Forrest Griffin is currently the number one light heavyweight fighter on the planet. The guy is likeable but his ranking has nothing to do with his disposition and everything to do with those he has disposed of with Rua and Jackson atop the list. While many can argue that Griffin did not win the bout against Jackson, it cannot be argued that he went 5 competitive rounds with the man considered the best in the division. Barring an upset loss to Rashad Evans, this spot is Griffin's for a while at least until the inevitable rematch with Jackson can take place.
2. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, UFC: True #1 Contender for UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, Former Champ
Quinton Jackson is still the second best light heavyweight fighter and belongs right beneath the current champ in the rankings. I have no clue where his head is, and do not feel he should be returning to action so soon, but it is quite possible that Jackson could be returning to the title picture in short order. Wanderlei Silva stands in his way, and I really don't like Jackson in this fight as he is 0-2 against Silva from their days in Pride, and I also feel this is the wrong opponent at the worst possible time for "Rampage." Should Jackson be victorious over Silva, he definitely will be in line for a crack at the title once again. Great fighter but one has to wonder if he is really ready to jump back into the deep water just yet. Only time will tell but I have to rank him number 2 based on his great body of work up to and including his bout with Griffin from July.
3. Rashad Evans, UFC: Top Ranked Contender, Faces Griffin at UFC 92
I am not a fan of Rashad Evans and went back and forth before deciding to go ahead and rank him at number 3. Evans is a gifted athlete and a pretty solid fighter who scratched off a winning lottery ticket by knocking out Chuck Liddell in September. I still feel that he was lucky to escape with a draw in his bout with Tito Ortiz at UFC 73, and that he was given a gift of a decision over Michael Bisping at UFC 78, but facts are facts and he does sport an unblemished record with a remarkable list of opponents faced.
What makes Evans dangerous in the future is the fact that he knows he does not have the support of the fans. Evans has gotten better each and every time out, and is the type of fighter who thrives on being the bad guy, but deep down is driven to show those people that they have got him all wrong. Rashad can and will become a more complete fighter, and I think when faced with the fight of his life at UFC 92 that we will see a hungry and improved Evans. When the fight was announced I immediately favored Griffin, and I still do, but Evans has that "x" factor that really makes him a very live dog in this matchup. Rashad Evans wants to spoil Forrest's party and rain on everyone's parade, and he is skilled enough to do just that. I don't like him; but that doesn't matter, and he doesn't care, as it is all about what he can and will do inside of the Octagon that matters. Forrest made his big splash against Jackson and I am telling you that Rashad could be primed to do that very same thing on his way to spoiling Griffin vs. Jackson II.
4. Lyoto Machida, UFC: Top Ranked Contender
This is the most unwanted man in the entire division by both fans and foes alike. Lyoto is undefeated but not a soul wishes to see him get his crack at the top of the division, and this is because he is a deadly fighter who fights in a decidedly non-crowd pleasing style. This man cannot speak English, and the only seats he puts butts on are located in the restroom as his fights are generally uneventful and light on action. The language barrier would not be a hindrance if he could speak volumes with his action inside of the Octagon, but as it is he is the fighter who seems as if he takes things too easy in there. Lyoto Machida is a winner, even though he has done little to win over the fans but one only has to look at his spotless record to realize that he is worthy of a showcase type fight. I welcome the opportunity for Machida to face off against the very best of the division as it will be interesting to see who can possibly crack his code and possibly goad "The Dragon" into a fight. He faces Thiago Silva at UFC 94 and this promises to be the sort of fight which could serve to bring Machida out of his shell and determine if he can one day garner a shot at the title.
5. Rich Franklin, UFC: Top Ranked Contender
Rich Franklin is the former UFC Middleweight Champion who is now competing in the light heavyweight division and coming off of a victory over Matt Hamill at UFC 88 in September. Franklin has been defeated twice by Anderson Silva, and his only other career loss came at the hands of Lyoto Machida from Inoki BoBa-Ye in 2003. When you take into consideration that Anderson Silva is arguably the best fighter on the planet and Lyoto Machida is undefeated and on his way to the top, it becomes clear just how good Rich Franklin is. Franklin is very underrated and appears to be well on his way to battling for the top spot in any division that does not include Anderson Silva, and he is set to face Dan Henderson at UFC 93 in January. Franklin's body of work cannot be denied and a win over Henderson could put him in line for a title shot in the future. Rich looked very impressive against Matt Hamill and I really believe that we can expect to see more of the same as long as he doesn't face the likes of Silva any time soon. Anderson Silva has his number but the number of fighters above Rich Franklin in the light heavyweight division are as few as the losses on Rich's record.
