Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Light Heavyweight

1. Rashad Evans (13-0-1)
Evans' May 23 defense against the ever-dangerous Quinton "Rampage" Jackson fell through. However, that won't save Evans from taking on an enormously dangerous opponent. He'll meet arguably the division's finest, undefeated Lyoto Machida, in the headliner of UFC 98 on May 23.

2. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
Jackson's hard-fought unanimous verdict over Keith Jardine on March 7 earned him a crack at UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans at UFC 98 on May 23. However, with just over two months turnaround for such a high stakes clash, "Rampage" has opted to step aside, allowing for Lyoto Machida to challenge Evans instead.

3. Forrest Griffin (16-5)
With his injured hand healing better than expected, the former UFC light heavyweight champ will return to action at UFC 101 on Aug. 8. He's slated to meet Thiago Silva.

4. Lyoto Machida (14-0)
After putting together a 6-0 mark in the Octagon, "The Dragon" will finally get his crack at UFC gold. He takes on fellow undefeated 205-pounder Rashad Evans for the UFC title and light heavyweight supremacy in the main event of UFC 98 on May 23.

5. Chuck Liddell (21-6)
The on-again, off-again bout with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua is on again: They will finally meet in the co-main event of UFC 97 in Montreal on April 17. It’s a do-or-die bout for two men desperate to turn their fortunes in the 205-pound division.

6. Wanderlei Silva (32-9-1, 1 NC)
While a move to the 185-pound division may be imminent, "The Axe Murderer" will only slide partway down the scale for the time being. He will fight Rich Franklin in a catchweight contest at UFC 99 on June 13 in Cologne, Germany.

7. Luis Arthur Cane (9-1)
Keith Jardine's promotion to main event duty at UFC 96 didn't leave "Banha" without an opponent for long. The surging Brazilian banger will take on former WEC light heavyweight champ Steve Cantwell at UFC 97 in Montreal on April 18.

8. Keith Jardine (14-5-1)
Jardine did not walk away with a win in his March 7 meeting with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, but "The Dean of Mean" did extract some moral victory. He fought the former 205-pound king tooth-and-nail to a competitive decision, far exceeding expectations.

9. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (16-3)
Thrilling it was not, but Nogueira avenged his August 2002 loss to Vladimir Matyushenko with a second-round stoppage at Affliction's Jan. 24 "Day of Reckoning." Next for Rogerio may be a bout in Brazilian promotion Jungle Fight on April 25.

10. Thiago Silva (13-1)
Silva was blown out by Lyoto Machida on Jan. 31. Now the Brazilian banger will look to recover from his first loss when he meets former divisional ruler Forrest Griffin on Aug. 8 at UFC 101.

Other contenders: Rich Franklin, Jon Jones, Vladimir Matyushenko, Mauricio Rua, Renato Sobral.