Shaken But Not Stirred: The Top Five Lightweight MMA Fighters in the World Today

Perhaps shaken is an understatement. We have witnessed many shocking outcomes recently and despite the air of confusion resulting from said outcomes, the top five Lightweights in the World must still be listed.

Whatever the cost....in rubles.

First, let us discuss some of the recent events that have transpired and discuss the effect they have on the top five list. Rather than just publish a list without explanation, the criteria used to determine placement is explained.

Perhaps we should start with Shinya Aoki.

There are many techniques that Aoki has mastered. Unfortunately, boxing isn't one of them.

Saturday night Gilbert Melendez showed just what can happen when a a fighter sticks to a game plan that is working (do you hear us, Arlovski?). Melendez was intelligent enough to keep this fight standing for the most part.

Aoki seemed to have no answer for this. He barely struck Melendez 20 times during the entire five-round affair while absorbing 200 or more blows himself. It was one of the most lopsided contests to occur at a championship level, not to mention a horrible embarrassment for Aoki.

So does this mean that Aoki is no longer the No. 2 ranked lightweight in the world? Absolutely. With B.J. Penn's loss of the lightweight crown, it is beginning to appear as though 2010 will be a very interesting year for MMA fans. The current top five lightweights in the world are certainly no longer what they used to be.

So who are the winners and who are the casualties as a result of the fallout caused by B.J. and Aoki?

The number one loser is the DREAM organization itself.

Aoki was manhandled with ease and this is a huge concern they must address. Unless they do something quickly they could lose all credibility as an organization. When they get an opportunity to reverse this damage—and they shall—they had better win.

Aoki has been exposed. For whatever reason, Aoki looked extremely outclassed while fighting Gilbert. There can be little doubt that the fallout from Aoki's performance could greatly affect Aoki's career in terms of sponsorships, public appearances, and movie deals. Should he fail to provide a dominant performance of his own, against a credible opponent, it could be the end of Aoki's MMA career.

On the other hand...Gilbert Melendez was extremely impressive. He seemed to display a level of courage most fighters do not possess. Remember that courage is not the lack of fear. Rather, courage is only possible when fear exists. If a person fears nothing, they can never be brave.

Prior to the fight Gilbert admitted that he was afraid of what Aoki was capable of. After much study of Aoki's past fights, Gilbert was certainly disturbed by the seemingly effortless nature of Aoki's performance. Dominating Aoki showed just how brave Melendez really is and that is a dangerous thing. It means he has heart.

Aoki is a pampered individual. It has become apparent that he is more concerned with marketing than fighting. When things do not go Aoki's way, he behaves poorly. Very few of Aoki's handlers have the nerve to actually critique his performance. The result is that he is surrounded by Yes men. In such an environment he cannot improve as a fighter and thus his ranking will continue to plummet; not that it matters much after his latest display.

The situation becomes even messier when you consider that Aoki managed to avenge a loss to Joachim Hansen and Melendez was handily defeated by Josh Thompson.

What affect does this have on Josh Thompson's ranking? Hansen's?

Frankie Edgar just proved what had been apparent from his first fight with Tyson Griffin—that he is a champion. Yes, Edgar is champ, but does that make him the best lightweight in the world?

At this point, a resounding "no" should follow. Well, perhaps not resounding—but Edgar, while a fantastic, hard working, entertaining, and respectful fighter to be sure, is still not the No. 1 lightweight fighter in the world.

Some might say that because he won the UFC crown he should automatically vault to the stratosphere. This is not the case, in reality. Just as Aoki's beating at the hands of Gilbert does not spell the end of his career (yet), it takes more than just a belt to achieve the top ranking. A belt certainly helps, though—especially when it used to belong to B.J..

Until Edgar defends his title a couple of times, he really cant be considered number one.

The following are the current Top Five Lightweight Fighters the world today:

No. 1: Josh Thompson

Gilbert Melendez had no answer at all for Josh, and while it was a very exciting fight, Josh won every round en route to a championship of his own.

No. 2: Gray Maynard

Maynard seems to have become a consistent force in the UFC's lightweight division. With very notable victories over the likes of Roger Huerta, Nate Diaz, and of course the current champion Frankie Edgar, Gray has positioned himself nicely for a title shot.

Winning is winning, and that is the name of the game in MMA. As long as he continues to perform, the sky is the limit.

No. 3: Frankie Edgar

Frankie is really coming on strong now. It is hard to contemplate his losing his belt anytime in the near future. Edgar competes in an extremely competitive division, and to become champ in the fashion he did is a tremendous accomplishment.

No. 4: Ken Florian

Ken recently dismantled one of the greatest MMA participants to ever compete in the form of Takanori "Fireball Kid" Gomi. It could have been a result of Kenny's continued improvement or a sign of Gomi's decline.

Either way, defeating a fighter like Gomi can do wonders for your Top Five ranking. It is a good thing for Ken that he and his elbows are in the UFC.

No. 5: Tyson Griffin

Apparently Nate Diaz has felt it necessary to talk trash in Tyson's direction, even though no fight is currently scheduled to occur.

Should Nate defeat Maynard that story will quickly change, and a fight between Nate and Tyson could happen at that point.

It is not clear why Nate would "call out" a fighter of Tyson's caliber and it forces the question once again. Is this bravery in the face of fear? Could it instead just be blind foolhardy obliviousness that causes Nate to offer up such a challenge? To answer that question now is a pointless endeavor. Perhaps one of Nate Diaz's handlers should remind him that he has to beat Gray Maynard first.

Looking past Maynard in such a fashion is not only insulting to Gray, but also just plain stupid. Actually, when one considers the individuals involved, saying that the Diaz brothers are stupid seems redundant to say the least.

It truly is a colossal task to try and narrow down the Top Five lightweight MMA combatants in the world. Fortunately it is made easier by the fact that several fighters have fallen off of their own accord.

Despite this fact, Honorable mentions and current Top 10 rankings go to the following fighters:

6. BJ Penn

7. Gilbert Melendez

8. Eddie Alvarez

9. Diego Sanchez

10. Shinya Aoki

Some very exciting fights are scheduled for this spring. There can be little doubt that the top fighters will continue to swap positions as they each strive to become better.

It seems a new breed of fighter is evolving in the lightweight division. Men who are trained in every aspect of hand to hand combat, do not tire, and appear to have a relentless drive motivating them to excel.