LIGHTWEIGHT (155-145)

1. Takanori Gomi (Pictures) (27-3-0, 1 ND)
Gomi's submission loss in February to Nick Diaz (Pictures) was overturned when Nevada ruled that the Californian had marijuana in his system, which when added to the fact that Gomi has fought at 161 pounds for the past three years makes this ranking tenuous. A 2006 submission loss to Marcus Aurelio doesn't help either, but Gomi avenged being put to sleep by winning a decision over Aurelio in November of last year. Even with all that working against him, Gomi stands atop a deep and exciting weight division with wins over the likes of Kawajiri, Ishida and Sakurai.

2. Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) (12-0-0)
Regrettably, when 2007 comes to a close, we'll have seen "El Niño" only once over the course of the year. Thankfully, his September domination of tough Japanese veteran Tetsuji Kato (Pictures) will likely lead to a clash with Josh Thomson (Pictures). Given the state of limbo a lot of top lightweights are in, that's a pretty darn good matchup.

3. Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti (Pictures) (14-1-1)
Another great year from "JZ" led to another HERO'S 154-pound tournament title and a top-three slot in these rankings. The only caveat is the ever-present worry that HERO'S backer Fight Entertainment Group won't match Calvancanti with suitable top-level fighters. Here's hoping Dynamite! offers up something explosive with the 24-year-old Brazilian involved.

4. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures) (19-4-2)
It seems ages ago that "Crusher" was in the ring. At this point, all we can hope for is that former DSE exec Hiroyuki Kato and Shigeru Saeki put together some MMA fights on HUSTLE pro-wrestling card on New Year's Eve as rumored. If they do, expect the presence of former PRIDE Bushido fighters, which could possibly mean Kawajiri.

5. Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro (Pictures) (19-2)
"Shaolin" had successful eye surgery in September following his destruction at the hands of Gesias Calvancanti (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)
Perhaps the most active of all the lightweights in recent months, Sherk's ongoing legal battles over his positive steroid test after his July win against Hermes Franca (Pictures) took another twist when a package of evidence for his Oct. 31 hearing was not forwarded in a timely fashion to the California State Athletic Commission. The result? Another continuance. Sherk's battle with the CSAC will now likely be held on Dec. 4. Too bad the commission isn't a top-10 opponent.

7. Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) (15-3-1)
Much like his partner in crime Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pictures), it's been far too long since "The Endless Fighter" has been in action. The only glimmer of hope in the near future is that some MMA fights take place at HUSTLE's New Year's Eve event, which could include some Bushido refugees.

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 28-year-old "Prodigy" will take on Joe Stevenson for the interim incarnation of the UFC lightweight crown Jan. 19 in Newcastle, England. Indications are that the winner will face the externally embattled 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 in B.J. Penn (Pictures) for a slice of the UFC's 155-pound championship. Should he emerge victorious, either Sean Sherk (Pictures) or Zuffa's fast-rising lightweight stable is on the horizon. Needless to say, things are fixing to pick up for "Joe Daddy."

10. Koutetsu Boku (Pictures) (13-3-1)
The Killer Bee representative slides in the back door, thanks to formerly eighth-ranked Joachim Hansen (Pictures)'s loss to Eiji Mitsuoka (Pictures). Boku, who is undefeated in his last 10 fights over the last four and a half years, knocked off Mitsuoka in a competitive and exciting September bout. However, hanging on to his spot may be difficult: While Boku prepares for the Cage Force tournament final on Dec. 1 against Artur Oumakhanov (Pictures), bouts such as Spencer Fisher (Pictures)-Frank Edgar (Pictures), Roger Huerta (Pictures)-Clay Guida (Pictures) and Tyson Griffin-Gleison Tibau (Pictures), all slated for the near future, could change the face of the rankings.