UFC 144: Where Does Benson Henderson Rank on the Pound-for-Pound List?

Some time Sunday, Benson Henderson woke up for the first time as the owner of UFC gold. It could be a little longer before the virtual water-cooler debate over his decision win over Frankie Edgar or his next challenger dies down, but in the meantime Henderson is soaking up a new level of prestige.

Where does the punishing and well-rounded 155-pounder now slot in among the sport's pound-for-pound best? Here's a new top 10, fresh out of the oven following UFC 144.    

10. Rashad Evans

17-1-1
UFC light heavyweight No. 1 contender

There's probably no scheduled MMA fight more intriguing than Evans vs. Jon Jones, set for April. Evans has won four straight while fighting at the top echelon in the UFC's 205-pound division. 

(Photo h/t: Freep.com) 

9. Carlos Condit

28-5
UFC interim welterweight champion

Condit gained a controversial win over Nick Diaz at UFC 143. But a win is a win, and it was Condit's fifth straight. Other victims in that run include Jake Ellenberger, Dong-Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald. What else does he need to do to prove he's for real? 

8. Benson Henderson

16-2
UFC lightweight champion

The UFC dropped a gift-wrapped promotional bonanza in its own lap when Henderson won the belt and Anthony Pettis knocked out Joe Lauzon at UFC 144. Pettis, the former WEC champ, is the only man to defeat Henderson in his last 15 fights. 

7. Gilbert Melendez

20-2
Strikeforce lightweight champion

Now that Edgar has (at least for the moment) tumbled from the P4P top 10, Melendez and his six consecutive wins (and five consecutive title defenses) can stake a claim to the top ranking among MMA lightweights.

His level of competition may not be the tops, but he's still bested guys like Shinya Aoki, Jorge Masvidal and Tatsuya Kawajiri, and he's done it in pretty dominating fashion. Half the wins in his current streak came by TKO.  

6. Dominick Cruz

19-1
UFC bantamweight champion

The rubber match with Urijah Faber, set to happen in July after the two spend a few months stoking their grudge as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 15, will be the biggest fight of Cruz's career. 

5. Junior Dos Santos

14-1
UFC heavyweight champion

It's been a long time since dos Santos faced a heavyweight anywhere near his equal once the actual fight started.

(Photo h/t: SI.com) 

4. Jose Aldo

21-1
UFC featherweight champ

The mad surgeon of Muay Thai hasn't lost in more than six years.

3. Jon Jones

15-1
UFC light heavyweight champ

Jones is knocking more loudly on the top-two door with every fight. That'll happen when no one can even force you to break a sweat in the cage.

His biggest remaining challenge at 205, Mr. Evans, looms in his next engagement. 

2. Georges St-Pierre

22-2
UFC welterweight champ

Not expected back in action until November (or sooner), GSP is nevertheless the unchallenged king at 170. 

1. Anderson Silva

31-4
UFC middleweight champ

Until further notice.