Frank Edgar (pictured) rules 155, but Melendez and Maynard are after his spot. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Lightweight
In round one of his lightweight title defense against Gray Maynard at UFC 125, Edgar looked dead to rights after taking an epic pummeling from “The Bully.” Somehow, Edgar fought back valiantly over the last 20 minutes, shutting down Maynard’s wrestling and becoming the more effective boxer. After five rounds, Edgar had forced a split draw in a sensational fight, as well as a third bout with Maynard at UFC 130 on May 28.
2. Gilbert Melendez (19-2)
Few predicted a finish from Melendez in his April 9 rematch with Tatsuya Kawajiri. Not only had “El Nino” gone the full five rounds in each of his previous two title defenses, but the pair’s initial meeting in 2006 also went the distance. Melendez topped the “Crusher” once again, this time in vastly more impressive fashion, elbowing the tough Japanese standout into oblivion at 3:14 of the first period.
3. Gray Maynard (10-0-1, 1 NC)
Through five minutes at UFC 125, it seemed a lock that Maynard would leave Las Vegas with the UFC lightweight crown. “The Bully” crushed Frankie Edgar in the first round, but the champion battled back over the next four to force a draw and retain his title in an early “Fight of the Year” contender. The pair will square off for the third time on May 28 at UFC 130 in Las Vegas.
4. Shinya Aoki (27-5, 1 NC)
Dream’s lightweight ace went a long way toward erasing memories of his disastrous New Year’s Eve encounter with Yuichiro Nagashima when he ran through lightweight prospect Lyle Beerbohm in the Strikeforce cage on April 9. Aoki will look to follow up on that 93-second submission win on May 29, when he meets an opponent to-be-named at Dream’s “Fight for Japan” show in Saitama.
5. Eddie Alvarez (22-2)
On April 2, for the first time in seven fights, Alvarez failed to finish his opponent. However, the Philadelphia native looked nothing short of dominant in defending his Bellator lightweight strap for the first time against second-season tournament winner Pat Curran, earning one scorecard of 49-46 and two clean sweeps of 50-45.
6. Kenny Florian (13-5)
The knee injury which forced “KenFlo” from his January tilt with Evan Dunham may have been a game-changer. In early February, Florian -- who began his UFC career at middleweight -- announced his intention to move down to 145 pounds. The 34-year-old submission specialist will debut at featherweight against Nova Uniao product Diego Nunes at UFC 131 in June.
7. Jim Miller (20-2)
Before a hometown crowd in Newark, N.J., Miller took another step toward a lightweight title shot by handing Kamal Shalorus his first defeat at UFC 128. With seven consecutive wins in the Octagon, Miller is clearly ready for title contention, but he will have to wait for the resolution of the Frankie Edgar-Gray Maynard-Anthony Pettis situation.
8. Anthony Pettis (13-1)
While his guaranteed UFC title shot hit a roadblock in the form of the Jan. 1 draw between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, Pettis will stay active. He is set to make his Octagon debut against tough veteran Clay Guida at “The Ultimate Fighter 13” Finale in June.
9. Tatsuya Kawajiri (27-7-2)
The “Crusher” was crushed on April 9, as Kawajiri was smashed by the elbows of defending champ Gilbert Melendez in his Strikeforce debut. It was only the second loss for the Japanese fighter in his last seven bouts, the other coming to Dream champ and fellow world-ranker Shinya Aoki.
10. Sean Sherk (36-4-1)
With 40-plus fights and more than a decade in the sport, injuries have piled up for Sherk. As a result, the 37-year-old “Muscle Shark” has taken time off to heal and rehab and is now targeting a potential summer return to the Octagon.
Other contenders: Clay Guida, Melvin Guillard, Benson Henderson, Dennis Siver, George Sotiropoulos.
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