Light Heavyweight
1. Jon Jones (22-1)
Jones might be the best light heavyweight in the world; he may be the best fighter in the world; he might be the best fighter ever. However, none of that will matter so much if he cannot produce a credible explanation for his June 16 failed anti-doping test for a pair of anti-estrogenic agents. Jones could face a two-year ban from competition and a $500,000 fine. Even if he can lessen his suspension and fine, a prolonged absence will spell his exit from this list.2. Daniel Cormier (18-1)
Plain and simple, UFC 200 was not a pleasant experience for Cormier. He thought he would be entering the biggest fight of his career -- a rematch with archrival Jon Jones -- in the headliner of one of the grandest MMA events in history. Instead, Jones was flagged for failing an anti-doping test during fight week. Cormier lost $500,000 off of his purse outright and untold millions in pay-per-view money, and he was forced to fight an untrained Anderson Silva on a few days’ notice. It was the ultimate no-win situation, and though he dominated “The Spider,” Cormier was roundly booed by the crowd and inevitably left Las Vegas with a bitter taste in his mouth.3. Anthony Johnson (21-5)
Johnson-Glover Teixeira seemed like the perfect UFC on Fox headliner for the company’s return to Chicago on July 23, but a personal matter forced Johnson to pull out of the fight and tend to his family. Fortunately for the MMA world, we will not have to wait long or rue the loss of the fight, as Johnson-Teixeira was quickly rescheduled for the outstanding UFC 202 card on Aug. 20 in Las Vegas.4. Alexander Gustafsson (16-4)
Gustafsson was remarkably close to conquering both Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier for UFC light heavyweight gold. In spite of how good the outstanding Swede has been in losing championship performances, he is 1-3 across his last four contests. “The Mauler” looks to get back on track on Sept. 3, when he takes on crafty Polish veteran Jan Blachowicz at a UFC Fight Night card in Hamburg, Germany.5. Ryan Bader (20-5)
Bader saw his five-fight winning streak snapped in just 86 seconds by violent puncher Anthony Johnson in January. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 winner’s path to a potential UFC light heavyweight title shot is now a tough row to hoe, and it begins on Sept. 3 in Hamburg, Germany, where he meets rugged Swede Ilir Latifi.6. Phil Davis (16-3, 1 NC)
It was not exactly a well-received victory, but at Bellator 154, Davis earned a unanimous verdict over Muhammed Lawal. It gave Davis another quality light heavyweight win and firmed up “Mr. Wonderful” for something he never got in the UFC: a shot at a championship. With his win over “King Mo,” Davis will meet Bellator champion Liam McGeary later this year with 205-pound gold on the line.7. Glover Teixeira (25-4)
Teixeira was dominated from start to finish when he met Jon Jones at UFC 172 two years ago. Nonetheless, the 36-year-old Brazilian has kept his nose to the grindstone, and after dominant stoppages of Ovince St. Preux, Patrick Cummins and former champ Rashad Evans, he could get another crack at UFC gold should he knock off Anthony Johnson at UFC 202 on Aug. 20.8. Ovince St. Preux (19-8)
Fighting on three weeks’ notice against one of the sport’s pound-for-pound greats, St. Preux hung around for five rounds but did little to trouble the returning Jon Jones in their interim title fight at UFC 197. “OSP” tasted defeat for the second time in three fights, as he was shut out by Jones in a lopsided unanimous decision.9. Nikita Krylov (21-4)
Once a punchline for his “Fighting Al Capone” gimmick, Ukraine’s Krylov has refashioned himself, not just as “The Miner” but as a legitimate prospect at 205 pounds. Since debuting at light heavyweight with an 89-second shoulder choke loss to Ovince St. Preux in March 2014, Krylov has won five in a row in increasingly impressive fashion. Most recently, Krylov took out sturdy veteran Ed Herman at UFC 201 in Atlanta, devastating “Short Fuse” with a second-round head kick.10. Liam McGeary (11-0)
Bellator MMA’s light heavyweight champion is still recovering from a knee injury, but he now knows what lies ahead. The unbeaten Brit will make the second defense of his title later this year against former NCAA Division I wrestling champion Phil Davis, who earned his shot by topping Muhammed Lawal at Bellator 154 on May 14.Other Contenders: Quinton Jackson, Ilir Latifi, Tomasz Narkun, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Mauricio Rua
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