Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Lightweight

1. Conor McGregor (21-3)

Well, McGregor is going to box Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas, and he is going to make tens of millions of dollars, maybe even hundreds of millions, depending on how many pay-per-views are sold. If and when the UFC lightweight champion will fight in a cage again, nobody knows. You win again, “Mystic Mac.”

2. Tony Ferguson (22-3)

Ferguson is stuck between a promotional rock and a hard place. He is the second banana in the best division in the whole sport but cannot buy a UFC title shot because Conor McGregor has more grandiose ideas. In the wake of the Irishman aggressively courting a Floyd Mayweather Jr. boxing blockbuster, “El Cucuy” has taken to calling out Nate Diaz, the only man to top “The Notorious” one in the UFC, pining for a big-money bout at 155 pounds, though his efforts seem strictly pro forma.

3. Eddie Alvarez (28-5, 1 NC)

It has been a disappointing run for Alvarez, as the Philadelphia native endured a major reversal of fortunes in short order. Just over a year ago, Alvarez became UFC lightweight champion by blistering Rafael dos Anjos to take the strap. Two fights later, he was savaged by Conor McGregor and relinquished his strap. He then had to settle for a no-contest against 155-pound contender Dustin Poirier in May due to a series of illegal knees he dished out. Next up for Alvarez is a high-risk, high-reward proposition. The former UFC and Bellator titlist is lined up to be a coach on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 26; however, he is set to coach against 18-0 Justin Gaethje, who may be the only elite lightweight in the world with a greater lust for offense and more profound disregard for defense than Alvarez himself. May the wildest man win.

4. Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0)

Brutal luck again struck Nurmagomedov ahead of UFC 209, nixing his slated bout with Tony Ferguson for a third time; and this time, it was for an interim lightweight title. With six pounds to go in his weight cut, Nurmagomedov’s team took him to hospital and his medical issues forced the bout’s cancellation, breaking fans’ hearts one more time.

5. Edson Barboza (19-4)

Barboza on March 11 authored perhaps the best knockout so far this year, clattering Beneil Dariush with a phenomenal flying knee. With consecutive wins over Dariush, Gilbert Melendez and former UFC champ Anthony Pettis, the 31-year-old Brazilian is now trying to throw his weight around and atone for his last defeat, lobbying for a five-round main event against Tony Ferguson, who choked him out in the second round of their rollicking December 2015 clash.

6. Kevin Lee (16-2)

Lee's first UFC main event and major moment in the MMA spotlight was far from ideal, but “The Motown Phenom” managed to get the biggest win of his young career at UFC Fight Night 112, “choking out” Michael Chiesa in the first round with a major assist from overeager referee Mario Yamasaki. Regardless of whether or not the Chiesa bout was marred by controversy, Lee, a winner of five straight, is already targeting bigger game at 155 pounds, immediately starting a beef with 155-pound standout Tony Ferguson on the Fox Sports 1 post-fight show.

7. Justin Gaethje (18-0)

Outside of Anderson Silva's iconic, virtuoso performance against Chris Leben in June 2006, Gaethje may have authored the finest UFC debut for a high-profile free agent signee at “The Ultimate Fighter 25” Finale. In his first Octagon appearance, “The Highlight” lived up to his sobriquet, authoring the leading candidate for “Fight of the Year” against Michael Johnson, outlasting and knocking out his foe in a raucous 10-minute brawl. Gaethje's reward for his debut win may not be a real reward at all. The 18-0 Trevor Wittman understudy has signed on to coach the 26th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” against Eddie Alvarez, who could either represent a dream opponent to break Gaethje into the elite stratum at 155 pounds or a nightmare opponent ready to brutally exploit the former World Series of Fighting champ's willingness to brawl.

8. Michael Chiesa (14-3)

Chiesa might have been bummed three years ago when he was unceremoniously stopped on a cut against Joe Lauzon in an exciting, competitive bout. However, after referee Mario Yamasaki completely botched the conclusion to Chiesa's bout with Kevin Lee, the disappointment must be magnified tenfold. “The Maverick” carried consecutive wins over Mitch Clarke, Jim Miller and Beneil Dariush into his June 25 bout with Lee but did not get much of a chance to extend his winning streak, as Yamasaki handed Lee the technical submission via rear-naked choke. Chiesa is in the process of appealing the decision.

9. Beneil Dariush (14-3)

In his March bout with Edson Barboza, Dariush was putting on one of the best performances of his career through eight minutes. Then, out of nowhere -- as the Brazilian is wont to do -- Barboza took flight and clobbered Dariush with a flying knee, authoring perhaps the 2017 “Knockout of the Year.” While overlooked and underrated, Dariush remains one of the most dangerous, skilled lightweights in the sport and will have a chance for redemption against a quality opponent next time out. The Kings MMA product is expected to meet Evan Dunham at UFC 216 on Oct. 7 in Las Vegas.

10. Nate Diaz (19-11)

A March 2016 upset of Conor McGregor and their classic rematch five months later -- albeit at welterweight -- put Diaz on the mainstream media map. However, his December 2015 demolition of strong contender Michael Johnson reaffirms the Stockton, California, native's place at 155 pounds for now. The 32-year-old Diaz will be back in the cage eventually, but now that he has McGregor-fueled millions in his bank account, he does not need to rush back to the Octagon, even with his ex-management group suing him for unpaid fees.

Other Contenders: Evan Dunham, Al Iaquinta, Michael Johnson, Dustin Poirier, Francisco Trinaldo.

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