The Rankings: The Lightweights: Oct 17, 2016

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The Rankings are just that – The MMA Manifesto’s rankings of the best fighters in mixed martial arts today. Check back every Monday and Friday for our rankings of a different weight class. Next up: The Lightweight Rankings.

Voting Panel: Jeff Fox, Daniel Vreeland, Ryan MacDonald, and Ricky Leone.

*stipulations: 1) any fighter currently suspended or 2) inactive for at least 12 months (without an upcoming fight scheduled) are excluded from the rankings

CLICK ON FIGHTER’S NAME FOR DETAILED SCOUTING REPORT

The Lightweight Rankings

1) (Last rankings: 1) Eddie Alvarez – UFC Lightweight Champion – 40 points (out of 40)

            Record: 28-4
            Last Five Fights: 4-1
            Record vs Top 10: 2-1 (W-dos Anjos, W-Aoki, L-Alvarez)
            Next Fight: vs #6 Conor McGregor – UFC 205 – Nov 12th

Eddie Alvarez now has UFC gold to add to his extensive championship collection.

2) (2) Rafael dos Anjos – UFC – 31 points
            Record: 25-8
            Last Five Fights: 4-1
            Record vs Top 10: 2-2 (L-Alvarez, W-Henderson, W-Diaz, L-Nurmagomedov)
            Next Fight: vs #4 Tony Ferguson – TUF: Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs Ferguson – Nov 5th

King no more.

3) (tied) (3) Khabib Nurmagomedov – UFC – 27 points
                        Record: 23-0
                        Last Five Fights: 5-0
                        Record vs Top 10: 1-0 (W-dos Anjos)
                        Next Fight: vs #9 Michael Johnson – UFC 205 – Nov 12th

The Eagle knocked off any ring rust he had and chalked up his 23rd straight win.

3) (tied) (4) Tony Ferguson – UFC – 27 points

Record: 22-3
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 1-1 (W-Barboza, L-Johnson)
Next Fight: vs #2 Rafael dos Anjos – TUF: Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs Ferguson – Nov 5th

Eight straight wins for El Cucuy.

5) (6) Edson Barboza – UFC – 22 points
            Record: 18-4
            Last Five Fights: 3-2
            Record vs Top 10: 1-1 (L-Ferguson, W-Johnson)
            Next Fight: TBA

Junior has notched up back-to-back big wins over top-ranked opponents.

6) (NR) Conor McGregor – UFC – 15 points
                Record: 19-3
                Last Five Fights: 4-1
                Record vs Top 10: 0-1 (W-Diaz, L-Diaz)
                Next Fight: vs #1 Eddie Alvarez – UFC 205 – Nov 12th

The featherweight king will try to snatch the crown from another weight class next.

7) (7) Michael Chiesa – UFC – 14 points
            Record: 14-2
            Last Five Fights: 4-1
            Record vs Top 10: 0-0
            Next Fight: TBA

The TUF winner is starting to come into his own and become a real player at lightweight.

8) (8) Nate Diaz – UFC – 8 points
            Record: 19-11
            Last Five Fights: 3-2
            Record vs Top 10: 2-3 (L-McGregor, W-McGregor, W-Johnson, L-dos Anjos, L-Henderson)
            Next Fight: TBA

Nate Diaz has become one of the biggest stars in the sport.

9) (tied) (9) Shinya Aoki – ONE Lightweight Champion – 7 points
                        Record: 39-6, 1 NC
                        Last Five Fights: 5-0
                        Record vs Top 10: 1-1 (L-Alvarez, W-Alvarez)
                        Next Fight: vs Eduard Folayang – ONE Championship: Defending Honor – Nov 11th

Aoki hasn’t lost in over four years.

9) (tied) (9) Benson Henderson – Bellator – 6 points
                         Record: 24-6
                         Last Five Fights: 3-2
                         Record vs Top 10: 1-1 (L-dos Anjos, W-Diaz)
                         Next Fight: vs Michael Chandler – Bellator 165 – Nov 19th

Smooth technically got a win over Pitbull, but it was only due to a lucky break (bad pun).

9) (tied) (NR) Michael Johnson – UFC – 9 points
                            Record: 18-10
                            Last Five Fights: 3-2
                            Record vs Top 10: 2-1 (L-Diaz, W-Barboza, W-Ferguson)
                            Next Fight: vs #3 Khabib Nurmagomedov – UFC 205 – Nov 12th

The Menace appears to have his career headed in the right direction again.  But he’s got a real tough fight next on the docket.

Dropped off: (5) Will Brooks

Bubbling under: Gilbert Melendez, Will Brooks, Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, Alex Oliveira

Check back on Monday for our Featherweight rankings