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

The world of featherweights will undergo a change soon. 

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is set to defend his title against Erik Koch at UFC 149, a fight that will determine who is truly the featherweight kingpin. 

However, that's not the fight that fans expected. Fans had thought No. 2-ranked Hatsu Hioki would step up and face the feared Brazilian striker, but he declined.

Has this impacted the rankings at all? What other happenings have effected B/R MMA's official featherweight rankings? Read and find out!

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

10. Dennis Siver

Promotion: UFC

Record: 20-8

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous decision win over Diego Nunes at UFC on FUEL TV 2

Next Scheduled Fight: TBA

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

Dennis Siver's successful featherweight debut against perennial contender Diego Nunes has earned him enough respect to place at the No. 10 spot in the official Bleacher Report rankings. 

Siver was already a standout at lightweight, with his biggest victory coming over the then-touted George Sotiropoulos. 

Thus, when he moved down to featherweight he was already an accomplished fighter and, with a win, got a spot in the top 10.

9. Tatsuya Kawajiri

Promotion: OneFC

Record: 31-7-2

Most Recent Fight: Submission victory over Donald Sanchez at OneFC: War of the Lions

Next Scheduled Fight: TBA

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

Tatsuya Kawajiri has been on a tear since being soundly defeated by Gilbert Melendez in April 2011. Kawajiri is on a four-fight winning streak which includes notable fighters such as Drew Fickett and Joachim Hansen. 

8. Chan Sung Jung

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-3

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

Next Scheduled Fight: Dustin Poirier at UFC on FUEL TV 3

Previous Ranking: 7

"The Korean Zombie" Chang Sung Jung became famous in the MMA community for his legendary brawl against Leonard Garcia at WEC 48. 

In a rematch with Garcia, he became even more famous by applying and wining with a twister—a rarely seen submission hold in MMA.

Jung's career went to even further heights when he knocked out Mark Hominick—who had just made Jose Aldo look mortal—in only seven seconds.

7. Kenny Florian

Promotion: UFC

Record: 14-6

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

Next Scheduled Fight: TBA

Previous Ranking: 5

Kenny Florian's biggest accomplishments at featherweight were defeating Diego Nunes and losing to Jose Aldo. 

While he's lower in the rankings this month due to his inactivity, he officially hasn't retired yet despite a nagging back injury, which means he is still eligible to be ranked.

6. Pat Curran

Promotion: Bellator

Record: 16-4

Most Recent Fight: KO victory over Joe Warren at Bellator 60

Next Scheduled Fight: Patricio Freire, TBA

Previous Ranking: 8

Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran has finally received some more love in the official B/R rankings. 

He has been moved from No. 8 up to No. 6 to reflect that he's a champion of a major organization as well as a skilled fighter who is a dangerous fight for anyone in the top 10.

5. Erik Koch

Promotion: UFC

Record: 13-1

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous Decision win over Jonathan Brookins at Fight Night 25

Next Scheduled Fight: Jose Aldo at UFC 149

Previous Ranking: 6

13-1 Erik Koch is a featherweight prospect who will have a trial by fire at UFC 149 against featherweight champ Jose Aldo. 

Koch's only loss has come to Chad Mendes by unanimous decision. Of Koch's 13 victories, 11 were finishes. 

4. Dustin Poirier

Promotion: UFC

Record: 12-1

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

Next Scheduled Fight: Chan Sung Jung at UFC on FUEL TV 3

Previous Ranking: 4

Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier is another talented fighter at featherweight. He is currently 12-1 and if he defeats Chan Sung Jung at UFC on FUEL TV 3, there will be bright things in his future.

3. Chad Mendes

Promotion: UFC

Record: 11-1

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

Next Scheduled Fight: TBA

Previous Ranking: 3

Chad Mendes was such a dominant force in the division that not even a loss to Jose Aldo at UFC 142 and a bit of inactivity (that fight was in January) can keep him from the top three. 

2. Hatsu Hioki

Promotion: UFC

Record: 25-4-2

Most Recent Fight: Unanimous Decision win over Bart Palaszewski at UFC 144

Next Scheduled Fight: Ricardo Lamas at UFC on FX: Maynard vs. Guida

Previous Ranking: 2

Hatsu Hioki had many doubters after a lackluster performance against George Roop. However, he wowed fans with his most recent performance—a dominating victory over a talented competitor in Bart Palaszewski. 

However, this performance was all for naught, since Hioki didn't capitalize on it. He's fighting a man far beneath his level while he should be fighting for the title.

1. Jose Aldo

Promotion: UFC

Record: 21-1

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

Next Scheduled Fight: Erik Koch at UFC 149

Previous Ranking: 1

Is an explanation really necessary?

Jose Aldo is UFC featherweight champion and the most fearsome striker in the division. While he looked mortal in his first two UFC outings, he put on a spectacular performance against Chad Mendes at UFC 142. 

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