The Top 25 Light-Heavyweights in MMA History: Does Jon Jones Make the List?

The light heavyweight division has long been considered one of the toughest divisions in mixed martial arts. Very few 205-pound champions have been able to hold onto their belt for an extended period of time under any organization.

Many believe that Jon Jones has the talent to become the first long-reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in several years. Has Jones already done enough to be considered one of the 25 best light heavyweights of all time? Let's take a look.

25. Keiichiro Yamamiya

The original Pancrase Light Heavyweight Champion, Keiichiro Yamamiya has had a streaky career, but has also picked up several notable wins.

Yamamiya has defeated Ikuhisa Minowa, Denis Kang, Nate Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and Yuki Kondo during his long career.

24. Yuki Kondo

Yuki Kondo fell short in his shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Tito Ortiz, but he remains one of the most accomplished light heavyweights in the sport.

Kondo holds wins over fighters such as Frank Shamrock, Guy Mezger and Keiichiro Yamamiya.

23. Thiago Silva

With his only losses having come against Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans, Thiago Silva is one of the best light heavyweights in the world.

Unfortunately, we are now unsure whether or not Silva achieved what he has cleanly. After a failed drug test, Silva will now sit out for a year, something that he was hoping to avoid by taking illegal substances in the first place to heal from injuries.

22. Guy Mezger

Guy Mezger was likely capable of much more than he ended up accomplishing in MMA, but he still recorded some important wins in his career.

Most notably, Mezger defeated Yuki Kondo and Tito Ortiz. Mezger's win over Ortiz came in the finals of the UFC 13 tournament.

21. Jeremy Horn

With 112 fights on his record, Jeremy Horn is the epitome of journeymen.  Horn holds long-forgotten wins over Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell.

20. Kiyoshi Tamura

The under-appreciated Kiyoshi Tamura has beaten some of the best that the light heavyweight division has to offer.

During his 49 fight career, Tamura won against Renzo Gracie, Jeremy Horn and Pat Miletich. Tamura also fought Frank Shamrock to a draw and defeated Kazushi Sakuraba in his last fight.

19. Renato Sobral

Renato Sobral has always been considered one of the better light heavyweights in the world throughout his career, but has never been able to separate himself from the pack.

Even though he won the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship, he was unable to defend it against Gegard Mousasi.

Still, Sobral has fought in multiple tournament finals and met Chuck Liddell in a fight for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

18. Gegard Mousasi

Although it ended in a draw, Gegard Mousasi's last fight against Keith Jardine would have resulted in a win if it were not for an illegal up kick that resulted in a one-point deduction from Mousasi.

While at light heavyweight, Mousasi has captured a Strikeforce title and earned wins over Renato Sobral and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.

17. Rich Franklin

Although he has not had as much success at light heavyweight as he did at middleweight, Rich Franklin has still accomplished some impressive things in what looks to be the final chapter of his career.

Wins over Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell kept Franklin relevant. Also, Franklin earned a light heavyweight win over Ken Shamrock before becoming UFC Middleweight Champion. 

16. Vitor Belfort

Although he won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship because of a cut he caused on the face of Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort has still been excellent at light heavyweight.

Belfort also holds wins over Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin, although his win over Franklin was a catchweight bout.

15. Forrest Griffin

Who would have thought that this scrappy fighter that got his shot with the UFC through The Ultimate Fighter would accomplish as much as he has?

Griffin's back-to-back wins over Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson were the highlights of his career. Unfortunately, those wins were followed by knockout losses to Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva.

14. Rashad Evans

In 17 professional fights, Rashad's only loss came against Lyoto Machida. In his next fight, Evans will have a chance to reclaim the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship when he takes on Jon Jones.

Some of Evans' wins include Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson and Forrest Griffin.

13. Lyoto Machida

Recently at the top of the light heavyweight division, Lyoto Machida could now be facing a release from the UFC if he loses in his next fight against Randy Couture.

Back-to-back losses against Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson have put a damper on what has been an otherwise stellar career for Machida.

12. Kazushi Sakuraba

Kazushi Sakuraba is one of the most respected fighters to ever fight in mixed martial arts, but he was never able to capture that title that could take him to another level of greatness.

Sakuraba holds a win over Quinton Jackson, but has also lost to great fighters such as Ricardo Arona, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and Wanderlei Silva.

11. Jon Jones

By defeating one of the best ever in Maurico Rua, Jon Jones showed that the hype is real. Jones is quickly showing that he has what it takes to become one of the best light heavyweights of all time.

Jones has the talent. All that's left is to perform.

10. Dan Henderson

Although Dan Henderson has not been able to defend a 205-pound title in his career, he has now won both the Pride Middleweight and Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championships.

Henderson has beaten Rich Franklin, Renato Sobral and Wanderlei Silva to name a few.

9. Ricardo Arona

Ricardo Arona nearly captured the Pride Middleweight Championship in 2005, but lost the fight against Wanderlei Silva in a split decision.

Still, Arona's beat down of Kazushi Sakuraba and wins over Dan Henderson, Guy Mezger and Jeremy Horn make him one of the best.

8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira hasn't impressed as much as people thought he could while with the UFC, but his actions prior to joining the organization speak for themselves.

Nogueira holds notable wins over Kazushi Sakuraba, Guy Mezger, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem.

7. Randy Couture

The only two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture may have been higher on this list if he hadn't spent time as much time at heavyweight as he had.

Couture's wins over Chuck Liddell, Vitor Belfort and Tito Ortiz were his most impressive at light heavyweight.

6. Quinton Jackson

Quinton Jackson's wins over Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, Ricardo Arona, Wanderlei Silva and Lyoto Machida are what make him one of the best light heavyweights of all time.

Jackson isn't done yet, though. Another run at a title could bump him even further up this list.

5. Mauricio Rua

Mauricio Rua is one of the most talented fighters ever to fight in the light heavyweight division. Rua has defeated fighters such as Quinton Jackson, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, Ricardo Arona, Chuck Liddell and Lyoto Machida.

Had it not been for injuries routinely setting Rua back, he may have been able to achieve even greater things.

4. Tito Ortiz

Tito Ortiz is the longest-reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion ever.

In addition to his long streak of title defenses, Ortiz has defeated Wanderlei Silva, Guy Mezger, Forrest Griffin and Vitor Belfort.

3. Frank Shamrock

If Frank Shamrock had not vacated his UFC Light Heavyweight title after defeating Tito Ortiz, he may have been able to accomplish even greater things than he has in the sport.

Still, Shamrock is second to only Tito Ortiz in consecutive title defenses in the UFC light heavyweight division.

2. Wanderlei Silva

With four title defenses in Pride's brutal light heavyweight division, there is an argument for having Wanderlei Silva at number one on this list.

Silva has defeated fighters such as Guy Mezger, Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Quinton Jackson and Ricardo Arona.

1. Chuck Liddell

With four title defenses against some of the best light heavyweights of all time, Chuck Liddell is the best 205-pound fighter in the history of the sport.

Liddell has earned wins over Wanderlei Silva, Tito Ortiz, Renato Sobral, Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort and Alistair Overeem over the course of his career.

Although he didn't exit the sport like he would have wanted to, Liddell's accomplishments will never be forgotten.