MMA World Rankings (Updated 5-14-2011)
UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre cemented his legacy as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time at UFC 129.
There are some that would disagree with that statement, but St-Pierre's extensive resume speaks for itself.
Bare in mind, the French Canadian fought the majority of the bout with one eye, but all of the credit for that injury and a tough fight goes to pound-for-pound standout Jake Shields.
In the co-main event of UFC 129, featherweight champion Jose Aldo successfully defended his UFC title for the first time against Mark Hominick.
Most expected Aldo to dominate and net the quick KO finish, but Hominick proved to be a formidable challenge for the Black House student in a bout that earned honors for fight of the night.
Lyoto Machida was also featured on the stacked card, and with one swift kick, he managed to retain his position as a top five light heavyweight.
These rankings rely heavily on quality of competition and defeating previously ranked opponents. They are not based on possibilities––such as fighter A would beat fighter B.
(SportsHaze.com)
Heavyweight (Over 205 Pounds)
1 of 7
1) Cain Velasquez - An MMA world fixated on size and power had no place for Cain Velasquez.
On October 23, fans and pundits alike were reminded of the lone fact that has eluded many ever since the emergence of gargantuan heavyweights –– technique is greater than strength.
Velasquez overcame size by giving Brock Lesnar a first-round thrashing to become the new UFC Heavyweight Champion.
It will be incredibly challenging for anyone to withstand Velasquez's ferocious offense. His teammates credit him to outworking lightweights.
Velasquez's first title defense was set to be against Junior Dos Santos, but he was sidelined with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He is expected to return in October to defend his title against the winner of the UFC 131 bout between Dos Santos and Shane Carwin.
2) Brock Lesnar - The loss to Cain Velasquez has to be tough for Brock Lesnar. This had no resemblance to the Frank Mir loss. Against Velasquez, Lesnar was completely dominated and outclassed by the superior fighter. Despite the loss, Lesnar is only 33 years old and still relatively inexperienced. He will continue to get better as he gets more fights, but the obvious gap in skill level between him and Velasquez will definitely be hard to account for.
Velasquez recently suffered a torn rotator cuff, and he won't be able to defend his title against top contender Junior Dos Santos. Lesnar and Dos Santos have now been assigned coaching duties over season 13 of "The Ultimate Fighter." At the end of the show, the coaches were set to battle one another at UFC 131 for a shot at the heavyweight title, but a second case of diverticulitis, a digestive disorder, forced Lesnar to withdraw from the bout.
3) Shane Carwin - Following his UFC 116 submission loss to Brock Lesnar, Shane Carwin has been under fire as of late regarding a nationwide conspiracy dealing with the illegal distribution of anabolic steroids. Carwin was identified along with 21 other professional athletes to having received the steroids from Applied Pharmacy Services. It isn't known whether or not he actually took the drugs. He hasn't tested positive for any banned substances, which has seemingly voided any possible suspension.
After undergoing back surgery, Carwin will step in for a sick Brock Lesnar and make his return at UFC 131 on June 11 against Junior Dos Santos. The winner will earn the right to challenge Cain Velasquez for the UFC heavyweight title.
4) Fabricio Werdum - On June 26, 2010, Fabricio Werdum made history when he became the first man to defeat one of the greatest Mixed Martial Artists of all time, Fedor Emelianenko. If that wasn't shocking enough, Werdum asked for a rematch immediately following the bout. The two-time ADCC Champion will compete in the eight-man Strikeforce Heavyweight tournament for a shot at the heavyweight title.
His quarterfinal bout could be the toughest. He'll have to figure out a way to overcome Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Interim Heavyweight Champion, and K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Alistair Overeem.
5) Junior Dos Santos - The future is becoming the present, and prospects are becoming contenders. Along with Cain Velasquez, JDS has been called the future of the UFC Heavyweight division. He has manhandled the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Mirko Cro Cop, Gabriel Gonzaga, and Gilbert Yvel. At UFC 117, he battered a tough Roy Nelson around for 15 minutes. JDS was expected to face fellow "TUF" 13 coach Brock Lesnar at UFC 131, but Lesnar had to withdraw from the bout due to illness. Shane Carwin has agreed to step in and face JDS in Lesnar's place.
