Jose Aldo (left) | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Featherweight
Aldo was set to make his UFC debut by defending his featherweight crown against Josh Grispi at UFC 125 on Jan. 1. However, an ongoing back injury forced him out of the fight and into treatment. The return for the 145-pound kingpin should come in the second quarter of 2011.
2. Hatsu Hioki (23-4-2)
In the most significant fight of his career, Hioki was brilliant in wresting the Sengoku featherweight crown from Marlon Sandro. Over five thrilling rounds, Hioki was clinical on the feet and otherworldly on the ground, threatening Sandro in every position for 25 minutes, in his best performance to date.
3. Manny Gamburyan (11-5)
With his corking of former WEC champion Mike Thomas Brown in April, Gamburyan earned his shot at Jose Aldo. However, when the two met at WEC 51 on Sept. 30, the tough Armenian had very little for Aldo, who leisurely strolled through the first round before turning up the heat and halting Gamburyan in the second, seemingly at will.
4. Michihiro Omigawa (12-8-1)
Omigawa is set for a stateside return, having parlayed his successful career rehabilitation at 145 pounds into another run in the UFC. His return bout is a tough one, however, as he will meet unbeaten prospect Chad Mendes at UFC 128 on March 19 in Newark, N.J.
5. Marlon Sandro (17-2)
Sandro’s fearsome punching power was no match for the rangier, slicker, more technical Hatsu Hioki, who took apart the Brazilian on the feet. Sandro, a Nova União black belt, was also in constant danger on the floor against the Japanese standout. Sandro dropped the unanimous decision, with his consolation prize being the respect he received for the toughness he exhibited in defeat.
6. Diego Nunes (16-1)
Since hooking up with Nova Uniao, “The Gun” has showed marked improvement each and every time he has stepped in the cage. At UFC 125 on Jan. 1, Nunes took it to another level, outstriking former featherweight ruler Mike Thomas Brown en route to a split decision win, his most important to date.
7. Mike Thomas Brown (24-7)
Brown was a prohibitive favorite entering his Jan. 1 bout with Brazilian Diego Nunes. However, Nunes’ stand-up ability and surgical kicks proved a difficult hurdle for the former WEC featherweight champ, who dropped a split decision and now seems like just another face in a deepening 145-pound class.
8. Joe Warren (6-1)
Warren claiming to be “the baddest man on the planet” seems a tad dubious. However, the former Greco-Roman wrestling world champion showed in his Sept. 2 bout with Joe Soto that he was otherworldly tough, with some power to spare. He came back from a hellacious beating in the fight’s opening round to stop Soto and take Bellator’s featherweight title 33 seconds into round two.
9. Dustin Poirier (9-1)
Prior to UFC 125, few fans knew Poirier. However, after a crushing display of offense against the heavily favored and well-regarded Josh Grispi, it is fair to say the 21-year-old Poirier has emerged as another young stud in the 145-pound division.
10. Josh Grispi (14-2)
Grispi was set to challenge Jose Aldo for featherweight supremacy at UFC 125. However, because Aldo was forced out of the fight with a back injury, “The Fluke” instead squared off with Dustin Poirier, who shocked onlookers by pummeling him from pillar-to-post, taking a commanding unanimous decision and knocking him out of title contention.
Other contenders: Raphael Assuncao, Bibiano Fernandes, Mark Hominick, Chad Mendes, Hiroyuki Takaya.
* With his Dec. 31 loss to Hiroyuki Takaya, previously sixth-ranked Bibiano Fernandes falls to the contenders list.
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