UFC 160 Results: Top 10 Lightweights in the UFC

Fifth-ranked T.J. Grant took care of business at UFC 160 by defeating No. 3 Gray Maynard in the first round.

The win earns him a crack at UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson later this year.

The lightweight division is full of well-rounded athletes who have trouble getting on winning streaks due to the quality of competition. They beat up on one another. The lightweights have had a great start to 2013, and that looks to continue with the rise of other talented prospects.

These are the top 10 lightweights under the UFC banner.

No. 10: Pat Healy

Pat Healy made a successful UFC debut with a submission win over Jim Miller at UFC 159. He would likely have moved up in the rankings, but he tested positive for marijuana, and the result was overturned to a no-contest.

The no-contest against Miller aside, Healy has still won six fights in a row. And even with the result overturned, we will not forget his performance at UFC 159.

Healy is a top-10 lightweight who deserves another big fight when he returns. He loves to drag lightweights into an ugly dog fight.

The former Strikeforce standout never got a shot at that championship belt, but if he can put together a couple of wins in the UFC, he may find himself at the top of the division with a title shot looming. Time will tell, but Healy has looked great recently.

No. 9: Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib Nurmagomedov is 20-0, and his domination of Abel Trujillo should do enough to move him to the top 10 in the official rankings.

Nurmagomedov is a significant test for any lightweight. He is a phenomenal grappler with very good strength.

The Russian sambo champion had 21 takedowns against Trujillo at UFC 160. He also holds wins over Gleison Tibau and Thiago Tavares. The impressive performances will move him up the lightweight ladder.

He needs to fight a top-10 lightweight soon. Nurmagomedov is making waves in the division.

No. 8: Rafael dos Anjos

Rafael dos Anjos was already in the UFC's top 10 lightweight rankings. At UFC on FX 8, he won a contentious decision over Evan Dunham to solidify that ranking.

No matter what anyone thought of the decision rendered, Dos Anjos got the official victory. That's the single most important thing in this sport. It marked his fourth straight win.

Dos Anjos has improved his overall game over the past couple of years, and that's why he is entering the upper echelon of the division. He is a complete fighter.

With the fourth straight win, he will continue his path towards the top, but he shouldn't earn a major battle in his next outing. He needs to fight a top-10 fighter on the lower end of the rankings before taking on one of the top lightweights.

No. 7: Gray Maynard

Gray Maynard was stopped by T.J. Grant at UFC 160, but he won't fall out of the top 10 of the division.

He is still one of the best fighters at 155. Bar none.

The loss was only the second of his career, and both are to elite lightweight fighters. There is no shame in that. However, he will drop from his third-ranked spot when the latest rankings come out.

Maynard still possesses a lot of power in his boxing and has one of the best top games in the division. Any lightweight going up against Maynard will have a tough out. The former Michigan State Spartan remains one of the division's elite.

No. 6: Donald Cerrone

After suffering a TKO loss to Anthony Pettis in January, Donald Cerrone rebounded with a complete performance at UFC 160. He dominated the action against K.J. Noons in the opening bout of the pay-per-view.

Cerrone is a very good lightweight who has only faltered against the best. He dropped bouts to Nate Diaz and Anthony Pettis in the UFC, and in the WEC he only lost title bouts. He is still looking to break in to the very top of the division.

Cerrone was able to show off his complete arsenal against Noons.

With the lightweight division muddled, Cerrone will likely find himself going up against another top contender. That fight could have major title implications, and that is what Cerrone will be seeking.

No. 5: Josh Thomson

Josh Thomson returned to the UFC after many years away, and he did so in spectacular fashion. He became the first fighter to stop Nate Diaz.

Since 2006, Thomson has only lost to Gilbert Melendez and Tatsuya Kawajiri. He has defeated a number of top-level lightweights, and his UFC return showed the new fans why he was once considered one of the best MMA prospects.

Thomson's abilities put him right at the top of the 155 division.

The AKA member is not too far off a title shot. One more win could see him challenging the champion.

No. 4: T.J. Grant

T.J. Grant was 4-0 in the lightweight division entering UFC 160, but he didn't have much fanfare behind him. That will change after his electric performance in defeating Gray Maynard.

The win earned him a shot at the UFC title.

Grant has long been seen as a submission specialist, but his recent performances have shown his quality striking. He is precise with his attacks, and he is a finisher. Fans love that.

We will have to wait and see if the title fight with Henderson has buzz surrounding it, but the fight itself should be a fantastic fight to watch. Grant has a very real chance at bringing the lightweight title to Canada.

No. 3: Anthony Pettis

Anthony Pettis has won three straight in the UFC's lightweight division, and that has earned him a shot at the featherweight championship. You are reading that correctly.

In spite of never having fought at featherweight, Pettis will challenge Jose Aldo later this year.

Regardless, until he officially drops to featherweight, he has a spot on the lightweight rankings. Pettis is certainly one of the best fighters in the division. He has dynamic striking and is an ultimate crowd pleaser.

The bout with Aldo should be incredibly exciting, but if Pettis returns to the lightweight division in the near future, he should have a top-five opponent awaiting him.

No. 2: Gilbert Melendez

Gilbert Melendez made his long-awaited UFC debut against Benson Henderson in April. He challenged for the UFC gold and came up just a hair shot in an exciting five-round battle.

After years of being considered the best lightweight not in the UFC, Melendez got a chance to show the world he is an elite lightweight.

In spite of coming up just short, Melendez won't drop from the top spot. There is not another lightweight that has shown why he deserves that spot more than Melendez.

Melendez won't get an immediate rematch for the gold, but he is the official No. 1-ranked fighter in the division at this time. Winning his next outing could earn him the rematch he wants.

No. 1: Benson Henderson

His UFC tenure has been filled with decision after decision, and his title run has been filled with controversial decision after controversial decision.

Regardless, Benson Henderson's name is the one that has been read by Bruce Buffer every time.

Henderson is a complete fighter who is tough to crack. He utilizes his skills masterfully, and is incredibly tough and durable. He has not lost since dropping a close decision against Anthony Pettis in the final WEC lightweight title fight.

The UFC champion will have a tough out in his next fight against T.J. Grant, but he will be ready. Henderson is always prepared and always gives the fans an exciting 25 minutes of action.