6) Frank Mir - As a punishment for kids being bad in school, they should be forced to watch Frank Mir versus Mirko Cro Cop in the main event of UFC 119. The highlight-worthy KO Mir pulled off in the third round still wasn't enough to erase the atrocity that proceeded. We'll see if he can redeem himself against Roy "Big Country" Nelson at UFC 130.
7) Antonio Silva - If Antonio Silva didn't already have the MMA world's respect, he certainly earned it in his Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament quarterfinal bout with Fedor Emelianenko. The doctor was forced to stop the fight after Silva dished out an entire round of punishment from the mounted position. With the victory, Silva moves on to the semifinals to face the winner of Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum.
8) Fedor Emelianenko - After losing to Antonio Silva, former Pride Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko hinted at the possibility of retiring from the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. The funeral-like atmosphere encouraged fans to appreciate every moment, but it doesn't look like "The Last Emperor" is quite ready to step down from his throne. He is expected to step into the cage again in a catch-weight bout with Dan Henderson on July 30.
9) Alistair Overeem - Alistair Overeem's train of destruction continued at Dynamite!! 2010, where it took him only 19 seconds to dispatch of former UFC prospect Todd Duffee. As the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Overeem has only defended his belt once in three years. The major gaps between defenses will finally come to an end as the Strikeforce promotion has loaded up on exceptional talent in the heavyweight division.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has announced that an eight-man tournament will take place for the Strikeforce heavyweight title. Overeem is set to face Fabricio Werdum in a quarterfinal bout on June 18.
10) Sergei Kharitonov - Russian Kickboxer Sergei Kharitonov may have put the final nail in the coffin of former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski's career. At Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva, Kharitonov served Arlovski up with a vicious knockout to move on to the semifinals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. He'll face the winner of the June 18 bout between Josh Barnett and Brett Rogers.
Light Heavyweight (205-pound limit)
2 of 7
1) Jon Jones - Some may have predicted that Jon Jones would walk out of UFC 128 as the new light heavyweight champion, but no one could've foreseen the sheer dominance that unfolded.
Jones picked former champion and all-time great Mauricio "Shogun" Rua to pieces for three rounds to earn the TKO stoppage.
It was an awe-inspiring performance that introduced the MMA universe to its new star. Jones was set to make his first title defense against disgruntled former teammate Rashad Evans, but minor surgery for a hand injury will keep him out of action until late 2011.
2) Mauricio "Shogun" Rua - At UFC 128, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua was on the receiving end of the most one-sided beatdown of his MMA career, courtesy of Jon Jones. March 19, 2011 is a day that Shogun and fans quickly hope to forget. The road to redemption is already under way. Shogun recently reunited with his former Chute Boxe coach Rafael Cordeiro to prepare for his upcoming UFC 134 bout against Forrest Griffin.
3) Rashad Evans - It was an uneventful victory, but Rashad Evans got the job done. After defeating Quinton Jackson, Evans was classy in victory and gave his opponent well-deserved respect. A shot to reclaim his UFC light heavyweight championship came with the victory, but injuries to both Evans and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua kept the bout from happening.
While Evans was on the shelf, his teammate Jon Jones stepped in to challenge Rua for the title and came away with the victory. After Jones won the belt, the teammates had a falling out, and Evans has since switched camps.
The grudge match between Jones and Evans was scheduled to go down in August, but a hand injury forced Jones off the UFC 133 card. Evans will now face rising contender Phil Davis to determine the top contender for the light heavyweight title.
4) Quinton "Rampage" Jackson - Rampage's entrance music at UFC 123 surely gave longtime Pride FC fans goose bumps. The shocker came when Rampage's in-ring performance complemented his valiant walk down memory lane. Despite being a significant underdog, he took a hotly contested split decision victory over Lyoto Machida. Whether you agree with the decision or not, you have to love Rampage's multi-faceted approach.
