MMA Top 10 Light Heavyweights: Shogun Moves Up, Liddell Moves Out

Posted Apr 20, 2009 7:45AM By Michael David Smith (RSS feed)

Filed Under: UFC

My new list of the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed martial arts reflects the changing landscape after UFC 97, with Shogun Rua moving up and Chuck Liddell moving out.

I'm sorry to see Liddell go, but at this point I don't think there's any point in ranking him because I think it's probably safe to say he's no longer an active mixed martial artist. Even if I were counting him as an active fighter, I don't think he'd be in my Top 10 anymore. Shogun is now in my Top 5, and I'm very excited to see what he does next. Top 10 below.

Top 10 Light heavyweights in MMA
1. Lyoto Machida
2. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
3. Rashad Evans
4. Forrest Griffin
5. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
6. Dan Henderson
7. Keith Jardine
8. Wanderlei Silva
9. Luiz Cane
10. Renato Sobral

Note: I'm counting Dan Henderson and Wanderlei Silva as light heavyweights because their last fights were at 205 pounds, even though Henderson's next fight is at 185 and Silva's next is at 195. I'm also counting Rich Franklin as a light heavyweight because that's where his last fight was, although he's not in my Top 10. If I were counting Franklin as a middleweight he would have been on the Top 10 middleweights list.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-20-2009 @ 9:28AM

easy7179 said...

i would have Cane right behind Shogun. he's impressive. also don't think Jardine makes this list. can't see him beating anyone on there right now. it's weird not seeing Chuck Liddell on there but that's just what has come to be.

4-20-2009 @ 9:56AM

Eric said...

I agree with Easy that Cain is a very dangerous guy at 205.

Personally, I was also very impressed with Cantwell. He couldn't match the power of Cain, but his head movement, ability to stay in the pocket, and kicks were top notch.

4-20-2009 @ 11:26AM

bbrown405 said...

Jardine is a very powerful fighter that has the chance to knock any1 out.Evens shouldn even be in the top 5 he is an lucky fighter with a poor attitude. Bispin beat evens and he knows it.Im looking for ether lyoto or Rampage to TKO evens.Silva needs to be up a few and shogun needs to be down to about 9. He is the kinda fighter that trains hard one fight and not the other

4-20-2009 @ 12:13PM

Anthony said...

I know not many people will agree, but I think that Rashad Evans should be at the top of the list. I think he has proven with his win against Forrest Griffin that he is the top light heavyweight right now. He will have his chance to prove this against Machida. If he does win I hope people start giving him some respect.

4-20-2009 @ 12:25PM

Frederick said...

I think your misjudging Franklin

4 losses to top quality oponents(2 Silva, Machida, Hendo). The Hendo fight was still close.

I am a Franklin fan. I dont see him being champion again in any weight class but I have him in my top 10 at 205

I think he will beat wanderlai

4-20-2009 @ 3:51PM

I don't know what to think of that fight (Ace vs Wandy), Frederick.

Franklin doesn't do very well with power punchers ... even Dan rattled him in their fight.

On the other hand, Wanderlei seems to have borrowed his chin from Liddell in recent fights.

Much like Liddell vs Rua, the winner of this one takes a big jump back up the ladder & the loser is one fight closer to retirement.

I'm going with Wandy by KO.

4-20-2009 @ 1:15PM

This is what I got for now

Rashad Evans-UFC-13-0-1
Lyoto Machida-UFC-14-0
Quinton Jackson-UFC-30-7
Forrest Griffin-UFC-16-5
Mauricio Rua-UFC-18-3
Luiz Cane-UFC-10-1
Rich Franklin-UFC-24-4
Keith Jardine-UFC-14-5
Antonio Rogerio Noguera-AFF-16-3
Renato Sobral-STRIKE-32-7

4-20-2009 @ 2:29PM

skeen267 said...

Totally agree with Eric on Cane and Cantwell. I would look for "Bones" Jones to be up there soon.

4-20-2009 @ 4:16PM

Paul said...

Rich Franklin should be in your Top Ten List. I believe he should because he is a better striker than Sobral; and, had he not been poked in the eye, may have beaten Dan Henderson in his last fight. Don't count him out yet. I think that he got beaten so badly by Anderson Silva (twice) that his confidence was a bit low after, but he will rise again--you can see it in his eyes-- he is hungry to beat Wanderlei Silva. I also would have Jardine below (W.S.)Wanderlei Silva. Even though Wanderlei is not the ferocious fighter he was in Pride, he still could knock out Jardine. Jardine was knocked out cold by a fairly green Houston Alexander and one never knows which Jardine will show up to his next fight. Everyone complains about Machida not having a "traditional stance," (yet he is beating everyone in his class); then I have to complain about Jardine's Jekyll and Hyde approach to: either his training camps or pre-fight psychological problems. I would not have him in the top ten-- he is not as steady as Franklin. I like Machida over Evans in the upcoming fight; and GSP might be beaten by this, monster at (170), Thiago Alves. This guy is on something, but no matter what it is, he brings the nasiest leg kicks I have ever seen and brute strength to go along with them. GSP is a great Mixed Martial Artist, but he may take a fall during this next fight. Alves, who has taken to GH (or whatever he is using) so well that he packed on what looks like ten to twelve pounds of muscle in one year. I have never seen a "clean" bodybuilder do that in 40 years and we train to make gains like that--he is either a genetic freak or on something very useful (and non-detectable). I realize that any performace enhancer can't make a guy kick better--but they can make that kick harder with more force behind it and if you have not seen Alves kick, go back and watch the Josh K. vs. T. Alves fight. That was a one sided affair and I think Alves is still learning how to use his power. GSP is in for one heck of a fight. Just my humble opinion

4-20-2009 @ 4:36PM

retrojoke said...

