UPDATED UFC Middleweight Top 5 Goat Rankings

 

These rankings are now up to date as of the end of 2023 

1. Anderson Silva        

The story has been told time and time again. Anderson Silva still has the record setting ten title defenses and a 16 fight winning streak which included four former world champions who were still in their prime. He would not only win, but he would win in devastating fashion. With the exception of two bad performances that everyone liked to talk about the rest of his fights were either won by a submission or spectacular knockout.

2. Robert Whittaker   

At number two sits the Reaper himself, Robert Whittaker. If Silva was Franklins boogeyman, Adesanya was his as he would have had six title defenses by now and a 14-fight winning streak as well if the style bender didn't exist. But instead he sits pretty at number two with two losses to Adesanya sandwiched in between countless wins and two title victories. Now the only thing separating him from Adesanya is his longevity as he's been ranked for much longer than Adesanya.

3. Israel Adesanya +1 

I originally had Adesanya ranked at number four for his five title defenses with only one loss at middleweight. But once you fast forward one year later. He regains the middleweight title from the only man to beat him at middleweight, adding another former world champion to his resume. If he wants to keep climbing this list, he must not take the three year sabbatical he claims he's going to take. 

4. Rich Franklin -1  

How quickly people forget the likes of Rich Franklin who sits at number four. Before Anderson Silva came along, Franklin was undefeated at middleweight with two title defenses. Had Silva not been around, he would have had approximately eight title defenses before father time would catch up to him. Instead, he stayed ranked just behind Silva from 2006 to 2012, getting wins over every middleweight contender not named Anderson Silva until retirement. 

5. Yoel Romero 

Coming in at number five is The Soldier of God, who is also the only one ranked to never win the middleweight title. But what he did do is go on an eight fight winning streak which included three former world champions to earn a title shot. He had three title shots in total against Whittaker and Adesanya where you can make an argument for him winning either of those fights. Had he of gotten at least one of those decisions, he would be ranked higher.