Lightweights
1. BJ Penn (15-5-1) – BJ Penn MMA
At lightweight, BJ Penn just looks unbeatable. He’s the best boxer and possibly the best jiu jitsu practitioner in the division. He’s set to face off against Frank Edgar in Abu Dhabi (yawn) but the only LW fight I’m interested in for him is Aoki.
2. Shinya Aoki (23-4, 1NC) – Nippon Top Team
Aoki’s ground game is just ridiculous. On top of that the guy is a complete heel- snapping guys arms and flipping the bird. The perfect opponent for BJ Penn. His next fight is TBA against Kawajiri.
3. Eddie Alvarez (19-2) – Fight Factory
Eddie’s got the perfect blend of hand speed, knockout power, and submission skills to test anyone in the LW division. He’s been involved in some of the division’s all time greatest fights. His next fight is TBA.
4. Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-5-2) – T-Blood
Kawajiri had a great 2009 racking up four wins. His next fight is TBA against Aoki.
5. Kenny Florian (12-4) – Florian MMA
“KenFlo” had a long road climbing the LW ladder for three years trying to get back to a title shot- putting together one of the most impressive win streaks ever in the division. He just didn’t have anything for Penn. He got back to his winning ways with a submission over Clay Guida. His next fight is TBA against Takanori Gomi.
6. Gilbert Melendez (17-2) – Cesar Gracie
Three wins in 2009 for Melendez that included an interim title and eventual avenging of his loss to Josh Thomson to win the Strikforce LW title in one of the best fights of the year. Next up for Melendez is TBA.
7. Frankie Edgar (11-1) – Rhino Fight Team
Edgar has had an impressive run in the UFC with wins over Tyson Griffin, Spencer Fisher, Hermes Franca, and Sean Sherk. Add his submission victory over Matt Veach coupled with the horrible Diaz/Maynard fight earned him a shot at LW great BJ Penn.
8. Benson Henderson (11-1) – MTX MMA
Henderson won the WEC Lightweight title in 2009 and started off 2010 with a submission of Jamie Varner. His next fight will be in April in a rematch with Donald Cerrone.
9. Gray Maynard (9-0, 1NC) – Xtreme Couture
Maynard is one of the rising stars of the LW division but isn’t doing himself any favors. After verbalizing that he wasn’t ready for a title shot he put on a lackluster performance against Nate Diaz, assuring the fact that he’ll have to wait a bit longer for a shot at UFC gold.
10. Diego Sanchez (21-3) – University of Jiu-Jitsu
Diego was a top welterweight before dropping down to lightweight and defeating Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida in his first two fights. Although he was brutally defeated by BJ Penn, he’s still a top fighter in the division. He is said to be now leaving the division.
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