USAT/SBN May 2011 MMA Consensus Rankings: Lightweight

by Richard Wade on May 27, 2011 10:32 AM EDT in MMA Rankings

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Frankie Edgar	99	UFC	1
2	Gray Maynard	94	UFC	2
3	Gilbert Melendez	93	Strikeforce	3
4	Shinya Aoki	82	Strikeforce	4
5	Eddie Alvarez	78	Bellator	5
6	Jim Miller	78	UFC	6
7	Kenny Florian	66	UFC	7
8	Anthony Pettis	55	UFC	9
8	Tatsuya Kawajiri	55	Strikeforce	8
10	Sean Sherk	51	UFC	10
11	Melvin Guillard	49	UFC	11
12	B.J. Penn	39	UFC	12
13	Clay Guida	37	UFC	13
14	George Sotiropoulos	34	UFC	14
15	Dennis Siver	34	UFC	15
16	Ben Henderson	27	UFC	18
17	Takanori Gomi	26	UFC	16
18	Evan Dunham	25	UFC	17
19	Mac Danzig	17	UFC	21
19	Gleison Tibau	17	UFC	25
21	Josh Thomson	15	K-1	19
22	Mizuto Hirota	14	K-1	29
23	Nik Lentz	14	UFC	20
24	Gesias Cavalcante	13	Strikeforce	27
25	Jadamba Narantungalag	13	WVR	21

The only top 5 lightweight with a fight scheduled in the near future is #4 Shinya Aoki who will be challenged by unranked Rich Clementi.

UFC on Versus 5 will feature the considerably more compelling matchup of #6 Jim Miller vs. #16 Ben Henderson.

#7 Kenny Florian is making his featherweight debut at UFC 131 against Diego Nunes.

#8 Anthony Pettis will be trying to maintain his claim on a title shot when he takes on #13 Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale.

Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the online MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA websites to produce our consensus rankings. We compile the top MMA rankings from each of our sources and award 25 points for a first place ranking, 16 for a 10th place ranking, 1 for a 25th place ranking. A formula is used to "normalize" the data so all fighters are awarded points from those lists that do not include a full 25 fighters. This formula ensures that each ranking site awards the same number of total points regardless of how many fighters they choose to rank. Each fighter’s total is divided by the number of possible points to determine their standing in the Consensus Rankings.

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Comments

in my humble opinion

there are some unbelievably overrated fighters on this list.

having said that – what’s the use of getting into it? it’s not the kind of argument anyone ever “wins”. we won’t know till they fight.

by Clifford J on May 27, 2011 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

I'm willing to bet I'd win that argument.

Bolts from the Blue // "I eat cereal out of a giant novelty wine glass because it makes me feel fancy." - Britney Wade
Bloody Elbow // "Everybody underestimates the kick in the groin." - Bas Rutten

by Richard Wade on May 27, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

ok.

How is Pettis in the top 8, when G-Sop is number 14, Siver who just beat G-Sop is actually ranked lower then him at 15! This really baffles me. Is the Pettis hype so strong that he automatically makes it into the Top ten ahead of G-Sop who was tearing threw guys left and right until he meet Siver and get stomped. Like come on how is Siver ranked below G-Sop? That is like ranking Martin higher then Diego even though he just lost to him.

Goldmember: A shmoke und a pancake. You know, a flapjack und a shigarette? No? Shigar und a waffle? No? Pipe und a crepe? No? Bong und a blintz? No? Well, then there ish no pleashing you.

by RJshock 305 on May 27, 2011 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

Sherk, Melvin and Ken flo ahead of BJ.....

by Riney on May 27, 2011 11:26 AM EDT reply actions

Totally missed that.

There goes to show how the previous Champ can fall out of the top from losing to the champ twice, funny isnt it.

Goldmember: A shmoke und a pancake. You know, a flapjack und a shigarette? No? Shigar und a waffle? No? Pipe und a crepe? No? Bong und a blintz? No? Well, then there ish no pleashing you.

by RJshock 305 on May 27, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Guys, he isn't competing at 155 and hasn't since his 2nd loss to Edgar.

