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UFC Lightweight Division Rankings

A review and ranking of the UFC's 155-pound Lightweight division - March 2010 Update

BJ Penn's dominance of Diego Sanchez at UFC 107 many felt that the UFC’s lightweight division had been effectively cleaned out. However with Frank Edgar, Gray Maynard and George Sotiropoulos all having scored big victories in recent months and Kenny Florian having a chance to prove he is still one of the top contenders later this month, Penn should have several tests in front of him. Also be sure to see our MMA Lightweight rankings as we take a look at the top 155 pound fighters in the UFC and other MMA organizations across the globe.

BJ Penn dominated Diego Sanchez at UFC 107 to further cement his legacy as one of the best lightweights in MMA hostory.

1. BJ Penn – (15-5-1; 11-4-1 UFC) – Without a doubt, BJ Penn reigns supreme in the 155-pound division. He has won his last five lightweight bouts and his only loss over the last 2½ years came as a welterweight against George St Pierre. His next challenge will come in April on the UFC 112 fight card against Frank Edgar as he puts his UFC Lightweight championship belt on the line.

2. Frankie Edgar – (11-1; 6-1 UFC) – Edgar, a New Jersey-native, has been impressive over his three solid years in the octagon. He earned victories over Tyson Griffin, Mark Bocek, and Spencer Fisher before losing his lone UFC fight against Gray Maynard at UFC Fight Night 13. He has bounced back nicely with victories against Hermes Franca, Sean Sherk, and Matt Veach bringing his status back to the top of the lightweight division. He will challenge BJ Penn for the belt at UFC 112 in April.

3. Kenny Florian – (12-4; 10-3 UFC) – He debuted as a lightweight at The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale after fighting three times at higher weights. He has had two opportunities to challenge for the championship, however has come up short on both occasions. He rebounded from his UFC 101 submission loss against BJ Penn with a UFC 107 submission victory over Clay Guida in December. He will headline the UFC Fight Night 21 fight card in March against PRIDE transplant Takanori Gomi.

4. Gray Maynard – (9-0; 7-0 UFC) – The prized possession out of The Ultimate Fighter season 5, “The Bully,” has made believers out of a lot of fans. His UFC debut ended in a bizarre No Contest, but since that fight, he has been rolling. His seven-fight win streak has taken him near the top of the division and into the discussion for a potential title bout. His January UFC Fight Night 20 victory over Nathan Diaz proved that he can stand and trade as well as work his ground game effectively.

5. Sean Sherk – (33-4-1; 7-4 UFC) – Sherk is a former lightweight champion who remains a threat to anyone in the 155-pound weight class. After winning three in a row, including the championship, he has recently dropped two of his last three. His last bout took place at UFC 98 last May when he lost against Frank Edgar via unanimous decision. He was scheduled to fight Clay Guida this March but an injury has forced him off the card.

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6. Tyson Griffin – (14-2; 7-2 UFC) – Griffin always does his part to please the fans while putting on exciting fights. Since arriving in the UFC’s octagon in 2006, Griffin has been awarded with five “Fight of the Night” performance bonuses. He has won back-to-back fights and six of his last seven fights overall. His most recent bout in September at UFC 103 ended when he caught Hermes Franca with a flurry of punches mid-way through the 2nd round. He is expected to fight Evan Dunham on the UFC 115 fight card this summer.

7. George Sotiropoulos – (12-2; 5-0 UFC) – After winning seven of nine bouts outside of the UFC, Sotiropoulos appeared on The Ultimate Fighter season 6. He didn’t win the show but received a contract anyway and so far has made the most of his opportunity. He defeated several mid-level opponents prior to his big upset over Joe Stevenson at UFC 110 this February. With another victory over a top lightweight contender and the Australian may be next in line for a title shot.

8. Jim Miller – (16-2; 5-1 UFC) – Miller came into the UFC with a low profile after competing in the IFL and Ring of Combat organizations. He won back-to-back fights before losing his only octagon bout against Gray Maynard. Since his loss, Miller has looked impressive again defeating three consecutive opponents. Mac Danzig, Steve Lopez and Duane Ludwig have all been defeated by Miller since his loss. He most recently defeated Ludwig in January at UFC 108 and will be in action once again on the UFC 111 fight card against Mark Bocek in March.

9. Joe Stevenson – (31-11, 8-5 UFC) – Stevenson won The Ultimate Fighter season 2 after a long steady career with King of the Cage. He debuted as a lightweight at UFC 62 in 2006 and defeated his first four opponents before running into trouble. He lost to BJ Penn at UFC 80 for the championship setting off a series of defeats. Since his title loss, he has posted a 3-3 record, losing in his most recent action at UFC 110 against George Sotiropoulos via decision.

10. Takanori Gomi – (31-5; 0-0 UFC) – “The Fireball Kid” comes to the UFC from Japan’s World Victory Road promotion. He made his name in the PRIDE organization where he was lightweight champion for over a year. He owns career victories against Jens Pulver, Mitsuhiro Ishida, and Duane Ludwig among others. He will bring his two-fight win streak into the UFC Fight Night 21 headlining bout against Kenny Florian this March.

Look for updates on the Top Ten UFC Rankings to be up the first week of every month from here on out, only on ProFighting-fans.com and don't miss the November 2009 UFC Lightweight Rankings.

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer

Published March 2010
Photo used with permission from the UFC

UFC Lightweight Division Rankings

A review and ranking of the UFC's 155-pound Lightweight division - March 2010 Update

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