This week’s power rankings feature the lightweight division with Eddie Alvarez in the top spot. Alvarez has a huge bout coming up next month as he takes on Conor McGregor at UFC 205 in New York. Rafael dos Anjos is ranked in the second spot in the lightweight division and he is also fighting next month as he takes on Tony Ferguson at UFC Fight Night 98 in Mexico. Let’s take a look at the power rankings for the lightweight division and upcoming bouts in the division.
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Lightweight Rankings
1. Eddie Alvarez (28-4)
Alvarez will be taking on McGregor at UFC 205 on November 12th in New York. Alvarez is listed at +125 at Bookmaker.eu to win the fight.
Most fighters don’t want to get into a war of words with McGregor but Alvarez has been doing a lot of talking leading up to this fight. “I never felt so unthreatened by a human being as when I was up on a stage with him.” Alvarez said, “That's the God's honest truth. I've never felt so unthreatened.”
2. Rafael dos Anjos (25-8)
The winning streak for dos Anjos ended in early July as he was beaten by Alvarez. The next fight for dos Anjos will be the headliner at UFC Fight Night 98 in Mexico on November 5th as he takes on Tony Ferguson who is ranked 5th in this division. BookMaker.eu has dos Anjos listed as a -140 favorite.
3. Khabib Nurmagomedov (23-0)
Nurmagomedov takes on Michael Johnson at UFC 205. Nurmagomedov was on his way to a title shot before knee injuries slowed him down. It was thought that Nurmagomedov would get a title shot against Alvarez but that fight will have to wait since Alvarez is taking on McGregor.
Nurmagomedov said that he is going to get a title shot after he takes on Johnson or else the UFC is never going to hold another event in Russia. “After this fight, I have to fight for the title.” Hh said, “The UFC thinks Conor has power? (Ireland has) only 6 million people. I’m from Russia. Russia: 150 million people. If the UFC doesn’t give me a title fight after this fight, I’m going to show how I have power in Russia. And I know if I don’t fight for the title next fight, after this fight, the UFC never, ever will go to Russia. Never.”
4. Edson Barboza (18-4)
The last fight for Barboza came against Gilbert Melendez in late July. Barboza has done enough to warrant a title shot but in a very crowded division he is just going to have to wait.
5. Ben Henderson (24-6)
Henderson is coming off a win against Patricio Freire in late August and next up for Henderson is a fight at Bellator 165 against Michael Chandler on November 19th.
6. Tony Ferguson (21-3)
Ferguson will be taking on dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night 98. Ferguson is listed at +120 to win that fight. Ferguson has won his last eight fights including a win against Lando Vannata in July.
7. Michael Johnson (17-10)
Johnson will be taking on Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 205. Johnson is 9-6 in the UFC including a win over Dustin Poirier last time out.
8. Michael Chiesa (14-2)
Chiesea was last season in April against Beneil Dariush. Chiesea was scheduled to take on Ferguson in July but Chiesa suffered a back injury and he had to pull out.
9. Will Brooks (18-2)
Brooks has dropped way down in the rankings after losing to Alex Oliveira earlier this month. Brooks broke a rib within the first five minutes of that fight and never had a chance after that. Brooks will have to work his way back up the rankings after he heals from his rib injury.
10. Justin Gaethje (16-0)
Gaethje is unbeaten but we really don’t know how good he is as his competition has come in the World Series of Fighting. He will take on Ozzy Dugulubgov on Friday, October 7th.
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