10 Fighters We May See in the UFC Flyweight Division
Back in early June, prior to UFC 131, it was announced by Dana White that the UFC would be adding a flyweight division "like really soon... possibly by year's end".
As soon as Dana announced that, people immediately began to speculate on how the division would look.
Dana has been reluctant to add a super heavyweight division because there isn't enough talent, so you'd have to assume that Dana would be sure to bring in the best talent possible for the flyweight division, right?
So who would he bring in? Tachi Palace has a lot of flyweight fighters, you have to assume he'd get many from there.
What UFC bantamweights would drop down to the division?
Here are ten fighters that you may see in the UFC flyweight division.
Ian McCall
1 of 11Ian McCall (10-2) is a flyweight currently fighting for Tachi Palace, and is the No. 1 contender to the flyweight championship.
McCall has also fought in the WEC in the bantamweight division, where he earned a record of 1-2, with one of those losses coming to Dominick Cruz, who he went three rounds with.
He is also a very well rounded fighter, with 4 wins coming by (T)KO, 2 by submission, and 4 by decision.
Notable Victories: Jussier da Silva
Ulysses Gomez
2 of 11Ulysses Gomez (7-2) is a current flyweight in Tachi Palace, the former and first flyweight champion of Tachi Palace, and a one time competitor in the Bellator bantamweight division.
Gomez is a brown belt in BJJ, and five of his seven wins have come by submission. The other two were decisions.
His two losses have both also been decisions.
He recently lost the Tachi Palace Flyweight Championship to Darrell Montague.
Notable Victories: Luis Gonzales
Jussier Da Silva
3 of 11Jussier da Silva (9-1) is the former No. 1 flyweight in the world, and currently, a consensus top 10.
da Silva trains at Nova União, a very good camp, which has at one point or another has had BJ Penn, Jose Aldo, and Marlon Sandro.
da Silva was undefeated until his last fight, when he lost a unanimous decision to Ian McCall.
He is now set up to fight Mamoru Yamaguchi on August 5th.
Notable Victories: Alexandre Pantoja, Danny Martinez
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Darrell Montague
4 of 11Darrell Montague (9-1) is the current Tachi Palace Flyweight Champion.
Montague is another well rounded fighter on this list, with 4 wins by KO, 3 by submission, and two by decision.
His one loss came against Robert Peralta, who most recently fought (and won) at featherweight in Strikeforce.
Montague is set to defend his title against Ian McCall on August 5th.
Notable Victories: Ulysses Gomez, Luis Gonzales
Yasuhiro Urushitani
5 of 11Yasuhiro Urushitani (18-4-6) is probably one of the best and most experienced flyweight fighters in the world.
Urushitani is the current Shooto bantamweight champion. Before you say anything, the bantamweight championship in Shooto is 123 pounds.
Urushitani is also a decision machine, as 14 of his 18 victories are by decision, as are three of his four losses.
Urushitani is known as a very good counter striker and has been consistently ranked as a top level flyweight.
Notable Victories: Mamoru Yamaguchi, Junji Ikoma
Mamoru Yamaguchi
6 of 11Mamoru Yamaguchi (26-5-3) is the former Shooto bantamweight and flyweight Champion.
Yamaguchi is another flyweight fighter who is very experienced, and very good.
Yamaguchi has 10 (T)KO's, 4 submissions, and 12 decisions. He would appear to be a fighter who prefers to stand and bang, but he can hold his own on the ground as well.
Of his five losses, three were submissions, and two were decisions. So maybe he has to work his submission defense after all...
He is set up to fight Jussier da Silva on August 5th.
Notable Victories: Yuki Shoujou, Junji Ikoma, Yasuhiro Urushitani
Demetrious Johnson
7 of 11Demetrious Johnson (10-1) is the current No. 1 contender to the UFC bantamweight championship.
Johnson was one of the first fighters mentioned who could drop from the UFC's bantamweight division to the flyweight division whenever it is introduced.
Johnson stands at only 5'3'' and he would be prime for a drop to flyweight, where he would instantly be a favorite for the championship.
But, for now, he will be taking on Dominick Cruz at UFC on Versus 6 for the bantamweight title.
Notable Victories: Miguel Torres, Kid Yamamoto, Damacio Page
Joseph Benavidez
8 of 11Joseph Benavidez (14-2) is a one-time title challenger to the WEC bantamweight championship.
Benavidez was another fighter than many people thought of when the idea of a flyweight class was first introduced, as he stands at only 5'4''.
Benavidez already has two losses to the current champion, Dominick Cruz, and that would make people wonder if he would keep trying at bantamweight, or immediately drop to flyweight.
Notable Victories: Ian Loveland, Rani Yahya, Miguel Torres
Kid Yamamoto
9 of 11Kid Yamamoto (18-4 [1 NC]) is the former Hero's 2005 Lightweight Grand Prix winner.
Yamamoto has had many of his fights at 155 pounds, because it was the lowest class that there was in Hero's, but he is now fighting in the UFC bantamweight division.
Yamamoto stands at 5'4'', and it is said that Yamamoto walks around at about 143 pounds, so would a drop to 125 be that out of the question? I don't think so.
Yamamoto lost in his UFC debut to Demetrious Johnson, and is now set to fight against Damacio Page at UFC 135.
Notable Victories: Rani Yahya, Bibiano Fernandes, Genki Sudo, Caol Uno, Royler Gracie, Jeff Curran
Urijah Faber
10 of 11Urijah Faber (25-5) is the former WEC featherweight champion and a current UFC bantamweight.
It may be surprising for some people to see Faber on here, but after his last couple of fights, if he ever wants a title back, flyweight may be his only choice.
In his last four title fights, he is 0-4, with losses at featherweight to Mike Brown (twice), and Jose Aldo, and one loss at bantamweight to Dominick Cruz.
A drop to flyweight would instantly make Faber a contender, but one can only wonder what the cut may do to him.
If Kenny Florian can go from 185 to 145 looking for a title, I'm sure Faber could go from 145 to 125.
Notable Victories: Eddie Wineland, Jens Pulver (2x), Dominick Cruz, Bibiano Fernandes, Charlie Valencia, Takeya Mizugaki
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
