Gilbert Melendez and the Top 10 Lightweights in UFC History
The lightweight division in mixed martial arts has always been the most talent-rich in the sport. There are literally hundreds of well-known world-class fighters competing at 155 pounds, and the weight class has been home to some of the greatest fights in the sport's history.
The division was so filled with talent that at one point it resembled Game of Thrones in the multiple champions with claims to the title of best lightweight on the planet. Eddie Alvarez was wrecking shop in Bellator. Gilbert Melendez was a dominant champion in Strikeforce, and until the two competed in the Octagon against the UFC champion, we would never know who really was the best.
Fast forward a few years, and Melendez has had two UFC title shots, and Eddie Alvarez has been freed of his legal shackles due to a regime change at Bellator. The two are set to square off this weekend at UFC 188.
This is a dream fight for longtime MMA fans. With the former Strikeforce lightweight champ set to battle the former Bellator champion, now is a great time to take a look at the greatest lightweights in the history of the sport.
What we will be looking at to discern the best fighters of all time at lightweight are things like title fights and defenses, strength of schedule, and dominant performances against high-level competition. In other words, who have they fought and how did they beat them? A lot of fighters have competed in multiple weight divisions, but their work at 155 pounds is what we will put under the microscope.
Now, let us look at the 10 best lightweights in UFC history.
Honorable Mention: Sean Sherk
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Sean Sherk retired with an impressive overall career record of 36-4-1. He won the vacant UFC lightweight title with a unanimous-decision win over Kenny Florian in 2006 but tested positive for steroids after his next fight with Hermes Franca.
His last fight was a hard-fought decision victory over Evan Dunham in 2010. Sherk was often hampered by injuries but still made an impact in the lightweight division.
No. 10: Eddie Alvarez
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The former Bellator lightweight champion has earned his place as one of the greatest lightweights of all time entirely outside of the UFC. The former Bellator lightweight champ has victories over Michael Chandler, Patricio "Pitbull" Freire, Shinya Aoki, Pat Curran, Roger Huerta, Josh Neer, Katsunori Kikuno and Tatsuya Kawajiri to his name.
His two fights with Michael Chandler for the Bellator lightweight title were probably the best fights Bellator has ever put on. Alvarez faces off with former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez at UFC 188 in a fight between two of the division's all-time greats. Alvarez has already established himself as a top-tier lightweight, but a win over Melendez would be the biggest of his career.
No. 9: Nate Diaz
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Diaz was the winner of the first lightweight season of The Ultimate Fighter, and on certain nights he looked like a world-beater. His boxing and jiu-jitsu skills made him one of the most captivating fighters in the division.
He moved back and forth between lightweight and welterweight, having much more success as a 155-pounder. He challenged Benson Henderson for the UFC lightweight title in 2012 but dropped a unanimous-decision to the champ. Diaz holds wins over names like Donald Cerrone, Takanori Gomi, Jim Miller, Josh Neer and Gray Maynard.
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No. 8: Jens Pulver
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Pulver was the first-ever UFC lightweight champion, but the competition wasn't then what it is now. The lightweight division is the most competitive in mixed martial arts and the most stacked with world-class talent.
Pulver's resume might not stack up against the current lightweight elite, but he was the best of his generation.
He was a true pioneer of the lighter weight classes, and though he stuck around way longer than he should have, he made his mark on the sport and in the lightweight division. Pulver's most notable lightweight wins are over Dennis Hallman, Caol Uno and BJ Penn.
No. 7: Donald Cerrone
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Donald Cerrone has handed out some soul-crushing defeats during his time in the UFC lightweight division. His current eight-fight winning streak alone is enough to get him onto this list. Cowboy has been one of the most active UFC fighters since he came over from the defunct WEC, and even though he hasn't ever fought for the UFC title, he's still one of the most winningest fighters in UFC history.
With Cerrone, it isn't just the victories but how he's winning that is so impressive. He cracked John Makdessi's chin so hard with a kick that Makdessi called a timeout on his MMA career. He finished Jim Miller with a brutal body kick and then had to TKO him a second time just seconds later.
He went toe-to-toe with Edson Barboza in a kicking contest, and after he won that exchange he jumped on his back and submitted him. He big-brothered Myles Jury, took a razor-close decision from Benson Henderson and busted both his face and his elbows (warning: graphic image) after his win over K.J. Noons.
Cowboy's 15 wins in the UFC lightweight division and eight-fight winning streak finally have him positioned to challenge for the title. He's already stated he doesn't want to wait for the champion, but he's sitting at the top of the division, and the only fight that makes sense is a rematch with Rafael dos Anjos.