We even almost got to see a vintage slam. This is the Rampage fans have missed. Hopefully, this newfound determination carries over to UFC 130 when Rampage meets Matt Hamill.
5) Lyoto Machida - Lyoto Machida should change his nickname from "The Dragon" to "The Karate Kid" after his second-round crane kick KO win over Hall of Famer Randy Couture at UFC 129. With the win, Machida avoids his third straight loss and thrusts himself back into the title picture. The Brazilian could be homebound if offered a fight at UFC 134, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
6) Forrest Griffin - After losing back-to-back fights, Forrest Griffin has rebounded nicely with two straight wins over former UFC champions Tito Ortiz and Rich Franklin. Against Ortiz, Griffin avenged a split decision loss in April 2006, and against Franklin, he was the victor in a well-publicized tattoo bet. The former light heavyweight champion is most likely used to being adored by fans, but that will all change when he travels to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at UFC 134 for a rematch with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
7) Ryan Bader - Things didn't go according to plan at UFC 126 for former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler Ryan Bader, as he was completely outclassed and submitted by top light heavyweight contender Jon Jones. Despite the loss, Bader remains one of the best light heavyweights in the world. He'll have the chance to add a major name to his résumé at UFC 132 when he meets Tito Ortiz.
8) Phil Davis - Stepping in as a late replacement for the injury-riddled Tito Ortiz, Phil Davis picked up the biggest victory of his MMA career with a unanimous decision win over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC Fight Night 24. The former NCAA Division I wrestling champion faced adversity against a game Nogueira, who seemed to have made great improvements in his takedown defense. With the rest of the 205-pound division tied up and champion Jon Jones on the shelf, Davis now finds himself in a title eliminator bout against Rashad Evans at UFC 133.
9) Dan Henderson - At age 40, Dan Henderson continues to defy Father Time in pursuit of MMA greatness. He defeated Rafael Cavalcante in March to become the new Strikeforce light heavyweight champion. Instead of defending his newly-acquired title, Henderson has his eyes set on a verbally agreed upon showdown in July with MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko.
10) Antonio Rogerio Nogueira - Antonio Rogerio Nogueira burst onto the scene in the UFC with an impressive KO victory over Luiz Cane, and his name was immediately thrown into the hat alongside a plethora of others as a potential light heavyweight title contender. Now, the twin brother of Rodrigo Nogueira could be on the chopping block in his upcoming UFC 133 bout with Rich Franklin. He is coming off a lackluster performance against Jason Brilz and two consecutive losses to Phil Davis and Ryan Bader.
Middleweight (185-Pound Limit)
3 of 7
1) Anderson Silva - Anderson Silva's otherworldly front-kick KO victory over Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 reminded fans of one simple fact. He is "Kal-El", and the rest of us are just ordinary earthlings.
The victory extended Silva's UFC records for most consecutive title defenses (8) and victories (13).
At UFC 134, the proposed pound-for-pound king will get the chance to defend his title in his home country of Brazil against top middleweight contender Yushin Okami.
2) Chael Sonnen - Chael Sonnen's fall from grace took the MMA universe by surprise after testing positive for anabolic steroids. It's been a monumental year for the Oregon native.
After defeating Nate Marquardt and Yushin Okami, Sonnen was quickly becoming a household name as he was all over media outlets selling his UFC 117 bout with Anderson Silva.
Despite losing, his star status was furthered by the five round beating he gave Silva in his effort. The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) fined Sonnen and ruled on a one year suspension for violating the drug policy.
Sonnen appealed the suspension in December 2010 and got it reduced to six months. If steroid accusations weren't enough, Sonnen's troubles took a turn for the worse when he recently plead guilty to money laundering. He has since been placed on indefinite suspension by the CSAC, which makes him ineligible for a license to fight in the state of California.
