MMA Fighter Rankings: Lightweight
Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty
On the first Wednesday of every month, theScore's MMA editors compile a list of the top 10 fighters in each of the major weight classes.
Rankings
Heavyweight | Light Heavyweight
Middleweight | Welterweight
Lightweight | Featherweight
Bantamweight | Flyweight
Women: Bantamweight | Strawweight
Lightweight
| Ranking | Fighter |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rafael dos Anjos |
| 2 | Anthony Pettis |
| 3 | Donald Cerrone |
| 4 | Khabib Nurmagomedov |
| 5 | Eddie Alvarez |
| 6 | Gilbert Melendez |
| 7 | Benson Henderson |
| 8 | Will Brooks |
| 9 | Michael Johnson |
| 10 | Tony Ferguson |
- The heat between lightweight kingpin Rafael dos Anjos and expected next challenger Donald Cerrone hit nuclear recently, with Cerrone accusing Dos Anjos of PED use, and Dos Anjos pointing out Cerrone's documented history with banned substances.
- A winner of four in a row, Michael Johnson is hoping to keep the train a-rollin' against the dangerous Beneil Dariush at UFC Fight Night 73 in August. With four straight victories of his own, Dariush bested division stalwart Jim Miller during his last outing at UFC on FOX 15 in April.
- Recovering from knee surgery, bear wrestler extraordinaire Khabib Nurmagomedov got into a chaotic brouhaha with the famously salty Nate Diaz and his older brother Nick at a WSOF event recently. The UFC may try to let the hate flow into a bout between Nurmagomedov and Diaz the younger, though the Dagestani buzzsaw might have his focus squarely set on the lightweight title.
- Tony Ferguson signaled his ascension toward the division's elite with a three-round shellacking of former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson at UFC Fight Night 71. Ferguson, who hasn't tasted defeat since 2012, has racked up six wins in a row.