If you look, like half of the panel didn’t bother ranking him at that weight anymore, which is a perfectly defensible position given the circumstances.

El Santo inspired me to be a submission grappler.

by Enmascarado on May 27, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Ya.

Just realized that. I am still confused on how Pettis is Top Ten someone needs to explain this to me cause im racking my brain trying to figure this out.

Goldmember: A shmoke und a pancake. You know, a flapjack und a shigarette? No? Shigar und a waffle? No? Pipe und a crepe? No? Bong und a blintz? No? Well, then there ish no pleashing you.

by RJshock 305 on May 27, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Pettis

Was supposed to fight for the title, was the former WEC champ and has an amazing victory over Henderson which was punctuated with the most amazing kick most of us have seen. I can understand why he’d get some hype.

by TMadeBurner on May 27, 2011 12:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Then why is been Henderson ranked so dam low. he was on a ten fight win streak before he lost that close fight to Pettis. I just dont see how should be pushed so high up in ranks because of that dam kick. It should be on number of current wins and quality of foes. Not oh he did a bad ass kick so lets put him in the top ten where he doesnt belong. I dont normally have a problem with rankings but this one is really frustrating me.

Goldmember: A shmoke und a pancake. You know, a flapjack und a shigarette? No? Shigar und a waffle? No? Pipe und a crepe? No? Bong und a blintz? No? Well, then there ish no pleashing you.

by RJshock 305 on May 27, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you really care that much?

It’s a ranking that has no bearing on anything, its not like anyone’s getting title shots or eliminators based off these ranking.

by TMadeBurner on May 27, 2011 1:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I blame that ridiculous kick he landed.

Bolts from the Blue // "I eat cereal out of a giant novelty wine glass because it makes me feel fancy." - Britney Wade
Bloody Elbow // "Everybody underestimates the kick in the groin." - Bas Rutten

by Richard Wade on May 27, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Then he shouldnt be ranked at all.

by Riney on May 27, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

He isn't by some of the panelists.

Bolts from the Blue // "I eat cereal out of a giant novelty wine glass because it makes me feel fancy." - Britney Wade
Bloody Elbow // "Everybody underestimates the kick in the groin." - Bas Rutten

by Richard Wade on May 27, 2011 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m a big believer that inactive fighters should not be on any list, and many sites do which is why you have things like that.

Maynard – Edgar should be tied for # 1 obviously.

by p123 on May 27, 2011 11:32 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

What makes you think they should be tied?

Goldmember: A shmoke und a pancake. You know, a flapjack und a shigarette? No? Shigar und a waffle? No? Pipe und a crepe? No? Bong und a blintz? No? Well, then there ish no pleashing you.

by RJshock 305 on May 27, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Why should they be tied?

Gray doesn’t hold two victories over Penn.

www.hottopicwithphil.com

by Worldisart on May 27, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Ok let's use that logic

Why should Frankie be ranked number 1? He doesn’t hold a victory over Maynard

"I knew I hurt him cause when I throw the elbow he went ugghh" - GSP

by Baby Wads on Jun 1, 2011 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions

With all of this division jumping LW is nowhere near as deep as before. They barely fill out the top ten.

Edgar – Maynard
Melendez/ Alvarez / Aoki / Miller / Dunham / Kawajiri

Florian/ Griffen / Penn / Sherk should not be placed at all.

by p123 on May 27, 2011 11:35 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Ah my bad , need to finish this point. With all of those fighters inactive GSOT, Siver should def be in the top ten now, as well as Guida. Pettis and everyone else should be right under them.

by p123 on May 27, 2011 11:37 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I see where your going.

The fact that ken-Flo and Penn are no longer in that weight class I guess you could argue that they shouldnt be listed in that weight classes rankings. However I am baffled that Pettis is in the Top Ten! It makes no since at all.

Goldmember: A shmoke und a pancake. You know, a flapjack und a shigarette? No? Shigar und a waffle? No? Pipe und a crepe? No? Bong und a blintz? No? Well, then there ish no pleashing you.

by RJshock 305 on May 27, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions