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Welcome to the UFC 2012 Lightweight Grand Prix! With a division this deep, and with Strikeforce Champion Gilbert Melendez coming over, plus the winner of Henderson/Guida on Nov 12th taking up Frankie Edgar???s dance card- we are looking at a GUARANTED title shot for the winner of this tournament!

Now the biggest reason for the Lightweight Gran Prix is we have a GLUT of guys who are 1-2-3 fights from a title shot, but are not exactly sellable as a co-main event.

Let me give an example, say the main event is Rampage vs Shogun at UFC 145 (whatever)
Can you sell Jim Miller vs Joe Luazon or Dennis Siver vs Donald Cerrone as a co-main? Both fights could very well be a legit number 1 contender fight, but is Edgar vs Miller (who would be on a NINE fight win streak) really carry a PPV without someone MAJOR on it? You have to have Tito, Forrest or Rampage on that. You are not selling that PPV with Phil Davis vs Rich Franklin or Koscheck vs Deigo II as the co-main.

And now, the participants

1. Gray Maynard (10-1-1, 1 NC)

Gray just got a title shot, lost his first ever fight, and even though a 4th matchup between fighters is about as rare as Joe Rogan showing up at an afterparty sober, If Gray wins this, he will deserve that chance at the champion.

8. Ben Henderson (14-2) / Clay Guida (29-11) Loser (Nov. 12).

Coming off a loss in the Number 1 contenders fight, beating Maynard, then 2 other top 10 fighters should easily gain a title shot for one of these fighters.

6. Melvin Guillard (29-9-2, 1 NC)

Melvin bumped HARD against Joe Lauzon, but he can sell a fight, and Dana loves this kid. This could be the death nail for Pettis as a contender, or send Melvin back to the prelims and Greg Jackson back to the Lab.

3. Anthony Pettis (14-2)

The final WEC champ should have gotten a title shot, but things in the UFC in titleshotland seem to give you major problems when you can???t pop 400K PPV buys on your own- right Rashad? Showtime needed to do something on the Spike Pre-lims for UFC 136, but again came up just a bit short in exciting the crowd.

4. Joe Lauzon (21-6)

Joe is popular, dangerous as Hades early, and just bumped off a guy that could be fighting Gilbert for a number one contenders fight in under a minute.

5. Jim Miller (20-3)

Had Miller won vs Henderson, He could have easily gotten a title shot- or faced Pettis for a number 1 contender spot. True, He???s not going to headline a PPV with his low name recognition, but If he makes it out of the tourney, he???s going to be just fine.

2. Dennis Siver (19-7) / Donald Cerrone (16-3-0-1) winner

Might be a bit high for this seed, but both of these men are on a pretty good tear, and the winner could be 3rd or 4th in line for a title shot. With an impressive KO, Cowboy might even jump to next after Gilbert in the title chase, so this spot is deserved.

Note: I know Donald is supposed to face Diaz next.

7. Jorge Masvidal (22-6) vs Pat Healy (26-16) winner

Both these guys should be ready to go, both inside the UFC and to the cage. This can even be on the December show Jorge is already training for. I???m sure the UFC would love to pretend that Jorge didn???t beat KJ Noons, but if he wins this fight, I???m sure it will be in the highlight picture for his opening round fight. (NOTE: If Gilbert Melendez does fight Jorge in december, then Dos Anjos can take his spot and Tibau moves up to the alternate.