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

With five of the top 25 pound-for-pound fighters in MMA hailing from the 155-pound division, UFC or not, lightweights are becoming more relevant than ever.

Top young contenders like Anthony Pettis and Nate Diaz have been jostling for position while veterans like Clay Guida and Gray Maynard try to prolong their Octagon success.

Not to mention outside names like Gilbert Melendez and Michael Chandler, who have proven that even though they don't fight in the UFC, greatness can still be achieved.

With that said, based on current winning streaks, current titles within the sport and overall resumes, here are the top 10 lightweights in MMA for the month of June.

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. Donald Cerrone

Promotion: UFC

Record: 18-4 (13 via submission)

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous victory over Jeremy Stephens at UFC on FUEL TV

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: N/A

Donald Cerrone's recent destruction of Jeremy Stephens at UFC on FUEL TV in May more or less solidifies him as a top-10 lightweight in the world.

Cerrone has always possessed the ability to achieve a worthy title within the sport, especially since moving over from the WEC to the UFC, but a key loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 141 kept him at bay.

Now Cerrone has proven that his stand-up is all it's cracked up to be. 

Landing 87 strikes in three rounds against a wily Stephens has given Cerrone a second chance as a top contender in the UFC lightweight division.

9. Michael Chandler

Promotion: Bellator

Record: 10-0 (4 via KO)

Most Recent Fight: TKO victory over Akihiro Gono at Bellator 67

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 9

After successfully defending the Bellator lightweight championship, 26-year-old Michael Chandler retains his No. 9 spot.

His captivating submission of Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58, which was for the promotion's division title, more or less knocked Alvarez off this list.

Chandler is the perfect example of being able to attain recognition and respectable greatness outside of the UFC, sporting an undefeated record while taking care of top-level opponents.

8. Jim Miller

Promotion: UFC

Record: 21-4 (12 via submission)

Most Recent Fight: Submission loss to Nate Diaz at UFC on FOX 3

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 8

There isn't much that changed between last month and this month for UFC lightweight contender Jim Miller.

Miller has done enough over his four-year career in the UFC to warrant a top-10 spot, but after dropping what many considered a No. 1 contender bout in the lightweight division against Nate Diaz at UFC on FOX 3, Miller isn't scratching the top five anytime soon.

Regardless, one loss shouldn't encapsulate a fighter's entire career.

At 28, Miller has accomplished just as much as anybody on this list, but until he gets back to his winning ways, he'll stay at No. 8.

7. Anthony Pettis

Promotion: UFC

Record: 15-2 (6 via KO)

Most Recent Fight: KO victory over Joe Lauzon at UFC 144

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 7

Anthony Pettis continues to serve as one of the best lightweights in the world.

And while we don't like to base rankings solely on potential, Pettis has more of it than anybody on this list.

Only 25, he has already knocked off UFC divisional gatekeepers Joe Lauzon and Jeremy Stephens, as well as dropping a close decision to Clay Guida in his promotional debut.

His recent KO of Lauzon has more or less crowned him the best stand-up finisher in the UFC 155-pound weight class, surpassing nearly every guy on this list.

While no fight is scheduled for the immediate future, UFC president Dana White has made it clear that Pettis will "likely" get the next lightweight title shot, right after Nate Diaz.

 

6. Clay Guida

Promotion: UFC

Record: 29-9 (15 via submission)

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision loss to Benson Henderson at UFC on FOX

Next Fight: vs. Gray Maynard at UFC on FX 4

Previous Ranking: 6

Clay Guida is the quintessential perennial contender.

He never seems peak at the right moments, but his resume and overall Octagon presence continue to make him a relevant threat in the UFC lightweight pool.

With that said, key losses to Benson Henderson and Kenny Florian in the past have hindered the 30-year-old's chances of ever obtaining a title shot.

These career blips surely take away from impressive career victories over guys like Anthony Pettis, Nate Diaz and Takanori Gomi, but Guida will have yet another chance to prove he possesses championship swagger.

