---

Lightweight

1. Ben Henderson (17-2)

The second go-around was even more contentious than the first, but Ben Henderson managed to get his hands raised by split decision in Denver, and retain the UFC lightweight title. The 155-pound king cannot rest for long, however, as he is already slotted in to main-event the UFC on Fox 5 come Dec. 8 against dangerous challenger Nate Diaz.

2. Frankie Edgar (14-3-1)

Whether from the pressure or the opportunity, Frankie Edgar has opted to drop to 145 pounds. The former UFC lightweight champ was initially slated to face featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo at UFC 153, but Aldo’s motorcycle accident and subsequent injury put the much-awaited conflict on ice.

3. Gilbert Melendez (21-2)

In an unfortunately familiar circumstance, Gilbert Melendez suffered an injury in training and had to pull out of his Sept. 29 Strikeforce title defense against Pat Healy. In an even more unfortunately familiar circumstance, Melendez's withdrawal from the show led Showtime to decide not to air it and forcing Strikeforce to cancel the event.

4. Gray Maynard (11-1-1, 1 NC)

Maynard’s path to a third UFC lightweight title shot will undoubtedly be littered with notable 155-pound contenders if it is to continue. After topping Clay Guida in June, Maynard has signed on to tangle with Joe Lauzon at UFC 155 on Dec. 29.

5. Nate Diaz (16-7)

Diaz’s decision to wait for the winner of Ben Henderson-Frankie Edgar 2 proved wise. With Henderson getting his hand raised in Denver, he is now signed on to defend his UFC lightweight title against Diaz, who will make his second headlining appearance on network television at UFC on Fox 5 on Dec. 8.

6. Jim Miller (21-4)

After going more than two years between losses, the younger of New Jersey’s fighting Miller brothers has dropped two of his last three starts. The latest loss came May 5 at the hands of Nate Diaz, who forced Miller to submit to a second-round guillotine choke.

7. Clay Guida (29-13)

Since his UFC debut almost six years ago, Clay Guida has been a popular, serviceable and occasionally thrilling lightweight. Now, it seems like Guida has designs on being a popular, serviceable and occasionally thrilling featherweight, as “The Carpenter” recently tweeted he was headed for 145 pounds.

8. Anthony Pettis (15-2)

As of late, Pettis' activity has mostly been of the online variety, as he's traded jabs and barbs with fellow lightweight contender Donald Cerrone. However, talks of a Pettis-Cerrone date still seem premature with no said date for the fight and Pettis still nursing a shoulder injury.

9. Donald Cerrone (19-4, 1 NC)

After a dominant win over former training partner Melvin Guillard, Donald Cerrone set his eyes on fellow former WEC standout Anthony Pettis. However, despite their verbal back-and-forth, Pettis' shoulder injury has delayed any booking of a Pettis-Cerrone contest.

10 Michael Chandler (10-0)

Bellator’s lightweight ace did exactly what was expected of him in his May 5 non-title bout, sending Japanese vet Akihiro Gono into retirement with a 56-second demolition. Chandler will get a much stiffer test in his as-yet-unscheduled first defense, which will see the NCAA wrestling standout clash with Olympic judoka and sixth-season tourney winner Rick Hawn.

Other contenders:

Shinya Aoki, Eddie Alvarez, Rick Hawn, Pat Healy, Joe Lauzon.

Continue Reading » MMA Featherweight Rankings