3) Yushin Okami - Yushin Okami has been an upper-echelon Middleweight for a long time, but past injuries and tough losses have hampered his progression to the top of the division. Since losing to Chael Sonnen at UFC 104, Okami has made drastic improvements in his overall game that has propelled him past Lucio Linhares, Mark Munoz, and Nate Marquardt. The win over Marquardt was easily the most significant of Okami's career. At UFC 134, Okami will finally get the opportunity to challenge Anderson Silva for the middleweight title.
4) Nate Marquardt - After a disappointing unanimous decision loss to Yushin Okami, Nate Marquardt rebounded with a victory over Dan Miller at UFC 128. Inconsistent performances at middleweight has caused the former King of Pancrase to drop down to the welterweight division, where he'll make his debut in June against Anthony "Rumble" Johnson.
5) Demian Maia - Demian Maia was methodical in his unanimous decision win over Kendall Grove at the "TUF" 12 Finale. It marked the BJJ black belt's second straight victory since losing to Anderson Silva back in April 2010. The climb back to contention goes through Mark Munoz at UFC 131.
6) Vitor Belfort - After suffering such an embarrassing loss to UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort is itching to get back in the octagon. There is no shame in losing to arguably the greatest fighter this sport has ever seen. Belfort is scheduled to make his return at UFC 133 against South Korean Judo standout Yoshihiro Akiyama.
7) Ronaldo Souza - Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza successfully defended his Strikeforce Middleweight Championship for the first time in January against former EliteXC champion Robbie Lawler. In the land of BJJ, Souza is a step above most in the world. He proved his ground dominance once more against Lawler, as he secured takedowns and finished with the rear naked choke in the third round. With such a thin middleweight division, it'll be interesting to see who Strikeforce comes up with as Souza's next challenger.
8) Jorge Santiago - In one of the most exciting bouts of 2010, Jorge Santiago successfully defended his Sengoku middleweight title against Kazuo Misaki at Sengoku 14. The main event was ended in the fifth round after Santiago started pouring on punches, and Misaki's corner was forced to throw in the towel. Santiago has now defeated Misaki two times. It's almost a shame that Misaki couldn't pull out a win in one of the bouts. A rubber match between these two warriors would've been incredible. Santiago recently signed a multi-fight contract with the UFC. His return date is set for May 28 at UFC 130 against Brian Stann.
9) Michael Bisping - If true, Michael Bisping's actions after his victory over Jorge Rivera at UFC 127 were completely uncalled for. Rivera's camp made claims that Bisping spit on one of the trainers sitting cageside. The entire build-up between these two middleweights began when Rivera's camp posted videos on Youtube, poking fun at the Brit. Immediately after his post-fight shenanigans, Bisping apologized in his interview with UFC commentator Joe Rogan. As for a future opponent, former title contender Chael Sonnen pleaded for a fight with Bisping in an email sent to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva.
10) Hector Lombard - He may not be known by casual fans, but Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard has been a destructive force in the middleweight division for a long time. After successfully defending his CFC (Cage Fighting Championship) middleweight title against Joe Doerksen in March, Lombard has his eyes set on Bellator 44, where he'll face Falaniko Vitale in a non-title bout.
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Welterweight (170-Pound Limit)
4 of 7
1) Georges St. Pierre - It wasn't the smoothest outing for the welterweight kingpin, but Georges St-Pierre managed to put forth his sixth consecutive UFC title defense at UFC 129 against former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields.
While many criticize St-Pierre's performance, a victory over a top 10 pound-for-pound fighter like Shields is significant.
The French Canadian is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and he is one title defense away from tying UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes' record for most welterweight title defenses. St-Pierre suffered an eye injury in his bout with Shields, but he has since been cleared by doctors to resume training.
2) Jon Fitch - Jon Fitch was a round away from dropping his second UFC loss to former two-division champion B.J. Penn at UFC 127. If Fitch didn't turn the tides with a 10-8 round in the third, two of the three judges were ready to give Penn the nod for the split decision. In the end, the bout was ruled a draw. An immediate rematch was scheduled for UFC 132, but Fitch had to pull out of the fight due to an injury sustained in training.
