Jon Jones' first title defense against Quinton Jackson is quickly approaching. | Photo: Dave Mandel
Light Heavyweight
It has been a bumpy ride since 23-year-old Jones became the UFC’s new 205-pound champion by blasting Mauricio Rua in March. First, he was to fight former teammate Rashad Evans. Then, he was sidelined with a nagging injured hand that required surgery. Now, “Bones” is back, forgoing the operation in order to defend his belt for the first time against Quinton Jackson at UFC 135 on Sept. 24.
2. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (20-5)
Rua turned in a vintage performance at UFC 134, disposing of former upsetter Forrest Griffin with the type of vicious assault that defined his Pride Fighting Championship tenure. With knockout victories over Griffin and Lyoto Machida on his ledger, Rua has only one UFC defeat left unavenged: his March title loss to current UFC light heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones.
3. Rashad Evans (16-1-1)
In his first action in 15 months, Evans was sterling, bashing Tito Ortiz and stopping him with a crushing knee to the body in the second frame at UFC 133. However, Evans did damage to his right hand and will have to hope it heals in time for him to challenge the winner of the Jon Jones-Quinton Jackson bout later this year.
4. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (32-8)
In his 40th professional fight, “Rampage” put on a show, shutting down every shot from fellow wrestler Matt Hamill and pounding “The Hammer” in the standup on his way to a May 28 unanimous nod. The win set up a Sept. 24 collision between Jackson and the man who currently holds the belt that was once his, Jon Jones, at UFC 135.
5. Lyoto Machida (17-2)
Machida has not been much of a topic for discussion for UFC matchmaking since he wanted big money to face Rashad Evans in the UFC 133 main event. Machida's manager, Ed Soares, has floated the name of unbeaten former NCAA wrestling champion Phil Davis as a potential opponent, but no steps have been taken in that direction.
6. Phil Davis (9-0)
Davis was forced out of the UFC 133 main event against Rashad Evans due to a knee injury. He does not yet have a timetable for his return, but a bout with Lyoto Machida has been bandied about in the media and would certainly offer Davis another high-profile opponent.
7. Forrest Griffin (18-7)
After losing his UFC light heavyweight title in 2008 and being embarrassed by Anderson Silva in 2009, Griffin strung together back-to-back victories over Tito Ortiz and Rich Franklin. That streak came to an abrupt halt on Aug. 27, however, when the man Griffin shockingly submitted in 2007, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, took revenge in the form of a first-round knockout at UFC 134.
8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5)
Nogueira was forced from an August bout with Rich Franklin due to a shoulder injury, but it didn’t take long for the UFC to schedule him another date. The Brazilian is now set to return on Dec. 10 against ex-champion Tito Ortiz at UFC 140, the same card on which his twin brother will rematch Frank Mir.
9. Dan Henderson (28-8)
Now a free agent, the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion is almost a lock to have his next tilt inside the Octagon. The question for Henderson is simply against whom. No doubt the Team Quest founder would like a redo with Anderson Silva, though the UFC’s middleweight ace will be out of action until 2012 with a shoulder injury.
10. Rafael Cavalcante (11-3)
Six months after dropping his Strikeforce light heavyweight title to Dan Henderson, “Feijao” returned to his violent ways on Sept. 10. After a strangely tepid opening round, Cavalcante exploded on Yoel Romero Palacio, punching out the Olympic freestyle silver medalist in their Strikeforce showdown.
Other contenders: Rich Franklin, Alexander Gustafsson, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Vladimir Matyushenko, Gegard Mousasi.
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