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Featherweight
1. Alexander Volkanovski (25-2) | UFC [1]
Volkanovski performed admirably in the UFC 284 headliner, giving Islam Makhachev everything he could handle for five rounds before ultimately falling in a closely-contested unanimous decision defeat. The reigning UFC featherweight champion undeniably raised his stock in the loss, and he has a legitimate claim to a rematch against his Dagestani rival. However, there’s also business to attend to in his weight class, where Yair Rodriguez claimed interim gold with a dominant performance in the UFC 284 co-main event. While Volkanovski can clearly hang with the world’s best at lightweight, he will turn his attention to a 145-pound title unification bout next against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290.2. Patricio Freire (35-5) | Bellator [2]
Freire was methodical in victory against Kleber Koike Erbst at Rizin 40, as he denied his foe’s takedown attempts and landed solid offense on the feet en route to a unanimous decision triumph against the Japanese promotion’s featherweight champion. “Pitbull,” who is currently on his third reign as Bellator’s 145-pound king, has won 10 of his last professional appearances dating back to 2017. After previously holding the lightweight belt, Freire will make his second bid to become a two-division champ when he meets bantamweight king Sergio Pettis at Bellator 297.3. Max Holloway (24-7) | UFC [3]
Holloway showed no signs of decline in the UFC on ESPN 44 headliner, as he outdueled surging Englishman Arnold Allen for five rounds to capture a unanimous decision triumph in Kansas City. Given his 0-3 mark against Alexander Volkanovski, Holloway remains in featherweight limbo as long as the Aussie holds the crown at 145 pounds. While a fourth meeting between the two rivals still seems a bit farfetched, “Blessed” is more than capable of taking out the rest of the division’s contenders, as he proved by ending Allen’s 10-bout UFC winning streak.4. Yair Rodriguez (15-3, 1 NC) | UFC [4]
Rodriguez authored perhaps the most complete performance of his career to date, as he battered Josh Emmett en route to a second-round submission victory in the UFC 284 co-main event. “El Pantera” has lost just twice in 13 Octagon appearances, and he now has an interim championship belt to add to his trophy case. With Alexander Volkanovski coming up just short in his bid to become a two-division champion, a 145-pound title unification bout between the reigning champ and Rodriguez will go down at UFC 290.5. A.J. McKee (20-1) | Bellator [5]
McKee had his hands full with Rizin Fighting Federation lightweight king Roberto Satoshi de Souza on New Year’s Eve, but “Mercenary” was ultimately able to emerge with a unanimous decision triumph in the Rizin 40 headliner. The former Bellator featherweight king improves to 2-0 at 155 pounds and will next take part in the promotion’s lightweight grand prix, though he won’t get his desired first-round matchup with Usman Nurmagomedov. Instead, he’ll lock horns with Patricky Freire at a Bellator/Rizin co-promoted event on July 30.6. Arnold Allen (19-2) | UFC [6]
Allen went toe-to-toe with former featherweight champion Max Holloway in the UFC on ESPN 44 main event, but ultimately “Almighty” couldn’t match the striking volume and variety of his Hawaiian opponent in a unanimous decision defeat. A victory might have made the Englishman the division’s No. 1 contender-in-waiting, but instead, Allen sees a 10-fight winning streak in the UFC came to an end. Allen can perhaps find solace in the path of Yair Rodriguez, who rebounded from a loss to Holloway in November 2021 to earn his way to a 145-pound title shot less than two years later.7. Josh Emmett (18-3) | UFC [7]
Emmett had no answers for Yair Rodriguez at UFC 284, as he was outgunned on the feet before succumbing to a triangle choke at the 4:19 mark of Round 2 in their interim featherweight title tilt at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. That snaps a five-bout winning streak for the Team Alpha Male product, who had emerged as a contender with recent victories over the likes of Calvin Kattar, Dan Ige and Shane Burgos. Next up, Emmett will square off against rising contender Ilia Topuria on June 24.8. Brian Ortega (15-3, 1 NC) | UFC [8]
Misfortune befell Ortega in the UFC on ABC 3 headliner when he suffered a shoulder injury in the opening round of his featherweight showdown with Yair Rodriguez at UBS Arena in Elmont., N.Y.. The injury rendered “T-City” unable to continue, and the former 145-pound title challenger could be on the shelf for a significant period of time. When Ortega is ready to return to action — whether that be in a rematch with Rodriguez or against a different opponent — he will look to bounce back from a stretch that has seen him drop three of his last four Octagon appearances.9. Calvin Kattar (23-7) | UFC [9]
An awkward landing following a leaping attack led to Kattar suffering a knee injury in the opening round of his headlining showdown with Arnold Allen at UFC Fight Night 213. Though “The Boston Finisher” came out for the second round, it only took one low kick from his opponent to bring an end to the fight. Kattar, who has lost three of his last four Octagon appearances, could now face a lengthy recovery process before he returns to the cage.10. Movsar Evloev (17-0) | UFC [10]
Evloev held off a game effort from last-minute replacement foe Diego Lopes at UFC 288, as he pulled away for a unanimous decision triumph against the Octagon newcomer. The 29-year-old Russian is now perfect in seven promotional appearances, a ledger that includes triumphs over the likes of Dan Ige, Hakeem Dawodu and Nik Lentz. If all goes as planned, the former M-1 Global champ should be in line to face a ranked foe in his next outing.Other Contenders: Ilia Topuria, Chan Sung Jung, Bryce Mitchell, Giga Chikadze, Movlid Khaybulaev.
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