3) Thiago Alves - At UFC 124, the Thiago Alves of old returned in a three round thrashing of John "Doomsday" Howard. Coming off back to back losses to Georges St. Pierre and Jon Fitch, this victory should serve as a major confidence booster for Alves moving forward. He credits the Dolce Diet, a diet created by MMA fighter and nutrition coach Mike Dolce, for his improved conditioning and mindset. We'll see if the improvements carry over when he faces Rick "The Horror" Story at UFC 130 on May 28.
4) Josh Koscheck - The only thing more bruised than Josh Koscheck's eye has to be his ego. After months of trash talk, he was completely shutdown in his UFC welterweight championship bout with Georges St. Pierre. At the end of the bout, Koscheck was respectful and admitted that the talk was only to hype the fight. It could be awhile before we see the blonde-headed villain in action again. A broken orbital bone courtesy of multiple St. Pierre jabs could keep him sidelined until fall 2011.
5) Jake Shields - Jake Shields hadn't lost a fight in over six years––until he met Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129. While Shields put forth a decent effort, the French Canadian was able to dictate the action and coast to another unanimous decision. UFC welterweight Jake Ellenberger recently called out Shields, but there isn't any word on whether or not Shields will stay at welterweight or move back to middleweight.
6) Nick Diaz - Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz continued his winning ways in April against Paul Daley. Despite Daley's explosive striking, Diaz was the aggressor throughout the first round, which was an exciting back and forth standup war until Daley finally wilted from Diaz's high volume of strikes. Diaz's search for big fights has led him to the world of professional boxing. He is expected to face former super middleweight boxing champion Jeff Lacy, unless the UFC comes through with a proposed superfight with Georges St-Pierre.
7) B.J. Penn - It's amazing how some pundits and fans talk about B.J. Penn's ensuing retirement, especially after he drew even with top welterweight contender Jon Fitch at UFC 127. Physically, Penn is far from finished in the sport. In his past seven fights, his only losses have come to Frankie Edgar and Georges St. Pierre, who are currently the premier fighters in both of their divisions. There are plenty of intriguing fights for Penn at welterweight and lightweight. The lightweight division suits him best, but Penn could be gearing up for another bout at welterweight.
8) Diego Sanchez - Since rejoining Team Jackson, Diego "The Dream" Sanchez has found new life in the welterweight division. He is coming off two tough wins over previous top ten opponents in Martin Kampmann and Paulo Thiago. Sanchez will undoubtedly have his skeptics, but it's hard to dismiss his performances against world-class competition. At UFC 135, "The Dream" takes on former welterweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes.
9) Carlos Condit - After a letdown in his UFC debut against Martin Kampmann, Carlos Condit is now fighting with the same vigor that garnered him plenty of success in the WEC. In his past three fights, he has defeated quality opponents in Dan Hardy, Rory MacDonald, and Jake Ellenberger. It only took Condit one round to sing Hardy his lullaby at UFC 120. He will face Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 132 in a bout that could improve his position in the title picture.
10) Paul Daley - Paul Daley's return bout under the Zuffa banner didn't go the way he hoped. He was stopped with three seconds left in the first round of his welterweight title bout against Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz. There was question surrounding the timing of the stoppage, as Daley seemed coherent enough to continue. Since sucker punching Josh Koscheck at UFC 113, Daley hasn't been on good terms with UFC President Dana White, who issued Daley's UFC release in May 2010. With Strikeforce now under Zuffa ownership, the Brit could be released from his contract.
Lightweight (155-pound limit)
5 of 7
1) Frankie Edgar - In one of the most exciting UFC championship bouts of all time, Frankie Edgar finally earned the MMA world's respect after weathering a monumental storm in the first round of his UFC 125 fight with Gray Maynard.
After being dropped several times, Edgar regained his senses and battled back into the fight most thought he would lose. He didn't lose to Maynard, but he didn't win either.
The back-and-forth contest was deemed a draw in the end. Regardless of how the fight ended, Edgar and Maynard both became stars that night. The rubber match was set for UFC 130, but both Edgar and Maynard were forced off the card with injuries.
