Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Light Heavyweight
1. Lyoto Machida (15-0)
Fresh off his May 23 blowout of Rashad Evans, it appeared as though Machida would soon start preparing for a challenge from former light heavyweight ruler Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. However, with Jackson opting for a second coaching stint on “The Ultimate Fighter,” Machida’s first title defense will come in October against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 104.

2. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
Jackson was handed a title shot against Machida, but he opted to settle his beef with Evans instead. The pair will coach opposite each other on the 10th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

3. Rashad Evans (13-1-1)
After his first career loss -- and a brutal loss no less -- Evans is not taking it easy. “The Ultimate Fighter 2” winner will return to the show on which he first made his name, coaching against rival Jackson on Season 10. The two light heavyweights will meet later this year.

4. Mauricio Rua (18-3)
Fortune has smiled upon Rua. After UFC 98, it looked as if “Shogun” was a fight or more away from challenging for the UFC title. Now, however, the consensus 2005 “Fighter of the Year” will have a chance to regain light heavyweight supremacy against divisional champion Machida at UFC 104 in October.

5. Forrest Griffin (16-6)
Not long ago, Griffin was UFC light heavyweight champion and had picked up pound-for-pound quality wins over Rua and Jackson. However, after his destruction at the hands of middleweight king Anderson Silva at UFC 101, those wins seem like a distant memory for the original “Ultimate Fighter.”

6. Luis Arthur Cane (10-1)
It was his toughest test to date, but “Banha” showed poise in toughing out an entertaining decision in his April 18 bout with former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Steve Cantwell. It should be onward and upward for the hot prospect in the 205-pound division.

7. Rich Franklin (25-4, 1 NC)
Franklin was tabbed for a rematch with Dan Henderson at UFC 103 in September. However, when the MMA media and fans decided they were not keen on the matchup, Zuffa gave the people what they wanted. Franklin will now meet Vitor Belfort at a 195-pound catchweight come Sept. 19.

8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3)
Though an appearance at Affliction “Trilogy” did not materialize for Nogueira, “Minotoro” will not settle for inactivity. Having made his homeland MMA debut in his native Brazil in May, Nogueira will go back for seconds when he takes on “The Brazilian Killa” Alex Stiebling under the Bitetti Combat banner on Sept. 12.

9. Keith Jardine (14-5-1)
With his up-and-down performances, Jardine’s place in the light heavyweight division has been hard to peg. However, “The Dean of Mean” will get the chance to show where he stacks up when he takes on Brazilian brawler Thiago Silva at UFC 102 on Aug. 29.

10. Wanderlei Silva (32-10-1, 1 NC)
Though Silva dropped a unanimous verdict to Franklin at UFC 99, “The Axe Murderer” fought gamely throughout, and many thought he deserved the decision. His days at 205 pounds seem numbered, but his performance against Franklin has at least kept him relevant for a middleweight run.

Other contenders: Jon Jones, Chuck Liddell, Vladimir Matyushenko, Thiago Silva, Renato Sobral