USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, Sept. 14: Light heavyweights on notice

While this past weekend didn’t feature any prominent MMA events, the same cannot be said for this Saturday. Both the UFC and Bellator are in action this weekend, and the light heavyweight division certainly features prominently in each of the cards.

UFC Fight Night 192 sees a key matchup of Anthony Smith (35-16 MMA, 10-6 UFC) vs. Ryan Spann (19-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC).

Smith enters the week as the highest-ranked 205-pounder in action, sitting at No. 11 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie light heavyweight rankings. Meanwhile, Spann is a prospect on the rise and is currently sitting as an honorable mention. Both fighters intend to make statements with their performances.

Meanwhile, the Bellator 266 headliner features an important clash between former Bellator champ Phil Davis (22-6 MMA, 9-3 BMMA) and longtime UFC contender Yoel Romero (13-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

Davis enters the week ranked No. 12 at 205 pounds, while Romero is still a top-10 fighter at 185 pounds but now looks to establish himself in a new division. It’s an opportunity for a real shake-up in the light heavyweight division depending on how both events play out.

Ahead of a busy week at 205 pounds, check out the current rankings and consider how things could be impacted with the upcoming results. Check out other divisions, as well, using the dropdown menu above.