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 Oct. 24 against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 104.

2. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
Though Jackson was handed a title shot against Machida, he opted to settle his beef with Rashad Evans instead. Jackson and Evans will coach opposite each other on the 10th season of “The Ultimate Fighter," but it’s not clear whether their December superfight will come to fruition, as rumors swirl of "Rampage" looking to take on the role of B.A. Baracus in the forthcoming "A-Team" film.

3. Rashad Evans (13-1-1)
Evans signed on to coach against rival Quinton "Rampage" Jackson on the next season of "The Ultimate Fighter" in order to set up a marquee clash between the two in December. However, with talks that Jackson is keenly interested in channeling his inner Mr. T in Hollywood, Evans will either enjoy the advantage of focus and preparation, or in the worst case scenario, a new opponent.

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. Thiago Silva (14-1)
Coming off of a complete blowout defeat against now-divisional king Lyoto Machida in January, Silva rebounded about as well as any fighter could hope to at UFC 102. It took him just 95 seconds to find his left hook counter and pound out Keith Jardine for the most impressive win of his career.

7. Gegard Mousasi (26-2-1)
In his first major introduction to western MMA fans, Mousasi performed brilliantly as it took just 60 seconds for him to crush veteran Renato "Babalu" Sobral and claim Strikeforce's 205-pound title. A scale won't be needed for the 24-year-old's next action. He'll be alongside the likes of Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Ikuhisa Minowa and South Korean giant Hong Man Choi in the finale of Dream's Super Hulk tournament at Dream 12 on Oct. 25.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3)
"Minotoro" was scheduled to meet Alex Stiebling under the Bitetti Combat banner on Sept. 12 before his twin, "Minotauro" Nogueira, announced late last month that he would be on his way to the UFC soon. Though a deal has yet to be inked, manager Ed Soares expects Rogerio Nogueira in the Octagon by the year's end.

Other contenders: Keith Jardine, Chuck Liddell, Vladimir Matyushenko, Wanderlei Silva, Renato Sobral

*With the re-entry of sixth-ranked Thiago Silva and the addition of seventh-ranked Gegard Mousasi, formerly ninth-ranked Keith Jardine and 10th-ranked Wanderlei Silva fall to the bubble list.