MMA Fighter Rankings: Lightweight

On the first Wednesday of every month, theScore's MMA editors compile a list of the top 10 fighters in each of the major weight classes.

Rankings
Heavyweight | Light Heavyweight
Middleweight | Welterweight
Lightweight | Featherweight
Bantamweight | Flyweight
Women: Bantamweight | Strawweight

Lightweight

• Once considered one of the top 155-pounders plying his trade outside the UFC, Eddie Alvarez overcame a broken orbital bone to notch his first victory inside the Octagon against former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez at UFC 188.
• Melendez isn't taking much time to lick his wounds, though, as he'll take on Al Iaquinta on short notice at a Fight Night event in July. Melendez may be only 1-3 since coming over to the UFC in 2013, but every one of those losses has come at the hands of a top-five fighter.
• Tony Ferguson is set to continue his quest up the lightweight ladder at UFC Fight Night 72 when he takes on ex-Strikeforce kingpin Josh Thomson.
• Originally rumored to face former UFC champion Benson Henderson, Michael Johnson will put his four-fight winning streak in jeopardy when he exchanges heavy leather with the streaking Beneil Dariush at UFC Fight Night 73 in August.