Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

---

Featherweight

1. Jose Aldo (18-1)
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)
A back injury took Gamburyan out of his scheduled March encounter with Raphael Assuncao, but the former WEC featherweight title challenger did not have to wait long for a new assignment. The “Pitbull” is now scheduled to return to the UFC on June 26, when he’ll welcome ex-lightweight Tyson Griffin to the overflowing 145-pound ranks.

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)
The self-proclaimed “baddest man on the planet” is also a man of many ambitions. With eyes on a 2012 Olympic wrestling bid, Warren also announced in March that he will drop to 135 pounds in order to partake in Bellator’s fifth-season bantamweight tournament. While he awaits his first defense as Bellator featherweight ace, Warren will take a 137-pound catchweight bout with Marcos "Louro" Galvao on April 16.

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: Patricio Freire, Mark Hominick, Erik Koch, Kazuyuki Miyata, Rani Yahya.

Continue Reading » MMA Bantamweight Rankings