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ESPN INSIDER: Future Contenders
riginally Published: January 24, 2012
Future Contenders: Davis is No. 1
Gustafsson, Mousasi and Bader not far behind in light heavyweight division
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By Adam Hill
ESPN Insider
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Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images
Phil Davis is the best of the "Future Contenders," a ranking of MMA's top prospects in each weight class.
With each fight, light heavyweight contender Phil Davis shows more and more why he has the potential to one day hold an Ultimate Fighting Championship belt.
He has shown that he can use his phenomenal wrestling skills to grind out victories, to apply submissions using solid technique (as he did against Alexander Gustafsson) or even to tap out an opponent through sheer power (as he did against Tim Boetsch). He has beaten big names like Brian Stann and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. For that, the former Penn State national champion lands in the No. 1 spot for the light heavyweight division of ESPN Insider's new "Future Contenders" list.
"Future Contenders" will focus on fighters in every weight class who have the best chance to work their way into a title shot in the future. Eligible fighters are those who:
1. Have not held a UFC belt in the weight class
2. Have not previously fought for a title in the weight class
Fighters need not currently be in the UFC to qualify, but as is the case for Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, they must be active fighters and not under suspension. Also, holding a title or having fought for a title in another fight league does not disqualify a fighter from "Future Contenders."
Davis can cement his position with a win over former champion Rashad Evans in the main event of UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago on Saturday night. While these rankings are about fighters who have the potential to fight for a UFC title in the future, Davis might be just one victory away.
"Rashad is the true No. 1 contender," Davis says. "But if I beat him, who else is there for me to fight other than the champion?"
Right now, that champion is Jon Jones, who has been dominant in recent wins. The law of averages dictates he will lose at some point. But to whom? Perhaps it will be Davis or one of the following fighters:
2. Alexander Gustafsson (13-1), UFC
Gustafsson
This one is all about potential. The 6-foot-5 Swede is only getting better, and being teammates with Davis at Alliance MMA in San Diego can only help. Gustafsson, whose only loss came at Davis' hands in April 2010, has reeled off four straight stoppage victories, with visible improvement each time. Gustafsson has gone the distance just once and has nine knockouts among his 13 victories. As Davis did last March, Gustafsson will face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (on April 14), which will serve as a stiff test to prove whether Gustafsson is ready to be considered a contender. Having just turned 25, his relative youth allows for continued development. But there is no question he has the length and power to be considered as a bona fide threat to Jones.
3. Gegard Mousasi (32-3), Strikeforce
Mousasi
Though just 26 years old, Mousasi has fought 37 pro MMA bouts already and is an undefeated kickboxer. He also is a proficient wrestler and displays above-average grappling skills. Mousasi lost some steam when he dropped the Strikeforce light heavyweight title to Lawal in April 2010. Since then, Mousasi hasn't lost. His efforts haven't always been worthy of being ranked this high, as his recent lackluster performance against Keith Jardine indicates. But his immense talent and versatility can't be discounted.
4. Ryan Bader (15-2), UFC
Bader
OK, so 2011 wasn't a storybook year for Bader. He suffered his first career loss -- at the hands of Jones -- and followed it up with an inexplicable first-round submission to Tito Ortiz. Still, Bader is just 28 and can't be counted out. A former wrestler at Arizona State, he has terrific ground skills and a powerful right hand. His style is reminiscent of Dan Henderson. His matchup in February against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will go a long way toward showing whether Bader is a contender.
5. Rafael Cavalcante (11-3), Strikeforce
As a member of the famed Brazilian Black House fight team, the 31-year-old was the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion until Henderson knocked him out last March. However, "Feijao" has the power to knock out anyone in the division, as well as elite jiu-jitsu skills, which makes him a threat no matter who he faces in the Octagon.
6. Thiago Silva (14-2), UFC
Silva
Silva is back. He served his one-year suspension for using a urine adulterant following his victory (now a no-contest) over Brandon Vera in January 2011. When healthy, Silva is one of the premier talents in the division. His two losses have come against Evans and Lyoto Machida, both former champions. One of the hardest punchers at light heavyweight with 11 knockouts among his 14 victories, Silva also earned his black belt in jiu-jitsu.
Ed Mulholland for ESPN.com
Nedkov has quickly made a name for himself in the UFC's light heavyweight division.
7. Stanislav Nedkov (12-0), UFC
Just two of the Nedkov's 12 opponents have been able to go the distance with him and none have been able to defeat him. He did show some vulnerability in a split decision win over an aged Kevin Randleman, but Nedkov lived up to his considerable hype with a first-round knockout of Luiz Cane in August. His immense knockout power often overshadows his well-developed ground game, but Nedkov brings a balanced skill set to the UFC.
8. Ryan Jimmo (16-1), UFC
The Canadian got knocked out in the first round of his MMA debut way back in 2007. Since then, he's lost one fight. He was the Maximum Fight Championship light heavyweight champion, but made his name on Season 8 of "The Ultimate Fighter." He is a karate black belt and an accomplished wrestler but is still recovering from an injury that kept him out of his UFC debut against Karlos Vemola in January.
9. Glover Teixeira (19-2), independent
The 32-year-old Brazilian is perhaps the best light heavyweight outside the Zuffa umbrella, but he hasn't fought outside Brazil since 2008. After starting his career 2-2, Teixeira hasn't lost a fight since 2005. Only once in his 15-fight winning streak has an opponent gone the distance with him. However, age is becoming a factor for this ultra-talented fighter. So he clearly needs to make a move now.
10. Ovince St. Preux (11-5), Strikeforce
A December loss to Mousasi certainly tempered the hype that surrounded St. Preux during his eight-fight win streak, but he still possesses the raw power that could eventually make him a force in MMA. A former linebacker at Tennessee, the 6-foot-3 St. Preux is a wrestler by trade, and he possesses the type of elite athletic ability most fighters envy. He has yet to put all of the disciplines together, but at 28 he still has some time.
Adam Hill covers MMA for the Las Vegas Review Journal. Follow him on Twitter: @AdamHillLVRJ
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Originally Posted by SportsPedagogy
