Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Lightweight

1. Conor McGregor (21-3)

McGregor on Jan. 28 went head-to-head with his promoter in a pay-per-view interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani while the UFC on Fox 23 card rolled from Denver. McGregor remains adamant that his next bout will be from the boxing ring, whether it comes against Floyd Mayweather Jr. or not. He continues to balk at the idea of facing the winner of the UFC 209 showdown between Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

2. Tony Ferguson (22-3)

Ferguson has been scheduled to meet Khabib Nurmagomedov three times, and three times it has fallen apart. Ahead of UFC 209, issues with Nurmagomedov’s weight cut led to his hospitalization and cancellation of their interim lightweight title contest. While “El Cucuy” has taken to calling out undisputed champion Conor McGregor, what comes next for Ferguson is anyone’s guess.

3. Eddie Alvarez (28-5)

Alvarez’s UFC lightweight title reign was a short one, as he was battered by featherweight kingpin Conor McGregor in his first title defense at UFC 205 and knocked out in the second round. If there is any silver lining to the situation, it is that Alvarez got a McGregor-infused payday and will surely find a way to author more memorable Octagon moments back in the 155-pound general population.

4. Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0)

Brutal luck again struck Nurmagomedov ahead of UFC 209, nixing his slated bout with Tony Ferguson for a third time; and this time, it was for an interim lightweight title. With six pounds to go in his weight cut, Nurmagomedov’s team took him to hospital and his medical issues forced the bout’s cancellation, breaking fans’ hearts one more time.

5. Rafael dos Anjos (25-9)

After establishing himself as the UFC lightweight king and one of the hottest fighters in the sport, dos Anjos has taken back-to-back losses against Eddie Alvarez and Tony Ferguson and lost his footing in the division. The former 155-pound champ has announced that he will be at 170 pounds when he returns to the Octagon. No date or opponent has been set.

6. Edson Barboza (18-4)

A pair of decision wins over onetime UFC champ Anthony Pettis and former Strikeforce titleholder Gilbert Melendez in 2016 have Barboza in his strongest position since he arrived in the UFC. The Brazilian can take a major leap forward in the 155-pound title race on March 11 in his native Brazil, where he faces Beneil Dariush at the UFC Fight Night event in Fortaleza.

7. Michael Chiesa (14-2)

Chiesa’s path to a UFC lightweight title shot figured to run through top contender Tony Ferguson in their scheduled five-round showdown on July 13. Unfortunately, Chiesa was forced out of the fight with a back injury and replaced by Lando Vannata. The Washingtonian now waits to heal and expand on his three-fight winning streak in the ultra-difficult UFC lightweight division.

8. Will Brooks (17-2)

Brooks’ UFC run hit a snag in October, when the former Bellator MMA champion broke his rib and got knocked out in the third round against Alex Oliveira, who checked in six pounds overweight. “Ill Will” gets his chance to get back into the win column against another Oliveira, welcoming Charles Oliveira back to 155 pounds at UFC 210 on April 8 in Buffalo, New York.

9. Beneil Dariush (14-2)

Dariush had his five-fight UFC winning streak snapped in April, when one mistake in a scramble cost him and he wound up tapping to Michael Chiesa’s trademark rear-naked choke. The Rafael Cordeiro pupil rebounded nicely with back-to-back wins over James Vick and Rashid Magomedov and has now earned an important date with Edson Barboza at the March 11 UFC Fight Night bill in Fortaleza, Brazil.

10. Michael Chandler (16-3)

A pair of shocking losses to Will Brooks back in 2014 threatened Chandler’s case as one of the sport’s top lightweights, but “Iron Mike” has bounced back in the two years since. Coming off of brutal stoppages of David Rickels and Patricky Freire, Chandler welcomed back former UFC lightweight king Benson Henderson to 155 pounds on Nov. 19, as he earned a five-round split decision and the first successful defense of his latest Bellator MMA title reign.

Other Contenders: Nate Diaz, Evan Dunham, Justin Gaethje, Michael Johnson, Francisco Trinaldo

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