No. 6: Rafael Dos Anjos
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The newly minted UFC lightweight champion has a resume that stacks up with anyone on this list. Dos Anjos has notable wins inside the Octagon over Anthony Pettis, Benson Henderson, Donald Cerrone, Jason High, Nate Diaz, Evan Dunham, Mark Bocek and George Sotiropoulos.
His UFC record is 13-5, and the new champ has been looking dominant as of late. The Kings MMA product is at the height of his career and has the chance to further establish himself as one of the best lightweights in MMA history if he can defend the championship a few times.
No. 5: Gilbert Melendez
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Gilbert Melendez has been at the top of the lightweight division for the better part of his career. He's a former WEC and Strikeforce lightweight champion and has twice challenged for the UFC championship.
Melendez has only been finished once, in his last fight against Anthony Pettis at UFC 185 in March. El Nino holds victories over Josh Thomson, Diego Sanchez, Jorge Masvidal, Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Rodrigo Damm, Clay Guida and Mitsuhiro Ishida.
He's one of the toughest fighters in mixed martial arts, and his hard-nosed, forward-moving style has always been a treat for MMA fans. His UFC 166 fight with Sanchez was one of the most exciting fights in UFC history. He always delivers his unique and entertaining brand of violence and is one of the best lightweights in MMA history.
No. 4: Benson Henderson
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Henderson is tied with BJ Penn for most UFC lightweight title defenses, and the former WEC and UFC lightweight champion has a resume filled with victories over the sport's elite. He has defeated Josh Thomson, Gilbert Melendez, Frankie Edgar, Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Clay Guida, Jim Miller and Jamie Varner, just to name a few.
He's suffered recent setbacks at lightweight in a KO loss to current champion Rafael dos Anjos and a close decision loss to Donald Cerrone this past January. He made an impressive entrance into the welterweight division against Brandon Thatch recently, and his future is undecided.
No. 3: Anthony Pettis
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Anthony "Showtime" Pettis is one of the most dangerous strikers the lightweight division has ever seen. The purveyor of the Showtime Kick is just as dangerous on the ground as he is standing, with two submission wins in UFC title fights.
He won the UFC belt in his hometown of Milwaukee against Benson Henderson at UFC 164 in August 2013, and in his only title defense he became the first man to finish Gilbert Melendez, defeating him via second-round guillotine choke.
Even though Henderson has more UFC title defenses than Pettis, two of them were narrowly contested decisions, and Pettis beat Henderson both times they fought. The MMA world stood still after he leaped off the cage wall and kicked Henderson in the face at WEC 53 in 2010, and the Showtime Kick is still recognized as one of the sport's single greatest moves.
Pettis now begins the trek back to title contention after losing a one-sided decision to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 185 in March. His time at the top wasn't the longest, but it's hard to imagine Pettis not fighting for the lightweight title again.
No. 2: Frankie Edgar
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Frankie Edgar's current campaign for a shot at the featherweight title is further proof that he is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
He has fought for the UFC championship seven times already. He beat BJ Penn three times. His comebacks in both Gray Maynard fights are legendary. Both of his losses to Benson Henderson were close affairs, and a lot of people thought he should have won the second one.
Edgar has been fighting top competition throughout his entire UFC career, defeating the best fighters in the lightweight and featherweight divisions. His accomplishments at lightweight make him one of the greatest lightweights in the history of the sport.
At age 33 he continues to face the highest level of competition and could become the next man to hold UFC titles in multiple weight classes.
No. 1: BJ Penn
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BJ Penn is getting inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this year. Rightly so, as the mixed martial arts resume of The Prodigy is unparalleled. The only man to hold both the UFC lightweight and welterweight titles, he is tied for the record of most lightweight title defenses with Benson Henderson at three.
His run atop the lightweight division was filled with scary violence. He looked dominant against Jens Pulver and left Joe Stevenson crying in a pool of his own blood en route to gaining the UFC lightweight title in 2008.
He defended the championship against Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez. He finished all three men—Sherk with a flying knee, Florian by rear-naked choke and Sanchez by doctor's stoppage after he busted The Nightmare wide open with a devastating high kick.
Penn's best work inside the cage was at 155 pounds, going 11-3-1. When he was motivated, he was one of the pound-for-pound best fighters on the planet. Though his legacy as a fighter might include the fact that he had more potential than he showed—as his career ended on a string of losses—his work as a lightweight was the best ever.
The bar has been set high for any lightweight who is looking to take his spot as the greatest lightweight in MMA history.
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