B/R Official Rankings for April: The Top 10 Lightweights in MMA

It’s been over a month since Benson Henderson walked out of Japan with the UFC lightweight championship around his waist and confirmed his status as the top 155lb fighter in the world, and it’s only a matter of time before he has to defend his title against the former champion.

Also on the horizon are big fights between ranked fighters such as Nate Diaz, Jim Miller, Clay Guida and Gray Maynard, not to mention a huge matchup coming up later this month between Shinya Aoki and Eddie Alvarez.

After what seemed like an eternity for the spoiled MMA fans, the UFC’s month long hiatus is finally nearing an end, and it’s time to get back into fight mode.

These rankings are the combined efforts of some of Bleacher Report MMA's best writers, as we continue to try and provide you with the best content on the web.

10. Shinya Aoki

Promotion: DREAM

Record: 30-5 [1 NC]

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Satoru Kitaoka at Fight for Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011

Next Fight: Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 66

Previous Ranking: 10

Arguably the best Japanese mixed martial artist in the world, Shinya Aoki has made a name for himself world wide due to his sick submission skills.

After a loss to Gilbert Melendez in his first appearance on American soil back in April 2010, Aoki has gone on a tear, defeating his last seven opponents—five by way of submission.

While seven straight victories is impressive, no one other than Tatsuya Kawajiri can be considered all that impressive of a victory, so Aoki will have to prove himself to the American audience emphatically when he fights Eddie Alvarez later this month.

9. Michael Chandler

Promotion: Bellator

Record: 9-0

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58

Next Fight: Akihiro Gono at Bellator 67

Previous Ranking: 9

After beating Eddie Alvarez for the Bellator lightweight title last November, Michael Chandler went from virtual unknown to champion on a moments notice.

Chandler is an accomplished wrestler and decent striker in his own right and beating Alvarez, who was a top five ranked fighter himself, catapulted him into the rankings.

Now awaiting the winner of the ongoing Bellator lightweight tournament, Chandler will step back into the cage against MMA veteran Akihiro Gono on May 4th at Bellator LXVIII.

8. Anthony Pettis

Promotion: UFC

Record: 15-2

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Joe Lauzon at UFC 144

Next Fight: TBA

Previous Ranking: 8

2011 overall was a rough year for Anthony Pettis.

After seemingly earning a UFC title shot with his win over Benson Henderson at the final WEC event, Pettis was put in the unfortunate position of having to wait for the winner of the two bout Edgar-Maynard saga to come to an end before he would get a shot.

Pettis decided to put his title fight on the backburner and took a fight with Clay Guida last June, a decision that proved costly, as Guida out grappled “Showtime” and tore away all of Pettis’ title aspirations.

Eventually getting back on track against Jeremy Stephens and Joe Lauzon, Pettis is now right back in the title hunt.

7. Clay Guida

Promotion: UFC

Record: 29-12

Most Recent Fight: Loss to Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 1

Next Fight: Gray Maynard at UFC on FX 4

Previous Ranking: 7

Always a fan favorite, but never a title contender, Clay Guida seems to have finally found a way to fight his fan-friendly style and still leave the Octagon as a winner.

Guida was on an impressive four-fight win streak at one point in 2011, with big wins over Anthony Pettis and Takanori Gomi bolstering his resume to the point that he was just a win away from that elusive title shot.

Standing in his way was future champion Benson Henderson, and although Guida put on a valiant effort through three rounds, he was unable to escape the cage with a win over “Smooth.”

Now in a must-win situation if he wants to remain in the title discussion, Guida is set to fight former title challenger and top-ranked lightweight Gray Maynard at UFC on FX 4 this summer. 

6. Nate Diaz

Promotion: UFC

Record: 15-7

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Donald Cerrone at UFC 141

Next Fight: Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3

Previous Ranking: 6

The (slightly) less outspoken of the Diaz brothers has been overlooked for a long time in the UFC’s lightweight division.

