Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Light Heavyweight

1. Lyoto Machida (16-0)
The rematch will happen a few months later than expected, but when Machida’s hand has fully healed, the UFC light heavyweight champion expects to meet fellow Brazilian Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on May 1 in Montreal.

2. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (18-4)
Though Rua would undoubtedly have preferred to get his rematch with Lyoto Machida in January, “Shogun” will have his chance to right what many observers see as one of 2009’s most egregious wrongs on May 1 in Montreal.

3. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (30-7)
None-too-surprisingly, Jackson announced he would return to the UFC Octagon in 2010 to settle his rivalry with Rashad Evans -- this after delaying the bout indefinitely with his decision to become Hollywood’s B.A. Baracus in “The A-Team.”

4. Rashad Evans (13-1-1)
With Quinton “Rampage” Jackson announcing he plans to return to the UFC next year, Evans will get the grudge match he desires. First, however, Evans will meet up with another standout light heavyweight when he takes on Thiago Silva in the UFC 108 main event on Jan. 2.

5. Forrest Griffin (16-6)
Much like his first encounter with Tito Ortiz, Griffin went nip-and-tuck until the final bell with the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” at UFC 106. Once again, the fight ended in a split decision. This time, though, the cards favored Griffin, who earned a much-needed victory and moved toward putting his embarrassing loss to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva behind him.

6. Gegard Mousasi (27-2-1)
Mousasi further showed a fighting maturity that belies his years, as the 24-year-old took apart Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in their Nov. 7 meeting on CBS. The real question surrounding Mousasi has now become whether Strikeforce can find worthwhile challengers to his 205-pound title in a division largely owned by Zuffa.

7. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-3)
Coming off of a sensational knockout win over Luis Arthur Cane in his September UFC debut, Nogueira was slated for action against Brandon Vera at UFC 109 in February. Unfortunately, as quickly as it was announced, the bout fell apart due to an ankle injury “Minotoro” suffered in training.

8. Thiago Silva (14-1)
To continue ascending in the light heavyweight division, Silva will have to topple another Greg Jackson-trained standout. Having already felled Keith Jardine, the rugged Brazilian will now meet former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans at UFC 108.

9. Luis Arthur Cane (10-2)
Cane stood on the cusp as a potential UFC light heavyweight title contender heading into UFC 106. That was before Antonio Rogerio Nogueira laid waste to him in less than two minutes, sending “Banha” back into the general population at 205 pounds.

10. Rich Franklin (25-5)
On the brink of becoming a light heavyweight contender, Franklin was victimized by a first-round knockout from Vitor Belfort in the UFC 103 headliner. Though Belfort will now move to 185 pounds to campaign, the loss leaves Franklin without a clear direction in the UFC’s 205-pound division.

Other contenders: Keith Jardine, Vladimir Matyushenko, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Wanderlei Silva, Chuck Liddell.