Ben Duffy/Sherdog.com illustration
Featherweight
1. Max Holloway (21-4)
Holloway remains the unquestioned king of the featherweight division. After a loss to Dustin Poirier in a bid for the interim lightweight crown this past April, “Blessed” returned to form at UFC 240, as he outstruck Frankie Edgar for the better part of 25 minutes in the evening’s main event at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The gives the Hawaiian 16 featherweight wins and 17 overall in UFC competition, and at 27 years old, he could just be getting started. Holloway’s most likely next opponent, Alexander Volkanovski, was in attendance for the UFC 240 bout, setting the stage for an interesting matchup later in 2019.2. Alexander Volkanovski (20-1)
Facing a man regarded as perhaps the greatest featherweight of all-time, Volkanovski left no doubt against Jose Aldo at UFC 237. The streaking Australian outworked the former champion for three rounds, cruising to a clear-cut unanimous decision triumph. With five consecutive 145-pound wins and seven in a row in UFC competition overall, Alexander “The Great” looks like a future featherweight title challenger.3. Brian Ortega (14-1)
Ortega was plenty game, but he was ultimately overwhelmed by the cumulative damage inflicted by featherweight champion Max Holloway in the UFC 231 headliner. “T-City” was ruled unable to come out before the fifth round and with that, his undefeated record was no more. Although Ortega hit Holloway with some solid shots in the third frame, the contest was dominated by the Hawaiian’s relentless offense. Ortega predicted multiple meetings with Holloway prior to the fight, but he likely has work to do before earning a rematch.4. Jose Aldo (28-5)
The magic Aldo had recaptured in his two previous wins over Jeremy Stephens and Renato Carneiro was nowhere to be found at UFC 237. Surging contender Alexander Volkanovski controlled the majority of their bout to win a unanimous decision in Rio de Janeiro and signal a changing of the guard. While it once appeared that Aldo would retire by the conclusion of 2019, UFC president Dana White revealed that the featherweight star signed a lengthy contract extension prior to UFC 237.5. Frankie Edgar (22-7-1)
Edgar may have seen his last best chance at capturing championship gold come and go in the UFC 240 main event. “The Answer” gave his usual gritty effort against Max Holloway at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, but it wasn’t enough to wrest the title from the talented Hawaiian. Even at 37 years old, Edgar vowed in his post-fight interview that he has plenty left in the tank. He’ll attempt to make another title run in a new division after announcing that his next UFC bout will take place at 135 pounds.6. Chad Mendes (18-5)
Mendes flashed his heavy hands early against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 232, but ultimately wilted under the Australian’s relentless offensive pressure in losing via second-round technical knockout. While the former featherweight title challenger looked sharp in stopping Myles Jury following a two-year USADA suspension, “Money” has lost three of his last four fights in the Octagon — all by KO or TKO. After plenty of rumors and speculation, Mendes officially announced his retirement in July.7. Zabit Magomedsharipov (17-1)
Magomedsharipov passed his toughest test to date at UFC 235, as he relied on his rangy striking and wrestling to outpoint veteran gatekeeper Jeremy Stephens at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old Dagestan native extended his UFC winning streak to five, the second-longest in the featherweight division behind only reigning champion Max Holloway. Magomedsharipov was supposed to square off against fellow featherweight contender Calvin Kattar in the UFC Boston co-main event on Oct. 18, but the Russian fighter was forced to withdraw. The contest is expected to be rebooked at a later date.8. Yair Rodriguez (11-2)
Rodriguez was on the verge of losing his second consecutive bout at UFC Fight Night Denver until he landed the elbow heard ‘round the world with one second remaining in his headlining clash with Chan Sung Jung. Not only does “Pantera” have an all-time knockout on his resume, but he regains some of the luster he lost in a lopsided defeat to Frankie Edgar in May 2017. The 26-year-old Mexican improved to 7-1 in the Octagon with his win over “The Korean Zombie.” Next, Rodriguez will get a bout in his home country when he meets Jeremy Stephens in the UFC Mexico City headliner on Sept. 21.9. Chan Sung Jung (15-5)
Coming off a last-second KO loss to Yair Rodriguez this past November, “The Korean Zombie” showed no ill affects from that heartbreaking defeat at UFC Greenville. Jung rocked Renato Carneiro with a two-punch combination at the outset and then finished his reeling foe with ground-and-pound from mount just 58 seconds after the contest began. Since returning from a lengthy hiatus due to military service, the 32-year-old South Korean has sandwiched first-round KO victories over Dennis Bermudez and Carneiro around the aforementioned setback to Rodriguez.10. Renato Carneiro (13-3-1)
Carneiro stumbled out of the gate and was never given a chance to recover at UFC Greenville, as he fell to Chan Sung Jung via technical knockout in just 58 seconds in their headlining encounter. After winning five of his first six appearances within the Las Vegas-based promotion, “Moicano” has suffered consecutive TKO defeats at the hands of Jung and Jose Aldo.Other Contenders: Shane Burgos, Patricio Freire, Jeremy Stephens, Josh Emmett, Calvin Kattar.
Continue Reading » Bantamweight