Nate was able to take out many of the guys he was favored against, but matchups against wrestlers Clay Guida and Gray Maynard proved to be his downfall, and he was sent packing to the welterweight division for a short time.

Now back at 155 and extremely motivated, Diaz walked through Takanori Gomi and picked apart Donald Cerrone with some boxing that even his brother had to have been proud of, installing himself into the title picture.

Diaz is now just a win away from his first UFC title shot, and if he beats Jim Miller, he may be able to become the first member of the “Scrap Pack” to get his hands on some UFC gold.

5. Jim Miller

Promotion: UFC

Record: 21-3

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX 1

Next Fight: Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 3

Previous Ranking: 5

Usually winning seven fights in a row in the Octagon will earn you a title shot, but with the lightweight division on hold last summer due to the ongoing Edgar-Maynard rivalry, Jim Miller was forced into action one more time against Benson Henderson.

Obviously, the bout didn’t end up going in his favor, as Miller was easily controlled by Henderson for the majority of the fight and suffered his first UFC loss in over two years.

Now back on track after submitting Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX 1, Miller finds himself in another No. 1 contenders fight, this time against Nate Diaz at UFC on FOX 3 in early May.

4. Gray Maynard

Promotion: UFC

Record: 10-1-1 [1 NC]

Most Recent Fight: Loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 136

Next Fight: Clay Guida at UFC on FX 4

Previous Ranking: 4

It has been nearly two years since Gray Maynard fought an opponent not named Frankie Edgar.

After defeating Kenny Florian for a shot at Edgar’s belt back at UFC 118, Maynard went on to be involved in two of the greatest fights in UFC history last year, as he and Edgar went almost nine rounds between two fights.

Coming within a punch or two from capturing UFC gold on two separate occasions is a tough pill to swallow, but Maynard will soon look to get back to his winning ways and climb the lightweight ladder when he fights Clay Guida in June.

3. Gilbert Melendez

Promotion: Strikeforce

Record: 20-2

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Next Fight: Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final

Previous Ranking: 3

Universally known as one of the top fighters not on the UFC roster, Gilbert Melendez has had to work extremely hard in order to get into the discussion of the world’s best lightweights.

Despite his lack of Octagon experience, Melendez has done enough against the likes of Shinya Aoki, Jorge Masvidal and Josh Thomson to earn his spot amongst the division’s elite.

Melendez has been begging for the UFC to send a top-level opponent to him in Strikeforce so he could show off his skills against more well known opponents, but so far, his call has gone unanswered.

2. Frankie Edgar

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-2-1

Most Recent Fight: Loss to Benson Henderson at UFC 144

Next Fight: Benson Henderson at TBA

Previous Ranking: 2

After defeating BJ Penn twice and ultimately settling the score with Gray Maynard, it seems a little weird to see Frankie Edgar without the UFC lightweight belt.

Edgar thought he did enough to win the championship bout between himself and Benson Henderson back at UFC 144, but the judges thought otherwise, and after granting two immediate rematches during his title run, he demanded one out of the UFC and Henderson.

After a bit of a delay due to the UFC hoping Edgar would consider dropping down to 145lbs, the rematch is on, and Edgar will have his shot at redemption later this year.

1. Benson Henderson

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-2

Most Recent Fight: Defeated Frankie Edgar at UFC 144

Next Fight: Frankie Edgar at TBA

Previous Ranking: 1

The newly crowned UFC lightweight champion has dominated the field since entering the Octagon last year.

Henderson came over with the rest of the WEC roster in 2011 and quickly dispatched Mark Bocek in his UFC debut at UFC 129.

After that Henderson went on a complete rampage through the division, taking out top contenders in Jim Miller and Clay Guida before getting a chance to steal the belt away from Frankie Edgar.

After five hard-fought rounds, “Smooth” had done enough to earn the decision win and was wearing UFC gold for the first time.