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Lightweight
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov (27-0)
Post-fight shenanigans aside, Nurmagomedov was in prime form against Conor McGregor at UFC 229. He completed takedowns, applied heavy top pressure and generally made life difficult for the knockout-minded Irishman at every turn. “The Eagle” even survived adversity — he lost a round for the first time in his promotional tenure — before tapping McGregor with a neck crank at the 3:03 mark of round four. There is much to resolve before considering what’s next for Nurmagomedov in the Octagon, as he faces disciplinary action from both the Nevada Athletic Commission and the UFC in the coming weeks.2. Tony Ferguson (24-3)
Ferguson showed no ill affects from the knee injury that forced him out of a title fight in April, as he displayed all of his trademark movement and creativity en route to earning a stoppage victory against Anthony Pettis in the UFC 229 co-main event. “El Cucuy” may have lost his interim 155-pound belt due to injury, but with 11 consecutive victories under his belt, he remains the top contender in the division.3. Dustin Poirier (24-5)
With a victory in their rematch at UFC on Fox 30, Poirier may have surpassed Eddie Alvarez as the most violent fighter in the lightweight division. More importantly, “The Diamond” is unbeaten in his last five Octagon appearances, with wins over Alvarez, Justin Gaethje, Anthony Pettis and Jim Miller to his credit. Poirier was scheduled to face Nate Diaz in the UFC 230 main event, but a hip injury forced “The Diamond” to exit the contest. At the moment, it doesn’t appear Poirier will be rebooked against Diaz.4. Kevin Lee (17-3)
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. Lee will attempt to avenge a 2014 loss to Al Iaquinta in the UFC on Fox 31 headliner on Dec. 15.5. Conor McGregor (21-4)
All things considered, it wasn’t a bad effort for McGregor following a two-year layoff at UFC 229. He defended Nurmagomedov’s initial takedown attempts reasonably well and didn’t absorb too much damage when on his back. The Irishman even won a round against “The Eagle.” Ultimately, it wasn’t enough, as he succumbed to a neck crank in the fourth stanza. The biggest star in the sport should be able to land on his feet with another high-profile bout — even a rematch with Nurmagomedov is a possibility — assuming the “Notorious” one stays more active in the MMA realm.6. Eddie Alvarez (29-6)
For the second time in as many meetings, an illegal strike cost Alvarez dearly against Dustin Poirier. Well on his way to banking the second round on the scorecards, Alvarez was ordered to stand from the mount position after throwing a 12-to-6 elbow against his opponent. A barrage of offense from Poirier followed, as he put away “The Underground King” 4:05 into the second stanza of the UFC on Fox 30 headliner. Alvarez, one of the sport’s most entertaining all-action fighters, will attempt to earn a title in a third promotion after signing with the Singapore-based One Championship. The promotion has announced that Alvarez will take part in its lightweight grand prix tournament.7. Justin Gaethje (19-2)
For the first time in recent memory, Gaethje did not endure an obscene amount of punishment in one of his fights, and better yet, he got his hand raised. The former World Series of Fighting champion quieted James Vick in emphatic fashion in the UFC Fight Night 135 headliner, winning with a massive overhand right in the opening stanza to halt a two-fight skid. Gaethje’s exciting style keeps him right in the mix for another high-profile bout, though it would have been more difficult to find a clear direction for him had he suffered a third straight defeat. While it is far from official, the UFC is targeting a Gaethje vs. Anthony Pettis matchup for 2019.8. Edson Barboza (19-6)
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. Barboza will attempt to bounce back from the first two-bout skid of his career when he faces streaking New Zealand native Dan Hooker at UFC on Fox 31 in Milwaukee on Dec. 15.9. 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 thus far passed every test placed before him.10. Anthony Pettis (21-8)
Pettis was certainly entertaining in defeat, but he was still largely outclassed for two rounds by Tony Ferguson before a broken hand forced him to bow out of the UFC 229 co-headliner. The former lightweight champ hasn’t won consecutive fights since 2014, but because of his name and penchant for showmanship should continue to receive high-profile bouts for the foreseeable future. “Showtime” looks to have another marquee matchup lined up for early 2019, as a showdown with Justin Gaethje is reportedly in the works.Other Contenders: James Vick, Michael Chiesa, Alexander Hernandez, Al Iaquinta, Islam Makhachev.
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