Sherdog's Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Lightweight
Dec 18, 2007
LIGHTWEIGHT (155-145)
1. Takanori Gomi (Pictures) (27-3-0, 1 ND)
With the rest of the lightweight division soldiering on, "The Fireball Kid" sits on the sidelines. Former DSE employee turned Yarennoka! exec Keiichi Sasahara says that the brain trust behind the event have been unsuccessful in convincing Gomi to compete on the New Year's Eve event alongside Melendez, Calvancante, Kawajiri, Ishida and Aoki.
2. Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) (13-0-0)
Just when it looked like we'd only get one in-ring visit from "El Niño" this year, it was announced that Melendez would be hopping into the ring on New Year's Eve with another top-10 fighter in Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures). With a showdown against Josh Thomson (Pictures) penciled in for March, Melendez has the chance to really put his stamp on the division.
3. Gesias Calvancante (Pictures) (14-1-1)
After a great year that saw him capture the HERO'S 154-pound tournament again, "JZ" signed on for a New Year's Eve clash with Shinya Aoki (Pictures) on the Yarennoka! bill. It is a considerably better matchup than watching him fight Andy Ologun (Pictures) on K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!!
A victim of Zuffa's buyout of PRIDE, Kawajiri will finally see action on the last day of the year. More importantly, it's a pretty good fight, as the "Crusher" will take on Brazilian whirlwind Luiz Azeredo (Pictures).
5. Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures) (19-2)
"Shaolin" had successful eye surgery in September following his destruction at the hands of Gesias Calvancante (Pictures). For Ribeiro, recovery likely can't come fast enough to allow him to erase the memories of his dreadful performance in the HERO'S semifinal.
6. Sean Sherk (Pictures) (32-2-1)
After the tumultuous saga of his CSAC steroids appeal, Sherk's suspension was reduced to six months at his Dec. 4 hearing, and he was subsequently stripped of the UFC lightweight title. While the larger statements that the Sherk trial makes about MMA are up for debate, "The Muscle Shark" will be back in action in the first half of 2008 against the winner of the Joe Stevenson-B.J. Penn (Pictures) clash.
7. Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) (14-3-1)
Like his partner in crime Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures), Ishida was a victim of PRIDE's demise. However, Ishida will also get the chance to climb back into the ring for Yarennoka! on Dec. 31. Going up against Gilbert Melendez (Pictures), Ishida faces an enormous assignment -- an uphill battle to prove he belongs among the top 155-pounders in a rapidly transforming division.
8. B.J. Penn (Pictures) (11-4-1)
Six years since he seemed poised to be the fighter to bring the 155-pounders to the masses, the 29-year-old "Prodigy" will take on Joe Stevenson for the UFC lightweight crown Jan. 19 in Newcastle, England. Indications are that the winner will face Sean Sherk (Pictures) later in the year. That's a schedule fans can get behind.
9. Joe Stevenson (28-7-0)
Riding a four-fight winning streak since returning to the lightweight class, Stevenson is now faced with the largest task of his career: B.J. Penn (Pictures) for the UFC's 155-pound championship. Should he emerge victorious, Sean Sherk (Pictures) is likely on the horizon. Needless to say, things are fixing to pick up for "Joe Daddy."
10. Frank Edgar (Pictures) (8-0-0)
One of the most pleasant surprises of 2007, Edgar burst onto the scene in February with his instant classic and fight-of-the-year candidate against then-undefeated Tyson Griffin. In continuing an undefeated streak against solid competition, Edgar dominated well-regarded Miletich product Spencer Fisher (Pictures) from bell to bell in front of a hometown New Jersey crowd. "The Answer" debuts in the rankings at No. 10 and further illustrates the changing of the lightweight guard.
1. Takanori Gomi (Pictures) (27-3-0, 1 ND)
With the rest of the lightweight division soldiering on, "The Fireball Kid" sits on the sidelines. Former DSE employee turned Yarennoka! exec Keiichi Sasahara says that the brain trust behind the event have been unsuccessful in convincing Gomi to compete on the New Year's Eve event alongside Melendez, Calvancante, Kawajiri, Ishida and Aoki.
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Just when it looked like we'd only get one in-ring visit from "El Niño" this year, it was announced that Melendez would be hopping into the ring on New Year's Eve with another top-10 fighter in Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures). With a showdown against Josh Thomson (Pictures) penciled in for March, Melendez has the chance to really put his stamp on the division.
3. Gesias Calvancante (Pictures) (14-1-1)
After a great year that saw him capture the HERO'S 154-pound tournament again, "JZ" signed on for a New Year's Eve clash with Shinya Aoki (Pictures) on the Yarennoka! bill. It is a considerably better matchup than watching him fight Andy Ologun (Pictures) on K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!!
4. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures) (19-4-2)
A victim of Zuffa's buyout of PRIDE, Kawajiri will finally see action on the last day of the year. More importantly, it's a pretty good fight, as the "Crusher" will take on Brazilian whirlwind Luiz Azeredo (Pictures).
5. Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures) (19-2)
"Shaolin" had successful eye surgery in September following his destruction at the hands of Gesias Calvancante (Pictures). For Ribeiro, recovery likely can't come fast enough to allow him to erase the memories of his dreadful performance in the HERO'S semifinal.
6. Sean Sherk (Pictures) (32-2-1)
After the tumultuous saga of his CSAC steroids appeal, Sherk's suspension was reduced to six months at his Dec. 4 hearing, and he was subsequently stripped of the UFC lightweight title. While the larger statements that the Sherk trial makes about MMA are up for debate, "The Muscle Shark" will be back in action in the first half of 2008 against the winner of the Joe Stevenson-B.J. Penn (Pictures) clash.
7. Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) (14-3-1)
Like his partner in crime Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures), Ishida was a victim of PRIDE's demise. However, Ishida will also get the chance to climb back into the ring for Yarennoka! on Dec. 31. Going up against Gilbert Melendez (Pictures), Ishida faces an enormous assignment -- an uphill battle to prove he belongs among the top 155-pounders in a rapidly transforming division.
8. B.J. Penn (Pictures) (11-4-1)
Six years since he seemed poised to be the fighter to bring the 155-pounders to the masses, the 29-year-old "Prodigy" will take on Joe Stevenson for the UFC lightweight crown Jan. 19 in Newcastle, England. Indications are that the winner will face Sean Sherk (Pictures) later in the year. That's a schedule fans can get behind.
9. Joe Stevenson (28-7-0)
Riding a four-fight winning streak since returning to the lightweight class, Stevenson is now faced with the largest task of his career: B.J. Penn (Pictures) for the UFC's 155-pound championship. Should he emerge victorious, Sean Sherk (Pictures) is likely on the horizon. Needless to say, things are fixing to pick up for "Joe Daddy."
10. Frank Edgar (Pictures) (8-0-0)
One of the most pleasant surprises of 2007, Edgar burst onto the scene in February with his instant classic and fight-of-the-year candidate against then-undefeated Tyson Griffin. In continuing an undefeated streak against solid competition, Edgar dominated well-regarded Miletich product Spencer Fisher (Pictures) from bell to bell in front of a hometown New Jersey crowd. "The Answer" debuts in the rankings at No. 10 and further illustrates the changing of the lightweight guard.
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