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 in the UFC’s red-hot lightweight division.
2. Shinya Aoki (19-3, 1 NC)
The “Tobikan Judan” closed out 2008 stylishly, as he notched a sensational 92-second submission over the highly regarded Eddie Alvarez. The win solidified Aoki as Japan’s top lightweight, at least for the time being.
3. Eddie Alvarez (15-2)
Alvarez had the chance to cap a brilliant 2008 but was in and out of his fight with Aoki in just 1:32. Alvarez may need time to mend, and his scheduled battle with UFC veteran Naoyuki Kotani at Extreme Challenge “The War at the Shore” on Jan. 23 remains up in the air.
4. Joachim Hansen (19-7-1)
Despite the attention given to his New Year’s Eve rematch with Gesias Cavalcante at K-1 “Premium 2008 Dynamite,” the bout was nixed at the last minute when a pre-fight medical test revealed an undisclosed head injury to Hansen. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for the sport’s most notorious Norwegian.
5. Gesias Cavalcante (14-2-1, 1 NC)
Cavalcante was denied the chance to avenge his July 2004 loss to Hansen when their Dec. 31 affair was canceled at the last minute. Fortunately, the bout’s cancelation will give “JZ” more time to rehabilitate his knee injury and get ready for 2009.
6. 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 and took a well-deserved unanimous decision over a high-caliber fighter in Tyson Griffin.
7. Kenny Florian (11-3)
Florian affirmed his status as the top contender to Penn’s UFC lightweight crown with his complete dismantling of Stevenson at UFC 91. Florian’s first-round blowout victory more than likely earned him the second UFC title bid of his career.
8. Satoru Kitaoka (24-8-9)
The hulking Pancrase product continued his lightweight surge, as he effortlessly leg locked perennial divisional standout Takanori Gomi in less than two minutes at Sengoku “No Ran 2009” on Jan. 4. The win gave Kitaoka the Sengoku lightweight title and some serious attention from an MMA populace that had heard little about him prior to his recent run.
9. Josh Thomson (16-2, 1 NC)
On Nov. 21, the Strikeforce lightweight champion was given a chance to atone for his August 2004 highlight reel knockout loss to Yves Edwards. Unfortunately, Thomson tore ligaments in his toe, which forced him out of the bout and put him on the shelf.
10. Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-5-2)
Kawajiri turned in one of the most impressive performances of his career at K-1 “Premium 2008 Dynamite.” While it did not come in an MMA bout, the “Crusher” stormed Japanese kickboxing icon Kozo Takeda with a brutal-first round stoppage that showcased the former Shooto world champion’s improved striking.
* Following formerly ninth-ranked Sergei Golyaev’s loss to Eiji Mitsuoka and formerly 10th-ranked Gomi's loss to Kitaoka, both fall outside of the top 10.