let's discuss our LW rankings

alright bill hopefully this should work for you ...

what's all the fuzz about? it's not that hard to rank the lightweights

I don't even agree with Ceronne being in the top 10 right now but he is on my list, i need to update my rankings NOW

@Nomad  I'll explain a few of your inquires.  Not that I feel compelled to, I"m just open about whatever.  I don't have as many fight picks because I am not really all that familiar with a lot of the fighters.  I'm low-income and haven't seen a lot of events due to lack of finances. And besides that, I wasn't that into picking for a few months.  But everyone got on me so I started to pick fights.  It took me longer than it should have to learn this site's technical side.  And yes, I most certainly do cherry pick.  I don't guess blind, just to run up my pick numbers.

Anyone that is man enough to apologize to another, on a MMA site, not only gets my attention, you get my respect.  I didn't mean to talk down to you, my brother.  I do have that to work on.  I'll try to do better.

I'm not a Jew but I hate anti-semitism and do many things online to combat that.  I chose my avatar photo because I don't like how I look now.  So I chose when I looked right.  Peace.  Shalom. 

For unknown reasons, I like you despite your fierce way of expression.  

Today, the UFC is in its Happy Days.  UFC 166 was a big success and UFC 167 and 168 promises to be the same.  This is a sweet roll.  

In LW, we have 3 contenders for the next title shot after Thomson.  Grant, Melendez and Aldo.  Can any problem be better?  Three legitimate nominees.  Grant is without a doubt the most deserving. But the UFC doesn't base its decisions on deserving.  It is a business and preempts sports considerations with money issues and big fights.

These are the Halcyon Days of Glory, my brothers.  Enjoy them while they're here.  When it's cookin', it's cookin'!

With 3 legitimate contenders for title shots at LW (Grant, Melendez, Aldo), how do you want this to work out? The LW Belt is in play and it's possible that the title changes hands with as much regularity as the LHW and HW titles did in the past.

For some reason, I just don't see Showtime Pettis having a long reign.  I see the belt changing hands with alacrity.  Benson Henderson reigned with 3 successful title defenses - Edgar, Diaz, Melendez.

BJ Penn himself only had 3 successful LW title defenses - Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, Diego Sanchez.

How do you want this to play out?  What sequence makes the most sense to you?

* Edited at 10.25.2013, 8:24 PM ET *

I want to see Pettis fight Melendez

@baffalo ben   My, my.  You seemed to have picked up stalkers along the way.  Whoever is downing Ben is a fool and an *******.  Grow up you psychos *******!  I'd bet a week's pay that AnikM is one of them!

My rankings are much better than yous guys rankings.

Nomad your sense of humor is terrible

^ That's like the Pot calling the Kettle gay...

Smoke more weed, Swick. Seriously, smoke more weed.

^ Great comeback from a Great sense of humor...

LW fights I'd like to see.

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Diego Sanchez, Nate Diaz, Rustam Khabilov.

I'd also love to see Khabib vs. Conor McGregor at 155.

I suspect I'm getting stuck on Nurmagovedov.  Want to see him against all the top LW guys!  Think he's ready to go Top 5!

What do you think?

Khabib is probably fighting Gilbert next, Benson probably fighting Anjos next, Maynard is fighting Nate and Pettis is fighting Thomson. TJ Grant is out on injury. 

I see that for you, Khabib is almost Top 5 already.  Even ahead of Josh Thomson.  We currently share 8 out of 10 for our Top 10 LWs.

* Edited at 11.02.2013, 1:06 PM ET *

Around a year ago, I said that the LW division would be greatly strengthened with the additions of Gilbert Melendez, Eddie Alvarez, BJ Penn and Jose Aldo.

Today, Jose is calling out Pettis, Melendez is here, and Penn is fighting Frankie Edgar at 145.  But you just know that he will end up at 155.  It's just a matter of time.

Right now, Alvarez is fighting Michael Chandler in Bellator.  If he loses, he will come here, guaranteed.
'
The UFC LW division is the Wild West.  Just exploding with unlimited, exciting possibilities.  Order is out the window and chaos ensues.  In the best possible sense.  I predict it will take at least 15 months before order is restored.  At least.  

Edit:  Alvarez was just declared the new Bellator LW champion.  So he won't be coming to the UFC.  I feel Chandler was robbed.  I don't feel Alvarez would be Top 10 in the UFC.  

* Edited at 11.03.2013, 12:45 AM ET *

Dropped Chandler from 3 to 5 even though I felt he won and moved Alvarez up from 11 to 9

I can't see ranking Chandler above Alvarez after Alvarez just beat him, close fight or not.  I also have a hard time putting either of them in the top 10 when they haven't beaten anyone in the top 10.  I compromised and took Chandler out of the #10 spot and gave it to Eddie.  Chandler is at 11.

* Edited at 11.03.2013, 9:45 AM ET *

Chandler was pretty high in my rankings and at least for me if you beat the person you get their spot. Chandler was at number 5 and now Eddie is at number 5.  Also i'm a huge Eddie Alvarez fan so i'm pretty biased in favor of him.

New announced LW fights since my last report.

