UFC Power Rankings: The Top 25 Light Heavyweights

***Updated 8/13/2010***

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* Rankings are primarily based on recent performance, comparable opponents, and UFC win/loss record.

* Fighters are eligible for ranking in any division they have competed in within the past 12 months. (Fight(s) must be with the UFC.)

* For the purposes of these rankings, fights scheduled as catchweight bouts are considered to be fought at the next weight class above the weights the fighters weighed in at.

* There is no official ranking system for UFC fighters, and it is nearly impossible to remove all subjectivity from rankings. Therefore, I invite you to comment below with any questions, suggestions, or disagreements.

25. Tim Boetsch

Record: 12-3

Age: 29

Last FIght: Win (Unanimous decision) vs. Todd Brown @ UFC 117 (8/7/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

After a lackluster performance in his return to the UFC, Boetsch is probably feeling lucky that Thiago Silva pulled out of their originally scheduled fight.

While it would have been a great opportunity for Boetsch to make a big splash, it was apparent that Boetsch isn’t ready for that level of competition quite yet.

24. Alexander Gustafsson

Record: 9-1

Age: 23

Last FIght: Loss (Submission: Round 1) vs. Phil Davis @ UFC 112 (4/10/2010)

Next Fight: vs. Cyrille Diabate @ UFC 120 (10/16/2010)

After being a sacrificial lamb for Phil Davis’ development, Gustafsson will now face dangerous striker Cyrille Diabate.

With the loss to Davis being the first of his career, it will be interesting to see how Gustafsson responds to adversity.

23. Vladimir Matyushenko

Record: 24-5

Age: 39

Last Fight: Loss (TKO: Round 1) vs. Jon Jones @ UFC Live on Versus 2 (8/1/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

Matyushenko became another notch on Jon Jones’ belt after his last appearance in the octagon.

At 39 years old, “The Janitor” may not have very many fights left, and the ones that are left certainly won’t have anywhere near the importance that Matyushenko’s last fight had.

22. James Te-Huna

Record: 12-4

Age: 28

Last Fight: Win (TKO: Round 3) vs. Igor Pokrajac @ UFC 110 (2/21/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

After a win in his UFC debut, James Te-Huna was scheduled to compete at UFC 120. However, an injury has forced him out of that appearance.

Hopefully, Te-Huna is able to make a quick recovery and pick up where he left off.

21. Phil Davis

Record: 7-0

Age: 25

Last Fight: Win (Unanimous decision) vs. Rodney Wallace @ UFC 117 (8/7/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

Phil Davis is a rising star in the light heavyweight division. Davis easily handled his first three UFC opponents.

With nowhere to go but up, the UFC should hand him a bigger test in his next appearance.

20. Cyrille Diabate

Record: 16-6-1

Age: 36

Last Fight: Win (TKO: Round 1) vs. Luiz Cane @ UFC 114 (5/29/2010)

Next Fight: vs. Alexander Gustafsson @ UFC 120 (10/16/2010)

With a TKO win against Luiz Cane, Cyrille Diabate backed up the hype that surrounded his striking ability prior to his first appearance with the UFC.

Diabate’s top 20 rankings will be on the line when he faces Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 120.

19. Krzysztof Soszynski

Record: 21-10-1

Age: 33

Last Fight: Loss (TKO: Round 2) vs. Stephan Bonnar @ UFC 116 (7/3/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

Soszynski suffered a setback in losing a rematch with Stephan Bonnar.

With losses against the two fighters ranked directly above him, “The Polish Experiment” has a lot of work to do in order to be ranked anywhere higher than this.

18. Brandon Vera

Record: 11-5

Age: 32

Last Fight: Loss (TKO: Round 1) vs. Jon Jones @ UFC Live on Versus 1 (5/21/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

Brandon Vera’s loss to Jon Jones was a deflating one. The fight was an excellent opportunity for Vera to remind UFC fans that he was still a threat.

However, after being completely dominated by Jones, it is clear that Vera will never be anything more than a gatekeeper at light heavyweight.

17. Stephan Bonnar

Record: 12-7

Age: 33

Last Fight: Win (TKO: Round 2) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski @ UFC 116 (7/3/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

Bonnar erased much of the talk that had been circling about him being cut from the promotion by avenging his loss to Krzysztof Soszynski.

Now, Bonnar will need to improve that 12-7 record if he wants to move up in the rankings.

16. Jason Brilz

Record: 18-3-1

Age: 35

Last Fight: Loss (Split decision) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira @ UFC 114 (5/29/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

When Jason Brilz replaced Forrest Griffin prior to Griffin’s scheduled fight against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, many figured the match-up would be an easy tune-up for Nogueira.

While Brilz did end up losing the fight, the split decision did not come without controversy. With the close fight against Nogueira, Brilz earned a lot of respect in the light heavyweight division.

15. Randy Couture

Record: 18-10

Age: 47

Last Fight: Win (Submission: Round 2) vs. Mark Coleman @ UFC 109 (2/6/2010)

Next Fight: vs. James Toney @ UFC 118 (8/28/2010)

Couture’s next bout is scheduled to be a heavyweight fight against James Toney.

While it appears the move to heavyweight is only going to be a one-fight deal, Couture is at the point in his career where he is going to take the biggest fights available no matter what division they are in.

14. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Record: 19-3

Age: 34

Last Fight: Win (Split decision) vs. Jason Brilz @ UFC 114 (5/29/2010)

Next Fight: vs. Ryan Bader @ UFC 119 (9/25/2010)

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was pegged as a fighter that could make a run at a title fight after an impressive TKO of Luiz Cane in his UFC debut. Accordingly, he was scheduled to meet Forrest Griffin in what would have been his next fight.

However, Jason Brilz filled in for an injured Griffin. A debatable win against Brilz was seen as a setback for Nogueira, who will now face Ryan Bader to determine which fighter is more deserving of a crack at a top contender.

13. Matt Hamill

Record: 9-2

Age: 33

Last Fight: Win (Majority decision) vs. Keith Jardine @ TUF Finale (6/19/2010)

Next Fight: vs. Tito Ortiz @ UFC 121 (10/23/2010)

Despite being manhandled by Jon Jones, Matt Hamill is currently on a four fight win streak.

That win streak has earned Hamill a shot against Tito Ortiz, a former UFC champion and Hamill’s coach on The Ultimate Fighter.

A win against Ortiz is a great accomplishment on any fighter’s resume’, and Hamill has an outside chance at reaching the top ten if he is able to leave this fight victorious.

12. Tito Ortiz

Record: 15-7-1

Age: 35

Last Fight: Loss (Split decision) vs. Forrest Griffin @ UFC 106 (11/21/2009)

Next Fight: vs. Matt Hamill @ UFC 121 (10/23/2010)

Before people begin writing Ortiz off, they should note that he has fought former UFC champions in each of his last four fights. Although Ortiz is winless in those four fights, he nearly has three wins in a row.

In a draw against Rashad Evans, Ortiz was penalized a point for holding the fence.

Next, Ortiz nearly submitted Lyoto Machida with a triangle choke at the end of their meeting at UFC 84.

Most recently, Ortiz lost a close fight to Forrest Griffin that was scored a split decision by the judges.

11. Chuck Liddell

Record: 21-8

Age: 40

Last Fight: Loss (KO: Round 1) vs. Rich Franklin @ UFC 115 (6/12/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

Liddell will remain on this list until he formally retires or goes without a fight for one year.

That being said, it has been hard to watch a legend go out like Liddell has, and with losses in five of his last six fights, it might be time for “The Iceman” to hang it up.

10. Ryan Bader

Record: 11-0

Age: 27

Last Fight: Win (KO: Round 3) vs. Keith Jardine @ UFC 110 (2/21/2010)

Next Fight: vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira @ UFC 119 (9/25/2010)

With all the hype surrounding Jon Jones, Ryan Bader has been able to sneak into the top ten of the division somewhat under the radar.

