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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
We’re back on the rotation in our “Keeping Tabs On…” series, where we break down the UFC’s Top 15 ranked fighters in each division. We'll let you know where we've got them ranked, what they've got coming up, how often they've been competing, what we've said about them recently at MMATorch, and more. We continue today with the lightweight division.
Champ: Anthony Pettis
MMATorch Rank: 1 Next Fight: Gilbert Melendez, TBA Previous Fight: Benson Henderson (Win), UFC 164 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 3 Contender Status: Current Champ What We're Saying: "The UFC did what they should have done in keeping Melendez, and this will be a huge fight with Pettis after a historic season of TUF. It takes the Aldo fight off the table for this summer, and doesn't let Pettis return as early as he'd like, but this is actually better for him as he'll get more time to recover from his knee injury and still keep himself in the public eye." - Jamie Penick
1. Benson Henderson
MMATorch Rank: 2 Next Fight: TBA Previous Fight: Josh Thomson (Win), UFC on Fox 10 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 7 Contender Status: Stagnant, needs several exciting/convincing wins to get another shot What We're Saying: "
The former UFC Lightweight Champ has already defeated a number of names in the division, and many of the others are either currently booked or otherwise indisposed. If Khabilov is ready to go by May, it's clear Henderson's ready for that matchup." - Jamie Penick
2. Gilbert Melendez
MMATorch Rank: 3 Next Fight: Anthony Pettis, TBA Previous Fight: Diego Sanchez (Win), UFC 166 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 3 Contender Status: Next Title challenger What We're Saying: "Though he doesn't see himself as the influence he might be, he's opened a door to fighters whose contracts come up for negotiation next. Those with leverage will be able to get more money out of the UFC because of this than they may have gotten prior to Melendez signing, and that's a good thing overall." - Jamie Penick
3. T.J. Grant
MMATorch Rank: 6 Next Fight: TBA Previous Fight: Gray Maynard (Win), UFC 160 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 4 Contender Status: Likely contender once healthy What We're Saying: "Grant is smartly not putting anything to risk with a concussion that continues to have lingering symptoms. Thankfully he's getting better, and even if he has to delay until October, it will be great for him if he can come back in his hometown. And given the UFC Lightweight Title won't be on the line until late in the year, he can get right back into the mix with an October win." - Jamie Penick
4. Josh Thomson
MMATorch Rank: 7 Next Fight: TBA Previous Fight: Benson Henderson (Loss), UFC on Fox 10 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 4 Contender Status: Falling, bad split decision keeps him out of title contention What We're Saying: "I thought the fight was interesting because it was a nice chess match between skilled competitors. Thomson got great position a few times, and then Henderson would eventually reverse or somehow escape. I would have given the fight to Thomson, but that's not what makes this BAD. My problem is that one judge gave Thomson three rounds, another gave him two, while the other judge only gave him one round. Such disparity in the scoring highlights the need for more clear criteria in judging." - Frank Hyden
5. Rafael dos Anjos
MMATorch Rank: 10 Next Fight: Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC on Fox 11, April 19 Previous Fight: Donald Cerrone (Win), UFC Fight Night 27 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 5 Contender Status: Rising, but needs a couple of big wins to get a shot What We're Saying: "This is a huge fight for both lightweights, as they're each trying to establish themselves as worthy contenders in the 155 lb. Title picture. The winner will be on a significant run inside the Octagon, and could certainly get a No. 1 contender fight their next time out. It's not a title eliminator in itself, but the victor will get a major opportunity in their next fight." - Jamie Penick
6. Nate Diaz
MMATorch Rank: 9 Next Fight: TBA Previous Fight: Gray Maynard (Win), TUF 18 Finale Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 4 Contender Status: Stagnant, bizarre request for UFC release has him in limbo What We're Saying: "If Diaz just signed a new deal, the UFC isn't going to even consider releasing him. Now, he may decide not to fight, but his contract will just freeze then, much like has happened with his brother. Regardless, expect to see Diaz's next fight in the Octagon, whenever that may be." - Jamie Penick
7. Khabib Nurmagomedov
MMATorch Rank: 8 Next Fight: Rafael dos Anjos, UFC on Fox 11, April 19 Previous Fight: Pat Healy (Win), UFC 165 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 5 Contender Status: Rising, fast. The right couple of wins could get him a shot. What We're Saying: "Nurmagomedov is trying to work his way into title contention in the lightweight division on the strength of a highly impressive undefeated record. The 25-year-old has won all five of his fights in the UFC, most recently defeating the aforementioned Healy at UFC 165, and he enters this event at 21-0." - Jamie Penick
