Honorable Mention

Volkan Oezdemir

Promotion: UFC

Volkan Oezdemir is a Swiss professional MMA fighter, and he has a record of 19 wins and 7 losses. 

Oezdemir is a former title challenger at light heavyweight, and he has notable wins over fighters like Ovince Saint Preux, Misha Cirkunov, Jimi Manuwa, Ilir Latifi, Aleksandar Rakić, and Paul Craig. 

In his most recent fight, he defeated Bogdan Guskov, and his next fight has not been announced yet. 

Aleksandar Rakić

Promotion: UFC

Aleksandar Rakić is a professional MMA fighter from Austria. He has a record of 14 wins and 3 losses. 

Aleksandar Rakić has won 6 out of 8 fights in the UFC and has notable wins over Jimi Manuwa, Anthony Smith, and Thiago Santos. 

In his most recent fight, he lost to Jan Błachowicz, and his next fight has not been announced yet. 

Anthony Smith

Promotion: UFC

Anthony Smith is a professional MMA fighter from the USA, with a record of 37 wins and 18 losses. 

Anthony Smith has been competing in the UFC since 2016, and he has many notable wins at light heavyweight over big names like Rashad Evans, Maurício Rua, Volkan Oezdemir, and Alexander Gustafsson. 

In his most recent fight, he defeated Ryan Spann by decision, and his next fight has yet to be announced. 

Johnny Walker

Promotion: UFC

Johnny Walker is a professional MMA fighter from Brazil, with a record of 21 wins and 7 losses, with 1 no-contest. 

Walker has notable wins over big names like Misha Cirkunov, Ryan Spann,  Ion Cuțelaba, and Paul Craig. In his most recent fight, Walker fought Magomed Ankalev in a title elimination bout, however, the fight was unfortunately declared as a no-contest. 

Magomed Ankalaev accidentally hit Walker with a knee when he was downed. The ring-side doctor looked at Walker and suggested that the fight be stopped. The decision was very controversial as Walker said he was ready to continue, but perhaps the language barrier might have led to a contentious outcome.

In the rematch versus Ankalaev at UFC Fight Night in January Walker was caught with a right hand and finished with another right on the ground ending by TKO. There is no announcement on his next fight.

Top 10 MMA Light Heavyweight Rankings

10. Phil Davis

Promotion: Bellator

Phil Davis is a professional MMA fighter from the United States, with a record of 24 wins and 7 losses, with 1 no-contest. 

Davis has gone 11-4 since entering Bellator in 2015 from the UFC only losing to Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion and #4 ranked MMA Light Heavyweight Fan Rankings Vadim Nemkov, Ryan Bader, and Corey Anderson in that span.

He has notable wins over Linton Vassell, Lyoto Machida, and Yoel Romero. His last fight was against Corey Anderson in Bellator 297 losing by split decision. No announcement on his next fight.

9. Khalil Rountree

Promotion: UFC

Khalil Rountree is a professional MMA fighter from the United States, with a record of 13 wins and 5 losses, with 1 no-contest. 

Rountree is on a 5 fight win streak since 2021 with 4 out 5 winning by knockout and 3 with Performance of the Night.

He has notable wins over Gökhan Saki, Anthony Smith, and Chris Daukaus. His last fight was against Anthony Smith in UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Gutiérrez winning by TKO in the 3rd round. His next fight is against former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jamahal Hill.

8. Nikita Krylov

Promotion: UFC

Nikita Krylov is a professional MMA fighter from Ukraine, and he has a record of 29 wins and 9 losses.

He has several impressive wins on his resume, over fighters like Ovince Saint Preux, Johnny Walker, Volkan Oezdemir, and Alexander Gustafsson. 

In his most recent fight, he also defeated Ryan Spann with a triangle choke submission, and as of now, there is no official announcement about his next fight. 

7. Corey Anderson

Promotion: Bellator

Title(s):

• Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion

Corey Anderson is a professional MMA fighter from the United States, with a record of 18 wins and 6 losses, with 1 no-contest. 

Anderson has gone 5-1-1 since entering Bellator in 2020 from the UFC only losing to Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion and #4 ranked MMA Light Heavyweight Fan Rankings Vadim Nemkov at Bellator 288 in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix.

He has impressive wins over Ryan Bader, Glover Teixeira, Johnny Walker, Ilir Latifi, Phil Davis and Yoel Romero. His last fight was against Karl Moore in Bellator Champions Series 1 winning by split decision taking home the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight Title. No announcement on his next fight.

