Lightweight
1. Conor McGregor (21-3)
Most were skeptical that McGregor would compete as a featherweight ever again, so it was hardly a shock when the UFC announced the Irishman had been stripped of his 145-pound crown. This means McGregor will likely wait until the UFC lines up Tony Ferguson or Khabib Nurmagomedov for his first lightweight title defense. McGregor’s two-division, simultaneous reign lasted just 14 days.2. Tony Ferguson (22-3)
With his unanimous decision triumph over former UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos in Mexico City on Nov. 5, Ferguson has won a staggering nine fights in a row in the UFC. On top of that, he has done it in MMA’s best weight class. However, the lightweight division’s greatness is a gift and a curse, which means that even with his win over dos Anjos, Ferguson may need to take a back seat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in the race to challenge for Conor McGregor’s 155-pound title.3. Eddie Alvarez (28-5)
Alvarez’s UFC lightweight title reign was a short one, as he was battered by featherweight kingpin Conor McGregor in his first title defense at UFC 205 and knocked out in the second round. If there is any silver lining to the situation, it is that Alvarez got a McGregor-infused payday and will surely find a way to author more memorable Octagon moments back in the 155-pound general population.4. Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0)
Nurmagomedov at UFC 205 seemed to harness his misgivings about missing out on a title shot against Eddie Alvarez and take them out on opponent Michael Johnson. Nurmagomedov beat Johnson from pillar to post before tapping him in the third round and passionately calling out Conor McGregor to hopefully clear the way for a long-overdue lightweight title shot in 2017.5. Rafael dos Anjos (25-9)
Fortunes can turn on a dime in prizefighting, especially at 155 pounds in MMA. When July began, dos Anjos was the reigning UFC lightweight champion and one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best; just over four months later, a title loss to Eddie Alvarez followed by a 25-minute decision loss to Tony Ferguson dropped dos Anjos back into the talented morass of lightweights hoping to get a winning streak together.6. Donald Cerrone (31-7, 1 NC)
Our hearts were wrenched when a slated Cerrone-Robbie Lawler bout fell apart before UFC 205, but Lawler being replaced by Kelvin Gastelum still left us with an appetizing 170-pound pairing. Instead, Gastelum botched his weight cut so badly that he did not even take to the scales, killing the matchup and leaving Cerrone with no dance partner. Luck has struck again, at least as far as an action fight goes: The always-ready Cerrone has been shifted to UFC 206 on Dec. 10 in Toronto, where he will take on the rugged Matt Brown.7. Edson Barboza (18-4)
Many wondered if Barboza would ever find the consistency necessary to become a UFC lightweight title contender. It looks like the Brazilian may have found it. Barboza has dominated former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and returning former title challenger Gilbert Melendez in 2016, cruising to one-sided victories behind his vaunted leg kicks. However, in a division as good as 155 pounds, Barboza will have to continue his winning streak, not just to sniff a title shot but to prove that another speed bump is not around the corner.8. Michael Chiesa (14-2)
Chiesa’s path to a UFC lightweight title shot figured to run through top contender Tony Ferguson in their scheduled five-round showdown on July 13. Unfortunately, Chiesa was forced out of the fight with a back injury and replaced by Lando Vannata. The Washingtonian now waits to heal and expand on his three-fight winning streak in the ultra-difficult UFC lightweight division.9. Will Brooks (17-2)
Though he prevailed in his first UFC outing against Ross Pearson in June, Brooks’ second Octagon appearance on Oct. 1 turned into a nightmare. Brooks broke a rib inside the first five minutes of his fight with Alex Oliveira, who came in six pounds overweight and proceeded to punch out the wounded American Top Team rep in Round 3. Though the loss will inevitably hurt the former Bellator MMA lightweight champ in terms of UFC title contention, there is only so much for which we can fault a lightweight losing to a welterweight.10. Beneil Dariush (14-2)
Dariush could not find a knockout as he did against James Vick in June, but the Kings MMA product got active early with his kicks against Rashid Magomedov and cruised to a unanimous decision on Nov. 5 in Mexico City. The win was Dariush’s second straight since he slipped up and tapped to Michael Chiesa in April.Other Contenders: Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, Evan Dunham, Michael Johnson, Francisco Trinaldo
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