Two former number one’s.

Who are the ten best 205-Pounders in mixed martial arts? These top ten lists are always debatable, but Squabbles has put together a pretty tight list. Here are their thoughts:

Lyoto Machida left no doubt who sits atop this list.

His masterful performance against Rashad Evans at UFC 98 demonstrated his dominance of the division and his eclectic mix of styles – and powerful striking – make him the man to beat and the high water mark for light heavyweights.

The signing of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to challenge Machida at UFC 104 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 24 seems anticlimactic – and perhaps not the most attractive possible card – and Machida will handle Rua with little difficulty. The problem is, and it’s the same problem his sometime training partner, countrymen and friend, Anderson Silva has, is a lack of credible opposition on the horizon.

This is no knock on the rest of the fighters in the division, it’s just that Machida is that good.

And now their list:

1. Lyoto Machida
2. Rashad Evans
3. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
4. Forrest Griffin
5. Keith Jardine
6. Quinton Jackson
7. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
8. Wanderlei Silva
9. Yoshihiro Akiyama
10. Thiago Silva

Certainly there’s an “any given night” prospect from #2 – #6, with Akiyama being a dark horse at #9. Regardless, none of these are set to dethrone Machida with anything short of a gun — and that may still not be enough.

What are your thoughts on Squabbles’ list? Or who do you think can beat Machida?