UFC 129 Results: Ranking the Top 10 Lightweights in the UFC

Last night was one of the best events in UFC history.

I sat here watching the first fights on Facebook, saw a flying triangle choke, and the tone for the evening was set.

Seven fights had finishes, and each one was spectacular.

Flying triangle chokes, spinning back fists and flying crane kicks ran abound.

In the midst of all this, Ben Henderson put on a fantastic performance against Mark Bocek. Was it enough for him to crack the top 10 lightweights in the UFC?

Read on to find out.

10. George Sotiropoulos

George Sotiropoulos (14-3) is coming off a loss at UFC 127.

In his last fight, Sotiropoulos fought Dennis Siver and lost a surprising unanimous decision. Sotiropoulos spent the better part of 15 minutes trying to take Siver down, and he just couldn't do it.

So he was forced to stand with a kickboxer, and that didn't go too well.

Sotiropoulos will be fighting Evan Dunham at UFC 132 in a must-win situation for both men.

9. Ben Henderson

Ben "Smooth" Henderson (13-2) is the former WEC Lightweight Champion, and with his performance last night, he cracks the top 10 lightweights in the UFC.

Many will remember Henderson for being on the receiving end of the "Showtime" kick, but I think he put that behind him last night.

Him and Mark Bocek put on a great fight, and "Smooth" won the unanimous decision.

Maybe he has the loser of Pettis-Guida in his sights.

8. Sean Sherk

Sean Sherk (36-4-1) is a former UFC Lightweight Champion and is coming off a controversial split-decision victory over Evan Dunham at UFC 119.

Sherk is 37 years old, and it seems like he has some injury to rehab after every fight.

His last fight was in September, and he does not even have an announced fight at the moment.

Sherk would be higher, but he has fought one time in the past two years, so I can't, in good conscience, put him any higher

7. Anthony Pettis

Anthony Pettis (13-1) is the former and last WEC Lightweight Champion.

Pettis was originally going to fight for the title against the winner of the UFC 125 fight between Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar, but they fought to a draw and will have a rematch later this month at UFC 130.

Instead, Pettis will fight Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale in what is likely to be a No. 1 contender fight.

6. Melvin Guillard

Melvin Guillard (27-8-2 (1 NC)) is currently on a four-fight winning streak.

In Guillard's last fight, he TKO'd Evan Dunham in under three minutes at UFC Fight for the Troops 2.

Guillard has had drug problems in the past, but he seems to be past them, and he wants to make a run at UFC gold.

He takes his next step towards the belt at UFC 132, where he will face off against Shane Roller.

5. Dennis Siver

Dennis Siver (18-7) is currently on a three-fight winning streak.

In Siver's last fight, he kept George Sotiropoulos on his feet and out of his element for 15 minutes.

Siver was a huge underdog in that fight, and he made a statement to the entire division that if you want to fight him, you will have to stand with him.

Siver will fight Matt Wiman at UFC 132.

4. Clay Guida

Clay Guida (28-11) is currently on a three-fight winning streak.

In Guida's last fight, he submitted Takanori Gomi at UFC 125.

Guida has been looking better and better in each of his most recent fights, and he recently said that he was his own worst enemy and that he wants the title.

He will be fighting Anthony Pettis at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale in what may or may not be a No. 1 contender fight for him.

3. Jim Miller

Jim Miller (20-2) is the most deserving man of a title shot on this list.

He is on a seven-fight win streak in the UFC, and his only two losses in his career were decision losses to Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar.

At one point he said he should be the No. 3 lightweight in the UFC. Well, now he is.

At UFC 128, he defeated Kamal Shalorus via TKO.

There were rumors flying about him fighting Gilbert Melendez for the Strikeforce title, but those were quickly shot down by Dana White and Scott Coker.

If he can't get that fight, look for him to want a No. 1 contender fight to the UFC belt next.

2. Gray Maynard

Gray Maynard (10-0-1 (1 NC)) is the current No. 1 contender to the lightweight title.

No real surprise with Maynard here. At UFC 125 he fought to a five-round split draw against Frankie Edgar, and now they will have a rematch for the title later this month at UFC 130.

Let's just hope they put on as good a show as they did on New Year's.

1. Frankie Edgar

Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) is the current UFC Lightweight Champion.

Again, no real surprise having Edgar here.

He and Maynard will fight for a third time at UFC 130, and it should be a great fight.