Jose Aldo has tough challenges lined up for his return. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Featherweight
The violent Brazilian dynamo did not deliver one of his trademark knockouts April 30, but he did survive a late scare from Mark Hominick to win a decision in the UFC’s first featherweight title fight. Temporary on the mend to rehab a nagging neck injury, Aldo is expected to make his sophomore Octagon trip this fall. When he does, he’ll likely be defending his belt against dangerous former lightweight contender Kenny Florian.
2. Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2)
It seems the “Son of Shooto” is ready to leave the nest. Hioki vacated his Shooto 143-pound title on May 31 in a statement which discussed the fighter’s desire to “challenge a new stage.” Less than two weeks later, Hioki was in attendance at UFC 131 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, all but confirming that the longtime Japanese standout will soon make the leap stateside.
3. Chad Mendes (10-0)
While it appears that Mendes has been leapfrogged in the line for a shot at Jose Aldo’s UFC title, the unbeaten wrestler will still get a chance to add another big win to his resume come August. The 26-year-old Team Alpha Male prospect will take on Brazilian submission stylist Rani Yahya at UFC 133.
4. Kenny Florian (14-5)
“KenFlo” faced a stiff test in his June 11 featherweight debut and was forced to struggle through a tough opening round against Diego Nunes before taking the driver’s seat in the second and third. Given his prior accomplishments at 155 pounds, Florian’s unanimous decision win put him directly in line for a crack at Jose Aldo’s featherweight title, a matchup which could materialize this October.
5. 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 will welcome ex-lightweight Tyson Griffin to the overflowing 145-pound ranks.
6. Marlon Sandro (17-2)
With teammate Jose Aldo currently running the 145-pound show in the UFC, Sandro will venture to become his Bellator counterpart when he enters the Chicago-based promotion’s eight-man “Summer Series” featherweight tournament. Up first for the hard-hitting Brazilian is countryman Genair da Silva, or “Junior PQD,” who enters their June 25 matchup having finished five of his last six opponents.
7. Diego Nunes (16-2)
At least for the time being, Nunes won’t have to worry about fighting teammate Jose Aldo. Despite a strong opening round, the 28-year-old “Gun” came up short in his June 11 bout with former lightweight contender Kenny Florian, dropping the last two frames on the judges’ scorecards. Nunes has since stated that he is considering a move stateside to improve his training regimen.
8. Joe Warren (7-1)
If Warren isn’t, as he claims, “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” he’s at least among the busiest. The 34-year-old Bellator featherweight champ has eyes on a bid in the promotion’s fall bantamweight tournament, as well as thoughts of competing at the 2012 London Olympics. Before any of that, however, Warren will have to defend his strap against Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, the man he controversially decisioned in June 2010 to earn his shot at the title.
9. Dustin Poirier (10-1)
Poirier had his coming-out party at January’s UFC 125, where he stunned the favored Josh Grispi, and looked to follow the upset with a strong performance against Jason Young at UFC 131. The 21-year-old “Diamond” did just that, stifling the Englishman’s striking assault with damaging punches and takedowns of his own, and earning a unanimous nod after three.
10. Patricio Freire (17-1)
One half of Bellator’s highlight reel-producing “Pitbull Brothers,” Freire propelled himself into the rankings with a trio of strong wins -- knockouts of Georgi Karakhanyan and Wilson Reis, followed by a decision over Daniel Straus -- which saw the Brazilian claim the promotion’s fourth-season featherweight tournament crown. Up next for the younger Pitbull is a July 23 title rematch with Bellator featherweight champ Joe Warren, who controversially outpointed Freire in June 2010.
Other contenders: Darren Elkins, Mark Hominick, Erik Koch, Michihiro Omigawa, Rani Yahya.
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