Light Heavyweight 12-28-08

Rank

Fighter

Comments

1.

Rashad Evans

The UFC still doesn't have an unassailable ruler at 205 pounds, but after what Sugar did to Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin, you can't really argue that he doesn't deserve to be on top for now. And between his powerful hands and wrestling ability, we like his chances against Quinton Jackson or the Machida/T. Silva winner, whoever comes first.

2.

Quinton Jackson

Was he in rough emotional shape before the Forrest Griffin fight? Has he been able to lay his personal demons to rest at Wolfslair Academy, far away from Juanito Ibarra and his former trainer's alleged betrayals? It's hard to make a firm judgment on Rampage's recovery until his next outing, but his lights-out KO of Wanderlei Silva must have lifted a tremendous weight off his shoulders. Jackson is back, and ready to get his wolf on, so to speak. Getting in hook-range of this guy is a bad, bad idea.

3.

Lyoto Machida

The tired sports cliche of "the irresistible force vs. the immovable object" is a particularly apt description of Machida's upcoming fight against Thiago Silva at UFC 94. Our money's still on the "object," who lives to frustrate aggressive strikers like Thiago.

4.

Forrest Griffin

 

5.

Mauricio Rua

6.

Thiago Silva

7.

Chuck Liddell

8.

Wanderlei Silva

So that makes four losses in five fights. It's not like any of the guys Wandy lost to were scrubs, but it makes you wonder if his top-competitor days are finally over. Silva looked thin coming into his match against Rampage, fought tentatively, and blacked out after the first hard punch. Is "World's Scariest Gatekeeper" the future that awaits him?

9.

Keith Jardine

 

10.

Vladimir Matyushenko