Lightweight
1. Anthony Pettis (18-2)
Returning from a 15-month layoff at UFC 181, “Showtime” looked every bit the top lightweight in MMA, as he tagged Gilbert Melendez with second-round strikes before slapping on a fight-ending guillotine choke. Pettis’ current five-fight winning streak -- which includes submissions of Melendez and Benson Henderson and knockouts of Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon -- is one of the finest runs in 155-pound history.2. Gilbert Melendez (22-4)
The former Strikeforce lightweight ace started strong at UFC 181, but “El Nino” quickly found out what many have before him: Anthony Pettis is a hard man to beat. Melendez dropped to 1-2 in the Octagon and failed in his bid for UFC gold as he succumbed to a second-round guillotine choke.3. Khabib Nurmagomedov (22-0)
Nurmagomedov continues to look like the next big thing in the UFC’s lightweight division. “The Eagle” dismantled fellow contender Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 11, grinding down his adversary through takedowns, clinches and ground-and-pound. The surging Dagestani has won six straight bouts inside the Octagon. However, a knee injury forced the 26-year-old to withdraw from a match with Donald Cerrone the same day bout agreements were signed.4. Rafael dos Anjos (23-7)
In one of his finest showings to date, dos Anjos picked apart and dominated Nate Diaz on the feet and the floor en route to a unanimous decision in their Dec. 13 encounter. Since his April loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, dos Anjos has reeled off three straight wins and, according to UFC President Dana White, could potentially leapfrog the sidelined Russian for the next shot at Anthony Pettis’ 155-pound belt.5. Donald Cerrone (25-6, 1 NC)
The “Cowboy” wrangled himself yet another quality lightweight at UFC 178, this time spoiling the debut of former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez. Cerrone rode out a punishing first round and dragged his opponent into deep waters, where he gradually picked apart Alvarez with low kicks and body blows. In the end, Cerrone was unable to secure a fifth straight stoppage win, but his unanimous decision victory over one of the division’s best was just as impressive. Unbeaten Myles Jury will be the next man to try and halt Cerrone’s momentum, as the two have been paired for a Jan. 3 meeting at UFC 182.6. Benson Henderson (21-4)
A former UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting champ, “Bendo” suffered the first knockout loss of his 25-fight pro career at the hands of surging Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos on Aug. 23 in Tulsa, Okla. A left hook to the jaw ended Henderson’s night, along with his immediate hopes for title contention after back-to-back wins against Josh Thomson and Rustam Khabilov. Henderson will continue to meet top-tier talent when he takes on former Bellator ace Eddie Alvarez in January.7. Eddie Alvarez (25-4)
The grit and technical capabilities that made Alvarez a hot commodity during his Bellator run were on full display at UFC 178. Unfortunately for the Philadelphian, he was up against one of the lightweight division’s toughest outs in Donald Cerrone, who spoiled Alvarez’s long-awaited Octagon debut and earned a unanimous decision by way of punishing leg kicks and body work. Alvarez will again go in search of his first UFC win when he meets former champion Benson Henderson on Jan. 18 in Boston.8. Will Brooks (15-1)
After taking a narrow and controversial split decision from Michael Chandler in their first meeting, Brooks made sure to put an exclamation point on the rematch. The once-beaten American Top Team product became Bellator MMA’s undisputed lightweight champion and the first man to stop Chandler by punching his way to a fourth-round stoppage on Nov. 15.9. Edson Barboza (15-2)
Barboza used his trademark leg kicks and long, accurate punches to shut down the surging Bobby Green and earn a unanimous decision in the Nov. 22 co-main event of a UFC Fight Night offering in Austin, Texas. Over the past two years, the Brazilian muay Thai stylist has won five of his six outings, including three victories by way of technical knockout.10. Myles Jury (15-0)
Since competing on “The Ultimate Fighter 15,” Jury has racked up six consecutive victories, including big-name wins against the likes of Diego Sanchez and Takanori Gomi. The 26-year-old Alliance MMA product will face his toughest test to date on Jan. 3, when he will try to halt the momentum of streaking “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone.Other Contenders: Nate Diaz, Bobby Green, Rustam Khabilov, Jorge Masvidal, Josh Thomson.
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