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Bantamweight
1. T.J. Dillashaw (16-3)
Nothing quite slams the door on a rivalry like back-to-back knockouts. Dillashaw did just that in the UFC 227 headliner with his second finish in as many outings against former Team Alpha Male training partner Cody Garbrandt. The Duane Ludwig protege has won eight of his last nine fights in the Octagon and is securely in the Greatest of All-Time discussion for his division. A showdown with Henry Cejudo will be next for Dillashaw at UFC Fight Night in Brooklyn on Jan. 19 with the 125-pound belt on the line.2. Cody Garbrandt (11-2)
Once fast-tracked to the top of the bantamweight division as one of the promotion’s favored stars, Garbrandt likely will not sniff another title shot as long as T.J. Dillashaw holds the belt. That, of course, is a product of back-to-back knockout losses to his rival, the most recent coming in the opening stanza at UFC 227. It is nonetheless important to remember that the 27-year-old “No Love” began his career with 11 consecutive triumphs and still has plenty of interesting matchups to consider in the Octagon, whether they involve a title or not.3. Raphael Assuncao (27-5)
Assuncao just keeps winning. Whether that nets him a bantamweight title shot remains to be seen. The 35-year-old Brazilian tasted victory for the 11th time in 12 Octagon appearances at UFC 226, where he captured a unanimous verdict over Rob Font. A title shot remains the ever-elusive goal for Assuncao, who will next rematch Marlon Moraes in the UFC Fight Night 144 headliner in Fortaleza, Brazil, on Feb. 2.4. Marlon Moraes (21-5-1)
Moraes made an emphatic case to become the bantamweight division’s No. 1 contender in waiting with his 33-second knockout of Jimmie Rivera at UFC Fight Night 131 in Utica, New York. The former World Series of Fighting champion has won 16 of his last 17 bouts, and his only defeat during that time was a contentious split decision setback against Raphael Assuncao at UFC 212. Moraes will get a chance to avenge that defeat when he faces Assuncao in the UFC Fight Night 144 main event on Feb. 2.5. Jimmie Rivera (22-2)
It definitely wasn’t one for the record books, but coming off a brutal head-kick KO loss to Marlon Moraes, Rivera will take a victory any way he can get it. The Team Tiger Schulmann representative returned to the win column at UFC 228 with a nondescript decision triumph over former flyweight title challenger John Dodson. Regardless of the nature of the win, Rivera has won six of seven in the Octagon and remains one of the top talents in the division.6. John Lineker (31-8)
Lineker was in prime form against Brian Kelleher at UFC 224, where he eventually put away his American counterpart with a brutal left hook 3:43 into the third frame of their featured encounter. “Hands of Stone” has won eight of his last nine inside the Octagon, with his only defeat during that time coming at the hands of reigning 135-pound king T.J. Dillashaw. The heavy-handed Brazilian will square off against returning former champion Dominick Cruz in his next appearance at UFC 233.7. Darrion Caldwell (12-1)
Bellator’s reigning bantamweight king made a successful return to the featherweight division at Bellator 204, where he stopped UFC vet Noad Lahat with ground-and-pound 2:46 into the second round of their headlining encounter. Next, “The Wolf, will travel to the Far East to vie for Rizin Fighting Federation’s inaugural bantamweight crown against Kyoji Horiguchi in a cross-promotional matchup on New Year’s Eve in Saitama, Japan.8. Kyoji Horiguchi (25-2)
It was business as usual for Horiguchi at Rizin Fighting Federation 11, as the former UFC title challenger outpointed Hiromasa Ogikubo in a 132-pound contest to run his winning streak to 10 fights. Pound-for-pound great and reigning UFC flyweight king Demetrious Johnson is the only man to best the Japanese standout in his last 20 professional MMA appearances. Horiguchi’s last seven triumphs have come under the Rizin Fighting Federation banner, and his stock wasn’t hurt in a game defeat against Tenshin Nasukawa in a kickboxing bout at Rizin 13. Horiguchi will attempt to become the Japanese organization’s inaugural bantamweight champion when he meets Bellator 135-pound titlist Darrion Caldwell in a cross-promotional duel on New Year’s Eve.9. Aljamain Sterling (16-3)
After entering the UFC as a red-hot prospect, Sterling had become something of a forgotten commodity of late. The “Funk Master” reminded the division that he remains a dangerous presence at UFC 228 with a wicked kneebar finish of Cody Stamann, who had been victorious in his first three Octagon appearances. Sterling has bounced back nicely from a 67-second knockout loss to Marlon Moraes this past December and has won four of his last five promotional appearances.10. John Dodson (20-10)
Dodson was content to let Jimmie Rivera lead in their UFC 228 encounter, and ultimately it cost him, as he dropped a lackluster decision to “El Terror.” The Jackson-Wink MMA stalwart has seen mixed results since moving to bantamweight, posting a 3-3 mark following an extended run as a 125-pound contender.Other Contenders: Manny Bermudez, Cody Stamann, Pedro Munhoz, Bryan Caraway, Alejandro Perez.
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