The Rankings are just that – The MMA Manifesto’s rankings of the best fighters in mixed martial arts today. Check back every Monday and Friday for our rankings of a different weight class. Next up: The Light Heavyweight Rankings
Voting Panel: Jeff Fox, Daniel Vreeland, Ricky Leone, and Ryan MacDonald.
*stipulations: 1) any fighter currently suspended or 2) inactive for at least 12 months (without an upcoming fight scheduled) are excluded from the rankings
CLICK ON FIGHTER’S NAME FOR DETAILED SCOUTING REPORT
The Light Heavyweight Rankings
1) (Previous ranking (1) – Daniel Cormier – UFC Light Heavyweight Champion – 39 out of 40 points
Record: 18-1
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 2-0 (W-Gustafsson, W-Johnson)
Next Fight: vs #2 Anthony Johnson – UFC 210 – Apr 8th
Will Daniel Cormier ever get a chance to prove he can beat Bones?
Record: 22-5
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 5-1 (W-Teixeira, W-Manuwa, W-Bader, L-Cormier, W-Gustafsson, W-Davis)
3) (3) Alexander Gustafsson – UFC – 28 points
Record: 17-4
Last Five Fights: 2-3
Record vs Top 10: 2-3 (L-Cormier, L-Johnson, W-Manuwa, W-Rua, L-Davis)
Next Fight: TBA
The Mauler got a much-needed win last time in the cage.
Record: 22-5
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 1-2 (L-Johnson, W-Davis, L-Teixeira)
Next Fight: TBA
He’s technically still a free agent, but Bader to Bellator is pretty much a done deal.
5) (5) Phil Davis – Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion – 26 points
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 3-2 (W-McGeary, L-Bader, W-Teixeira, L-Johnson, W-Gustafsson)
Next Fight: TBA
Record: 25-5
Last Five Fights: 3-2
Record vs Top 10: 1-2 (L-Johnson, L-Davis, W-Bader)
Next Fight: vs Jared Cannonier – UFC 208 – Feb 11th
Glover got absolutely smoked by Rumble.
7) (7) Jimi Manuwa – UFC – 16 points
Record: 16-2
Last Five Fights: 3-2
Record vs Top 10: 0-2 (L-Johnson, L-Gustafsson)
Next Fight: vs Corey Anderson – UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs Anderson – Mar 18th
Poster Boy picked up the biggest win of his career last time in the cage, KOing OSP in his native England.
8) (8) Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua – UFC – 10 points
Record: 24-10
Last Five Fights: 3-2
Record vs Top 10: 0-1 (L-Gustafsson)
Next Fight: vs Gian Villante – UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs Gastelum – Mar 18th
Shogun is riding a nice two-fight win streak.
Record: 11-1
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 0-0
Next Fight: vs Chris Fields – Bellator 173
Record: 13-2
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 0-0
Next Fight: TBA
Eight straight wins has propelled Cirkunov into the elite of the light heavyweight class.
Dropped off: (9) Ovince St. Preux
Bubbling under: Volkan Oezdemir, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Corey Anderson
Check back on Monday for our Middleweight rankings
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!