Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Featherweight

1. Conor McGregor (19-3)

It has been just over a month and a half since McGregor's infamous and immortal tweet that proclaimed his retirement and exit from UFC 200. McGregor's tweet touched off one of the most politically provocative six weeks in the annals of MMA, but “The Notorious” one's beef with the UFC is on the back burner once again. The Irishman has officially signed on to rematch Nate Diaz, this time in the main event of UFC 202 on Aug. 20.

2. Jose Aldo (25-2)

Sidelined for more than 13 months with numerous injuries, Aldo was given a rude welcome back to the Octagon at UFC 194. The Brazilian’s long-awaited bout with Conor McGregor ended in brutal fashion with a one-punch knockout that halted Aldo’s remarkable 10-year, 18-fight unbeaten streak. Aldo will rematch Frankie Edgar for the interim featherweight championship at UFC 200 on July 9.

3. Frankie Edgar (20-4-1)

Still in search of another shot at the UFC featherweight title, Edgar left no doubt in his UFC 194 bout with Chad Mendes, starching “Money” with a left hook in the opening round. After the bout, UFC President Dana White told the former lightweight champ that he is next in line to challenge for 145-pound gold. With featherweight champion Conor McGregor in limbo, Edgar will take on Jose Aldo for the interim featherweight crown at the July 9 pay-per-view.

4. Max Holloway (16-3)

Holloway made it nine in a row by picking apart Ricardo Lamas and taking a lopsided unanimous decision in their UFC 199 encounter. Only 24 and already entering his fifth year as a UFC fighter, Holloway is undoubtedly in the running for a featherweight title shot; however, with the current mess atop the 145-pound division, exactly when that shot could materialize is anyone’s guess. In the meantime, Holloway said he is open to notching his 10th straight victory, preferably in his home state of Hawaii.

5. Chad Mendes (17-4)

After going 1-3 in his last four bouts, with back-to-back knockout losses to Conor McGregor and Frankie Edgar, Chad Mendes was lacking a clear direction in a division where he has been near the top of the heap for over six years. However, things went from bad to worse for the Team Alpha Male product on June 10, when the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced that Mendes had been flagged for a potential out of competition violation, after which the two-time UFC title challenger stated he failed to “do his homework” and would accept the prescribed punishment.

6. Cub Swanson (22-7)

Following back-to-back submission losses to Frankie Edgar and Max Holloway, Swanson got a much-needed victory on April 16, knocking off always-tough Brazilian Hacran Dias by unanimous decision. Swanson will now look to make it two in a row on Aug. 6 when he meets Japanese veteran Tatsuya Kawajiri at UFC Fight Night 92 in Salt Lake City.

7. Charles Oliveira (21-5, 1 NC)

Despite missing the 145-pound limit, which has been a recurring theme for him, Oliveira earned a nifty guillotine choke win over Myles Jury on Dec. 19. Should he be able to make the 145-pound limit, “do Bronx” will have a golden opportunity in his next outing to take a leap forward in contention, as he will welcome former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis to the featherweight division at the UFC on Fox 21 card on Aug. 27.

8. Ricardo Lamas (16-5)

Lamas had no answer for the reach and precise striking of Max Holloway at UFC 199, as “The Bully” failed to bring the fight to the floor and wound up on the wrong end of a unanimous decision. The former featherweight title contender was coming off an impressive November win over Diego Sanchez.

9. Jeremy Stephens (25-12)

Way back in November 2008, Stephens famously knocked out future UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos with a brutal uppercut. Fast forward almost eight years, and “Lil Heathen” can say he has properly beaten a former UFC champion. Onetime bantamweight king Renan Barao moved up to 145 pounds for their May 29 encounter, only to be thwarted by Stephens' defensive wrestling and power punching over 15 minutes, giving the Iowa native perhaps the biggest win of his career.

10. Hacran Dias (23-4-1)

Dias started strong but suffered multiple knockdowns and ultimately could not hang on the feet with hard-hitting veteran Cub Swanson in their April 16 encounter. The Nova Uniao fighter dropped a unanimous decision after three rounds, snapping a two-fight winning streak and leveling Dias’ UFC record at 3-3.

Other Contenders: Dennis Bermudez, Darren Elkins, Patricio Freire, Brian Ortega, Daniel Straus.

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