8. Donald Cerrone
MMATorch Rank: 12 Next Fight: Edson Barboza, UFC on Fox 11, April 19 Previous Fight: Adriano Martins (Win), UFC on Fox 10 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 7 Contender Status: Stagnant, needs consistency to get into contention What We're Saying: "After knocking out Adriano Martins last month with a head kick at UFC on Fox 10, Donald Cerrone said he hoped to fight six times in 2014, so it's no surprise that he's wasted little time getting his next fight booked… Cerrone's knockout of Martins was his second straight win after his poor performance against Rafael dos Anjos last summer, and just his third ever (T)KO finish." - Jamie Penick
9. Jim Miller
MMATorch Rank: 11 Next Fight: Bobby Green, UFC 172, April 26 Previous Fight: Fabricio Camoes (Win), UFC 168 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 5 Contender Status: Stagnant, bought new life with Camoes win What We're Saying: "Miller returned to the win column in December, submitting Fabricio Camoes with an impressive armbar at UFC 168. That bounced him back from a submission loss-turned-no-contest against Pat Healy in his previous performance last April." - Jamie Penick
10. Gray Maynard
MMATorch Rank: Not ranked (received votes) Next Fight: TBA Previous Fight: Nate Diaz (Loss), TUF 18 Finale Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 3 Contender Status: Falling, he’s on a major downslide in his career and may not recover What We're Saying: "Maynard's record speaks for itself here. He was 10-0-1-1 and since then has won once while getting TKOd three times in his last four. While he may not be done, he needs to give his brain a rest for awhile to see if he can still make a living by getting fists thrown at his head" - Cameron Lyman
11. Michael Johnson
MMATorch Rank: Not ranked (received votes) Next Fight: TBA Previous Fight: Melvin Guillard (Win), UFC Fight Night 37 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 8 Contender Status: Rising, third win in a row has him on a nice run What We're Saying: "Johnson played it safe to get the sure win. I don't necessarily blame him as he obviously wanted the win, and he got hit with a beautiful counter right by Guillard in the first round that nearly finished him, but that was because Johnson was trying to goad Guillard. I think if Johnson had fought aggressive, but smart, he could have gotten the finish. Regardless, I understand why Johnson did what he did, but that doesn't make the fight any more interesting." - Frank Hyden
12. Edson Barboza
MMATorch Rank: Not ranked Next Fight: Donald Cerrone, UFC on Fox 11, April 19 Previous Fight: Danny Castillo (Win), UFC on Fox 9 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 5 Contender Status: Rising, but several fights from contention What We're Saying: "Barboza enters having won three straight. The Brazilian has won seven of eight fights in the UFC, most recently surviving an onslaught from Danny Castillo only to come back and take a decision." - Jamie Penick
13. Bobby Green
MMATorch Rank: 13 Next Fight: Jim Miller, UFC 172, April 26 Previous Fight: Pat Healy (Win), UFC on Fox 9 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 5 Contender Status: Rising, but several fights from contention What We're Saying: "Green gets back into the cage after a successful 2013 in the UFC. The Strikeforce vet made his debut last February with a submission win over Jacob Volkmann, then followed that up with fall and winter wins over James Krause and the aforementioned Healy, respectively." - Jamie Penick
14. Rustam Khabilov
MMATorch Rank: 15 Next Fight: TBA Previous Fight: Jorge Masvidal (Win), UFC Fight For The Troops 3 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 5 Contender Status: Rising, but still several fights from contention What We're Saying: "I think it's a sensible enough fight. It's a bit of a leap up in competition for Khabilov, but he's wanting to prove himself capable of competing at the top end of the division. And given he's far enough away from title contention that it doesn't kill a future challenger, the UFC is more likely to give him to Henderson. And if he were to pull off an upset? That catapults him right into the mix." - Jamie Penick
15. Diego Sanchez
MMATorch Rank: Not ranked (received votes) Next Fight: Myles Jury, UFC 171, March 15 Previous Fight: Gilbert Melendez (Loss), UFC 166 Number of Fights Since Jan. 2012: 3 Contender Status: Stagnant, not likely to make another title run What We're Saying: "This fight isn't going to light people on fire or anything, and some may be disappointed in the move down the ladder for Sanchez given how much praise was heaped upon the October fight. That said, this is the right level of opponent for him to fight right now. He's clearly not a title contender, and giving someone like Jury a chance to take another step up against an established veteran is the right move." - Jamie Penick
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.
