B/R Official Rankings for October: The Top 10 Light Heayvweights in MMA

As you may have heard, the best light heavyweight in world history saw action in the month of September. But there was more to the month that was than just Jon Jones and his americana-ing of rent-a-205er Vitor Belfort. 

There was some action away from the cage that may have affected rankings as well. Read on to find out whether things changed or mainly stayed the same.

Rankings Contributors

These rankings are the combined efforts of some of Bleacher Report MMA's best writers, as we continue to provide you with the best content on the web. For the latest MMA news and freshest MMA opinions, follow our team on Twitter: 

Matt Juul 

Sean Smith 

Tim McTiernan 

Vince Carey 

Scott Harris 

Joe Chacon 

Hunter Homistek 

Riley Kontek 

Andrew Saunders 

10. Phil Davis

Promotion: UFC
Record: 9-1 (1)
Most Recent Fight: NC vs. Wagner Prado, UFC on Fox 4
Next Fight: Wagner Prado, UFC 153
Previous Ranking: 10

Phil Davis is idle for now, but he and Prado will run back their eye-poke-shortened first engagement in just a few weeks. We'll see if the national wrestling champ can handle a hard-hitting UFC newcomer in Prado. 

9. Ryan Bader

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-3
Most Recent Fight: Loss (KO) vs. Lyoto Machida, UFC on Fox 4
Next Fight: N/A
Previous Ranking: 9

Bader is a great wrestler and a very good MMA fighter. But it's hard to see where he goes from here, as he has pretty much fought everyone immediately above or below him, and still finds himself stuck in neutral at the bottom of the top 10.

8. Vitor Belfort

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-10
Most Recent Fight: Loss (submission) vs. Jon Jones, UFC 142
Next Fight: TBD
Previous Ranking: 10

No question about it: Vitor Belfort had Jones in serious trouble. He ultimately couldn't finish the champ, but earned plenty of respect in the effort. The fact that he actually rose two spots in this ranking despite losing is a testament to that.

7. Chael Sonnen

Promotion: UFC
Record: 27-12-1
Most Recent Fight: Loss (TKO) vs. Anderson Silva, UFC 148
Next Fight: Forrest Griffin, UFC 155
Previous Ranking: 8

Another recent transplant to the light heavyweight division moves up the rankings. A win over Forrest Griffin, not to mention his ongoing feud with Jones, could propel him even higher.

6. Alexander Gustafsson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 14-1
Most Recent Fight: Win (unanimous decision) vs Thiago Silva, UFC on Fuel TV
Next Fight: Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, UFC on Fox 5
Previous Ranking: 6

It's Gustafsson's third consecutive month in the sixth spot. The sharp-striking Swede will have a chance to move up (or down) when he tangles with Rua later this year.

5. Lyoto Machida

Promotion: UFC
Record: 18-3
Most Recent Fight: Win (KO) vs. Ryan Bader, UFC on Fox 4
Next Fight: N/A
Previous Ranking: 3

Did our judges lose some respect for Machida after he turned down a fight with Jones? How else to explain his drop in the rankings?

A fight with Dan Henderson is apparently under discussion, but nothing has yet been announced.

4. Mauricio Rua

Promotion: UFC
Record: 21-6
Most Recent Fight: Win (TKO) vs. Brandon Vera, UFC on Fox 4
Next Fight: Alexander Gustafsson, UFC on Fox 5
Previous Ranking: 5

Machida had the next title shot locked up after he was more "impressive" in his win at UFC on Fox 4. However, his turning down the replacement opportunity at UFC 151 would seem to have reopened the door. If Rua can beat Gustafsson, it looks like he'll be the one to walk through.

3. Rashad Evans

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-2-1
Most Recent Fight: Loss (Unanimous decision) vs. Jon Jones, UFC 145
Next Fight: TBD
Previous Ranking: 4

Despite losing to Jones, Rashad Evans is still one of the best light heavyweights around. When will he get back in the cage?

2. Dan Henderson

Promotion: UFC
Record: 29-8
Most Recent Fight: Win (Unanimous decision) vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, UFC 139
Next Fight: TBD
Previous Ranking: 2

We'll see soon whether Hendo gets his wish to fight Jones, or if he must now go through Machida to get a shot at the strap.

1. Jon Jones

Promotion: UFC
Record: 17-1
Most Recent Fight: Win (submission) vs. Vitor Belfort, UFC 152
Next Fight: TBD
Previous Ranking: 1

Nothing much to see here. Just the best light heavyweight of all time.