UFC Weight Class: Lightweights

When it comes to the Lightweight division in the UFC, sometimes smaller is better. The division (146-155 lbs.) has seen a renaissance over the course of a year.

More and more fighters are dropping from the Welterweight division to the Lightweight spot. The division is seeing the likes of Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, Hermes Franca and so many more duke it out in one of the most exciting weight classes in the UFC.

Here’s a look at some of the top Lightweights in the UFC.

Sherk has been around the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) business for some time now. He originally fought in the Welterweight division and held his own in a title match against Matt Hughes, several years ago.

When the Lightweight division was reinstated last year, Sherk made his intentions clear that he would be one of the fighters. Last October, he defeated Kenny Florian at UFC 64 to become only the second Lightweight champion in the history of the UFC.

Sherk’s next bout will be in July against Franca.

You can’t talk about the Lightweight division without mentioning “Little Evil” himself, Jens Pulver. Sherk can only hope his title reign lasts as long Pulver’s did years ago.

Once upon a time, Jens Pulver was the Lightweight champion in the UFC and nobody could beat him, all the Lightweights feared him. Then he disappeared, along with the title.

Pulver made his return to the Octagon last September at UFC 63, losing to Joe Lauzon in the first round.

Currently, Pulver is a coach on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season five. He and fellow coach and rival, BJ Penn, are working with Lightweights this season.

Both coaches will face off against each other at the TUF 5 season finale in June.

Joe “Daddy” has become one of the more popular fighters in the UFC. He won the TUF season two in Welterweight, and much like Sherk, dropped down a weight class.

Stevenson has lost only one bout in his UFC career. His recent victory came earlier this month when he defeated Melvin Guillard at an Ultimate Fight Night earlier this month.

He did so in an amazing 30 seconds. Stevenson is one of the most exciting Lightweight fighters not only in the UFC but in all of MMA.

So many other fighters could be mentioned in this piece, but there wasn’t enough time to mention them all, maybe another time.

Let’s not forget about Pride Fighting, since the Fertittas now own the organization. There’s a whole grand prix of fighters to mention. But maybe for another time.

Lookout for the analysis of the Welterweight division in the UFC, as well as the other divisions in the coming weeks.

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