Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Lightweight

1. Frankie Edgar (13-1-1)
Injuries delayed the potential third encounter between Edgar and Gray Maynard in May. With both men healed, the lightweight trilogy is scheduled for consummation at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, with all the 155-pound marbles up for grabs.

2. Gilbert Melendez (19-2)
While recent comments from UFC boss Dana White indicate that “El Nino” will be storming the Octagon in short order, Melendez still has one more hurdle to jump. The Strikeforce lightweight champion is still expected to defend his belt against American Top Team slugger Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17.

3. Gray Maynard (10-0-1, 1 NC)
Maynard nearly had the UFC lightweight title in his grasp on New Year's Day against Frankie Edgar. After injuries postponed a slated third bout between the two men in May, Maynard will get another chance to make amends and win the lightweight crown at UFC 136 on Oct. 8.

4. Shinya Aoki (29-5, 1 NC)
Since enduring a five-round drubbing from Melendez in April 2010, Aoki has reeled off six straight victories, including submissions of Tatsuya Kawajiri and Lyle Beerbohm. Most recently, the “Tobikan Judan” recorded his third straight win via neck crank on Sept. 24 by tapping ex-WEC champ Rob McCullough.

5. Eddie Alvarez (22-2)
The busy schedule which Alvarez once kept has slowed drastically since he won Bellator’s lightweight title in 2009; now, an injury has sidelined the Philadelphian. Scheduled to defend against fourth-season tourney winner Michael Chandler on Oct. 15, Alvarez was forced to withdraw in late-September from the bout, which has not yet been rescheduled.

6. Ben Henderson (14-2)
People expected Jim Miller to use Henderson as a springboard to a UFC title shot. Instead, “Smooth” was dominant from bell-to-bell, smashing Miller from top position to take a unanimous victory and up his status in the rich 155-pound division. With his next bout, Henderson could legitimately lay claim to a title shot if he can overcome Clay Guida on Nov. 12.

7. Jim Miller (20-3)
Miller was on the doorstep of a UFC lightweight title shot but stumbled again. The New Jersey native simply could not keep up with the potent ground attack of Benson Henderson and lost a unanimous decision that will set him back in the lightweight title picture.

8. Clay Guida (29-11)
Vintage Guida was on display June 4 at “The Ultimate Fighter 13” finale, where “The Carpenter” used his frantic pace and suffocating ground game to top former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. The 29-year-old Chicagoan will try to win his fifth straight on Nov. 12 when he meets another ex-WEC titlist, Ben Henderson, in Anaheim, Calif.

9. Anthony Pettis (13-2)
UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston is being lauded for its deep card, and a major part of that is Pettis' return to action. The last-ever WEC lightweight champion is tentatively scheduled to meet power-punching contemporary Jeremy Stephens on the event's undercard.

10. Melvin Guillard (29-8-2, 1 NC)
Guillard is finally fulfilling his physical talents, moving closer to a UFC lightweight title shot. The next hurdle for the Greg Jackson-led fighter is Northeastern favorite Joe Lauzon at the beefed-up UFC 136 event on Oct. 8 in Houston.

Other contenders: Donald Cerrone, Rafael dos Anjos, Jorge Masvidal, Dennis Siver, Gleison Tibau.

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