Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Lightweight

1. Frankie Edgar (13-1)
In August, Edgar proved he was no fluke, dominating B.J. Penn over five rounds. However, the major hurdle for Edgar will now come as we enter 2011. On Jan. 1 at UFC 125, he will defend his title for the second time, risking the strap against unbeaten Gray Maynard -- the only man to beat “The Answer.”

2. Gilbert Melendez (18-2)
A potential rematch with Shinya Aoki fell apart, leaving Melendez with no clear fight until early 2011. In the meantime, Melendez has taken to calling out Paul Daley, announcing his interested in a 165-pound catchweight bout against the big-hitting Brit.

3. B.J. Penn (16-7-1)
Penn and Matt Hughes were rivals for nearly six years. However, in the rubber match between the former UFC champs, it took “The Prodigy” just 21 seconds to brutally put down Hughes for the count. Next for Penn will be another fight at 170 pounds -- and a major one, at that -- as he meets Jon Fitch in the UFC 127 headliner on Feb. 27 in Sydney, Australia.

4. Gray Maynard (10-0, 1 NC)
Maynard has been vocal for months about deserving a UFC lightweight title shot. “The Bully” will finally get his chance as the year rolls over. He meets champion Frankie Edgar on Jan. 1 at UFC 125 in his own adopted backyard of Las Vegas.

5. Shinya Aoki (26-5, 1 NC)
Aoki’s Dec. 31 opponent, unfortunately, fits into the spectacle-laden tradition of Japan’s New Year’s Eve. Aoki will take on kickboxer Yuichiro Nagashima in a mixed bout that will alternate rounds of K-1 and MMA rules.

6. Eddie Alvarez (21-2)
In his Oct. 21 bout with Roger Huerta, Alvarez was positively destructive, using his uppercut and newly found low kicks to batter the UFC veteran and force the doctor to halt the fight after 10 minutes. Alvarez took the post-fight opportunity to call out Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, and the promotion itself further exacerbated the call for the crossover mega-fight.

7. Kenny Florian (14-5)
Florian was set for a major lightweight clash with prospect Evan Dunham at UFC “Fight for the Troops 2” on Jan. 22 in Texas. However, a knee injury forced “KenFlo” out of the bout. He was soon replaced by Melvin Guillard.

8. Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-6-2)
Kawajiri was disappointed by his sub-two-minute loss to Shinya Aoki in July. It will not get easier on New Year’s Eve, either, as Kawajiri will take on former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson at K-1 “Dynamite! Power of Courage 2010” on Dec. 31 in a fantastic transpacific bout.

9. Sean Sherk (36-4-1)
After 16 months on the shelf due to a plethora of injuries, Sherk returned to action at UFC 119 against unbeaten up-and-comer Evan Dunham. After a strong first round, Sherk flagged in the bout, losing in the eyes of most onlookers. However, two of three people that matter -- the judges -- sided with Sherk, who secured a crucial but highly unpopular win.

10. Evan Dunham (11-1)
Following a split decision loss to Sean Sherk that most observers feel he won, Dunham was rewarded by UFC brass with a major bout against former lightweight title challenger Kenny Florian at “Fight for the Troops 2” on Jan. 22. However, a knee injury to Florian means Dunham will instead take on surging lightweight Melvin Guillard in the bout.

Other contenders: Benson Henderson, Jim Miller, Anthony Pettis, George Sotiropoulos, Josh Thomson.