Sherdog’s Top 10: Greatest Light Heavyweights

10. Rashad Evans

Evans is a reminder that hard work, toughness and intelligence can make up for, and even surpass, natural talent and size. Evans was a small 205-pounder and didn't have the natural abilities of many of his foes, but more often than not, he ended up the victor. Maximizing his potential and career to their absolute limits, he just barely makes the list of top 10 light heavyweights where more gifted fighters didn't. Evans, at 5 feet, 11 inches and 225 pounds, defeated 6-foot-7, 265-pound giant Brad Imes to become the winner of the Season 2 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” a portent of triumphs to come. On his way to the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title, Evans won close decisions over Stephan Bonnar and Michael Bisping while knocking out Jason Lambert and Chuck Liddell, and attained a hard-fought draw against Tito Ortiz. Then, he decisively knocked out Forrest Griffin to win the throne, showing off his considerable improvement as a martial artist over his career.

Alas, the reign was short-lived, as Evans would be dominated and knocked out by another all-time great in Lyoto Machida one fight later. That didn't diminish Evans' determination or success, however. He recorded convincing victories over Thiago Silva, bitter rival “Rampage” Jackson and a young Phil Davis, and left no doubt in his rematch against Ortiz by knocking him out. After dropping decisions to Jon Jones and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Evans took a split decision against Dan Henderson and stopped Chael Sonnen, but his time among the division's elite was over. Beginning with a loss to Ryan Bader when Evans was 36 years old, he went on a five-fight losing streak that would lead to his retirement, but he had done enough in his career, including multiple wins over top contenders and fellow all-time Top 10 light heavyweights, to crack this list.

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