UFC Fight Night 27 Results: Top 10 Lightweights in the UFC

The landscape of the UFC lightweight division changed in the wake of UFC Fight Night 27, and it will likely change again in the next week. UFC 164 and Fight Night 28 are right around the corner, which will lead to more shakeups in the division.

Last night, the top 10 made a bit of a change, as Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos defeated Donald Cerrone via unanimous decision. It is a victory that moved dos Anjos closer to a title shot and Cerrone on the outside looking in.

With that, let's take a look at the top 10 lightweights in the UFC.

10. Jim Miller

Last Fight: No Contest vs. Pat Healy

Next Fight: n/a

Jim Miller lost his last fight to Pat Healy. That was until a failed drug test erased that win and kept Miller out of the loss column. 

Miller only fights top guys at 155. Before Healy, he put a major beatdown on Joe Lauzon in one of the most entertaining fights of last year.

He needs a big-time win to get trust back from the fans. Though he doesn't have an opponent, a bout with Evan Dunham may be good for both fighters.

9. Khabib Nurmagomedov

Last Fight: Decision win vs. Abel Trujillo

Next Fight: vs. Pat Healy at UFC 165

Russia's Khabib Nurmagomedov finally gets a top-15 opponent in Pat Healy, despite the fact he has gone 4-0 in the UFC since his arrival.

The Russian is a relentless wrestler with good power in his hands. He has to make sure he doesn't stray away from professionalism, as he did miss weight in his last bout against Abel Trujillo.

A win over Healy should get him a top-ranked opponent.

8. Rafael Dos Anjos

Last Fight: Decision win vs. Donald Cerrone

Next Fight: n/a

Rafael dos Anjos is coming off the biggest win of his career at UFC Fight Night 27. He was able to outwork Donald Cerrone for 15 minutes and is now a certified top-10 combatant.

He has truly grown since his early time in the UFC. He lost his first two UFC bouts, which in most cases would warrant a cut. The company stuck with him and now he is a top competitor.

We will see where he goes next. A bout with Jim Miller could be a good matchup, as could a meeting with Josh Thomson.

7. Nate Diaz

Last Fight: Knockout loss vs. Josh Thomson

Next Fight: n/a

Nate Diaz is on a two-fight skid, but it's imperative to remember that one of those losses came in a UFC title bid against Benson Henderson. The next one came at the hands of Josh Thomson.

Diaz has yet to be heard from since taking the nasty knockout loss to Thomson. Previous to that, he was a durable submission machine that looked like Nick Diaz 2.0.

He has no scheduled bouts, but a fight with fellow TUF winner Mac Danzig could put him back on the right path.

6. Gray Maynard

Last Fight: Knockout loss vs. TJ Grant

Next Fight: n/a

Gray Maynard got back on the right track after a disappointing two bouts with Frankie Edgar when he beat Clay Guida in a snoozer of a fight. However, TJ Grant immediately derailed that comeback with a nasty knockout loss.

Maynard has turned into a K1 version of himself in that he has become too comfortable on the feet. His bread and butter is wrestling, which he needs to return to when he steps in the cage again.

He could rematch Nate Diaz from earlier in their careers or take on Matt Wiman in his next bout. Either of those fights would be good for him.

5. Josh Thomson

Last Fight: Knockout win vs. Nate Diaz

Next Fight: n/a

What better way was there for Josh Thomson to re-enter the UFC earlier this year? Well, knockout a former title challenger in Nate Diaz, of course.

Thomson was often forgotten in the top lightweights talk, despite the fact that he always brought perennially ranked Gilbert Melendez to the brink when they competed. Thomson is a well-rounded vet that has his eyes locked on a title shot.

He has no fight as of right now, but I would love to see a fourth bout against Melendez. He lost via split decision last time, but many people thought he should have walked away the victor.

4. Gilbert Melendez

Last Fight: Decision loss vs. Benson Henderson

Next Fight: vs. Diego Sanchez at UFC 166

Gilbert Melendez came into the UFC and immediately got a title shot at Benson Henderson. He made the most of it by almost defeating the current champion on points.

With that, he now must rebuild himself back up with a couple of wins before he can snag that rematch. He takes on Diego Sanchez at UFC 166 in a tough bout between two long-time MMA staples.

3. Anthony Pettis

Last Fight: Knockout win vs. Donald Cerrone

Next Fight: vs. Benson Henderson at UFC 164

Anthony Pettis has the chance to move to No. 1 with a win this weekend. All he has to do is knock off current champion and former foe Benson Henderson.

In their first encounter, Pettis won a unanimous decision in which the Showtime Kick was christened. It was also a wildly entertaining affair that closed out WEC in style.

If Pettis wins Saturday night, expect him to wish for a two-division title reign and call-out of Jose Aldo at some point.

2. TJ Grant

Last Fight: Knockout win vs. Gray Maynard

Next Fight: n/a

The original title challenger to Benson Henderson for UFC 164, TJ Grant now sits on the sidelines and waits for the results to come centerfold.

Grant's drop to 155 led to him becoming one of the best fighters in the UFC's lightweight division. The grappler furiously worked in his Muay Thai, which has led him to knockouts of foes such as Gray Maynard.

Once he is healed, he still may be the No. 1 contender. If not, he should be just one fight away.

1. Benson Henderson

Last Fight: Decision win vs. Gilbert Melendez

Next Fight: vs. Anthony Pettis at UFC 164

The UFC champion is currently undefeated in the company. Henderson owns two wins over Frankie Edgar as well as singular wins over Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez, Clay Guida and Jim Miller. 

Henderson has taken down some of the best the company has to offer, but now, it's time for him to erase the biggest loss of his career.

A win over Anthony Pettis would be huge for his legacy. It also may set up a rubber match down the road at some point.