Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Featherweight

1. Max Holloway (18-3)

From the moment Holloway snatched the UFC featherweight title by knocking out the legendary Jose Aldo in Rio de Janeiro in June, it seemed like a foregone conclusion his first title defense would come against former UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar. In this case, there is nothing wrong with a foregone conclusion. The Holloway-Edgar bout now has a date: “Blessed” will look to take out another legend for his 12th straight Octagon win at UFC 218 on Dec. 2.

2. Jose Aldo (26-3)

Waiting for any Aldo fight is always unnerving, and in the wake of a June loss to Max Holloway that cost him the UFC featherweight title, the all-time greatest 145er started talking about a desire to try professional boxing instead of focusing on his next Octagon appearance. Nonetheless, Aldo is now officially lined up to rematch onetime UFC title challenger Ricardo Lamas in the UFC on Fox 26 co-feature on Dec. 16 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

3. Frankie Edgar (22-5-1)

The former UFC lightweight champion has fallen short in his two featherweight title challenges, dropping unanimous decisions to Jose Aldo on both occasions. Now, red-hot Hawaiian Max Holloway has the title, and with back-to-back wins over Jeremy Stephens and Yair Rodriguez, Edgar is right back in the championship hunt. “The Answer” will challenge Holloway at UFC 218 on Dec. 2 in what could prove to be a brilliant bout.

4. Ricardo Lamas (18-5)

A pair of impressive stoppages of Charles Oliveira and rising prospect Jason Knight have Lamas right back in UFC featherweight title contention. In order to get a second crack at the 145-pound throne, “The Bully” will need to beat the man who defeated him the first time he challenged for promotional gold. Lamas will rematch former 145-pound king Jose Aldo -- the Brazilian defeated him via five-round decision in February 2014 -- in the UFC on Fox 26 co-main event on Dec. 16 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

5. Cub Swanson (25-7)

One of the few longstanding top-10 featherweights who has not gotten a crack at UFC gold, Swanson is on the last fight of his current UFC contract and has been vocal about fighting it out and entering free agency in hopes of getting a plum deal. The 33-year-old may get his wish come December, but it will not be easy. Swanson will main event UFC Fight Night 123 on Dec. 9, taking on the undefeated Brian Ortega in Fresno, California.

6. Darren Elkins (23-5)

One of MMA’s quintessential grinders, Elkins has now won five straight fights, courtesy of his UFC on Fox 25 split decision over Dennis Bermudez. While “The Damage” has gone 12-3 in his last 15 Octagon appearances, his recent streak over quality opposition seems to be a reflection of his relocation to Team Alpha Male and the improvements it has roused in his overall game.

7. Brian Ortega (12-0, 1 NC)

After his July 2014 UFC debut, Ortega had his first-round submission of Mike de la Torre overturned after he popped for drostanolone. Since his steroid suspension, Ortega has been flawless, racking up four straight third-round stoppages over Thiago Tavares, Diego Brandao, Clay Guida and Renato Carneiro. Next time in the Octagon, Ortega gets a massive step up in competition and visibility, as “T-City” heads to Fresno, California, where he will face Cub Swanson at UFC Fight Night 123 on Dec. 9.

8. Chan Sung Jung (15-4)

With Jung returning from two and a half years of mandatory military service in his native South Korea, the MMA world was thrilled when “The Korean Zombie” returned in February and lanced Dennis Bermudez in mere minutes. It was then quickly heartbroken when Jung’s slated June bout with Ricardo Lamas fell apart after he was injured. Jung has since taken to social media to needle power-punching veteran Jeremy Stephens, angling for another potentially thrilling style matchup in the coming months.

9. Doo Ho Choi (14-2)

After the fight Choi enjoyed with Cub Swanson at UFC 206 in December, people would have been excited about nearly any future opponent for “The Korean Superboy,” but his pairing with fellow free-swinging prospect Andre Fili for UFC 214 on July 29 seemed especially good. Unfortunately, Choi suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out of the contest and will keep him on the shelf until late this year or early 2018.

10. Patricio Freire (26-4)

Freire seemingly closed out his feud with Daniel Straus in April, choking out his rival to take his third win in their four encounters. Now a two-time Bellator MMA featherweight champ, “Pitbull” will wind up defending his title against another man he has already beaten when he meets Daniel Weichel once more at Bellator 188 on Nov. 16 in Tel Aviv.

Other Contenders: Renato Carneiro, Andre Harrison, Calvin Kattar, Jason Knight, Yair Rodriguez.

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