Sherdog’s Top 10: Might Have Beens

---

7. Paulo Filho

Depending on who you ask, there was once a time when a case could have been made for Filho as the world’s No. 2 middleweight, behind only the incomparable Anderson Silva. Beginning with his professional debut on July 24, 2000 until Dec. 12, 2007, when he submitted future Silva nemesis Chael Sonnen with an armbar in the second round, Filho compiled a 16-0 record while competing for organizations such as Pancrase, Deep, Pride and the World Extreme Cagefighting.

Filho’s triumph over Sonnen at WEC 31 was somewhat controversial -- Sonnen screamed but never tapped out -- and the two were slated for a rematch at WEC 36. That is where Filho’s slide, which continues to this day, officially began. The Brazilian showed up four pounds overweight and the bout was changed to a non-title affair. “Ely” was uncharacteristically listless during the fight, dropping a unanimous verdict to Sonnen. The performance did him no favors when the promotion’s 185-pound division was absorbed by the UFC.

“He deserved to lose,” Filho’s father told Sherdog.com after the November 2008 bout. “Fortunately, he gave his belt to Sonnen after the fight. I hope that this first loss can wake him up, because I always tell him when things start wrong, they finish wrong.”

Soon, however, questions about Filho’s commitment to the sport were no longer his greatest concern. Over the next few years, the black belt in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu battled substance abuse issues and briefly contemplated retirement. Several proposed bouts fell through, and when Filho did compete, he did not resemble the man who once reached the final of the 2006 Pride welterweight grand prix.

The Brazilian Top Team member, now 34 years old, recently returned to the cage at the World Series of Fighting 2 against David Branch. Filho did not reach New Jersey without issue, however, as a panic attack forced him to miss his first flight. It might have been better if he had not shown up at all; Filho offered little resistance as Branch pounded out a lopsided decision triumph.

Number 6 » Smashing on the Outside, Struggling Within