Jamie Varner vs. Pat Healy, December 14, 2013, UFC on Fox 9
Ross Pearson vs. Melvin Guillard, March, 2014, UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. TBA

Top Tier: Anthony Pettis, Benson Henderson, Gilbert Melendez, TJ Grant, Gray Maynard, Josh Thomson, Michael Chandler, Eddie Alvarez, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Pat Healy

Mid-Tier: Nate Diaz, Rafael Dos Anjos, Donald Cerrone, Diego Sanchez, Jim Miller, Joe Lauzon, Jamie Varner, Melvin Guillard, Michael Johnson, 

Bottom Tier: Ross Pearson, Sam Stout, Curt Warburton, Kyle Watson, Matt Wiman, Andre Winner, Yves Edwards, Edson Barboza, Mark Bocek, Danny Castillo, Mac Danzig, Rafael Dos Anjos, Evan Dunham, Michael Johnson, John Makdessi, Anthony Njokuani, Aaron Riley, Shane Roller, George Sotiropoulos, Thiago Tavares, Paul Taylor, Gleison Tibau.

My 11-19

11. Nate Diaz
12. Rafael Dos Anjos
13. Donald Cerrone
14. Diego Sanchez
15. Jim Miller
16. Joe Lauzon
17. Jamie Varner
18. Melvin Guillard
19. Michael Johnson
20. Jorge Masvidal
21. Rustam Khabilov
22. KJ Noons
23. Ross Pearson
24. Sam Stout

Coming LW fights:

Jorge Masvidal vs. Rustam Khabilov, November 6, 2013, UFC Fight for the Troops 3
Colton Smith vs. Michael Chiesa, November 6, 2013, UFC Fight for the Troops 3
James Krause vs. Bobby Green, November 6, 2013, UFC Fight for the Troops 3
Yves Edwards vs. Yancy Medeiros, November 6, 2013, UFC Fight for the Troops 3
Thiago Tavasres vs. Justin Salas, November 9, 2013, UFC Fight Night 32
Adrano Martins vs. Daron Cruickshank, November 9, 2013, UFC Fight Night 32
Donald Cerrone vs. Evan Dunham, November 16, 2013, UFC 167
Gray Maynard vs. Nate Diaz, November 30, 2013, TUF, Team Rousey vs. Team Tate Finale
Anthony Pettis vs. Josh Thomson, December 14, 2013, UFC on Fox 9
Joe Lauzon vs. Mac Danzig, December 14, 2013, UFC on Fox 9
Danny Castillo vs. Edson Barboza, December 14, 2013, UFC on Fox 9
Abel Trujillo vs. Roger Bowling, December 14, 2013, UFC on Fox 9
Sam Stout vs. Cody McKenzie, December 14, 2013, UFC on Fox 9
Jamie Varner vs. Pat Healy, December 14, 2013, UFC on Fox 9
Gleison Tibau vs. Michael Johnson, December 28, 2013, UFC 168
Jim Miller vs. Fabricio Camoes, December 28, 2013, UFC 168
Ross Pearson vs. Melvin Guillard, UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. TBA

Presently, the following are not matched up in fights yet: Takanori Gomi, 

Some of the above fighters are just after having fought recently.

Injured: TJ Grant

The above listing is tentative and soft.  I are prepared to adjust the sequence to some extent based on the order of the house.
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To assist everyone, here is the form chart for tapology;

1. Pettis 2. Henderson 3. Melendez 4. Grant 5. Thomson 6. Maynard 7. Diaz 8. Nurmagomedov 9. Chandler 10. Dos Anjos

11, Cerrone 12. Miller 13. Alvarez 14. Healy 15. Lauzon 16. Sanchez 17. Tibau 18. Barboza 19. Dunham 20. Varner

21. Johnson 22. Guillard 23. Masivdal 24. Jury 25. Gomi 26. Wiman 27. Pearson 28. Castillo 29. Bocek 30. Green 
--------------------------------------
Official UFC Rankings, after UFC 166

1. Pettis 2. Henderson 3. Grant 4. Thomson 5. Maynard 6. Dos Anjos 7. Nurmagomedov 8. Diaz 9. Miller 10 Cerrone

Recent developments have thrown this seething cauldron of talent into an even more frenzied state of wild, caotic pandamonim.  

Jose Aldo is now calling out Anthony Pettis.

BJ Penn is fighting Frankie Edgar at 145!  And the reports are that he is making the cut without problems!  But we all know that BJ will end up back in 155, the scene of his most famous 'crimes'.

Eddie Alvarez beat Michael Chandler for the Bellator LW title.  So, he won't be coming to the UFC any time soon. But I cannot keep him in my Top 10 anymore.  And I also must drop Michael Chandler from my Top 10.

Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrrone has announced his intentions to drop down to 145.  Where he finds the extra 10 lbs. to shed defies understanding.

I find Khabib Nurmagomedov as exciting a force in LW as any and he is probably calling out everybody as we speak. His last call-out was TJ Grant for Super Bowl weekend.

It doesn't get much more wildly fluid, chaotic & wide open as this.  We're in the Wild West.

* Edited at 11.03.2013, 9:59 AM ET *