Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Light Heavyweight

1. Lyoto Machida (16-0)
The rematch will happen a few months later than expected, but when Machida’s hand has fully healed, the UFC light heavyweight champion will take on fellow Brazilian Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on May 8 in Montreal in a rematch of their controversial October encounter.

2. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (18-4)
Though Rua would undoubtedly have preferred to get his rematch with Lyoto Machida in January, “Shogun” will have his chance to right what many observers see as one of 2009’s most egregious wrongs at UFC 113 on May 8 in Montreal.

3. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-7)
As expected, Jackson’s bite from the acting bug has healed and paved the way for his return to the fight game. “Rampage” expects to finally square off with Rashad Evans at UFC 114 on May 29, as they wrap up their feud from the 10th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

4. Rashad Evans (14-1-1)
In the UFC 108 headliner, Evans did enough to outpoint Thiago Silva but underwhelmed onlookers in doing so. More will be expected come May 29, when he gets his date with archrival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 114.

5. Forrest Griffin (16-6)
Griffin got back on the horse in November, earning a well-deserved decision win over Tito Ortiz in a rematch of their April 2006 bout. However, the road will get considerably tougher for the former light heavyweight king on May 29, when he takes on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 114 in Las Vegas.

6. Gegard Mousasi (27-2-1)
In April, Mousasi will be back on American network television when Strikeforce returns to CBS. “The Dreamcatcher” will defend his Strikeforce light heavyweight crown against unbeaten amateur wrestling star Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in one of the most anticipated bouts of early 2010.

7. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-3)
“Minotoro” turned in one of the most impressive Octagon debuts in recent memory in November, blowing away heavy-hitting prospect Luis Arthur Cane in less than two minutes. Now in the stream of contenders at 205 pounds, Nogueira can creep closer to the top of the division when he takes on former champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 114 on May 29.

8. Thiago Silva (14-2)
Following UFC 108, word came out that Silva entered his main event bout with Rashad Evans with a back injury. If true, it would go a long way towards explaining the lethargic performance from the Brazilian, save for his one salvo late in the third round, which was too little too late.

9. Luis Arthur Cane (10-2)
Cane stood on the cusp as a potential UFC light heavyweight title contender heading into UFC 106. That was before Antonio Rogerio Nogueira laid waste to him in less than two minutes, sending “Banha” back into the general population at 205 pounds.

10. Rich Franklin (25-5)
On the brink 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: Randy Couture, Keith Jardine, Chuck Liddell, Vladimir Matyushenko, Renato "Babalu" Sobral.