Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Light Heavyweight

1. Jon Jones (23-1)

The psychodrama with Jones just never ends. After he made an iconic, triumphant return at UFC 214 and vanquished archrival Daniel Cormier with a third-round head kick, it restored hope that the 30-year-old may finally have his personal and professional life sorted out. Not so fast: While the confusing facts have yet to be fully revealed and despite passing multiple pre- and post-fight drug tests, “Jonny Bones” flunked a weigh-in day urine screen for the steroid turinabol. As a result of his second USADA offense, Jones faces a bevy of potential fines, a four-year suspension and may have to relinquish his UFC title for a record-setting third time.

2. Daniel Cormier (19-2)

In eight years and 21 fights, only one man has beaten Cormier: Jon Jones. However, Cormier's third-round head-kick knockout loss to Jones in their anticipated rematch at UFC 214 may be erased, as Jones failed another USADA drug test. It could give Cormier the UFC light heavyweight title back, albeit in the most hollow way possible. Even if the loss is stricken from the record and his championship is returned, what comes next for Cormier is uncertain.

3. Alexander Gustafsson (18-4)

The latest in Jon Jones' anti-doping drama must be bittersweet for Gustafsson. Coming off back-to-back wins over Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira, “The Mauler” seemed prime for a title eliminator sort of bout, perhaps with the likes of Volkan Oezdemir, in order to get a second shot at Jones' championship and a chance to avenge his razor-thin loss in their classic 2013 “Fight of the Year.” Instead, Gustafsson is further than ever from another shot at Jones. However, if “Bones” is suspended once more, Gustafsson could walk into a title rematch with Daniel Cormier, whom he nearly topped for the crown at UFC 192 in October 2015.

4. Ryan Bader (23-5)

Bader spent eight years toiling toward a UFC light heavyweight title shot but never could clinch one. In his Bellator MMA debut in June, “Darth Bader” took the promotion's title from Phil Davis, and now, he is already lined up for his first defense. The 34-year-old Bader defends his 205-pound crown against crafty Brit Linton Vassell at Bellator 186 on Nov. 3, from the campus of Penn State University.

5. Volkan Oezdemir (15-1)

Six months ago, Oezdemir was a largely anonymous Bellator MMA veteran. He made his UFC debut on short notice in February, upsetting Ovince St. Preux via questionable split decision. Since getting his foot in the door, Oezdemir has not looked back. “No Time” has taken out St. Preux, Misha Cirkunov and, now, big-hitting Brit Jimi Manuwa at UFC 214. Ciruknov and Manuwa lasted a combined 70 seconds in the cage with the surging Swiss fighter.

6. Phil Davis (17-4, 1 NC)

Davis thought his first Bellator light heavyweight title defense would come against Muhammed Lawal at Bellator 180, but instead, “King Mo” withdrew from the contest and was replaced by recent free agent signing Ryan Bader, the last man to beat Davis back in January 2015. Inside Madison Square Garden on June 24, Davis lost a nip-tuck decision to Bader over 25 minutes, relinquishing his title and dropping another verdict to “Darth Bader.”

7. Jimi Manuwa (17-3)

Back-to-back knockouts of Ovince St. Preux and Corey Anderson had Manuwa on the doorstep of a potential UFC title shot, provided he could get by Switzerland's Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California. Now, the 37-year-old “Poster Boy” is going to have to work his way back up through the light heavyweight division, as Oezdemir sat down Manuwa in a mere 42 seconds to author another upset victory inside the Octagon.

8. Glover Teixeira (26-6)

It has been three and a half years since Teixeira fought Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title. He has been brutally knocked out in two of his last three bouts and is going on 38 years old. Still, the light heavyweight division is struggling for young talent and the well-rounded veteran Teixeira remains a gatekeeper to the stars. At UFC Fight Night 119 on Oct. 28 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Teixeira will try to hand a flunking grade to another prospect when he takes on fellow top-10 talent Misha Cirkunov.

9. Misha Cirkunov (13-3)

With eight straight stoppage wins and a new UFC deal, everything was looking up for Cirkunov after years of hype on the Canadian MMA scene. Then he ran headfirst into the right hand of Volkan Oezdemir in May and ate the canvas in 28 seconds. Nonetheless, the Latvian-Canadian has a chance to get the biggest win of his career next time out, but it will come against another legitimate knockout threat and in hostile territory. Cirkunov faces Brazilian veteran Glover Teixeira at UFC Fight Night 119 on Oct. 28 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

10. Ilir Latifi (13-5, 1 NC)

Beyond becoming a cult favorite because of his hulking physique and amusing pictures of him riding horses on the beach while shirtless, Latifi has become and excellent mixed martial artist. Rebounding from his brutal knockout loss to Ryan Bader 12 months prior, Latifi put the first blemish on the record of prospect Tyson Pedro at UFC 215. Latifi has now won four of his last five bouts.

Other Contenders: Nikita Krylov, Liam McGeary, Mauricio Rua, Ovince St. Preux, Linton Vassell.

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