Divisional rankings: Lightweight

— -- Check out my rankings within each division by clicking on the links below.

Who is the best fighter regardless of weight class? See ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings. Plus, check out our women's pound-for-pound rankings.

Note: Results through Aug. 1.

Divisional Rankings

Heavyweight | Light heavyweight
Middleweight | Welterweight | Lightweight
Featherweight | Bantamweight | Flyweight
Women's bantamweight | Women's strawweight

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION (UP TO 155 POUNDS)

1. Eddie Alvarez (28-4)
Alvarez has now won the UFC title, the Bellator MMA title and he beat the last Strikeforce title holder, Gilbert Melendez, in 2015. Few expected him to reach this peak after he lost to Donald Cerrone in his UFC debut in 2014. Boy has he proved any doubters wrong.
Next: TBD

2. Rafael dos Anjos (25-8)
Alvarez is just one of many UFC champions who have recently been unable to keep hold of a belt. A quick loss to Alvarez in July doesn't erase RDA's impressive five-fight run leading up to it. He's still one of the best lightweights in the world.
Next: TBD

3. Khabib Nurmagomedov (23-0)
The undefeated bear-wrestler from Dagestan looked pretty good in a tuneup fight against short-notice opponent Darrell Horcher. A practicing Muslim, Nurmagomedov will take the summer off due to Ramadan, and is eyeing a title shot in the fall.
Next: TBD

4. Tony Ferguson (20-3)

A matchup between Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov unfortunately fell through when the 'Bib got injured, but Ferguson went on to pick up an impressive TKO against Edson Barboza. He looks like an inevitable title contender at some point.
Next: UFC Fight Night on July 13, vs. Landon Vannata

5. Donald Cerrone (29-7)
No one really knows what weight class Cerrone is in these days, not even Cerrone. "Cowboy" intends to stay busy, wherever the UFC needs him. He was last seen winning his second fight in a row at 170 pounds against Patrick Cote in June. We'll continue to rank him at lightweight for now.
Next: UFC 202 on Aug. 20, vs. Rick Story

6. Edson Barboza (18-4)
Back-to-back wins against the likes of Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez have Barboza sitting pretty at 155 pounds. He's certainly paid his dues over the years and it's paying off. This is the highest Barboza has ever risen in his career and he's in a good spot to climb higher.
Next: TBD

7. Will Brooks (17-1)
The former Bellator MMA champ made his UFC debut in July, picking up a decision win against Ross Pearson. It wasn't the kind of debut that set the world on fire, but it'll certainly do. Brooks looks like a future title contender.
Next: TBD

8. Ben Henderson (23-5)
Henderson suffered a resounding loss to Bellator MMA welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov in his promotional debut. His last three fights have been at welterweight, but lightweight still seems like his best option. If he books another welterweight bout, however, we'll be forced to start ranking him at 170 pounds.
Next: Bellator 160 on Aug. 26, vs. Patricio Freire

9. Nate Diaz (19-10)
Diaz's latest win didn't come at 155 pounds but it was nevertheless, arguably the top moment of his career. Coming off a resounding submission win over Conor McGregor in March, the world is Diaz's oyster. Fun times.
Next: UFC 202 on Aug. 20, vs. Conor McGregor

10. Dustin Poirier (20-4)
Poirier is 4-0 since moving up from featherweight, with three first-round knockouts. This is one of the deepest divisions in MMA, but Poirier is rocketing up the rankings with these performances. His last two wins against Joseph Duffy and Bobby Green have been phenomenal.
Next: UFC Fight Night on Sept. 17, vs. Michael Johnson