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Meet the new champ, same as the old champ.

Dominick Cruz -- a man to whom the concept of “ring rust” apparently does not apply -- returned to the Octagon in fine form on Jan. 17 and reclaimed the UFC bantamweight championship which was stripped from him in 2014. For the better part of five rounds, Cruz fluttered around T.J. Dillashaw, picking his shots with beautiful counterstrikes and executing well-timed takedowns. It was as if the former World Extreme Cagefighting ace had not just come off the sidelines from a 16-month injury layoff, which had been preceded by a three-year break between fights.

Cruz moves back to the top of the 135-pound rankings in this update, while former top dog Dillashaw drops to No. 2.

Meanwhile, as lightweight king Rafael dos Anjos prepares for a fight with featherweight champ Conor McGregor, the rankings just below the Brazilian are in flux. UFC Fight Night in Boston saw ex-Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez grind out perhaps the most significant win of his career, a three-round split decision against Anthony Pettis. The win moves Alvarez up one place to No. 3 and drops Pettis two places to No. 4. As a result, recent title contender Donald Cerrone -- who owns a head-to-head win against Alvarez from September 2014 -- slides into the No. 2 spot.

In other action, Invicta Fighting Championships strawweight titleholder Livia Renata Souza made an emphatic first title defense by knocking out previously unbeaten DeAnna Bennett in 90 seconds, moving “Livinha” up four places to No. 6 in the women’s 115-pound rankings. UFC big man Travis Browne holds his spot at No. 7 in the heavyweight ranks after a foul-marred stoppage win against Matt Mitrione.

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