B/R MMA Official Rankings for February: Top 10 Featherweights in MMA

After an exciting January in MMA, it's time again for the official Bleacher Report MMA rankings.

This past month, you had the bright young prospect, Dustin Poirier, facing off against Max Holloway, who was looking to cement himself as a definite top 10 featherweight.

He did exactly that, as he submitted Holloway with an impressive mounted triangle-armbar combination.

Let's check out where he—along with the rest of the division—sit after January and UFC 143.

These rankings are the combined effort of some of Bleacher Report MMA's best writers, as we continue to try to provide you with the best content on the web.

10. Mark Hominick

Promotion: UFC

Record: 20-10

Most Recent Fight: KO loss to Chan Sung Jung at UFC 140

Next Scheduled Fight: Eddie Yagin at UFC 145

Previous Ranking: 10

Mark "The Machine" Hominick put up the best fight that anyone has against Jose Aldo, as he was able to arguably win two rounds from Aldo.

However, he now finds himself on a two-fight losing streak, as he was knocked out in seven seconds by Chan Sung Jung at UFC 140.

Hominick will look to come back in resounding fashion in his next fight.

9. Pat Curran

Promotion: Bellator

Record: 16-4

Most Recent Fight: KO victory over Marlon Sandro at Bellator 48

Next Scheduled Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 7

Pat Curran is probably the least known fighter on this list, but he has some Bellator history on his side.

He is the first, and so far only, fighter to win Bellator tournaments in two different weight classes, having won in both lightweight and featherweight.

To win the featherweight tournament, he knocked out Marlon Sandro with a brutal head kick in the second round of their Bellator 48 matchup.

8. Diego Nunes

Promotion: UFC

Record: 17-2

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision over Manny Gamburyan at UFC 141

Next Scheduled Fight: Dennis Siver at UFC on Fuel TV 2

Previous Ranking: 9

Diego Nunes is one of the best strikers in the featherweight division.

Nunes is 6-2 in his UFC/WEC career, and his only losses have been unanimous decisions to LC Davis and Kenny Florian—nothing to be ashamed of.

Nunes has notable victories over Mike Brown and Raphael Assunção.

7. Chan Sung Jung

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-3

Most Recent Fight: KO victory over Mark Hominick at UFC 140

Next Scheduled Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 8

At UFC 140, with his devastation of Mark Hominick, Chan Sung Jung earned his place as one of the top-10 featherweights in the UFC.

Jung has long been considered a top fighter but was never that consistent.

He has now won two in a row, and he could easily be 4-1 in his last five.

6. Erik Koch

Promotion: UFC

Record: 13-1

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Brookins at Fight Night 25

Next Scheduled Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 6

Erik Koch is quickly becoming a huge threat in the featherweight division.

He is currently riding a four-fight win streak, including victories over Raphael Assuncao and "The Ultimate Fighter" winner, Jonathan Brookins. 

His only career loss came to the recently knocked out, former No. 1 contender, Chad Mendes.

5. Kenny Florian

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-6

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision loss to Jose Aldo at UFC 136

Next Scheduled Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 4

Kenny Florian probably won't be ranked at featherweight for much longer, as he will either return to lightweight or may be forced to retire due to a back injury.

However, for the time being, Florian remains a featherweight as far as rankings are concerned. With a 1-1 record and the lone win being over Diego Nunes, he can't be ranked much higher than this.

Florian also has notable victories over Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson.

4. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-1

Most Recent Fight: Submission victory over Max Holloway at UFC 143

Next Scheduled Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 5

Dustin Poirier has officially put himself in the title mix.

His win at UFC 143 may not have been over a top opponent, but the ease with which he tapped out Max Holloway was impressive.

He said he'd like two or three more fights before a title shot, but one more win will likely get him a shot at the belt.

3. Hatsu Hioki

Promotion: UFC

Record: 25-4-2

Most Recent Fight: Split decision victory over George Roop at UFC 137

Next Scheduled Fight: Bart Palaszewski at UFC 144

Previous Ranking: 3

Fans who are only familiar with Hatsu Hioki from his lone UFC fight will be surprised to see him this high on the rankings. However, there is justification for it.

Hatsu Hioki holds two victories—that's right, two—over fellow top-10 fighter Mark Hominick. Additionally, both of those fights took place in Canada, where Hominick is from.

2. Chad Mendes

Promotion: UFC

Record: 11-1

Most Recent Fight: KO loss to Jose Aldo at UFC 142

Next Scheduled Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 2

At UFC 142, Chad Mendes suffered the first defeat of his career, as he was knocked out at 4:59 of the first round by Jose Aldo.

Going into the fight, many thought that Mendes may be the one to finally dethrone the champion, however it was not to be.

Mendes may have lost the first fight of his career, but with a record of 11-1 and a win over Erik Koch, Mendes is a top featherweight, and he will certainly come back bigger and badder.

1. Jose Aldo

Promotion: UFC

Record: 21-1

Most Recent Fight: KO victory over Chad Mendes at UFC 142

Next Scheduled Fight: N/A

Previous Ranking: 1

No real surprise with No. 1 here.

At UFC 142, Aldo extended his winning streak to 14, including 11 wins in the UFC/WEC, and he got back to his explosive ways, as he knocked out Chad Mendes in the first round.

Aldo won the title at WEC 44 by defeating Mike Brown, and he hasn't looked back since.

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow me on twitter @TimMcTiernan.