" Nelson fat? Yes.
Does Roy Nelson look like a professional ultimate fighter? No.
Is "Big Country" fearless inside the Octagon? Yes.
Has he proven that he can stand and trade with some of the sport's best strikers? Absolutely
"Don't judge a book by his cover," should be Roy Nelson's nickname.
A man with the physique of most couch potatoes possesses tremendous power in both hands, excellent boxing skills, amazing cardiovascular endurance for someone of his physical dimensions, excellent ground game, and a very solid chin.
The paradox that exists between Roy Nelson's physique and his abilities inside the Octagon defy logic.
What is certain, however, is that Nelson's skill-set keeps him competing within every fight.
Just how high is "Big Country's" potential? No one knows. But he has proven that even fat men with mullets are extremely skilled and dangerous ultimate fighters.
No. 7: Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko
Quite possibly the world's greatest mixed martial artist for nearly a decade, Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko has lost two consecutive fights.
The former pound-for-pound king suffered his first defeat inside the Octagon in June of 2010 due to a triangle choke victory by Fabricio Werdum.
Following that stunning upset loss, Emelianenko was mauled by Antonio Silva, savagely beaten by the huge Brazilian, and bounced from the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament in February of 2011.
With back-to-back losses in the heavyweight division, Emelianenko is now considering a matchup with Dan Henderson at either light heavyweight, or a more suitable catch-weight of around 215 pounds.
With his future uncertain, as of today, "The Last Emperor" currently possesses an impressive MMA record of 31-3 as a heavyweight, justifying his seventh place position on this list.
No. 6: Shane Carwin
Quite possibly benefiting the most from Brock's illness, Shane Carwin has catapulted back into the UFC heavyweight championship picture overnight.
Winning his first 12 MMA fights in the first round, Carwin's knockout power steam-rolled the competition en route to a UFC heavyweight championship matchup with Brock Lesnar.
Landing a series of vicious strikes to the former champion, Carwin's cardiovascular gas tank failed him and he was ultimately defeated by Lesnar in July of 2010.
Stepping in to replace Brock Lesnar at UFC131 the victor between Carwin and Junior dos Santos will be next in line for a title shot against the current UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez.
I expect tremendous fireworks between these two heavyweight strikers. For Carwin's sake, I hope that his cardiovascular conditioning is in check to survive a three round slug-fest with dos Santos.
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