MMA Rankings > MMA Light Heavyweight Rankings
MMA Light Heavyweight Division Rankings
A review and ranking of the top 205-pound Light Heavyweight fighters in MMA - January 2010 Update
The 205 pound weight class in Mixed Martial Arts may well be the deepest of all divisions in terms of talent. Sitting atop the 205 pound rankings is current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida who defended his belt in a controversial decision victory over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 104 and is rumored to be taking on Rua again atop the UFC 113 fight card. Our list below features
Here are the top ten light heavyweights in Mixed Martial Arts as we head into 2010.
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Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (left) lost a controversial decision to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 104. |
1. Lyoto Machida (16-0) – The undefeated UFC Light Heavyweight Champion defended his title for the first time when he escaped UFC 104 with a controversial decision victory over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in late October. He will now heal a hand injury that he suffered in that title fight and then battle Rua once again on May 1st in Montreal at UFC 113.
2. Gegard Mousasi (27-2-1) – The current Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion is on quite a roll winning 14 consecutive fights dating back to his last loss in August 2006. While he bounces back and forth from Japan to Strikeforce, the real question is who will actually challenge the top-flight 205-pounder with all the top light heaviweight fighters competing in the UFC.
3. Rashad Evans (13-1-1) – Evans has been out of commission for awhile filming and waiting for the tenth season of TUF to conclude. With his Memphis fight against Quinton Jackson postponed, his opponent is now Thiago Silva at UFC 108 in January. Evans last fight was a title defense, which he lost, to current champ Lyoto Machida last May.
4. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (18-4) – After TKO’ing both Mark Coleman (UFC 93) and Chuck Liddell (UFC 97), “Shogun” lost a hard-fought UFC 104 title bout against Machida. The decision was controversial, so much in fact that Rua will receive another crack at the 205-pound strap at a rumored UFC 113 event in Montreal in May 2010.
5. Quinton Jackson (30-7) – After retiring, co-starring in an A-Team movie, and engaging in a war of words with President Dana White, “Rampage” will in fact return to the octagon. His first challenge has to be a bout with his TUF 10 rival Rashad Evans, but don’t expect to see it unless Evans takes care of Thiago Silva in January. If all goes well, the Jackson vs. Evans bout would be in mid-2010. 6. Forrest Griffin (17-6) – Griffin improved his standing with his November UFC 106 decision victory against Tito Ortiz. Forrest was coming off bad losses to both Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva. He developed and executed a perfect game plan for Ortiz, one that neutralized “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’s” takedowns and ground and pound skills. 7. Thiago Silva (14-1) – A winner of five of six UFC bouts so far in his career, Silva will make a legitimate claim to another title opportunity with a convincing victory over Rashad Evans at UFC 108 in January. He was knocked out by Machida one year ago at UFC 94 in his first title chance, however rebounded with a 1st round TKO of Keith Jardine at UFC 102 in August. |
8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-3) – “Little Nog’s” first fight inside the octagon was a success. He earned a 1st round TKO of Luiz Arthur Cane at UFC 106 in November by demonstrating precise striking skills and capable defensive skills. On the strength of a six-fight winning streak, Nogueira had his UFC 109 bout with Brandon Vera pushed back due to an ankle injury that he suffered while training.
9. Luis Arthur Cane (10-2) – “Banha” remains a top-10 light-heavyweight despite his UFC 106 TKO loss at the hands of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Cane is 3-2 inside the UFC with victories over Jason Lambert, Sokoudjou, and Steve Cantwell.
10. Jon Jones (9-1) – Jon “Bones” Jones lone loss in his two year professional career happened in his most recent bout at the TUF 10 finale. Jones pounded on Matt Hamill for much of the 1st round until referee Steve Mazagatti stepped in and ruined another fight. The truth is Jones’ elbows were coming from an upright position which is illegal in the UFC. Jones was dominating and has to be respected as a top-level 205-pound fighter. He should be ready to go in early 2010.
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By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer
Published January 2010
Photo used with permission from the UFC