Light Heavyweight
1. Daniel Cormier (20-1)
Cormier’s latest UFC title bout was just another night at the office for “DC.” He took the best shots surging challenger Volkan Oezdemir had to offer at UFC 220 in Boston, then pounded out the Swiss fighter in seven minutes. With another championship win to his credit, Cormier has stated he is now targeting a March 2019 retirement and does not want to fight beyond the age of 40. Before that happens, Cormier will return to the heavyweight division to challenge reigning titlist Stipe Miocic in a champion-versus-champion superfight at UFC 226 on July 7.2. Alexander Gustafsson (18-4)
Volkan Oezdemir’s legal issues did not prevent him from challenging Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight title at UFC 220, and Gustafsson, the promotion’s top-ranked contender, did not sit by idly. After three months of his left shoulder and collarbone being held together with a plate, “The Mauler” opted for surgery in late November and is now traversing the rehabilitation process.3. Ryan Bader (24-5)
Bader’s Bellator MMA career got off to a quick start, as he took the promotion’s 205-pound title from Phil Davis in June and then defended it easily against tough Brit Linton Vassell on Nov. 3. Now, there is even more potential at hand for “Darth Bader,” as he has joined the bracket for Bellator’s 2018 tournament to crown a new heavyweight champion. Bader’s quest to become a two-division champion begins in May, when he faces Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in the quarterfinals.4. Volkan Oezdemir (15-2)
Oezdemir in 2017 was a shocking revelation with his wins over Ovince St. Preux, Misha Cirkunov and Jimi Manuwa. While the Swiss fighter will not be sent back into obscurity anytime soon, the 28-year-old was quickly brought back to Earth on Jan. 20. In his light heavyweight title challenge against Daniel Cormier at UFC 220, “DC” took Oezdemir’s best shots, took him down and pounded him out in the second round.5. Phil Davis (18-4)
Down 2-0 to Ryan Bader in their head-to-head series that has transferred from the UFC to Bellator MMA, Davis took a step toward a third encounter with the man who took his light heavyweight title in June. Davis won a handy unanimous decision over Leonardo Leite at Bellator 186, handing the jiu-jitsu ace his first pro MMA loss on the campus of his alma mater, Penn State University.6. Glover Teixeira (27-6)
After his one-sided demolition and gruesome knockout loss against Alexander Gustafsson in May, it was perfectly reasonable to assume Teixeira’s near decade-long run as an elite 205-pound fighter may be done. Think again: At UFC on Fox 26 on Dec. 16, the Brazilian veteran pulled a quick turnaround on top-10 talent Misha Cirkunov, pounding him out in the first round before issuing a challenge to fellow contender Jimi Manuwa.7. Jimi Manuwa (17-3)
Manuwa had his roll toward a UFC light heavyweight championship title shot stunted by a 42-second knockout loss to Volkan Oezdemir in July. In order to get back into the 205-pound race, Manuwa will need to notch a victory at UFC Fight Night 127 on March 17 in London, where he rematches Jan Blachowicz -- a man he defeated in April 2015.8. Misha Cirkunov (13-4)
Coming off of an unceremonious 28-second knockout loss to Volkan Oezdemir in May, Cirkunov undoubtedly viewed a showdown with perennial-but-fading contender Glover Teixeira as a suitable bounce-back bout. Not so fast: As Cirkunov gained a quick advantage over the Brazilian, Teixeira stormed back to stop the Latvian-Canadian less than three minutes into the first round.9. Ilir Latifi (13-5)
After besting the previously unbeaten Tyson Pedro across 15 minutes, “The Sledgehammer” had designs on a fight with Ovince St. Preux, a fight which was actually confirmed for UFC on Fox 27 on Jan. 27. Unfortunately, Latifi was injured and forced to pull out of the contest. The bout has now been rescheduled for UFC on Fox 28 on Feb. 24.10. Nikita Krylov (23-5)
Krylov on Oct. 13 made his second appearance for Fight Nights Global after requesting his release from the UFC. While opponent Emanuel Newton entered the bout 1-5 over his previous six outings, the former Bellator 205-pound champion had never been treated like this: Krylov swarmed him and collapsed “The Hardcore Kid” with a devastating knee strike in just 43 seconds. It was only the second time in Newton’s career -- the first since his November 2003 pro debut -- that he had been stopped with strikes. After the emphatic win, Krylov called out fellow UFC veteran Fabio Maldonado.Other Contenders: Tomasz Narkun, Mauricio Rua, Ovince St. Preux, Linton Vassell, Rashid Yusupov.
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