Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard will do it again. | Photo: Sherdog.com
Lightweight
Injuries delayed the potential third encounter between Edgar and Gray Maynard in May. With both men healed, the lightweight trilogy is scheduled for consummation at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, with all the 155-pound marbles up for grabs.
2. Gilbert Melendez (19-2)
In April, Melendez was in rare and brutal fashion, mangling the ever-tough Tatsuya Kawajiri. Melendez will have another difficult nut to crack come December, when he defends his Strikeforce lightweight crown against skilled puncher Jorge Masvidal.
3. Gray Maynard (10-0-1, 1 NC)
Maynard nearly had the UFC lightweight title in his grasp on New Year's Day against Frankie Edgar. After injuries postponed a slated third bout between the two men in May, Maynard will get another chance to make amends and win the lightweight crown at UFC 136 on Oct. 8.
4. Shinya Aoki (28-5, 1 NC)
There have been five dominant wins for the Dream lightweight champion since he was blown out by Gilbert Melendez in April 2010. Aoki will try to make it six in a row on Sept. 24, when he meets former WEC lightweight champion "Razor" Rob McCullough at Dream 17.
5. Eddie Alvarez (22-2)
Alvarez started his career rousing partisan crowds in New Jersey. He will get to do it once again at Bellator 54 on Oct. 15, when he defends his Bellator lightweight title for the second time against Season 4 tournament winner and former University of Missouri wrestler Michael Chandler.
6. Benson Henderson (14-2)
People expected Jim Miller to use Henderson as a springboard to a UFC title shot. Instead, "Smooth" was dominant from bell-to-bell, smashing Miller from top position to take a unanimous victory and up his status in the rich 155-pound division.
7. Jim Miller (20-3)
Miller was on the doorstep of a UFC lightweight title shot but stumbled again. The New Jersey native simply could not keep up with the potent ground attack of Benson Henderson and lost a unanimous decision that will set him back in the lightweight title picture.
8. Clay Guida (29-11)
Vintage Guida was on display June 4 at “The Ultimate Fighter 13” Finale, where “The Carpenter” used his frantic pace and suffocating ground game to top former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. The decision win was the 29-year-old’s fourth straight, having also finished the likes of Takanori Gomi and Rafael dos Anjos during that stretch.
9. Anthony Pettis (13-2)
UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston is being lauded for its deep card, and a major part of that is Pettis' return to action. The last-ever WEC lightweight champion is tentatively scheduled to meet power-punching contemporary Jeremy Stephens on the event's undercard.
10. Melvin Guillard (29-8-2, 1 NC)
Guillard is finally fulfilling his physical talents, moving closer to a UFC lightweight title shot. The next hurdle for the Greg Jackson-led fighter is Northeastern favorite Joe Lauzon at the beefed-up UFC 136 event on Oct. 8 in Houston.
Other contenders: Rafael dos Anjos, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Jorge Masvidal, Dennis Siver, Gleison Tibau.
* With Benson Henderson's entry into the Top 10, previously 10th-ranked Tatsuya Kawajiri falls to the contenders list.
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