If Bader wins his next fight against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, you can bet that he won’t be under the radar anymore.

9. Rich Franklin

Record: 28-5, 1 NC

Age: 35

Last Fight: Win (KO: Round 1) vs. Chuck Liddell @ UFC 115 (6/12/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

Rich Franklin rebounded from a loss to Vitor Belfort with a devastating knockout against Chuck Liddell.

In victory, Franklin paid a price with a broken arm. Recently, Franklin said that he expects to return in early 2011.

8. Jon Jones

Record: 11-1

Age: 23

Last Fight: Won (TKO: Round 1) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko @ UFC on Versus 2 (8/1/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

After easing one of the most hyped-up fighters in UFC history into the top ten, it appears that Jon Jones will finally get a shot at the division’s elite.

Pegged by many as a fighter that could be a future UFC champion, Jon Jones will have a lot of pressure to overcome heading into his next fight.

7. Vitor Belfort

Record: 19-8

Age: 33

Last Fight: Win (KO: Round 1) vs. Rich Franklin @ UFC 103 (9/19/2009)

Next Fight: TBA

Vitor Belfort makes these light heavyweight rankings due to his catch weight victory over Rich Franklin.

While all the conversation surrounding Belfort at this time is about a possible title fight with Anderson Silva at middleweight, his spot in these rankings makes me wonder how he would perform at light heavyweight if he is unable to beat Silva.

6. Forrest Griffin

Record: 17-6

Age: 31

Last Fight: Win (Split decision) vs. Tito Ortiz @ UFC 106 (11/21/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

After pulling out a schedule fight with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Forrest Griffin has a rumored clash against Jon Jones.

While the fight has not been confirmed, it would be an epic fight, with title implications, between two of the most recognizable faces in the sport.

5. Quinton Jackson

Record: 30-8

Age: 32

Last Fight: Loss (Unanimous decision) vs. Rashad Evans @ UFC 114 (5/29/2010)

Next Fight: vs. Lyoto Machida @ UFC 123 (11/20/2010)

After taking time away for his acting career, “Rampage” Jackson lost his grudge match with Rashad Evans at UFC 114.

While a historically unfocused Jackson remains one of the best in the world, it seems acting has clouded Jackson’s focus even further.

4. Thiago Silva

Record: 14-2

Age: 27

Last Fight: Lost (Unanimous decision) vs. Rashad Evans @ UFC 108 (1/2/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

A back injury has hindered Thiago Silva for all of 2010, forcing him out of his scheduled fight against Tim Boetsch.

Despite the injury, Silva put on a respectable performance against Rashad Evans. Silva won the third round on the judges’ scorecards and rocked Evans at one point.

3. Rashad Evans

Record: 15-1-1

Age: 30

Last Fight: Won (Unanimous decision) vs. Quinton Jackson @ UFC 114 (5/29/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

While there has been some push for an interim title with Mauricio Rua out until 2011, Dana White has stood firm on his stance that Rashad Evans is the top contender and will receive a title shot when Rua is healthy.

2. Lyoto Machida

Record: 16-1

Age: 32

Last Fight: Loss (KO: Round 1) vs. Mauricio Rua @ UFC 113 (5/8/2010)

Next Fight: vs. Quinton Jackson @ UFC 123 (11/20/2010)

After losing his rematch with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Lyoto Machida’s father suggested that his son should retire to the surprise of many.

Thankfully for fight fans, Machida ignored his father’s advice and is scheduled to fight Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 123.

1. Mauricio Rua

Record: 19-4

Age: 28

Last Fight: Won (KO: Round 1) vs. Lyoto Machida @ UFC 113 (5/8/2010)

Next Fight: TBA

Knee surgery will hold Mauricio “Shogun” Rua out until March 2011.

While there has been talk of an interim championship, Dana White has stated that Rashad Evans will be the first challenger in line for Shogun when he returns.