Bantamweight
1. Dominick Cruz (22-1)
When he has not been besieged by injuries, Cruz has made his bones by dominating Team Alpha Male. With the UFC bantamweight title back in his grasp, Cruz now has the ability to put another W in his column against Urijah Faber’s brigade: “The Dominator” will defend his 135-pound title against undefeated puncher Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.2. T.J. Dillashaw (13-3)
Many thought Dillashaw won his first fight with Raphael Assuncao back in October 2013, but the former UFC bantamweight champion gained revenge at UFC 200, soundly outworking and outpointing Assuncao in his first performance since losing the UFC title to Dominick Cruz in January. Dillashaw may not be far from another crack at UFC gold, but for now, he will need to wait behind former Team Alpha Male teammate Cody Garbrandt, who faces Dominick Cruz for the title on Dec. 30 at UFC 207. Dillashaw, meanwhile, will face John Lineker at the event.3. Marlon Moraes (17-4-1)
Moraes has won 12 fights in a row and is perhaps the finest fighter under World Series of Fighting employ. While fans dream of a day when the Brazilian dynamo takes his act to the UFC, Moraes is due for the fifth defense of his WSOF bantamweight title on Dec. 31 at Madison Square Garden, where he takes on fellow countryman Josenaldo Silva at WSOF 34.4. Cody Garbrandt (10-0)
With a 10-0 pro MMA record, massive punching power and his Team Alpha Male affiliation, Garbrandt seems like as appealing a foil as you could get for Dominick Cruz at 135 pounds. As such, “No Love” has been granted the next crack at “The Dominator” and the UFC bantamweight title, as well as another chance for Team Alpha Male to get some redemption over its tormentor come UFC 207 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.5. Jimmie Rivera (20-1)
Rivera has won 19 straight bouts, has not lost a pro fight in over eight years and is coming off a sound domination of Urijah Faber in September. Now, “The Terror” can vault even further into UFC bantamweight title contention when the promotion heads to Phoenix on Jan. 15. There, he takes on Bryan Caraway in a pairing of emerging 135-pound contenders.6. Urijah Faber (33-10)
At 37 years old and having lost three of his last four, with four cracks at UFC titles behind him, it seemed only rational that Urijah Faber would be pondering a retirement in the near future. Now, “The California Kid” has made it official, stating that his Dec. 17 bout with Brad Pickett at UFC on Fox 22 in his Sacramento, California, backyard would be the last in his storied fighting career.7. Raphael Assuncao (23-5)
Perpetually on the fringes of bantamweight title contention, Assuncao was hoping a Dec. 9 date with Aljamain Sterling in Albany, New York, could help his profile and boost him further along in the 135-pound rankings. However, Sterling was forced out of the bout for undisclosed reasons, nixing the bout.8. Bryan Caraway (21-7)
Caraway earned his breakthrough win in May, taking a split decision over the previously unbeaten Aljamain Sterling. “Kid Lightning” will now return to action on Jan. 15 in Phoenix, where he takes on fellow rising contender Jimmie Rivera in a bout with significant implications for the UFC’s 135-pound title picture.9. Aljamain Sterling (12-1)
Upstart Sterling’s undefeated record was snatched away in May, when Bryan Caraway triumphed over him via split decision. “The Funkmaster” was looking to get back into the swing of things in his home state on Dec. 9, with a fight against tough contender Raphael Assuncao, but Sterling was forced off of the card for unspecified reasons, canceling the bout.10. Thomas Almeida (22-1)
When Cody Garbrandt sent him to sleep in less than three minutes in May, it marked the first time Almeida had lost a pro fight. How would the 25-year-old prospect respond to his first loss when he returned to action in front of his hometown crowd in Sao Paulo, Brazil? Almeida put on a show on Nov. 19, battering Alberto Morales en route to a brutal second-round stoppage.Other Contenders: Darrion Caldwell, Eduardo Dantas, John Lineker, Takeya Mizugaki, Eddie Wineland.
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