Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Light Heavyweight

1. Jon Jones (14-1)
The UFC’s young star shone again on Sept. 24, when Jones defended his 205-pound title for the first time and became only the second man to submit Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. “Bones” was expected to face former training partner Rashad Evans on Dec. 10, but injury once more derailed the matchup, leaving Jones to defend against ex-champ Lyoto Machida in Toronto.

2. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (20-5)
Rua turned in a vintage performance at UFC 134, disposing of former upsetter Forrest Griffin with the type of vicious assault which defined the Brazilian’s Pride Fighting Championship tenure. Shogun will look to move closer to another title shot when he takes on ex-Strikeforce titleholder Dan Henderson in the five-round main event of UFC on Nov. 19.

3. Rashad Evans (16-1-1)
Evans has faced some tough 205’ers in the Octagon over the past four years, but his hardest challenge of late has been staying healthy. Returning from a 14-month hiatus in August, the former Michigan State Spartan walloped Tito Ortiz but suffered a hand injury during the bout which will prevent him from challenging Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title in December.

4. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (32-9)
Jackson was halted for the first time since 2005 and submitted for only the second time in his career on Sept. 24 when he ran up against red-hot champion Jon Jones at UFC 135. The loss stopped a two-fight win streak and moved the Memphis native’s Octagon mark to 7-3.

5. Lyoto Machida (17-2)
Unable to land a date with injured prospect Phil Davis, it appeared “The Dragon” would remain dormant for the remainder of 2011 until another injury cleared the way for a title shot. Machida will attempt to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title he lost last year when he challenges Jon Jones on Dec. 10.

6. Phil Davis (9-0)
Injury forced Davis from his UFC 133 main event against Rashad Evans, and not much has been heard from the former Penn State Nittany Lion since. Still recovering from surgery to repair a partially torn knee ligament, Davis remains without a definite timetable for his return.

7. Forrest Griffin (18-7)
After losing his UFC light heavyweight title in 2008 and being embarrassed by Anderson Silva in 2009, Griffin strung together back-to-back victories over Tito Ortiz and Rich Franklin. That streak came to an abrupt halt on Aug. 27, however, when the man Griffin shockingly submitted in 2007, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, took revenge in the form of a first-round knockout at UFC 134.

8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5)
Nogueira was forced from an August bout with Rich Franklin due to a shoulder injury, but it didn’t take long for the UFC to schedule him another date. The Brazilian is now set to return on Dec. 10 against ex-champion Tito Ortiz at UFC 140, the same card on which his twin brother will rematch Frank Mir.

9. Dan Henderson (28-8)
It was only a matter of time before “Hendo” returned to the UFC fold. The heavy handed 41-year-old will attempt to transfer the momentum from his July triumph over Fedor Emelianenko when he meets Mauricio Rua in the five-round main event of UFC 139 on Nov. 19.

10. Rafael Cavalcante (11-3)
Six months after dropping his Strikeforce light heavyweight title to Dan Henderson, “Feijao” returned to his violent ways on Sept. 10. After a strangely tepid opening round, Cavalcante exploded on Yoel Romero Palacio, punching out the Olympic freestyle silver medalist in their Strikeforce showdown.

Other contenders: Rich Franklin, Alexander Gustafsson, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Vladimir Matyushenko, Gegard Mousasi.

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