Jose Aldo (center) will make his Octagon debut at UFC 129. | Sherdog.com
Featherweight
Aldo continues to rehab the back injury which forced him out of a slated Jan. 1 title defense against Josh Grispi. When he comes off the mend, the Brazilian phenom will launch straight into preparation for UFC 129 on April 30 in Toronto, where he’ll take on Mark Hominick in his first UFC title defense.
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 Hioki’s best performance to date.
3. Chad Mendes (10-0)
Mendes showcased his aggressive and well-rounded style in the biggest fight of his young career, as he pummeled a tough Michihiro Omigawa over three rounds at UFC 126. With the win, Mendes puts himself on the cusp of a UFC featherweight title shot.
4. Manny Gamburyan (11-5)
After winning three straight bouts at featherweight, Gamburyan ran into the wrecking machine known as Jose Aldo in September and was knocked out in the second round of their WEC title fight. The Armenian was expected to make his return to the UFC against Raphael Assuncao at UFC 128, but a back injury has forced him from that matchup.
5. Michihiro Omigawa (12-9-1)
Omigawa’s return to the Octagon was not a pleasant one, as the Yoshida Dojo product was beaten up on the feet and on the floor by hot prospect Chad Mendes at UFC 126. With the loss, Omigawa is 8-2-1 as a featherweight but 0-3 inside the confines of the UFC. The 35-year-old judoka is expected to return against fellow former lightweight Darren Elkins at UFC 131 on June 11.
6. Marlon Sandro (17-2)
Sandro’s fearsome punching power was no match for the rangier, slicker and more technical Hatsu Hioki, who took apart the Brazilian over five rounds to capture the Sengoku featherweight title on Dec. 30. Following the loss, the Nova Uniao black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu was granted his release from the promotion and signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator Fighting Championships. Sandro will not compete in Bellator’s upcoming Season 4 featherweight tourney, but he is expected to make his debut for the company in the coming months.
7. Diego Nunes (16-1)
Since hooking up with top Brazilian team Nova Uniao, “The Gun” has showed marked improvement with each appearance. At UFC 125 on Jan. 1, Nunes took his game to another level, outstriking former featherweight ruler Mike Thomas Brown en route to a split decision win. For his next challenge, Nunes will welcome former lightweight title contender Kenny Florian to the 145-pound division on June 11.
8. Joe Warren (6-1)
While it’s tough to say whether Warren is, as he claims, “the baddest man on the planet,” the former Greco-Roman wrestling champion showed otherworldly toughness in his Sept. 2 bout with Joe Soto. Warren came back from a hellacious beating in the fight’s opening round to knock out Soto and take the Bellator featherweight title 33 seconds into round two.
9. Dustin Poirier (9-1)
Prior to UFC 125, few fans knew Poirier’s name. However, after a crushing display of offense against the heavily favored and well-regarded Josh Grispi, it is fair to say that the 21-year-old “Diamond” has emerged as another young stud in the 145-pound division. The Tim Credeur-trained fighter will take a further step up in competition when he meets Brazilian grappling whiz Rani Yahya at UFC 131 on June 11.
10. Josh Grispi (14-2)
Jose Aldo withdrew from their Jan. 1 bout with a neck injury. Instead, “The Fluke” made his UFC debut against Dustin Poirier, who shocked the Massachusetts native in a dominant unanimous decision, halting Grispi’s 10-fight win streak. Grispi will get back on the horse this summer, as he is expected to meet George Roop at “The Ultimate Fighter 13” Finale on June 4.
Other contenders: Bibiano Fernandes, Mark Hominick, Erik Koch, Hiroyuki Takaya, Rani Yahya.
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