Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Light Heavyweight

1. Lyoto Machida (16-0)
Machida was crucified by a rankled public following his unanimous decision over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in October. Now, adding injury to insult, Machida has been forced to have surgery on his left hand, keeping him out of the cage indefinitely and postponing what was to be an "immediate" rematch between the two Brazilians.

2. Mauricio Rua (18-4)
Lyoto Machida's hand surgery will postpone the rematch with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, which was originally tabbed for early 2010. Regardless, there is no question as to who Machida's challenger will be when "The Dragon" is off the mend.

3. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
While viewers continue to watch the shortcomings of Team Rampage on “The Ultimate Fighter 10,” Jackson remains hard at work away from the sport of MMA. He can be found on the set of Hollywood’s “The A-Team,” playing B.A. Baracus, much to the chagrin of the MMA world that eagerly awaited his showdown with Rashad Evans.

4. Rashad Evans (13-1-1)
“The Ultimate Fighter 10” rolls on, but MMA’s hardcore contingent is now well aware Evans will not get his chance to square off with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson later this year. However, Evans will meet up with a standout light heavyweight when he takes on Thiago Silva at UFC 108 on Jan. 2.

5. Forrest Griffin (16-6)
Griffin’s April 2006 split decision loss to Tito Ortiz was his moment of validation in the light heavyweight division. Now he will have the chance to avenge that defeat from three and a half years ago, a bout many feel Griffin won, when he rematches Ortiz at UFC 106 on Nov. 21.

6. Gegard Mousasi (27-2-1)
Mousasi further showed a fighting maturity that belies his years, as the 24-year-old coolly took apart Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in their Nov. 7 meeting on CBS. The real question surrounding Mousasi has now become whether Strikeforce can find worthwhile challengers to his 205-pound title in a division largely owned by Zuffa.

7. Thiago Silva (14-1)
To continue ascending in the light heavyweight division, Silva will have to topple another Greg Jackson-trained standout. Having already felled Keith Jardine, Silva will now meet former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans at UFC 108.

8. Luis Arthur Cane (10-1)
Cane has emerged as one of the best young fighters in a division filled with great young talent. To move into title contention at 205 pounds, though, he will need to spoil the UFC debut of fellow Brazilian Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 106 on Nov. 21.

9. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3)
The other Nogueira twin will make his promotional debut at UFC 106 on Nov. 21, and it will not be easy. Nogueira’s welcome to the UFC will come courtesy of his Brazilian countryman, Luis Arthur Cane.

10. Rich Franklin (25-5)
On the cusp of becoming a light heavyweight contender, Franklin was victimized by a first-round knockout from Vitor Belfort in the UFC 103 headliner. Though Belfort will now move to 185 pounds to campaign, the loss leaves Franklin without a clear direction in the UFC’s 205-pound division.

Other contenders: Keith Jardine, Vladimir Matyushenko, Renato Sobral, Wanderlei Silva, Chuck Liddell.