So which UFC lightweights are on the chopping block?

With all this talk about the ongoing bloodbath happening at lightweight in the UFC I thought it would be interesting to look at who is currently in the division. The UFC has 57 lightweights listed and while that may not be all of them if they didn’t bother to list you on the website then maybe you should be quite worried at this point. I included fighter records and took a list from the other discussion about whether they are able to cut to 145lbs or not (Thanks to: T.C. Engel) and added some notes and comments to the list. I don’t know if these guys actually can cut to 145lbs, I am just going by that list in the comments so feel free to post possible additions/corrections for this list. By comparison the UFC has 21 Bantamweights, 26 Featherweights, 51 Welterweights, 41 Middleweights, 35 Light Heavyweights and 27 Heavyweights listed on their site. I would expect that at least ten to fifteen of the listed lightweights will be either going down in weight or going out the door in the near future (going up probably isn’t an option as Welterweight seems to be overcrowded too, but that would be a different "chopping block" fan post).

So who do you think is on the lightweight chopping block and who may be doing some extra dieting in the near future, let the speculation begin.

Edson Barboza : 7-0.

Mark Bocek : 9-3, can cut down. Has big fight with Ben Henderson coming up.

Jonathan Brookins : 12-3, used to fight at featherweight.

Danny Castillo: 10-3.

Donald Cerrone : 13-3-1. The cowboy’s popularity should keep him on the roster for a while.

Mac Danzig : 20-8(2-4 in last 6), may be able to cut down. Has been perpetually on the chopping block for years now.

Rafael Dos Anjos : 14-5 (lost last fight).

Dan Downes : 7-1.

Evan Dunham : 11-2 (lost last two), Dunham’s status has taken quite a fall recently.

Frankie Edgar : 13-1-1, can cut but I doubt he would need to consider it being he is the current king of the division.

Yves Edwards : 40-16-1.

Terry Etim : 14-3 (lost last fight), may be able to cut down?

Spencer Fisher : 24-6(1-2 in last three), can cut and maybe he should consider it.

Kenny Florian : 14-5 (lost last fight), perpetually in the mix at lightweight and a fixture in the UFC.

Willamy Freire : 17-4(lost last fight), can cut down.

Takanori Gomi : 32-7(1-2 in UFC), as long as the UFC wants to go to Japan in 2011 Gomi should be safe.

Tyson Griffin : 14-5 (lost last three), hanging on due to last fight ending with controversial decision. Can cut down. Has to be in a must win situation.

Clay Guida : 28-11, may be able to cut but is finally building a title buzz at lightweight.

Melvin Guillard : 27-8, on the way up in the division.

Ben Henderson : 12-2(lost last fight), his fight with Mark Bocek should be important.

Maciej Jewtuszko : 8-0.

Michael Johnson : 8-5 (0-1 in UFC).

Paul Kelly : 11-3, can cut down.

Joe Lauzon : 19-6(1-2 in last three), probably safe for now due to the number of "of the night" awards recently.

Nik Lentz : 20-3, so very dull. Can cut down. I can imagine if Nik starts losing then he will be in trouble quickly due to the unpopularity of his fights.

Waylon Lowe : 10-3, can cut down.

Mike Lullo : 8-3(0-1 in UFC), can cut down.

John Makdessi : 8-0, can cut down.

Gray Maynard : 10-0-1, he's the number two guy currently with a title rematch in the works.

Cody McKenzie : 12-1(lost last fight), can cut. His fan appeal should help him stick around for a while.

Cole Miller : 17-5(lost last fight), may be able to cut?

Jim Miller : 19-2, in the mix.

Anthony Njokuani : 13-4(1-2 in last three), probably needs to beat Barboza to stick around.

TJ O'Brien : 16-4(0-1 in UFC).

Charles Oliveira : 14-1(lost last fight), can cut down.

Ross Pearson : 11-4 (lost last fight), being the TUF 9 champion should give him a bit of breathing room but that’s not guaranteed anymore.

Kurt Pellegrino : 15-5(lost last fight), may be able to cut down.

Anthony Pettis : 13-1, with a win over Guida Showtime should get his title shot.

Aaron Riley : 29-12-1, can cut down.

Shane Roller : 9-3, big fight with Thiago Tavares coming up.

Gabe Ruediger : 17-6(lost last fight), in the cake mix.

Paul Sass : 11-0.

Kamal Shalorus : 7-0-2.

Sean Sherk : 36-4-1, missed 16 months with injury.

Dennis Siver : 17-7, may be able to cut down.

George Sotiropoulos : 14-2, in the mix.

Jeremy Stephens : 19-6, can cut. down

Joe Stevenson : 31-12 (lost last two), may be able to cut down. Joe Daddy seems to be a favorite of UFC brass but losing 4 of his last 6 fights will make it tough for him to hang around if he loses again.

Sam Stout : 16-6-1, can cut down.

Thiago Tavares : 15-3, can cut down, important fight with Shane Roller coming up.

Paul Taylor : 10-6-1-1(3-5 in UFC, lost last two), not sure why he is still here now?

Gleison Tibau : 21-7(lost last fight).

Jacob Volkmann : 12-2, Barack Obama’s favorite MMA fighter.

Curt Warburton : 6-2(0-1 in UFC).

Kyle Watson : 13-6.

Matt Wiman : 13-5, building a bit of a buzz finally.

Andre Winner : 12-5 (lost last two), has to be needing a big win.