NorCal MMA's P4P top-10

Does Cain Velasquez, top, belong to be #2 on this list?

With so many notable fighters residing in Northern California it is only right that there be a ranking of the top-10 pound-for-pound MMA warriors in the region. There are several media members voting, as well as a few fan voters.

Here are the first results of the Nor Cal MMA poll:

1) Gilbert Melendez (19-2-0, Strikeforce Lightweight champion): The Strikeforce champ has been waiting for his next opponent for some time now, but an announcement is expected soon. He has avenged both of his losses and has held onto his title for over two years. If he doesn’t fight by year’s end, this ranking will fall.

2) Cain Velasquez (9-0-0, UFC Heavyweight champion): The UFC champ is slated to defend his title in November against #1 contender Junior dos Santos. His victories over Cheick Kongo, Ben Rothwell, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Brock Lesnar have made him a feared heavyweight in MMA. Another win could vault him to #1 on this list.

3) Nick Diaz (25-7-0, UFC Welterweight): After holding the Strikeforce Welterweight title, Diaz made the jump to the UFC and is set to face BJ Penn at UFC 137 on October 29th. A win on that night could put him back in the title picture that he was once in. Very close to losing this spot on the list.

4) Jon Fitch (23-3-1, UFC Welterweight): Fitch hasn’t fought since February of this year, but is slated to make his return on December 30 at UFC 141 versus Johny Hendricks. His name is always in title talks and upon his return he will become a feared fighter in his weight class.

5) Mark Munoz (11-2-0, UFC Middleweight): Riding a three fight win streak that he will put on the line on November 5, 2011 against Chris Leben at UFC 138. Munoz is a young middleweight that could find himself for title consideration if he defeats the veteran Leben.

6) Chad Mendes (11-0-0, UFC Featherweight): Was prepared to fight Jose Aldo at UFC 133, but after Aldo pulled out Mendes defeated Rani Yahya. Now, he awaits the winner of Aldo/Kenny Florian for a shot at the UFC Featherweight title. A win for the title should push him up these rankings.

7) Daniel Cormier (9-0-0, Strikeforce Heavyweight): An impressive first-round KO of Antonio Silva punched Cormier’s ticket to the Strikeforce Grand Prix finals. He has shown time and time again that his skills inside the cage should not be questioned. The future is bright for DC.

8) Luke Rockhold (8-1-0, Strikeforce Middleweight champion): After 18-months off, Rockhold came back on September 10 and defeated Jacare Souza for the middleweight title. Nobody, and I mean nobody, could’ve imagined such a story for the young Santa Cruz native. Only question now is, will he get a chance to defend his title in Strikeforce?

9) Josh Koscheck (15-5-0, UFC Welterweight): The UFC welterweight returns this Saturday at UFC 135 versus Matt Hughes after taking the fight on just three weeks notice. It is a long-awaited return for Kos and after training with the guys at AKA in San Jose he should be more than ready to fight.

10) Jake Shields (26-5-1, UFC Welterweight): After a devastating loss to Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 25, Shields is barely hanging on to the final spot on this list. He’s suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. A third will knock him off this list and possibly out the UFC.

Follow me on Twitter @NiteshDutt. And, our voters @AcostaIsLegend, @fightofyourlife, @DatRatKid, @JSakT and @CarmichaelDave.