Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Light Heavyweight

1. Lyoto Machida (15-0)
His style and stoicism made him one of MMA's most intriguing fighters. However, his brutal bashing of Rashad Evans to take the 205-pound mantle has affirmed him as one of the sport's best fighters. Better still, Machida will be afforded the chance to add another outstanding name to his resume in Quinton "Rampage" Jackson later this year.

2. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
The good news for "Rampage" is that he will be given a chance to regain his UFC light heavyweight title and 205-pound supremacy later this year. The bad news, of course, is that to do it, he must fight newly minted divisional ruler Lyoto Machida, who been untouchable in the Octagon thus far.

3. Rashad Evans (13-1-1)
In his first defense of the UFC light heavyweight title he took from Forrest Griffin in December, Rashad Evans was blown out by Lyoto Machida inside of nine minutes. Evans now must take his place in line in an ultra-competitive 205-pound division.

4. Forrest Griffin (16-5)
Coming off of a deflating loss to Rashad Evans in December, many fighters would've opted for a tune-up bout. Forrest Griffin initially was tabbed to meet Brazilian banger Thiago Silva at UFC 101. That was before Griffin decided that a bout with the sport's pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva sounded more appealing on Aug. 8.

5. Mauricio Rua (18-3)
Rua was in the middle of a career tailspin heading into his April 18 do-or-die bout with Chuck Liddell. However, 2005’s unanimous “Fighter of the Year” turned in his best performance in recent memory. An in-shape and technically sound “Shogun” stopped Liddell in the first round to get back on the light heavyweight map.

6. Luis Arthur Cane (10-1)
It was his toughest test to date, but “Banha” showed poise in toughing out an entertaining decision in his April 18 bout with former WEC champion Steve Cantwell. It should be onward and upward for the hot prospect in the 205-pound division.

7. 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 former middleweight champion Rich Franklin in a 195-pound catch-weight contest at UFC 99 on June 13 in Cologne, Germany.

8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3)
It took Nogueira seven years and 20 fights to finally have a bout in his native Brazil. Fortunately, he made it a show for Fortaleza fans, as he took out Dutchman Dion Staring with a triangle choke on May 9.

9. Keith Jardine (14-5-1)
With his up-and-down performances, Jardine's place in the light heavyweight division has been hard to peg. However, "The Dean of Mean" will get the chance to prove where he stacks up when he takes on Brazilian brawler Thiago Silva at UFC 102 on Aug. 29.

10. Thiago Silva (13-1)
Coming off his brutal bashing at the hands of Lyoto Machida in January, Silva was expected to get back into the saddle against Forrest Griffin at UFC 101. Instead, Silva will be in action three weeks later at UFC 102, meeting Keith Jardine.

Other contenders: Rich Franklin, Jon Jones, Chuck Liddell, Vladimir Matyushenko, Renato Sobral.