Though there was only one fight between top-tier light heavyweights during the month of February, Ryan Bader’s upset of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in Japan significantly shook up the rankings for the 205-pound division.
Coming into the bout several pounds overweight, though he explained it was due to an injury, Jackson’s loss reignited speculation that he had no motivation for the competition aspect of fighting anymore. However, Jackson quickly shut down that conversation by saying he would return to fight again.
Meanwhile, Bader’s victory catapulted him back into the mix for a shot at the light heavyweight title, as he has now won two straight fights since his back-to-back defeats against champion Jon Jones and Tito Ortiz.
Let’s take a look at where Bader, Jackson and the rest of MMA‘s top light heavyweights stand after the month of February.
These rankings are the combined efforts of some of Bleacher Report MMA’s best writers, as we continue to try and provide you with the best content on the web.