Sherdog’s Top 10: Lightweights of All-Time

4. Eddie Alvarez

Only one mixed martial artist has captured titles in both the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bellator MMA: Alvarez. Easily one of the most accomplished lightweights of all-time, the Philadelphia native laid claim to a handful of regional championships, advanced to the 2008 Dream lightweight grand prix semifinals and won 15 of his first 17 pro bouts before touching down in Bellator in April 2009 -- a run that included victories over Aaron Riley, Joachim Hansen and Tatsuya Kawajiri. Alvarez went 9-1 in Bellator, twice becoming lightweight champion while besting the likes of Pat Curran, Shinya Aoki, Patricky Freire, Michael Chandler and Roger Huerta. He packed his bags for the UFC in 2014 and lost his promotional debut to Donald Cerrone before posting back-to-back victories over Gilbert Melendez and Anthony Pettis. Alvarez then challenged Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight championship at UFC Fight Night 90 and stopped the favored Brazilian with punches 3:49 into the first round. The 33-year-old surrendered the title to Conor McGregor at UFC 205 on Nov. 12, and though his stay at the top was brief, he remains one of the top 155-pound fighters in the game today.

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