2) Gray Maynard - "The Bully" finally met his equal at UFC 125 in his lightweight title bout with Frankie Edgar. Gray Maynard had a wobbly Edgar fighting on instinct throughout the first round after dropping him with a hard overhand left. The fight could've been stopped multiple times, but referee Yves Lavigne's decision to let the bout continue paid dividends as Edgar turned the tables on the challenger in the following rounds.
In the end, all three judges disagreed on the decision, and the contest was ruled a draw. Maynard is the only man to ever beat Edgar, and he would've had his chance to do it again at UFC 130. The bout was called off due to injuries sustained by both lightweights.
3) Gilbert Melendez - The word impressive can't even begin to describe Gilbert Melendez's win over Tatsuya Kawajiri in April. The Strikeforce lightweight champion has solidified himself as one of the best lightweights in the world, and he's ready to move on to bigger and better things. Could a superfight with a UFC champion or contender be on the horizon for Melendez?
4) Shinya Aoki - Shinya Aoki was successful in his return to western shores, picking up a first-round submission victory over tough lightweight grappler Lyle Beerbohm. While Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez eyes UFC gold, Aoki continues to pile up victories in hopes of getting another crack at Melendez's title. He is expected to compete against Antonio McKee at Dream 17 on May 29.
5) Eddie Alvarez - There is no question that Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is a world-class talent. Instead of proving his case against higher ranked opposition, Alvarez continues to compete under the Bellator banner against up and comers and UFC castoffs. He was successful in his first title defense at Bellator 39 against Bellator Season Two Lightweight Tournament winner Pat Curran.
6) Sean Sherk - After a year hiatus, the "Muscle Shark" returned to form in his UFC 119 split decision victory over Evan Dunham. It was a gritty bout that forced Sherk to rely heavily on his grappling. Despite the controversy surrounding the decision, it was a great victory over a promising prospect. When his grappling is at the forefront, Sherk remains a handful for any Lightweight. He is currently planning a summer return.
7) Kenny Florian - In his UFC 118 loss to Gray Maynard, Florian continues to show struggles in the wrestling department. Wrestling isn't the only issue facing the Peruvian. Despite being a black belt in BJJ, Florian had a hard time putting together any offense from his back. Since the loss, he has hired a wrestling coach and changed up his training regimen.
Florian was scheduled to face Evan Dunham at Fight for the Troops 2, but a knee injury forced him to withdraw from the bout. At UFC 131, he'll join the featherweight ranks in hopes of securing a superfight with Jose Aldo, and rising featherweight Diego Nunes will serve as the welcoming committee.
8) Jim Miller - Jim Miller picked up his seventh consecutive UFC victory at UFC 128 in a unanimous decision win over strong Iranian grappler Kamal Shalorus. While the world looks the other way, Miller has positioned himself into lightweight title contention. The long-awaited shot could still be awhile.
Champion Frankie Edgar and top contender Gray Maynard are both recovering from injuries, and UFC President Dana White announced that Anthony "Showtime" Pettis was next in line, if he gets past Clay Guida in June. A showdown with Maynard or Edgar should be the last thing on Miller's mind. He'll have his hands full with former WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson at UFC on Versus 5.
9) Anthony Pettis - People may call him "Showtime," but fans may have to start calling him Neo after the Matrix-like kick Anthony Pettis delivered on Ben Henderson at WEC 53. Pettis ended his WEC tenure on a high note by securing his first major MMA title, making the SportsCenter Top Ten and earning a UFC title shot. The latter has recently been clouded in uncertainty as there was no clear-cut winner in the UFC 125 championship bout between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard.
Instead of waiting for a title shot, Pettis is looking to stay warm in a "TUF" 13 Finale bout against Clay Guida. He won't have to worry about staying warm. A bout against Guida is more like a heat stroke.
10) Melvin Guillard - Coming off a huge TKO victory over Evan Dunham at UFC: Fight for the Troops 2, "The Young Assassin" Melvin Guillard has finally found his stride. The move to Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico has done wonders for Guillard, who is 7-1 in his last eight bouts. He is slated to face Shane Roller at UFC 132.
