Best Canadian UFC Fighter

Before you slam your fist down on the table declaring Georges St. Pierre the obvious answer as Canada's best mixed martial artist, I regret to inform you that GSP will be sitting this discussion out.
The welterweight champion is one of the world's best pound-for-pound fighters and, by no fault of his own, tends to get the majority of the headlines when it comes to Canadians in the UFC.
With Montreal and Vancouver preparing to host UFC fight cards this year, the popularity of the sport in Canada has never been stronger. Whether you are a veteran fan of the octagon who recalls Royce Gracie's win at UFC 1 in 1993, or a relatively new follower of mixed martial arts who is just trying to tell the difference between the Silvas (Anderson, Thiago, and Wanderlei), Canadians are flocking to witness the action inside the octagon.
Led by the success of GSP, the number of Canadians under contract in the UFC is growing, including many fighters earning their keep on undercards as they try to work their way towards a title shot. 
So, outside of Georges St. Pierre which Canadian fighter has the brightest future in the UFC?
Sam Stout (16-5-1) - The London, Ontario native stayed true to his nickname "Hands of Stone" when he battled in dramatic fashion to defeat Joe Lauzon at UFC 108, eventually winning the fight by unanimous decision. Stout provides fans with guaranteed excitement as he isn't afraid to continue to move forward and strike with his opponents. The 25-year-old now needs to use the win to catapult himself up the lightweight rankings.
Patrick Cote (14-5) - "The Predator" fought off a knee injury for almost a year in order to keep his dreams of a middleweight championship alive. Unfortunately for Cote, when he did get his shot against Anderson Silva, his knee gave out on him in the third round, rendering him unable to finish the fight. After more than a year off, the 29-year-old expects to return to the octagon at UFC 113 in Montreal.
Mark Bocek (8-2) - A black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Bocek is a dangerous grappler who currently boasts a three-fight win streak which have all ended by submission. The 28-year-old lightweight is making a name for himself as one of the better submission fighters in the sport. After working his way up, Bocek's next bout will be versus Jim Miller on the main card of UFC 111. 
Tim Hague (10-2)  - Coming off a win in his UFC debut, expectations were high for "The Thrashing Machine." However, in his second bout he found himself on the wrong end of a record-setting performance when he was knocked out by Todd Duffee seven seconds into their UFC 102 matchup. Now Hague will have to pick himself up off the canvas and try to restore some of the luster that his fighting future had. He'll get his chance on the undercard of next month's UFC 109. 
T.J. Grant (15-3) - Move over Sidney Crosby, Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia has a new sports figure to root for. Grant is a well-rounded welterweight, who stopped Kevin Burns in the opening round of their may UFC 107 bout. It was also the first time Grant had grown out his beard prior to stepping in the octagon, and with a result like that he may not need a razor anytime soon.
Jonathan Goulet (22-10-1)  - "The Road Warrior" has plenty of mileage on his 30-year-old body, but he hasn't been seen on a UFC card since December 2008 when he was knocked out early in the first round by Mike Swick. Goulet, who has an affinity for eccentric hair styles, is slated to be a part of UFC 113 along with fellow Canucks - Cote, Stout, and Grant.
Rory MacDonald (10-0) - With ten fights under his belt, it's tough to call Rory MacDonald a rookie, but among this group he is the newest face to join the UFC. At 20-years-old, the undefeated British Columbia product is a rising star and delivered in his first octagon appearance submitting Mike Guymon at UFC Fight Night 20 earlier this month. While he has a long way to go before his name is mentioned among the elite, MacDonald is certainly off to an impressive start.
Krzystof Soszynski (19-10-1) - At 32-years-old, Soszynski is the elder statesman on this list. While he was born in Poland, he grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba and made his way into the UFC via The Ultimate Fighter Season 8. His star was on the rise after winning his first three UFC bouts, but in his last matchup he ran into Brandon Vera, and "The Truth" hurt. He'll look to get back on track against Stephan Bonnar at UFC 110.




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