Lightweight
1. Anthony Pettis (18-2)
Returning from a 15-month layoff at UFC 181, “Showtime” looked every bit the top lightweight in MMA, as he tagged Gilbert Melendez with second-round strikes before slapping on a fight-ending guillotine choke. Pettis’ current five-fight winning streak -- which includes submissions of Melendez and Benson Henderson and knockouts of Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon -- is one of the finest runs in 155-pound history. Pettis’ next defense will come against Rafael dos Anjos, a winner in eight of his last nine, at UFC 185 in March.2. Khabib Nurmagomedov (22-0)
Nurmagomedov continues to look like the next big thing in the UFC’s lightweight division. “The Eagle” dismantled fellow contender Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 11, grinding down his adversary through takedowns, clinches and ground-and-pound. The surging Dagestani has won six straight bouts inside the Octagon. However, a knee injury forced the 26-year-old to withdraw from a match with Donald Cerrone the same day bout agreements were signed.3. Rafael dos Anjos (23-7)
In one of his finest showings to date, dos Anjos picked apart and dominated Nate Diaz on the feet and the floor en route to a unanimous decision in their Dec. 13 encounter. Since his April loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, dos Anjos has reeled off three straight wins, allowing him to leapfrog the Russian for a crack at Anthony Pettis’ belt at UFC 185 in March.4. Donald Cerrone (27-6, 1 NC)
Making a ridiculously short turnaround even by his active standards, Cerrone filled in for Eddie Alvarez and took on former WEC rival Benson Henderson on Jan. 18 in Boston. Unlike his bout with Myles Jury two weeks prior, “Cowboy” was unable to establish any consistent offense across three tentative and often frustrating rounds with Henderson. Nonetheless, Cerrone captured a controversial decision, pushing his winning streak to seven and keeping his title hopes alive.5. Gilbert Melendez (22-4)
The former Strikeforce lightweight ace started strong at UFC 181, but “El Nino” quickly found out what many have before him: Anthony Pettis is a hard man to beat. Melendez dropped to 1-2 in the Octagon and failed in his bid for UFC gold as he tapped out to a second-round guillotine choke.6. Benson Henderson (21-5)
The withdrawal of original opponent Eddie Alvarez led Henderson to an unexpected Jan. 18 return bout with Donald Cerrone, whom “Smooth” twice defeated under the WEC banner. In his first three-round fight since 2011, Henderson once again left the outcome in the judges’ hands, and they awarded Cerrone a questionable unanimous decision. Cerrone’s “anyone, anywhere” approach to taking fights appears to have infected Henderson, who will move up to 170 pounds for a Feb. 14 main event with Brandon Thatch in Colorado.7. Eddie Alvarez (25-4)
The grit and technical capabilities that made Alvarez a hot commodity during his Bellator run were on full display at UFC 178. Unfortunately for the Philadelphian, he was up against one of the lightweight division’s toughest outs in Donald Cerrone, who spoiled Alvarez’s long-awaited Octagon debut and earned a unanimous decision by way of punishing leg kicks and body work.8. Will Brooks (15-1)
After taking a narrow and controversial split decision from Michael Chandler in their first meeting, Brooks made sure to put an exclamation point on the rematch. The once-beaten American Top Team product became Bellator MMA’s undisputed lightweight champion and the first man to stop Chandler by punching his way to a fourth-round stoppage on Nov. 15.9. Edson Barboza (15-2)
Barboza used his trademark leg kicks and long, accurate punches to shut down the surging Bobby Green and earn a unanimous decision in the Nov. 22 co-main event of a UFC Fight Night offering in Austin, Texas. Over the past two years, the Brazilian muay Thai stylist has won five of his six outings, including three victories by way of technical knockout. Barboza will return to the cage at a UFC Fight Night event on Feb. 22, when he confronts “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 finalist Michael Johnson.10. Myles Jury (15-1)
Jury carried an impressive 15-0 record into UFC 182, verging on fast-track title contention after wins against established names like Diego Sanchez and Takanori Gomi. As it turned out, “The Fury” was not ready for what Donald Cerrone had to offer. In his first professional defeat, Jury never looked competitive, as Cerrone outworked him from every angle and finished the fight by literally kicking the former “Ultimate Fighter” competitor’s butt.Other Contenders: Bobby Green, Al Iaquinta, Rustam Khabilov, Jorge Masvidal, Josh Thomson.
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