Featherweight (145-Pound Limit)
6 of 7
1) Jose Aldo - UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo met a stiffer test than expected in Mark Hominick at UFC 129.
Coming off a neck and shoulder injury, Aldo lost steam early in the bout, but he was able to lean on his underrated grappling to pull out the victory.
His second UFC title defense is expected to be against Chad "Money" Mendes at a date that has yet to be decided.
2) Manny Gamburyan - Oh Manny...Oh Manny...Oh Manny. After flailing a taunt reminiscent of the Diaz brothers, Gamburyan found himself on the wrong end of a Jose Aldo bomb that had him scrambling for his senses. On the ground, Aldo finished the fight with a barrage of vicious uppercuts.
It was a disappointing loss for Gamburyan in a bout where he really struggled to find his range. He was expected to make his UFC return at UFC 128 against Raphael Assuncao, but a back injury forced him off the card. At UFC on Versus 4, Gamburyan will make his return against former lightweight Tyson Griffin.
3) Chad Mendes - Chad "Money" Mendes continued his flawless ways at UFC 126, where he took a unanimous decision win over top 10 ranked veteran Michihiro Omigawa. According to UFC President Dana White, Mendes is next in line for a featherweight title fight. His improved hands and world class wrestling makes him an interesting match-up for current champion Jose Aldo.
4) Diego Nunes - Diego Nunes has quietly climbed into UFC title contention. With two victories over top 10 opposition, Nunes has yet to be featured on a UFC or WEC main card. He took the biggest victory of his career at UFC 125 with a split decision win over former WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown, who was previously ranked at number three. In June, Nunes gets to welcome former two-time lightweight title contender Kenny Florian to the featherweight division.
5) Michihiro Omigawa - Michihiro Omigawa's five-fight win streak and UFC return was spoiled by Team Alpha Male member Chad Mendes at UFC 126. The talk heading into the bout was how Omigawa would be able to deal with Mendes' takedowns and top control. It was a disappointing loss for the 35-year-old Japanese native, who has bested some of the best featherweights in the world. He'll get a chance to redeem himself at UFC 131 when he takes on Darren Elkins.
6) Hatsu Hioki - After defeating explosive Brazilian knockout artist Marlon Sandro for the Sengoku featherweight title, Hatsu Hioki kept the ball rolling at Shooto Tradition 2011, where he submitted Donald Sanchez in the second round with a triangle choke. Hioki will likely stay in Japan to defend his newly-acquired Sengoku title, but if he hopes to climb the ranks, the Japanese star may have to bring his talents to western shores.
7) Marlon Sandro - The potential is definitely there, but some of the hype surrounding Marlon Sandro may have been a bit hasty. At Soul of Fight, Sandro lost his Sengoku featherweight title in convincing fashion to top 10 ranked opponent Hatsu Hioki. We'll see if the Brazilian can get back on track to being the dominant featherweight many believe he can be. On February 23, Sandro signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator Fighting Championships.
8) Joe Warren - Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren may have earned the unanimous decision nod over Marcos Galvao, but it was far from easy. Many even scored the bout in Galvao's favor. Even though the bout ended in controversy, it was held at a catch weight, and the former U.S. Olympian should be commended for earning the victory over a larger opponent.
9) Mark Hominick - There is no doubt that Mark Hominick is disappointed by the outcome of his UFC featherweight title bout with Jose Aldo, but he certainly doesn't have anything to be ashamed of. When most counted him out, Hominick came out and put up a solid effort against a guy many consider one of the top three pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
10) Dustin Poirier - Dustin Poirier made the most out of a huge opportunity at UFC 125. After featherweight champion Jose Aldo was sidelined with an injury, top contender Josh Grispi took the fight against Poirier instead of waiting around for a title shot. Poirier stepped in and shocked fans with a dominant unanimous decision victory. "The Diamond" returns to the UFC octagon on June 11 to take on Jason Young.
Bantamweight (135-pound limit)
7 of 7
1) Dominick Cruz - Dominick Cruz continued his impressive streak of dominance in his WEC 53 routing of top contender Scott Jorgensen.
