Who's contention is this anyway?

For this post I am focusing on the clusterf@$% that is the UFC's light heavyweight devision. While there are no problems with the indisputable (by his last performances) champ, Rampage Jackson, the contenders below him nipping at his heels is what makes the situation so confusing.

Let's start with Keith Jardine. Jardine recently pummeled Forrest Griffin into the canvas, only to receive a even more vicious punishment at the hands of Houston Alexander. Jardine is offered a fight with Chuck Liddell to once again establish himself in the UFC. Like most strategies effect in the UFC (Serra) this backfired on them as Jardine fought a hard 3 rounds to emerge the victor over once champion and now back to back loss holder, Chuck Liddell. So during this Houston Alexander is on a warpath which claims Alessio Sakara, knocking him from contention. Forrest was at the time looking for a way back to fame from the Jardine fight and offered to fight against Shogun Rua, who was making his debut. Forrest stunned the world by defeating Shogun, who holds a win over Rampage Jackson, making things just that more confusing. Meanwhile, Houston Alexander was just exploited by Thiago Silva, another member of Team Chut Boxe, dropping him from contention.

This would be fine and dandy, but now we have Wanderlei Silva entering the mix to take on former champ and UFC poster boy Chuck Liddell. Wanderlei holds 2 previous wins over Jackson, who holds 2 wins over Liddell. The winner of this fight will be catapulted back into contention, which makes the entire situation more confusing considering the extremely healthy amount of talent that the LHW division is bulging with. Assuming Wanderlei does win, it makes an interesting situation between him and Shogun, who is still a contender.

All in all we have Wanderlei trying to establish himself, Chuck trying to prove he's not over the hill, Forrest Griffin beating Shogun and both deserving to be in contention, Thiago Silva who's proving to be well rounded by smashing Houston who beat Jardine who beat Chuck and proved that he belongs in the contention and last but not least we have Jackson who is at the top of the pack with two people who hold a combined 3 losses against him trying to take his belt. This is the most complicated weight class there is.