Please note that the MMA Freak lightweight rankings were last updated on January 11th and that those rankings will be listed in parenthesis:
~ 1 (1)~
Anthony Pettis
Anthony Pettis is hoping for a July return but that’s an optimistic return date. An opponent should he return that early has yet to be determined.
~ 2 (2) ~
Gilbert Melendez
There is currently no word as to when Gilbert Melendez’s next match would be or against whom it would be. A match at UFC 170 didn’t work.
~ 3 (3) ~
Benson Henderson
Benson Henderson put on a great show yesterday against Josh Thomson utilizing his Tae Kwan Do and grappling skills. However, he did have help from Thomson’s broken hand and there are already some reports calling his victory a controversial one when in reality it was close.
~ 4 (4) ~
T.J. Grant
There’s still no word as to when T.J. Grant would return which is probably dependent on when he’d be cleared of his concussion.
~ 5 (5) ~
Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz mentioned that after his fight against Gray Maynard in November last year he’d like to move up to welterweight. Still no word on it.
~ 6 (6) ~
Jim Miller
No word at the present as to where and when Jim Miller’s next match would be but he just fought at UFC 168 so it’s understandable.
~ 7 (7) ~
Eddie Alvarez
Eddie Alverez is set to defend his lightweight title sometime during Bellator MMA Season 10 in what will probably be the promotion’s pay per view debut. His planned opponent is the man from whom he had to earn his belt back, former lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
~ 8 (8) ~
Michael Chandler
Former Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler is set to face Eddie Alvarez in the rubber match for the lightweight title. This is probably being made possible by the recent “rematch clause.“
~ 9 (9) ~
Josh Thomson
Josh Thomson didn’t have to take this match considering he was going to face Anthony Pettis before Showtime’s knee injury. Thomson though put up a valiant effort against Benson Henderson but a broken hand kept “the Punk” from competing at his full scrappiness.
~ 10 (N/A) ~
Donald Cerrone
Without a doubt Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone has launched himself back into the title picture with wins over the likes of Evan Dunham and last night Adriano Martins. He still probably has a match or two before he can seriously be considered for a title shot though.
How do you think last night’s matches on UFC on Fox influenced the lightweight rankings landscape? Feel free to leave a comment!