The victory was a historical moment in the sport as Cruz became the first ever UFC Bantamweight champion. After the win, Cruz expressed interest in his first UFC title defense being against the only man to defeat him, "The California Kid" Urijah Faber.
The long-awaited showdown between the two fighters is signed and scheduled to go down in the main event of UFC 132.
2) Joseph Benavidez - In a world with no Dominick Cruz, Joseph Benavidez would most likely be the fighter with all the accolades. In his UFC debut, Benavidez was featured in the prelims against Ian Loveland at UFC 128. He picked up the unanimous decision in an entertaining scrap that could've easily made the main card.
3) Brian Bowles - Déjà vu is the perfect term to describe former WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles' first-round submission win over Damacio Page at UFC on Versus 3. A little over two years ago, he submitted Page in the second round with the same submission, a guillotine choke. After being on the shelf for a year with multiple injuries, Bowles is back in the mix for the bantamweight title. He faces a top ten opponent in Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 132.
4) Scott Jorgensen - After finally securing a shot at WEC/UFC gold, Scott Jorgensen ran into a brick wall in UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz at WEC 53. It was a disappointing loss for Jorgensen, who was riding a five-fight win streak. He shouldn't keep his head down for long after putting up a valiant effort against a man many consider one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. It's a new year, and fans can look forward to "Young Guns" making noise on the big stage. He is expected to face Ken Stone at the "TUF" 13 Finale.
5) Urijah Faber - It was a colossal moment for fans all over the world to finally see "The California Kid" Urijah Faber step into a UFC octagon. Faber is widely considered as one of the pioneers of the lighter weight classes, and he didn't disappoint in his UFC debut, taking an exciting unanimous decision victory over former WEC champion Eddie Wineland. At UFC 132, Faber will take the bantamweight division to new heights when he headlines a UFC pay-per-view against bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
6) Miguel Torres - Since joining trainer Firas Zahabi at Tristar Gym, former WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres has taken his game to another level. The hasty, overaggressive slugger from long ago has refined his game with improved technical efficiency and a more methodical approach. In the WEC's swan song, Torres defeated Charlie Valencia. Afterwards, he made his UFC debut at UFC 126, where he defeated Antonio Banuelos by unanimous decision. A really tough bout against Demetrious Johnson lies ahead for the former champion at UFC 130.
7) Takeya Mizugaki - Takeya Mizugaki nearly slipped in his UFC debut against Reuben Duran. At UFC on Versus 3, two judges gave Mizugaki the split decision nod, but the victory was far from impressive. Inconsistencies continue to haunt the Japanese fighter, who is 3-3 in his last six fights. Mizugaki will have to improve if he hopes to climb the bantamweight hierarchy. He'll face a stern challenge in former WEC bantamweight champion Brian Bowles at UFC 132.
8) Brad Pickett - Brad Pickett is a name often overlooked in the Bantamweight division. In his last 11 bouts, Pickett has compiled a record of 10-1, with the one loss coming to former title contender Scott Jorgensen. He took a unanimous decision win over Ivan Menjivar at WEC 53. The UFC was mulling over the possibility of matching Pickett with former champion Miguel Torres at UFC 130, but Pickett was forced out of the bout due to injury.
9) Demetrious Johnson - Demetrious Johnson should be nicknamed "spoiler." At WEC 52, he spoiled the return of former top ten Bantamweight Damacio Page with a third-round submission victory. As great as that win was, it couldn't compare to his convincing UFC 126 unanimous decision win over Japanese legend and UFC newcomer Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto. Johnson's next taste of big stage action will be at UFC 130 against former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres.
10) Masakatsu Ueda - Masakatsu Ueda continued his road to redemption with a submission win over Ralph Acosta. This marks his second consecutive victory since losing the Shooto Featherweight Title to Shuichiro Katsumura in March 2010. Ueda's next bout could come against Russian grappler Farkhad "Frank" Sharipov, who was initially scheduled to face Ueda at Shootor's Legacy 1.
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