6. Wanderlei Silva: UFC, Contender
The "Axe Murderer" seemed to look old for a while, but looked like the fighter of old in dismantling Keith Jardine in just 36 seconds at UFC 84. Silva will be taking on Quinton Jackson at UFC 92 in December and a victory over "Rampage" could put Silva in line for a title shot in the near future. Wanderlei holds two victories over Jackson from their days in Pride and one would think that this gives him a mental edge going into their fight next month, but in my opinion it is Jackson's questionable mental state that could go along way towards providing Silva with an immeasurable advantage. Wanderlei Silva is the type of fighter who can flip the switch and finish an opponent and this instinct coupled with his punching power are two reasons why one should never count him out. Silva has been in many fights but at only 32 years old it would seem that he still has a few fights left in his tank. I feel he is fighting Jackson at just the right time, and in making the most of this advantageous position we could be seeing "The Axe Murderer" back atop the light heavyweight ranks. Right now he desperately needs to prove his best days are not behind him, and a highlight reel victory over "Rampage" at UFC 92 could do just that.
7. Chuck Liddell: UFC, Contender
Liddell was knocked out by Rashad Evans at UFC 88, and with a 1-3 record over his last 4 fights it leads me to wonder if his best days are fading fast behind him. Remaining with John Hackleman has been called into question by some but I do not feel that he needs to suddenly shake things up and change scenery. Liddell's reaction time has slowed and he no longer can get away with carrying his hands low and being a little reckless, and this is exactly how he got caught by Evans in September. His being knocked out says nothing about his chin, but by being caught with such a shot speaks volumes about his ability to remain out of harm's way any longer.
Liddell's boxing skills are rudimentary at best and he has really gotten away with getting great results out of piss poor technique for so long that he may never be able to break his habits. Chuck can still be a factor in this weight class if he would tighten his game up just ever so slightly and simply land the big shots. Liddell is the big name and will get at least another shot to prove if he still has it in the upcoming year. A rumored bout with Randy Couture appears to be on the horizon, and I would have to imagine that this may be the best fight for him in terms of earning potential as well as limited risk. I don't see this old dog listening to any tips to improve his old tricks, and as such I see a big money fight with Couture in his future being the best option for him to remain even somewhat viable in 2009. Liddell's name will forever loom large atop the marquee, but he is dangerously close to being just a name opponent and could be best served by fighting once more with Couture and then hanging them up. I rank him at 7 because anything can happen in a fight, and if he lands the shot it can all be over but I really don't see him being capable of that as he once was.
8. Keith Jardine: UFC, Contender
Jardine is a fighter who has some big wins on his resume, but is pretty much an afterthought in the division and as such is not really as respected as one might imagine. Victories over Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin are impressive, but getting dusted by Wanderlei Silva and Houston Alexander in less than a minute and a half total is not. Jardine is a capable fighter but one who doesn't seem to always show up and runs hot and cold to say the least. He is a tough fighter but not always a smart one and at 33 years old it wouldn't appear that there will be enough time for him to work all of the kinks out. Coming off a victory over Brandon Vera at UFC 89 puts him in position to garner another fight with a top name opponent, but it looks as if Jardine is going to forever be more of a gatekeeper who sometimes gets allowed inside rather than a fighter who could seriously contend for the title. If he can pull off a couple more wins, I would welcome the chance to see him rematch Griffin down the line. I like Keith Jardine and feel that while he is not a top fighter at 205 lbs. that he is most certainly in the top ten and worthy of the 8th spot on this list.
9. Thiago Silva: UFC, Contender
Thiago Silva is an undefeated prospect who will be getting his big chance at UFC 94 against Lyoto Machida. Silva's striking ability is nothing short of impressive, and it is going to prove to be quite a test to see if he can even come close to landing a shot against "The Dragon." If anyone can do it, it could be Silva and a win over Machida would serve to rocket him up the ranks and in line for a title shot. Silva is everything that Machida is not in terms of being an exciting fighter and he has the opportunity of a lifetime before him. At this very moment I do not see Silva emerging victorious, but he has more than just a chance to do so and I am looking forward to seeing this fight.
10. Anderson Silva: UFC, May Compete at 205
I debated about where to rank Anderson Silva, if at all, and settled on the tenth and final spot. Truth be told it could be argued that Silva deserves the number one ranking by virtue of his being the best fighter on the planet at the present moment. There are not too many fights left in Silva's MMA career, but there are plenty of big ones that do remain, and quite a few that could do huge numbers at the box office. Silva is the kind of fighter that we will not realize just how special he is until he is gone, and I just hope he remains motivated enough to finish his career with a bang and against the best competition at any weight. As long as it is not against Rich Franklin, I welcome the opportunity to see Silva take on the top names at 205 and sincerely hope this comes to fruition. There are money bouts with the likes of Liddell and Couture but I would much rather see him take on the very top of this division and not simply the biggest names at the box office.
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