Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Lightweight

1. Frankie Edgar (13-1)
In August, Edgar proved he was no fluke, dominating B.J. Penn over five rounds. However, the major hurdle for Edgar will now come as we enter 2011. On Jan. 1 at UFC 125, he will defend his title for the second time, risking the strap against unbeaten Gray Maynard -- the only man to beat “The Answer.”

2. Gilbert Melendez (18-2)
The Strikeforce lightweight champion notched the most significant win of his career in Nashville, Tenn., as he dominated Dream titleholder Shinya Aoki for all 25 minutes of their bout on network television in April and entrenched himself as one of the sport’s elite at 155 pounds.

3. B.J. Penn (15-7-1)
After a pair of disheartening back-to-back losses to Frankie Edgar, Penn claims he contemplated retirement. Instead, UFC President Dana White knew how to excite “The Prodigy.” At UFC 123 on Nov. 20, Penn will meet rival Matt Hughes in a rubber match to settle his score with the man he beat for the UFC welterweight title in 2004. Hughes stopped him in their 2006 rematch.

4. Gray Maynard (10-0, 1 NC)
Maynard has been vocal for months about deserving a UFC lightweight title shot. “The Bully” will finally get his chance as the year rolls over. He meets champion Frankie Edgar on Jan. 1 at UFC 125 in his own adopted backyard of Las Vegas.

5. Shinya Aoki (25-5, 1 NC)
At Dream 16 on Sept. 25, Aoki did not look to use any slick, highlight-reel submissions to best fellow Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Marcus Aurelio. Instead, the “Tobikan Judan” used his superior position skills, sticking Aurelio to the floor and pounding him to a unanimous verdict. Aoki’s wish now revolves around a second crack at Gilbert Melendez come New Year’s Eve; at this point, it remains just that -- a wish.

6. Eddie Alvarez (20-2)
When Bellator’s second lightweight tournament wrapped, Alvarez expected to take on bracket winner Pat Curran on Oct. 21. However, with an injury forcing Curran out of the bout, a crack against Alvarez has instead been afforded to UFC veteran Roger Huerta.

7. Kenny Florian (14-5)
In hot pursuit of a third UFC lightweight title shot, Florian could not best unbeaten Gray Maynard in their Aug. 28 title eliminator. After dropping a unanimous verdict to “The Bully,” Florian will be forced to work his way up the UFC lightweight ladder once again.

8. Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-6-2)
Many tabbed Kawajiri to be the next Dream champion, figuring he had exactly the right skill set to replicate what Gilbert Melendez did to Shinya Aoki in April. However, on July 10, Kawajiri spent most of the night fending off foot locks, until finally tapping out to Aoki less than two minutes into the first round.

9. Sean Sherk (36-4-1)
After 16 months on the shelf due to a plethora of injuries, Sherk returned to action at UFC 119 against unbeaten up-and-comer Evan Dunham. After a strong first round, Sherk flagged in the bout, losing in the eyes of most onlookers. However, two of three people that matter -- the judges -- sided with Sherk, who secured a crucial but highly unpopular win.

10. Evan Dunham (11-1)
At UFC 119, Dunham showed the heart, guts and skill the public wants to see from an unbeaten prospect, as he stormed back from early adversity to sock it to former UFC champion Sean Sherk. It seemed Dunham was bound for an impressive decision win, but the judges returned a wildly unpopular split decision verdict for Sherk.

Other contenders: Gesias Cavalcante, Takanori Gomi, Benson Henderson, Jim Miller, George Sotiropoulos.

* With the entry of ninth-ranked Sean Sherk, formerly 10th-ranked Benson Henderson falls to the contenders list.