UFC on FOX 5 Results: Top 10 Light Heavyweights in the UFC

By (Correspondent) on December 9, 2012

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On Saturday night, the co-main event of UFC on Fox 5 featured a light heavyweight matchup with serious title implications. Alexander "The Mauler" Gustafsson took on the former UFC light heavyweight champion, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

After 15 minutes, it was Gustafsson who had his hand raised after earning a unanimous decision victory over the former champ. The changing of the guard was completed as the legend fell to the prospect.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the latest status of the light heavyweight division.

No. 10: Quinton Jackson

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Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

The former champion is here to kick off our Top 10 ranking.

Rampage Jackson was the light heavyweight king just a few years ago, and now he's fallen off from there significantly. Rampage is 0-2 in his last two, and prior to that he had a win over Matt Hamill and a controversial win over Lyoto Machida.

Rampage's next fight will be against Glover Teixiera at UFC on Fox 6.

No. 9: Forrest Griffin

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Another former champion is back in the Top 10, as Forrest Griffin checks in at number nine on our list.

Griffin is 3-2 in his last five fights and has wins over Rich Franklin and Tito Ortiz during that time. He was scheduled to face off against Phil Davis at UFC 155, but an injury has forced him from the fight.

No. 8: Phil Davis

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Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Phil Davis is up next, and he is one of the best prospects in the 205 pound division.

Davis is a four-time D-I All-American wrestler from Penn State, and he trains at Alliance MMA with some top fighters such as Dominick Cruz and Alexander Gustafsson.

In his last fight, he submitted Wagner Prado in the second round. His next fight will likely be against a Top 10 opponent.

No. 7: Ryan Bader

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Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Up next we have another promising prospect in Ryan "Darth" Bader.

Bader won season eight of The Ultimate Fighter when he knocked out Vinny Magalhaes in the first round. From there, Bader won four more fights before running into Jon Jones.

Since the loss to Jones, Bader has gone 2-2 with wins over Rampage Jackson and Jason Brilz and losses to Lyoto Machida and Tito Ortiz.

His next fight will likely be against Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC on Fox 6.

No. 6: Mauricio Rua

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Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

On Saturday night, Shogun continued his string of inconsistency as he lost for the fourth time in seven fights.

Shogun has not strung together two wins since 2009 when he beat Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell. Since that time he has alternated wins and losses.

With the loss to Gustafsson it may finally signal that Shogun's best days are behind him.

No. 5: Alexander Gustafsson

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Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

While Shogun's loss signaled his best days are behind him; Gustafsson's win signaled that his best are coming up quickly.

Gustafsson was able to take all three rounds from Shogun—including one 10-8 round on one judges' scorecard—and put the Pride legend away.

It was said this fight was for a No. 1 contender position, but we'll see if Gustafsson gets his shot or will have to take another fight.

No. 4: Rashad Evans

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For a long time, Rashad Evans was almost universally considered to be the No. 2 light heavyweight in the world. He was always so close to a title shot, but it never came. Then he got his shot, fought Jon Jones and got decimated.

Evans has since slipped down to No. 4 in the division, and while his next fight is against someone not ranked in the Top 10—Antonio Rogerio Nogueira—he'll still have a chance to prove he is a threat at light heavyweight.

No. 3: Lyoto Machida

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Lyoto Machida has proven that he can be a force to be reckoned with at light heavyweight. However, it has also been proven that he is not as invincible as once thought.

Machida has gone 2-3 in his last five, with losses to Mauricio Rua, Quinton Jackson and Jon Jones and wins over Ryan Bader and Randy Couture.

Machida is scheduled to face Dan Henderson at UFC 157.

No. 2: Dan Henderson

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Dan Henderson is the latest fighter to get screwed out of a light heavyweight title shot. Henderson was scheduled to face Jon Jones at UFC 151, but when an injury forced him out, he also ended up losing his shot.

Henderson will now face Lyoto Machida at UFC 157 in what may or may not be a No. 1 contender fight. Should Henderson come out on top, he will be 8-1 in his last nine fights.

Give that man a title shot.

No. 1: Jon Jones

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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Jon Jones at No. 1?

Duh.

 

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow him on Twitter @TimMcTiernan.

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