6. Jan Błachowicz

Promotion: UFC

Jan Błachowicz is a professional MMA fighter from Poland. He has an MMA record of 29 wins and 9 losses with 1 draw. 

Błachowicz is the former UFC light heavyweight champion of the world. He fought for the vacant title against Dominick Reyes and won via TKO. He defended it against UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and then lost it to Glover Teixeria. 

In his most recent fight, Błachowicz fought Alex Pereira, however, the fight ended in a split decision loss at UFC 291. There is no announcement on his next fight.

5. Magomed Ankalaev

Promotion: UFC

At number 4, we have Magomed Ankalaev. He is a Russian Professional MMA fighter with a record of 18 wins and only 1 loss with 1 draw and 1 no-contest. 

Magomed Ankalaev is on an impressive streak in the UFC, and he has defeated some high-level fighters including Nikita Krylov, Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos, and Anthony Smith. However, his last two fights have ended uneventfully. 

His fight against Jan Błachowicz for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title was scored as a draw, and his fight against Johnny Walker was ruled as a no-contest after the doctor stopped the fight because of an accidental illegal knee Ankalaev landed on Walker. 

However, the rematch between Ankaleav and Walker rescheduled for UFC Fight Night in January where Ankaleav won by TKO in the second round. Started off by a right hand that knocked Walker down. There is no announcement on his next fight.

4. Vadim Nemkov

Promotion: Bellator

Title(s):

• Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion
• Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Champion

Vadim Nemkov is a professional MMA fighter from Russia, with a record of 18 wins and 2 losses, with 1 no-contest. 

Nemkov is the current Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion and Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix winner with wins over Ryan Bader, Corey Anderson, Phil Davis, and Yoel Romero.

He faced Yoel Romero in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Finals at Bellator 297 winning by unanimous decision. Nemkov broke the record for most title defenses in Bellator Light Heavyweight with 5.

Recently, Nemkov faced Bruno Cappelozza in the PFL vs Bellator event and won by submission. There is no announcement on his next fight.

3. Jamahal Hill

Promotion: UFC

Jamahal Hill is an American MMA fighter with a record of 12 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no-contest. 

Hill is the former UFC light-heavyweight world champion. He won the title after defeating Glover Teixeira via Unanimous decision, however, he later vacated the title because of a long-term injury. Hill also has notable wins over fighters like Ovince Saint Preux, Johnny Walker, and Thiago Santos.

Recently, Hill faced Alex Pereira for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title. After a feeling out process in which we saw Hill accidentally strike Pereira in the cup, Pereira waved off the ref and knocked down Hill with a left hook. Hill was finished on the ground and lost via TKO.

Jamahal Hill’s next fight will be against Khalil Rountree in a fast turnaround at UFC 303.

2. Jiří Procházka

Promotion: UFC

Jiří Procházka is a professional MMA fighter from the Czech Republic. He has a record of 30 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. 

Jiří Procházka is the former UFC light-heavyweight champion of the world. Before coming to the UFC, he was also the Rizin light-heavyweight champion. Procházka won the UFC belt after defeating Glover Teixeira via Submission. However, he vacated the title after he got injured. 

At UFC 295, he fought Alex Pereira for the Vacant UFC Light heavyweight world title, however, he lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Recently at UFC 300 Jiri faced Aleksandar Rakic and defeated him via TKO. Jiri was able to over come many leg kicks that made Jiri’s leg look visibly hurt. He also walked through heavy strikes from Rakic to hurt him with a knee and finish him on the ground in the 2nd round.

There is no announcement on his next fight but he looks to face Alex Pereira in a rematch for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title.

1. Alex Pereira

Promotion: UFC

Title(s):

• UFC Light Heavyweight World Champion

Alex Pereira is a professional MMA fighter and former kickboxer from Brazil, and he has an MMA record of 10 wins and 2 losses. 

Pereira has held world UFC world titles in two different weight classes. He is the former UFC Middleweight world champion, and the current UFC light-heavyweight world champion as well. 

Pereira won the light-heavyweight title at UFC 295, after defeating Jiri Prochazka Via TKO in the second round of their fight. Some fans believed that the fight was an early stoppage, however, Prochazka was clearly hurt and took some ground and pound as well.

Recently, Pereira faced former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill. Hill relinquished the title due to injury and never lost it in the cage. Pereira in the first round was able to knockdown Hill with a left hook and finished him on the ground to retain his title.

There is no announcement on his next fight.

Where do you rank these Contenders and Champions? Rank below to be added in the MMA Light Heavyweight Rankings.

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