Always on the lookout for marquee challenges, the UFC’s lightweight champion will return to the welterweight division to rekindle his rivalry with Georges St. Pierre at UFC 94 on Jan. 31. However, when Penn returns to 155, there should be no shortage of suitors, with several high stakes lightweight affairs possible in the coming months.
A Nov. 8 date against Nick Diaz fell by the wayside due to the death of EliteXC. However, Alvarez should have little trouble finding fights as one of the hottest commodities in one of MMA’s hottest divisions.
3. Joachim Hansen (19-7-1)
With losses to Shinya Aoki, Eiji Mitsuoka and Alvarez, it seemed that the Norwegian nightmare’s days as a top lightweight may have been finished. However, when the stars lined up and gave “Hellboy” his chance to step back into the Dream lightweight grand prix, Hansen blasted Aoki to gain a measure of revenge, the Dream lightweight championship and his biggest win in years.
4. Takanori Gomi (29-3, 1 NC)
Sengoku 6 will see Gomi meet Russian Sergei Golyaev on Nov. 1 in what amounts to a tune-up bout. However, Gomi's real next fight will be crystallized on the same card, when Sengoku’s lightweight tournament resolves, producing the man who will meet “The Fireball Kid” to determine the promotion’s first divisional champion.
5. Shinya Aoki (18-3, 1 NC)
Aoki attempted to put July’s brutal loss to Hansen behind him, as he got a quick and easy submission victory over Todd Moore at Dream 6 on Sept. 23. The bout was Aoki's sixth bout of 2008 but likely only the penultimate, as he has boisterously begun challenging Yoshihiro Akiyama and Badr Hari for New Year’s Eve.
6. Gesias Cavalcante (14-2-1, 1 NC)
Still recovering from a torn knee ligament, which he carried into his April 29 bout with Aoki, Cavalcante has been missed in Dream’s lightweight division. Considering the intriguing outcomes of Dream’s lightweight grand prix, potential bouts are numerous for the American Top Teamer, who will hopefully see action in Japan on New Year’s Eve.
7. Sean Sherk (33-3-1)
The last year has not been kind to Sherk. However, in his first action since his May thumping at Penn’s hands, the Minnesotan put on his most entertaining performance in recent memory, taking a well-deserved unanimous decision over a high-caliber fighter in Tyson Griffin.
8. Josh Thomson (16-2, 1 NC)
Strikeforce’s 155-pound champion is hungry for the top lightweights in the world. While it remains to be seen if he’ll get those chances, the Nov. 21 Strikeforce card will give Thomson the opportunity to avenge his August 2004 highlight reel loss to Yves Edwards.
9. Gilbert Melendez (14-2)
A favorite going into his June 27 title defense against Thomson, Melendez was completely outclassed over five rounds and lost a lopsided decision. What’s next for the talented Cesar Gracie prospect remains uncertain.
10. Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-5-2)
While Kawajiri embarks on a series of pro-MMA seminars across Japan, he also readies himself for the biggest night of the year for MMA in Japan, as the “Crusher” will likely see action for K-1 on New Year’s Eve.