Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Lightweight

1. Conor McGregor (21-3)

Well, McGregor is going to box Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas, and he is going to make tens of millions of dollars, maybe even hundreds of millions, depending on how many pay-per-views are sold. If and when the UFC lightweight champion will fight in a cage again, nobody knows. You win again, “Mystic Mac.”

2. Tony Ferguson (22-3)

Ferguson is stuck between a promotional rock and a hard place. He is the second banana in the best division in the whole sport but cannot buy a UFC title shot because Conor McGregor has more grandiose ideas. In the wake of the Irishman aggressively courting a Floyd Mayweather Jr. boxing blockbuster, “El Cucuy” has taken to calling out Nate Diaz, the only man to top “The Notorious” one in the UFC, pining for a big-money bout at 155 pounds, though his efforts seem strictly pro forma.

3. Eddie Alvarez (28-5, 1 NC)

Alvarez has been far more good than lucky over his 13-year career, but at UFC 211, he needed some good fortune to escape without a loss. Alvarez was largely on the business end of a bustling brawl with Dustin Poirier that had him playing catch up after nine minutes; however, a series of knees to Poirier's head while he was downed drew an end to the bout. While a disqualification seemed in order, the former UFC and Bellator MMA lightweight champion escaped with a no-contest, which may lead to a rematch with “The Diamond” later in 2017.

4. Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0)

Brutal luck again struck Nurmagomedov ahead of UFC 209, nixing his slated bout with Tony Ferguson for a third time; and this time, it was for an interim lightweight title. With six pounds to go in his weight cut, Nurmagomedov’s team took him to hospital and his medical issues forced the bout’s cancellation, breaking fans’ hearts one more time.

5. Edson Barboza (19-4)

Barboza on March 11 authored perhaps the best knockout so far this year, clattering Beneil Dariush with a phenomenal flying knee. With consecutive wins over Dariush, Gilbert Melendez and former UFC champ Anthony Pettis, the 31-year-old Brazilian is now trying to throw his weight around and atone for his last defeat, lobbying for a five-round main event against Tony Ferguson, who choked him out in the second round of their rollicking December 2015 clash.

6. Kevin Lee (16-2)

Lee's first UFC main event and major moment in the MMA spotlight was far from ideal, but “The Motown Phenom” managed to get the biggest win of his young career at UFC Fight Night 112, “choking out” Michael Chiesa in the first round with a major assist from overeager referee Mario Yamasaki. Regardless of whether or not the Chiesa bout was marred by controversy, Lee, a winner of five straight, is already targeting bigger game at 155 pounds, immediately starting a beef with 155-pound standout Tony Ferguson on the Fox Sports 1 post-fight show.

7. Justin Gaethje (18-0)

You cannot blame folks for doubting Gaethje in his first UFC appearance. From Hector Lombard to Marlon Moraes, there is an underwhelming track record of free-agent champions from other promotions jumping into the Octagon and dropping the ball in their debuts. On top of that, facing Michael Johnson in a five-round main event is no easy task. How did “The Highlight” handle it? He made a highlight alright, authoring perhaps the “Fight of the Year” while overcoming Johnson in a raucous 10-minute brawl. It solidified Gaethje's spot among the 155-pound elite, his debut performance ranking as one of the finest in UFC history.

8. Michael Chiesa (14-3)

Chiesa might have been bummed three years ago when he was unceremoniously stopped on a cut against Joe Lauzon in an exciting, competitive bout. However, after referee Mario Yamasaki completely botched the conclusion to Chiesa's bout with Kevin Lee, the disappointment must be magnified tenfold. “The Maverick” carried consecutive wins over Mitch Clarke, Jim Miller and Beneil Dariush into his June 25 bout with Lee but did not get much of a chance to extend his winning streak, as Yamasaki handed Lee the technical submission via rear-naked choke. Chiesa is in the process of appealing the decision.

9. Beneil Dariush (14-3)

In his March bout with Edson Barboza, Dariush was putting on one of the best performances of his career through eight minutes. Then, out of nowhere -- as the Brazilian is wont to do -- Barboza took flight and clobbered Dariush with a flying knee, authoring perhaps the 2017 “Knockout of the Year.” While overlooked and underrated, Dariush remains one of the most dangerous, skilled lightweights in the sport and will have a chance for redemption against a quality opponent next time out. The Kings MMA product is expected to meet Evan Dunham at UFC 216 on Oct. 7 in Las Vegas.

10. Nate Diaz (19-11)

A March 2016 upset of Conor McGregor and their classic rematch five months later -- albeit at welterweight -- put Diaz on the mainstream media map. However, his December 2015 demolition of strong contender Michael Johnson reaffirms the Stockton, California, native's place at 155 pounds for now. The 32-year-old Diaz will be back in the cage eventually, but now that he has McGregor-fueled millions in his bank account, he does not need to rush back to the Octagon, even with his ex-management group suing him for unpaid fees.

Other Contenders: Evan Dunham, Al Iaquinta, Michael Johnson, Dustin Poirier, Francisco Trinaldo.

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