Lightweight 1-7-09

Rank

Fighter

Comments

1.

B.J. Penn

We can only hope that GSP beats his ass at UFC 94 so the Prodigy can get back to focusing on his most effective weight class. Maybe Penn is unbeatable at 155, but he hasn't cleared out the division quite yet

2.

Shinya Aoki

 

3.

Gesias Cavalcante

4.

Sean Sherk

Well how do you like that — the Muscle Shark learned to kickbox. If Sherk can add some finishing ability to his game, we can definitely see him reclaiming the UFC's lightweight belt if B.J. Penn moves to 170 for good.

5.

Kenny Florian

Or, Ken-Flo could continue to perform like a champion, beat Sherk in a rematch, then take Penn's belt from him. Considering how impressive he looked in wins over Joe Lauzon, Roger Huerta, and Joe Stevenson last year, we wouldn't count him out of any fight at this point.

6.

Eddie Alvarez

Look, anybody could get subbed by Shinya Aoki. But in a minute-and-a-half, after being buttscoot-chased around the ring like some punk? That's kind of embarassing, bro. Following his legendary wars with Joachim Hansen and Tatsuya Kawajiri in 2008, nobody would dispute that the young Philadelphian deserves to be on this list. But he'll need a little more seasoning before breaking back into the top five.

7.

Joachim Hansen

 

8.

Satoru Kitaoka

Kitaoka's quick disposal of former lightweight ruler Takanori Gomi made it five straight wins in Sengoku, with four of those wins coming via submission in the first two minutes of the fight. Kitaoka previously competed as a welterweight in Pancrase, where he scored tapout victories over Carlos Condit, Paul Daley, and Kurt Pellegrino, among other notable fighters.

9.

Tatsuya Kawajiri

 

10.

Josh Thomson