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

• Champion Rafael dos Anjos will defend his title for the first time, against Swiss Army knife of violence, Donald Cerrone, in December.
• Is this the end of the Dagestani bear wrestler? One of the finest 155ers on the planet, Khabib Nurmagomedov finds himself at a career crossroads. Originally set to return from a long injury layoff against Tony Ferguson in December, Nurmagomedov suffered another setback - this time a rib injury - and is questioning his future.
• Although he's a former lightweight champion, Benson Henderson will make another foray into the welterweight division when he faces Thiago Alves in South Korea on Nov. 28.
• Anthony Pettis will take his first step toward reclaiming his 155-pound title on Jan. 17 when he slings fists with former Bellator kingpin Eddie Alvarez.
• Current Bellator lightweight conqueror Will Brooks is set to put his belt on the line against submission specialist Marcin Held at Bellator 145 in November.