Featherweight
1. Jose Aldo (26-2)
It is not the Conor McGregor rematch he assuredly wants, but Aldo is set for a Brazilian homecoming to unify the UFC featherweight crown. Aldo headline UFC 212 on June 3 in Rio de Janeiro against interim champion Max Holloway in what could easily be one of the most thrilling bouts of the entire year.2. Max Holloway (17-3)
It took 10 straight wins in the UFC and an interim title strap, but Holloway finally has the sort of big fight for which he has been angling. Following his December blowout of Anthony Pettis to win his interim trinket and his subsequent “Where’s Jose Waldo?” media campaign, the 25-year-old Hawaiian dynamo is now set to unify the featherweight title against Jose Aldo at UFC 212 on June 3 in Rio de Janeiro.3. Frankie Edgar (22-5-1)
Maybe a second loss to the legendary Jose Aldo cooled expectations for Edgar, or maybe his November win over Jeremy Stephens was a little too competitive for some peoples' tastes. Regardless, many thought fast-rising Mexican prospect Yair Rodriguez would be able to jump several tiers in opposition and knock off Edgar at UFC 211 in Dallas. Instead, “The Answer” absolutely pulverized Rodriguez, destroying his left eye en route to a doctor stoppage after 10 minutes.4. Cub Swanson (25-7)
Swanson, a perennial top-10 featherweight and perhaps the best fighter in the division to never get a crack at a WEC or UFC title, deserved better than a five-round main event with Conor McGregor training partner Artem Lobov. Nonetheless, Swanson accepted the dubious headlining fight for the UFC's return to Nashville, Tennessee, and then performed in true Cub Swanson fashion, for better or for worse: Swanson indulged Lobov's free-swinging style and ate 123 significant strikes, more than any fight in his pro career, but still comfortably prevailed via unanimous decision after an entertaining brawl that arguably had no business going 25 minutes.5. Ricardo Lamas (17-5)
Often a forgotten man at 145 pounds since his unsuccessful February 2014 UFC title challenge against Jose Aldo, Lamas remains one of the division’s finest competitors, but he needs to draw some attention to himself. He may be now receiving a gift, as he has become an object of fighting desire for Chan Sung Jung, leading Lamas to publicly tell “The Korean Zombie” to “be careful what you ask for.”6. Anthony Pettis (19-6)
Pettis has gone just 1-1 as a featherweight in the UFC, but after blowing weight for an interim title fight with Max Holloway and losing via third-round knockout in December, “Showtime” is targeting a return to 155 pounds. The onetime UFC lightweight champion will move to his former weight class to meet longtime divisional standout Jim Miller at UFC 213 on July 8 in Las Vegas.7. Chan Sung Jung (15-4)
After three and a half years away from MMA fulfilling mandatory military service in his native South Korea, “The Korean Zombie” blew up Dennis Bermudez in less than three minutes in his return on Feb. 4. The 30-year-old action fighter has been quick to target a path back up the UFC ranks toward another potential title shot, calling out another former UFC title challenger, Ricardo Lamas, for a bout later this year.8. Darren Elkins (22-5)
Elkins’ bout with Mirsad Bektic at UFC 209 was a bloody beatdown for two rounds, and Elkins was on the business end of it. However, with a volley of punches and a shocking head kick, “The Damage” became the first man to defeat the touted prospect, authoring a major upset and one of the best in-fight comebacks in MMA history. It gave the Indiana native his fourth straight win in 18 months, a run that includes quality victories over Chas Skelly and Godofredo Castro.9. Doo Ho Choi (14-2)
Given the sheer level of violence that Choi helped bring to the table in his December loss to Cub Swanson, it stood to reason that MMA fans would be hot for his next booking. While a bout with Renan Barao in April did not materialize, “The Korean Superboy” is now set to return to the Octagon in a highly appealing pairing of up-and-coming featherweights: Choi is slated to face free-swinging Andre Fili at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim, California.10. Patricio Freire (26-4)
The last two years were brutal for Freire. He lost the Bellator MMA featherweight title to a man he had already beaten twice, Daniel Straus, and then moved up to 155 pounds to face former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, only to retire in the second round after breaking his shin. “Pitbull” got back on track on April 21, returning to 145 pounds and guillotining Straus to regain his Bellator title. The question remains whether or not the company can find the Brazilian some fresh talent to face, as “Pitbull” already seems lined up to defend against Daniel Weichel -- a man he knocked out in June 2015.Other Contenders: Renato Carneiro, Andre Fili, Jason Knight, Brian Ortega, Yair Rodriguez.
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