Light Heavyweight
1. Daniel Cormier (18-1)
The fight Cormier covets is a rematch with Jon Jones, but owing to Jones’ suspension, that has been put on the back burner again. In fact, even Cormier’s rematch with Anthony Johnson is getting temporarily shelved. The American Kickboxing Academy team captain has a partially torn adductor muscle that will require minor surgery, canceling his UFC 206 main event with “Rumble” and pushing the rematch into 2017.2. Anthony Johnson (22-5)
In his last 13 bouts, only one man has topped Johnson: Daniel Cormier. Johnson was due for another crack at “DC” and light heavyweight gold at UFC 206 on Dec. 10, but Cormier’s groin injury canceled the contest. Not wanting to blow his chance at redemption, Johnson opted to pull off the card and wait for Cormier to heal up in 2017.3. Alexander Gustafsson (17-4)
On Sept. 3 in Hamburg, Germany, Gustafsson pounded out a 15-minute verdict over Poland’s Jan Blachowicz, which set him up for a Nov. 19 date against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Unfortunately, Gustafsson’s dreams of another UFC light heavyweight title shot took another hit when the Swede suffered an undisclosed injury.4. Ryan Bader (22-5)
When Alexander Gustafsson went down due to injury, Bader saw an opportunity and took it. “The Ultimate Fighter 8” winner on Nov. 19 went to Sao Paulo, Brazil, and earned a second win -- this one was brutal in nature -- over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by bashing the Brazilian for nearly 15 minutes until he earned the TKO win.5. Phil Davis (17-3, 1 NC)
Davis got a crack at the Bellator MMA light heavyweight crown on Nov. 4, and “Mr. Wonderful” dominated from bell to bell against the previously unbeaten Liam McGeary, earning a lopsided five-round unanimous decision. It figures that in the near future Bellator will attempt to line up a Davis-Muhammed Lawal rematch after their close, controversial bout in May.6. Glover Teixeira (25-5)
Looking to bounce back from his brutal, 13-second knockout loss to Anthony Johnson in August, Teixeira signed on to face British puncher Jimi Manuwa at UFC 208, when the event was still scheduled for Jan. 21 in Anaheim, California. Both fighters are still on board for the bout; the question is now whether it will still end up on UFC 208, now scheduled for Feb. 11 in Brooklyn, New York.7. Jimi Manuwa (16-2)
Manuwa reintroduced himself to the 205-pound division in a big way at UFC 204, clobbering Ovince St. Preux in the second round in a mild upset. Manuwa has since agreed to face one of the perennial elites in Glover Teixeira; the only question is when and where, with UFC 208 being moved to Feb. 11 in Brooklyn, New York.8. Ovince St. Preux (19-9)
Back-to-back defeats to Jon Jones and Jimi Manuwa for St. Preux mean the former University of Tennessee Volunteer linebacker has lost three of his last four bouts. In order for St. Preux to keep pace with the divisional elites, he will need to rebound against Poland’s Jan Blachowicz at the UFC Fight Night card in Houston on Feb. 4.9. Nikita Krylov (21-4)
Since his unsuccessful 205-pound UFC debut against Ovince St. Preux in March 2014, the 24-year-old Krylov has won five straight bouts, all by stoppage, and shown marked improvement along the way. The next step for “The Fighting Al Capone” to establish himself as a legitimate light heavyweight contender is fellow hot prospect Misha Cirkunov, the man Krylov will face at UFC 206 on Dec. 10.10. Ilir Latifi (12-5, 1 NC)
The heavy-hitting Latifi had won five of his last six inside the Octagon heading into his Sept. 3 bout with Ryan Bader in Hamburg, Germany. However, “The Sledgehammer” ate a devastating second-round knee from Bader that knocked him down and out. Now, Latifi simply waits for an opponent and another chance to work his way up the UFC ranks.Other Contenders: David Branch, Quinton Jackson, Liam McGeary, Tomasz Narkun, Mauricio Rua
Continue Reading » Middleweight