Top 10 Lightweight Rankings

nullThe lightweight division is as impressive a group as any in MMA.

The top 10 list features a number of different styles and contenders, but each fighter could arguably beat everyone else on the list.

Still, here are my updated top 10 lightweight rankings.

1. Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) – Edgar holds on to the top spot as he still is the UFC champion. An injury kept him from facing Gray Maynard in their long-awaited trilogy fight, but those two should collide soon and be able to settle the score as to who deserves to be the champion.

2. Gray Maynard (10-0-1) – Maynard is still unbeaten but missed out on his opportunity to win the championship when he had Edgar beaten at UFC 125. Now, he will have to wait for a third shot at Edgar this fall where he can perhaps prove to the world that he is the top lightweight in the world.

3. Gilbert Melendez (19-2) – Melendez could legitimately compete for the UFC title, but he hasn’t had the opportunity to do so. Now that the UFC is tapping into Strikeforce, perhaps a champion vs. champion bout is in the near future. Until then, Melendez looks as if he will continue to tear up Strikeforce competition.

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Your weekly MMA TV Schedule update

nullWe have reached Sunday night once again, which means it is time for your MMA on TV update.

This week has a pretty solid amount of content, with Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC each have events.

– This week’s MMA on TV gets started on Friday with Strikeforce Challengers 16. The event takes place from the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. The main card airs live on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET. Friday’s main event is a lightweight clash between Carlos Fodor (8-2) and James Terry (10-2) and lightweight Ryan Couture (2-0) will also make his return to action when he takes on Matt Ricehouse (4-0).

– On Saturday, Bellator 46 takes place to start the newest season of the fight promotion. The event will be held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino from Hollywood, Florida. The main card airs live on MTV2 at 9 p.m. ET. The quarterfinals of the featherweight tournament will take place with fighters Marlon Sandro, Pat Curran, and others taking part.

– On Sunday, UFC on Versus 4 takes place from the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The card will air on Versus at 9 p.m. ET. The main event of the card is a welterweight clash between Rick Story and Nate Marquardt. Marquardt is making his 170-pound debut. Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo meet in a heavyweight bout while Tyson Griffin and Manny Gamburyan face off in a featherweight contest. Matt Mitrione, Joe Stevenson, and John Howard also have bouts on the night.

  

Your weekly MMA TV Schedule update

nullAnother Sunday night means another MMA on TV update for the week.

Here is a look at all the MMA events you can see on tv or the internet this week.

– On Wednesday, the eighth episode of The Ultimate Fighter will air on SpikeTV at 9 p.m. ET. The quarterfinal pairings have been set and will begin this week. Each team has won four fights and it will be interesting to see how the teams perform now that it is more about individual performance rather than team results.

– On Saturday BAMMA 6: Ninja vs. Watson takes place from Wembley Arena in London, England. The event is highlighted by a bout between Tom “Kong” Watson and Murilo “Ninja” Rua. Former UFC contenders Frank Trigg and Ivan Salaverry will also be in action in separate bouts. The event will be streamed live on the internet by registering through the organization’s website, http://www.bamma.tv/.

– Also on Saturday, Bellator 45 takes place from L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It is the season finale for Bellator and it features two tournament finals. Richard Hale takes on Christian M’Pumbu face off in the Light Heavyweight Tournament Final while Daniel Straus faces off with Patricio Freire in the Featherweight Tournament Final. The show will air live on MTV2 at 9 p.m. ET.

  

Hector Lombard: A top 10 Middleweight?

nullThe highlight of Bellator 44 on Saturday night was a knockout win for middleweight champion, Hector Lombard.

The 33-year-old member of American Top Team knocked out Falaniko Vitale in the third round of their contest, giving Lombard 16 wins by knockout in his career and pushing his record to 29-2-1 overall.

Like Bellator Lightweight Champion, Eddie Alvarez, the question has to be asked; where does Lombard stack up against the best of the middleweights in all of MMA?

Lombard is a big, burly 185-pounder that has also fought at 190 pounds and at light heavyweight (205 pounds) in his career, finding success in each weight class.

Currently, Lombard is riding an 18-fight win streak and his last loss came in 2006 to Strikeforce light heavyweight, Gegard Mousasi.

Lombard holds wins over former UFC contenders Joe Doerksen, Kalib Starnes, and Vitale. Four of his last six bouts have ended with a first round knockout, with two taking place in less than 40 seconds. Lombard has even forced a few opponents to tap to his strikes.

Lombard has had success overseas and in the states for Bellator and other organizations, but he has yet to fight under the Zuffa umbrella.

Certainly the numbers support Lombard being considered a top 10 middleweight in MMA, but until he gets a chance to really prove himself in the UFC or Strikeforce, it is going to be tough to just know what kind of potential this guy has. Certainly, he has to be one of the best fighters in the world that is now employed by Zuffa.

  

Your weekly MMA TV Schedule update

nullAnother Sunday night means another MMA on TV update for the week.

This week, there is a pretty light load, but here is a look at the MMA content that will be airing:

– On Wednesday, the seventh episode of The Ultimate Fighter will air on SpikeTV at 9 p.m. ET. The prelim fights are complete and the wild card fighters have been chosen. Now the quarterfinals will be set with the wild card match and coaches Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos will compete in the annual coaches’ challenge.

– On Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV2, Bellator 44 will take place from Caesar’s Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ. The main event is the Season 4 Lightweight Tournament final with Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (9-1) taking on Michael Chandler (7-0). Another featured bout pits Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (27-2-1) taking on Falaniko Vitale (28-9) in a non-title fight.