ESPN Lightweight Rankings; Edgar and Melendez Frozen, Contenders Emerge
In the latest ESPN rankings Frankie Edgar still holds the number two spot. Once again, respected Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez fails to make it to the second spot in the poll. Interesting to note is Mike Chandler’s position on the list tied with fan boy favorite Clay Guida. Maybe it was Guida’s lackluster performance against Maynard?
Here is the complete list:
1. Benson Henderson 17-2-0
2. Frankie Edgar 14-3-1
3. Gilbert Melendez 21-2-0
4. Gray Maynard 11-1-1
5. Nate Diaz 16-7-0
6. Anthony Pettis 15-2-0
6. Donald Cerrone 19-4-0
8. Mike Chandler 10-0-0
8. Clay Guida 29-14-0
10. Eddie Alvarez 23-3-0
Others receiving votes: Jim Miller 6, Joe Lauzon
Do you agree?
Related:
About the Author
Lead reporter, ring announcer, writer, director, magician, and family man.
By JAKE CHASTAIN | RFA undefeated bantamweight competitor, Keoni “Evil Genius” Koch, was cool enough…
This afternoon, UFC officials announced that a lightweight bout between Jamie Varner (21-7-1 MMA, 3-2…
Another year down for the progress of legalizing the sport of MMA to all 50…
By JAKE CHASTAIN | UFC bantamweight top-contender Urijah Faber recently joined our boys Pedro Carrasco…
Internet sensation Tommy Toe Hold joined BJPENN.COM’s Fist-Ta-Cuff Radio show this past Sunday, June 16,…
As only he can, UFC announcer Joe Rogan provides his commentary on why Anderson Silva…
“In the first event, what Nick’s trying to do is introduce some rule changes —…
Television Executive, Stephen Espinoza recently tweeted out a behind the scenes photo of Mayweather and…
“I don’t take any of that personal. I don’t really tune into the underground and…
“Weidman got good jiu-jitsu and great wrestling, but he needs work with his stand-up. “Every…
“His name being brought up prompted it. He makes Urkel look cool. I would have…
The recently announced title fight between current UFC welterweight champion (24-2 MMA, 18-2 UFC) Georges…
No offense but I don’t see how Melendez is a top 5 especially since all his victories over the past few years have came against guys who aren’t even a top 10 aside from his W against shinya aoki who at the time was a top 10. It sucks that he’s contractually obligated to be stuck in strikeforce.
Maynard, Cerrone, Diaz, Pettis would all crush Melendez
Take off chandler and alvarez. They’re not in the ufc and not fighting the best how can they be top ten. except melendez
1. Henderson since he’s the champ
2. Edgar
3. Diaz
4. Melendez
5. Pettis
6. Cerrone
7. Miller
8. Lauzon
9. Guida
10. Guillard
1. Henderson
2. Edgar
3. Maynard
4. Diaz
5. Cerrone
6. Miller
7. Pettis
8. Guida
9. Lauzon
10. Melendez
why is Guida even listed as top 10. he should have been released after that digraceful performance
Be ause that’s one perfoemens and normally he’s exicting as hell
Yeah I’m SMH about Guida. Ironically that same tactic worked for Condit against Diaz, but Condit was less obvious about it.
I agree with this list. Except maybe for Guida. I think he’s fallen off the top 10. If we are sticking only to Zuffa fighters the following fighters can easily replace Guida in the top 10.
Edson Barbosa
Mark Bocek
Jorge Masvidal
Paul Sass
Pat Healy
Just to name a few. The lightweight division in the UFC is stacked. Strikeforce not so much, but they do have some pretty good lightweights. If Guida can make the top 10 in ESPN’s list, anyone of the guys above can too. Plus, ESPN doesn’t really know what they are talking about most times.
In my opinion ESPN know shit about MMA this rankings is completely off..
In my opinion it should be…
1)Benson Henderson
2)Frankie Edgar
3)Nate Diaz
4)Anthony Petits
5)Gray Manyard
6)Gilbert Melendez
7)Donald Cerrone
8)Michael Chandler
9)Eddie Alveraz
10)Joe Lauzon
157)Clay Guida
No bj penn?
BJs not a LW at the moment so he can’t be ranked!
he shouldnt be anyway, not even top 20
Seriously not top 20!!!???!!! Do you even watch mma???!!!
if you cant think of 20 lightweights that could easily beat bj penn you obviously dont watch mma. he is not that good, he can barely go 1 rnd without gassing out. anyway rory will beat him to permanent retirement.
Nate should be #3.
Agreed, Guida should be given the worst performance of the year award and should compete in the next Olympics for a marathon
Henderson picked up the med suspension wearing the stunners the next day and Edgar out an about riding rides at boardwalk
1. Henderson
2. Diaz
3. Cerrone
4. Pettis
5. Edgar
6. Melendez
7. Maynard
8. Guillard
9. Guida
10. Miller
I wanna c Cerrone VS Pettis for No. 1 contender next tht would b an awesome fight.
And send Edgar over to Strikeforce to fight Melendez.
edgar should drop to at least 5. Guida shouldnt even be there after his latest performance. Diaz should be second, maynard third and cerrone fourth. lauzon should be at least seventh. Piss cry baby Pettis off.
Wait, what?? Frankie BEAT Henderson in most peoples eyes, yet he should move down to 5? What kind of asinine logic are you using here? If anything, ESPN should have the guys to put Frankie at #1, forget about what those 2 judges said.
Nate Diaz should be #2 for now til he takes that strap
Regardless his loss against varner edison Barpoza (I wish I spelled it right) has a potential to climb the ladder of the top 10 or even 5 … About the ranking up there… It is such werid thing because every big thing outside ufc is nothing when it come inside the octagon… For example bigfoot silva lol he beats fedor and Cain dominates him…. Even pride legends just few who survived against UFC fighters after the merge…. “Silva” as much as I loved watching axe murder in pride he gave no recorde just good fights, anyway my point is when u wanna to talk top 10 I would say all from UFC +bellator and strikeforce champs talling the ranks…. Since you cannot consider their records not competing with the top guys, but their belts and I guess those only 2 bigs orgs after UFC…
Henderson, Melendez, Diaz.
Why is Melendez number 3?!!! He’s never even fought a top 10 guy!!! Just because Nate said “Gil Melendez is the true number 1 lightweight” doesn’t mean anything if Melendez is puttin’ on poor performances against low teir guys…
+1