Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Light Heavyweight

1. Jon Jones (21-1)

Jones was stripped of the UFC light heavyweight belt and suspended indefinitely following his April arrest on a felony hit-and-run charge, but “Bones” remains unparalleled in the 205-pound division. The 28-year-old’s reign included a record eight title defenses and a level of dominance over top competition rarely seen in any weight class, including a decisive victory against the man who now holds his belt, Daniel Cormier.

2. Daniel Cormier (16-1)

Five months after coming up short in a bid for Jon Jones’ title, Cormier at UFC 187 claimed the belt that was stripped from the former champ. The 36-year-old wrestler weathered some heavy punches and kicks to ground, exhaust and choke out Anthony Johnson in the third round of their May 23 encounter. After the win, Cormier immediately called out the suspended Jones, the only fighter who has topped the American Kickboxing Academy standout in 17 bouts. Cormier’s first challenger will be Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of October’s UFC 192.

3. Anthony Johnson (20-5)

Johnson took care of British hitter Jimi Manuwa with second-round punches at UFC 191 on Sept. 5. The 31-year-old Blackzilians representative wore down Manuwa with a takedown and ground-and-pound in the opening five minutes before carving him up with a looping right hand and follow-up punches 28 seconds into round two. Johnson has won 10 of his last 11 fights, losing only to current light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.

4. Alexander Gustafsson (16-3)

Gustafsson was one win away from his desired rematch with Jon Jones -- and then he ran into Anthony Johnson. “The Mauler” became the mauled before a hometown crowd in Stockholm on Jan. 24, as Gustafsson fell victim to Johnson’s heavy hands and succumbed to first-round punches in the main event of UFC on Fox 14. After winning seven of his first eight Octagon appearances, Gustafsson has now dropped two of his last three, prompting the Swede to tell reporters that he needs to “get back and work harder” if he wanted to vie for the title again. He will have that chance on Oct. 3, when Gustafsson is set to challenge new champ Daniel Cormier at UFC 192.

5. Ryan Bader (19-4)

While it was hardly a crowd-pleasing performance, Bader picked up his fourth straight win Jan. 24 in Stockholm, this time edging fellow wrestler Phil Davis in a split decision. All four of the former “Ultimate Fighter” winner’s recent victories have been awarded by the judges, including a five-round grinder against Ovince St. Preux in August. After seeing his June 6 bout with Daniel Cormier fall apart, Bader is now angling for a shot at the newly crowned champion, though he will have to wait for Cormier to fight Alexander Gustafsson. The 32-year-old will welcome Rashad Evans back to the cage at UFC 192 on Oct. 3.

6. Phil Davis (15-3, 1 NC)

The last five fights of Davis’ UFC tenure went the distance, but the judges were not needed when “Mr. Wonderful” made his Bellator debut on Sept. 19 in the company’s one-night, four-man tournament. Davis tapped former Bellator champ Emanuel Newton with a first-round kimura before flattening tourney alternate Francis Carmont with a first-round knockout. Davis will get a shot at reigning Bellator ace Liam McGeary in early 2016.

7. Glover Teixeira (23-4)

After a failed title bid against Jon Jones and a lopsided loss to Phil Davis, Teixeira was in need of a statement win. Marked as the Brazilian foil to hometown hero Ovince St. Preux on Aug. 8 in Nashville, the 35-year-old came on strong and never relented, using heavy pressure to break down “OSP” and set up a third-round technical submission. Now 6-2 inside the Octagon, Teixeira will lock horns with Patrick Cummins at a UFC Fight Night event on Nov. 7 in Brazil.

8. Ovince St. Preux (18-7)

St. Preux may have the firepower to take out anyone at 205 pounds, but his wrestling remains a liability. Glover Teixeira exploited this hole in the game of “OSP” on Aug. 8, wearing down the former University of Tennessee football player before choking him unconscious before a partisan crowd in Nashville. The loss halts the momentum generated by St. Preux’s back-to-back knockouts of Mauricio Rua and Patrick Cummins.

9. Liam McGeary (11-0)

McGeary looked to be in trouble on Sept. 19, as his first Bellator title defense began with him being taken down by Tito Ortiz. McGeary stayed busy off his back, however, and soon caught the former UFC champ in a nifty inverted triangle choke to force a first-round submission. Now unbeaten at 11-0, the Englishman is expected put his belt and his perfect record on the line against Phil Davis early next year.

10. Jimi Manuwa (15-2)

Manuwa tore through the first 14 fights of his career with 13 knockouts and one submission, but the British striker has run into trouble against the 205-pound elite inside the Octagon. The “Poster Boy” rebounded from his loss to Alexander Gustafsson by earning a unanimous decision over Jan Blachowichz, but his train was derailed once again at UFC 191, where Manuwa suffered a crushing knockout defeat to Anthony Johnson.

Other Contenders: David Branch, Quinton Jackson, Muhammed Lawal, Emanuel Newton, Mauricio Rua.

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