Frankie Edgar will have to grapple with tough challenger Ben Henderson come Feb. 26. | Photo: Dave Mandel
Lightweight
After surviving another brutal first round against Gray Maynard on Oct. 8, Edgar closed out the pair’s trilogy with another spectacular comeback, knocking out his “Bully” in the fourth round. Next up for the New Jerseyan is a Feb. 26 UFC title defense in Japan against former World Extreme Cagefighting titleholder Ben Henderson.
2. Gilbert Melendez (20-2)
Strikeforce’s lightweight ace turned in another strong performance on Dec. 17, out-punching American Top Team slugger Jorge Masvidal across five rounds to retain his 155-pound strap. While all signs pointed to Melendez’s imminent UFC signing, it was recently announced that “El Nino” will remain in the hexagon for the time being.
3. Gray Maynard (10-1-1, 1 NC)
Since suffering his first career defeat at the hands of Frankie Edgar in October, there have been no new fight developments for Maynard, but that’s not to say there haven’t been changes. In November, it was announced that “The Bully” would leave his longtime home gym of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas for the American Kickboxing Academy camp in San Jose, Calif.
4. Ben Henderson (15-2)
Henderson has looked nothing short of exceptional since transferring to the UFC, earning dominant unanimous decisions over Clay Guida, Jim Miller and Mark Bocek. The 27-year-old has expressed disappointment with his inability to finish in recent outings, something he’ll have the chance to rectify when he faces divisional ace Frankie Edgar for the UFC title in Japan on Feb. 26.
5. Shinya Aoki (29-5, 1 NC)
Japan’s top lightweight will go for his 30th career victory on Jan. 31 when he ties up with former training partner and ex-Sengoku champ Satoru Kitaoka. A victory would put Aoki at 4-0 on the year, following decisive, neck-cranking submissions of Americans Lyle Beerbohm, Rich Clementi and Rob McCullough.
6. Jim Miller (20-3)
Miller was on the verge of title contention when he had his impressive, eight-fight winning streak snapped by former WEC champ Ben Henderson in August. Now, the hard-nosed New Jerseyan will have a chance to rebound in a big way, as Miller will face Melvin Guillard on Jan. 20 in the main event of the UFC’s inaugural show on cable channel FX.
7. Clay Guida (29-12)
Once more on the cusp of contention, Guida had his title dreams busted -- along with his four-fight winning streak -- by Ben Henderson in a thrilling Nov. 12 three-rounder. The lightweight stalwart finishes 2011 with a 2-1 mark, having topped Anthony Pettis and Takanori Gomi.
8. Anthony Pettis (13-2)
The final lightweight champion of World Extreme Cagefighting lost out on a UFC title shot when he faltered against Clay Guida in his Octagon debut, but Pettis surged back in his sophomore outing to take a split decision against tough vet Jeremy Stephens. Next up for the Roufusport product: a trip to Japan in February, where he’ll face submission wiz Joe Lauzon at UFC 144.
9. Donald Cerrone (16-3)
The former WEC lightweight title contender has looked like a man reborn since entering the Octagon in February, racking up wins and keeping plenty busy. After tearing through four opponents in eight months, Cerrone has been granted a co-headlining slot against Nate Diaz at December’s major UFC 141 card.
10. Michael Chandler (9-0)
Previously unranked Chandler used heavy hands, a granite chin and his powerful collegiate wrestling base to topple Eddie Alvarez on Nov. 19, outlasting Bellator’s longtime lightweight ace to score a shocking fourth-round submission. With six impressive Bellator victories and a shiny new gold belt, Chandler awaits the winner of the promotion’s next lightweight tournament in 2012.
Other contenders: Eddie Alvarez, Melvin Guillard, Joe Lauzon, Dennis Siver, Gleison Tibau.
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