Lightweight
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov (26-0)
It felt basically inevitable, but that did not make it any less impressive. Nurmagomedov did what he does best in the UFC 223 headliner, as he dominated short-notice opponent Al Iaquinta for five rounds to claim the undisputed lightweight title. Any number of interesting options could await “The Eagle” for his first championship defense, but it will not come until November or December -- the months the Dagestani fighter has targeted for his Octagon return.2. Tony Ferguson (23-3)
When it comes to freak injuries, Ferguson’s is hard to top. “El Cucuy” reportedly tore a ligament in his knee while fulfilling media obligations less than a week before a highly anticipated clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov. As a result, the cursed fight was canceled for a fourth time. Still, Ferguson has won 10 straight fights, and according to UFC President Dana White, he remains the No. 1 contender at 155 pounds. However, the interim title he claimed in October appears to be no more.3. Eddie Alvarez (29-5)
Alvarez’s showdown with Justin Gaethje on Dec. 2 was given “Fight of the Year” consideration months before it even happened. When it finally went down at UFC 218 in Detroit, Alvarez prevailed in a punishing classic, as he finally toppled Gaethje in the third round, handed the former World Series of Fighting champion the first loss of his pro career and claimed one of his greatest victories in the process. Up next for “The Underground King” is a rematch with Dustin Poirier -- their first meeting ended in a no-contest -- in the UFC on Fox 30 headliner.4. Kevin Lee (16-3)
Lee did not make weight prior to UFC Fight Night 128, but that did little to detract from a dominant performance against Edson Barboza in the headliner. Lee battered his opponent on the canvas and survived some adversity on the feet in the third round to earn a fifth-round doctor’s stoppage. “The Motown Phenom” has won six of seven in the UFC and at 25 years old could have his best years ahead of him.5. Dustin Poirier (22-5)
Poirier’s UFC on Fox 29 main event with Justin Gaethje delivered as advertised, but more importantly for “The Diamond,” it resulted in a victory. Poirier weathered Gaethje’s forward pressure and chopping leg kicks to score a fourth-round technical knockout against the former World Series of Fighting champion in Glendale, Arizona. The American Top Team product has unfinished business with Eddie Alvarez after their first meeting ended in a no-contest, and the two lightweight contenders will lock horns again in the UFC on Fox 30 headliner on July 28.6. Edson Barboza (19-5)
Barboza is as tough as they come, but it appears that strong wrestlers will continue to be his kryptonite. While he briefly put Kevin Lee on skates with a spinning heel kick in the third round at UFC Fight Night 128, he spent most of the time on his back absorbing brutal ground-and-pound. That ultimately resulted in a doctor’s stoppage defeat in Round 5, giving the Brazilian back-to-back losses in the Octagon -- the other came against another powerful grappler in Khabib Nurmagomedov -- for the first time in his career.7. Justin Gaethje (18-1)
Gaethje’s go-for-broke style will undoubtedly keep him in high-profile bouts for the foreseeable future, but if he is going to make a move in the division, he might have to adopt some changes to his approach. “The Highlight” battled Dustin Poirier in a wildly entertaining affair at UFC on Fox 29, but his chin ultimately failed to hold up in a fourth-round TKO defeat. The former World Series of Fighting champion recently agreed to headline UFC Fight Night 135 against recent title challenger Al Iaquinta on Aug. 25 in Lincoln, Nebraska. However, after Iaquinta pulled out of the bout, James Vick was tabbed as his replacement.8. James Vick (13-1)
With nine wins in 10 Octagon appearances, Vick has suddenly emerged as a lightweight contender. After a 2017 campaign that saw him score finishes against Joseph Duffy, Marco Polo Reyes and Abel Trujillo, “The Texecutioner” outpointed Francisco Trinaldo at UFC Fight Night 126 in Austin, Texas, to run his current winning streak to four fights. Vick will get a chance to make his mark in another high-profile bout when he locks horns with all-action standout Justin Gaethje in the UFC Fight Night 135 headliner on Aug. 25.9. Gregor Gillespie (12-0)
Gillespie has been nothing short of stellar since arriving in the UFC in 2016. The four-time NCAA All-American wrestler pushed his record inside the Octagon to 5-0 on June 1, when he submitted Vinc Pichel with a second-round arm-triangle choke at UFC Fight Night 131. It marked the fourth consecutive finish for the 31-year-old Gillespie, who has this far passed every test placed before him.10. Anthony Pettis (21-7)
Pettis might not be “back” in the sense that he is ready to challenge for the lightweight belt again, but his performance against Michael Chiesa at UFC 226 was nonetheless a closer resemblance to the exciting “Showtime” of years past. After an entertaining opening stanza, the Roufusport standout rocked Chiesa with a right hand and secured a guillotine choke. Chiesa escaped and moved to top position, but Pettis secured the tapout with a triangle armbar from the bottom. The ex-UFC and WEC 155-pound king has won two of three bouts since returning to the lightweight division.Other Contenders: Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Michael Chiesa, Al Iaquinta, Islam Makhachev, Francisco Trinaldo.
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