Lyoto...number 1... What is really going on when everyone is believing this hype. The guy is not that good, wait until he meets a real striker. Ill never agree with Womens self defense course fighting in the octagon and wait until they implement point deduction enforcement for avoiding the fight 3-4 minutes out of every round. Something that will surely happen after the Silva x2 incident.
GSP has all the qualities of evasiveness that Lyoto and Silva display without the complete inability to intitiate a fight. These guys are opportunist, waiting to deliver strikes and unable to push a fight. The style is impressive but has yet to be challenged by real opponents- Do you really think Lyoto can pull a victory off guys like Vanderlai and Rampage? Hes not in line to fight them, instead he gets an undeserving titleshot like so many undeserving fighters. Ask yourself one question- who is in charge of pairing fighters to meet on the octagon. When you learn that ask yourself a final question- Do they stand to make profit by setting these matches up by promoting popular fighters and ingoring viable deserving fighters? This is why Junie browning will be groomed just like Bisping and Anderson Silva and so many other mediocre fighters.
Worst thing about this sport is that someone who is terrible (heath herring) can get lucky and Ko someone(Nog), and then all of a sudden he is popular and hyped and everyone likes him. Shogun is another example- 2 terrible fights, 1 probably the worst fight in years for the UFC(other than Silva fights) and then another embarrassing fight and now he gets a Ko and everyone is hyping him again. Heed my words- Shogun is a washed up fighter.
Keep anyone in the ufc long enough who isnt complete loser and eventually punchers chance wins the day and bandwagon jumpers come out of the woodworks. Remember- Heed what i say, Shogun will flop because he is a piece of crap after Pride.

5-26-2009 @ 3:42PM

mrterrito said...

Yes, I do think Lyoto will beat Rampage.

4-20-2009 @ 5:05PM

"Worst thing about this sport is that someone who is terrible (heath herring) can get lucky and Ko someone(Nog), and then all of a sudden he is popular and hyped and everyone likes him."

Uhh ... You do know that Herring lost all 3 of his fights with Big Nog, right?

"Shogun is another example- 2 terrible fights, 1 probably the worst fight in years for the UFC(other than Silva fights) and then another embarrassing fight and now he gets a Ko and everyone is hyping him again. Heed my words- Shogun is a washed up fighter."

This one you're just wrong about. Shogun is 27, went 12-1 in Pride (only loss because of a broken arm), & has sustained very little punishment in his career. He has had 2 knee surgeries, had to adjust to rule changes & fighting in a cage ... the guy is a great fighter and should be cut a little slack.

4-20-2009 @ 8:04PM

yes i know that, my point is that you can get lucky.

OK man, only time will tell for Shogun but remember this, he was 100% for Coleman.

4-21-2009 @ 12:12AM

Niv said...

retrojoke, Shogun has been on my list as number one for many years now, he isn't washed up by a long shot and is the most talented 205 lb fighter on the planet.

Coming off two big time knee surgeries is not something you over come quickly. I think this guy is a warrior and does himself discredit when he fights even when he's injured. When he fought Forrest he injured himself before that fight and admitted he couldn't do any cardio for a month leading up to that fight. His confidence put him in a bad position and as a result probably made his knee worse leading to his first surgery.

As a guy that's waiting for a complete knee reconstruction trust me without healthy knees just walking is a bitch, let alone fighting in an octagon.

Shogun fought Mark Coleman and was 100%, but it was obvious his cardio hadn't reached fighting standards. I think the guy is back, the fight against Chuck showed it and as this guy gets his cardio machine going he will prove to everyone he was deserving of the number 1 LHW ranking he carried into the ring against Forrest.

I personally find it confusing as the vast majority of MMA fans said Chuck was going to ko Shogun, and when Shogun comes in and does exactly that to Chuck he's still overrated.

4-21-2009 @ 10:27AM

hands down the worst comments ever retrojoke! if you really think Shogun is washed up/overrated or whatever after 2 knee surgeries and a whole year off from the sport then... i guess that's you're opinion lol. as for Machida facing a real striker, i believe he ko'ed Franklin and tko'ed Bonner. don't know if you consider them "real strikers" or not? the Herring/Nog analogy takes the cake though.

4-21-2009 @ 11:09AM

Bonnar was stopped due to a nasty cut but he was overwhelming Machida and would have won.
Franklin fights in the strike zone and attacks constantly- compliments Silva and Machida perfectly as they continue to backpeddle until they find a point to hit.

4-21-2009 @ 12:08PM

Michael David Smith said...

Machida destroyed Bonnar. I'm not sure how relevant a fight from 2003 is to how good either fighter is now, but Bonnar was the one getting overwhelmed.

4-21-2009 @ 12:42PM

richardbikle said...

If Shogun gets back 100%, and the Liddell fight seems to say he is, Shogun would be my number one LHW. 2nd/3rd would be a toss up between Lyoto and Rampage, thats a very hard call for me and I could see it going either way. I don't think Rashad has developed enough in the standup. I would give that to Hendo and Hendo's ground game is second to none. In my mind Rashad would be well behind these guys in terms of skills.