If he can finish Gray Maynard in style in their upcoming UFC on FX 4 bout later this month, Guida could surely see a title shot by the end of the year.

But for now, he remains where he usually is, outside of the top five.

5. Nate Diaz

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-7 (12 via submission)

Most Recent Fight: Submission victory over Jim Miller at UFC on FOX 3

Next Fight: Winner of Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar II

Previous Ranking: 5

A perennial submissions expert in the UFC's most crowded and competitive division, Nate Diaz has stayed afloat by utilizing unique Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while implementing a brawler-esk mentality inside the cage.

With a recent submission victory over Jim Miller, alongside his previous display of destruction over Donald Cerrone at UFC 141 in which Diaz landed a total of 238 strikes, the Californian continues to grow at the age of 27.

On the heel of that success, Diaz has been granted the winner of Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar, a fight that will make or break his UFC stock.

Food for thought: His only losses within the UFC have come at the hands of Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, Gray Maynard, Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald.

That's pretty darn good.

4. Gray Maynard

Promotion: UFC

Record: 11-1-1 (8 via decision)

Most Recent Fight: TKO loss to Frankie Edgar at 136

Next Fight: vs. Clay Guida at UFC on FX 4

Previous Ranking: 4

It's funny to think that Gray Maynard has only fought one guy in the past 18 months.

His two bouts with Frankie Edgar were probably the closest title fights a fighter could be involved in without winning.

Having said that, Maynard hasn't fought since losing his second showdown with Edgar at UFC 136 in October of last year.

However, with only one loss in his career and top finishes against Kenny Florian, Nate Diaz and Jim Miller, Maynard still comes in at No. 4.

His comeback bout with Clay Guida at UFC on FX 4 later this month will show everyone where he currently stands as far as a title threat is concerned.

3. Gilbert Melendez

Promotion: Strikeforce

Record: 21-2 (11 via KO)

Most Recent Fight: Split-decision victory over Josh Thomson at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier

Next Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 3

Gilbert Melendez may not have won his most recent bout with Josh Thomson in glorious fashion, but the pound-for-pound candidate retained his Strikeforce lightweight title nonetheless.

Currently riding a seven-fight win streak, the Diaz brothers' training partner seems to be untouchable inside the cage.

He has one of the best chins in the business and his excellent wrestling skills satisfy his crisp boxing.

But until the UFC decides to take on Melendez and let the Strikeforce lightweight division sink, he'll seemingly have no chance at ever escaping the No. 3 spot on this list.

2. Frankie Edgar

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-2-1

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision loss to Benson Henderson at UFC 144

Next Fight: vs. Benson Henderson at UFC 150

Previous Ranking: 2

Nothing is going to change atop this list until Frankie Edgar meets Benson Henderson in a championship rematch a UFC 150.

Edgar surrendered his title back in February in a close five-round decision.

Following that bout, as well as Anthony Pettis not wanting to wait to meet the winner, Edgar was granted a rematch with "Smooth."

Considering that was his only UFC loss in the past four years, you can appreciate the respect that B/R has paid.

The fact of the matter is that Edgar has always been a top lightweight in MMA since beating BJ Penn at UFC 112, so why would anything change now when he's trying to regain his title?

1. Benson Henderson

Promotion: UFC

Record: 16-2 (8 via submission)

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision victory over Frankie Edgar at UFC 144

Next Fight: vs. Frankie Edgar at UFC 150

Previous Ranking: 1

There is no doubt that Benson Henderson is the No. 1 lightweight in the world.

Not only because he wears a UFC title around his waist, but more importantly because he has beaten top contenders Frankie Edgar, Clay Guida and Jim Miller in consecutive bouts.

Nobody has really been able to touch Henderson inside the cage, as evident by his 2:1 strike ratio over his four UFC bouts.

The last time Henderson lost was against Anthony Pettis at WEC 53 in 2010, in which it took a superkick to put him away.

With that said, Henderson's current string of victories within the UFC and his recent destruction of Edgar makes him a sure bet as the best lightweight in the sport, for now. 

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