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#2 Dominick Reyes (12-1)
There is certainly a case to be made for Reyes to be number 1 on this list given his only loss was a highly disputed one last time out against Jon Jones for the title. Reyes had been surging prior to this razor-thin decision, racking up 12 consecutive wins, punctuated by a first-round KO of former UFC Middleweight champion Chris Weidman in October of last year.
Should Reyes win in September he immediately asserts himself as one of the most dominant light heavyweights in recent memory and he's already put himself in a great position as the number 1 ranked fighter in the division. While many were hoping his next fight would be a rematch with Jones so the controversy surrounding the first encounter could be cleared up, Reyes will still compete in his second consecutive title fight and will likely be the favorite heading into that bout. Only time will tell if Reyes is to become the man to beat in the light heavyweight division.
#1 Thi os (21-7)
While Thiago Santos has not competed since his split decision loss to Jon Jones in July of last year, his credentials as a top competitor in the division cannot be ignored. Formerly a middleweight who got his start in the UFC on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2, Santos was red hot with 3 KOs in his first 3 fights at light heavyweight and even knocked out current title challenger Jan Blachowicz prior to his tight decision loss to Jones.
While he does not currently have an opponent lined up, Santos is still the number 2 ranked light heavyweight in the world and figures to immediately be in and around the title picture when he does return to the octagon. Santos, nicknamed Maretta, has the looks and the power that could make him a star in the UFC and it does not seem too much of a stretch of the imagination to see him quickly becoming a dominant champion in the light heavyweight division.
