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Featherweight
1. Alexander Volkanovski (22-1) [1]
Volkanovski improved to 2-0 against Max Holloway at UFC 251, but victory in the rematch came by a much slimmer margin than it did in their first meeting. After Holloway rocked the Australian featherweight champion at the end of Rounds 1 and 2 to take an early lead on the scorecards, Volkanovski finished strong over the bout’s final 15 minutes to earn a contentious split-decision triumph in Abu Dhabi. That makes nine consecutive UFC victories and 19 straight professional triumphs overall for the City Kickboxing representative, who can now move past his rivalry with Holloway and focus on other contenders at 145 pounds. A showdown with Brian Ortega appears to be imminent.2. Max Holloway (21-6) [2]
Holloway had an improved strategy and performance in his rematch with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 251, but unfortunately for the talented Hawaiian, it still didn’t result in victory. After nearly dropping the Australian champion in both the first and second rounds, Holloway saw Volkanovski rally down the stretch for a contentious split-decision triumph in Abu Dhabi. While many observers thought “Blessed” deserved the nod, the ex-titlist is now 0-2 against Volkanovski and has lost three of his last four Octagon appearances overall. He will attempt to work his way back to title contention with a showdown against Calvin Kattar on Jan. 16.3. Brian Ortega (15-1, 1 NC) [3]
Nearly two years away from the cage served Ortega well, as he showcased a refined skill set in a unanimous decision triumph over Chan Sung Jung in the UFC Fight Night 180 headliner on Oct. 17 in Abu Dhabi. Not only did “T-City” bounce back from a beatdown at the hands of Max Holloway in a featherweight title bout in December 2018, but he likely earned himself a shot a current champion Alexander Volkanovski at a later date.4. Jose Aldo (28-7) [4]
Aldo appeared to be on the right track through three rounds against Petr Yan in their bantamweight title clash at UFC 251, but the Russian took over in the championship frames for a fifth-round TKO triumph. Aldo has been competitive in bouts against Yan and Marlon Moraes since dropping to 135 pounds but is still looking for his first victory since dropping down a division. A showdown with Marlon Vera is expected for UFC 255 on Nov. 21.5. Yair Rodriguez (12-2, 1 NC) [5]
Rodriguez had high expectations fighting on home soil, but his UFC Mexico City headlining matchup with Jeremy Stephens ended in just 15 seconds when “El Pantera” connected with an accidental eye poke. It was hardly the ending Rodriguez anticipated coming off a “Knockout of the Year” finish against Chan Sung Jung in November 2018, but he was able to settle the score with Stephens in their rematch at UFC on ESPN 6 in Boston, as he rode a multi-faceted kicking attack to a unanimous decision victory on Oct. 18. “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” Season 1 winner has lost just one of his 10 Octagon appearances. A matchup with Zabit Magomedsharipov was targeted for Aug. 29 before Rodriguez had to pull out due to injury.6. Chan Sung Jung (16-6) [6]
Jung never got out of first gear at UFC Fight Night 180, losing to Brian Ortega by a trio of 50-45 tallies in a featherweight No. 1 contender’s bout in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 17. The setback halts a two-bout winning streak for “The Korean Zombie” and spoils his chances at getting another shot at 145-pound gold in the near future.7. Zabit Magomedsharipov (18-1) [7]
Magomedsharipov earned his sixth straight Octagon triumph at UFC Fight Night 163, as he outpointed fellow contender Calvin Kattar in Moscow. The Dagestani fighter slowed down the stretch against Kattar in the impromptu three-round headliner, but he had already banked the first two rounds on the scorecards. The Ricardo Almeida Jiu-Jitsu product owns a 14-fight professional winning streak dating back to 2013 and has emerged as one of the top contenders in the UFC at 145 pounds. A proposed clash with Yair Rodriguez on Aug. 29 was scrapped after the Mexican standout withdrew from the fight due to injury.8. Patricio Freire (31-4) [8]
Bellator’s reigning 145-pound champ advanced to the semifinals of the promotion’s featherweight grand prix by walloping Pedro Carvalho via first-round knockout in their headlining matchup at Bellator 252 on Nov. 12. That makes six consecutive wins for the 33-year-old Brazilian, who is slated to face Emmanuel Sanchez in the semifinals of the tournament at a future event. Freire defeated Sanchez via unanimous decision in their first meeting at Bellator 209 in November 2018.9. Renato Carneiro (14-3-1) [9]
Carneiro had a successful lightweight debut, submitting Damir Hadzovic in 44 seconds at UFC Fight Night 170 in Brasilia, Brazil. In victory, “Moicano” rebounded from a tough 2019 in which he suffered back-to-back TKO defeats at the hands of Jose Aldo and Chan Sung Jung. Still, the 30-year-old had a largely successful UFC run at featherweight, compiling a 5-3 mark with wins over the likes of Jeremy Stephens, Calvin Kattar and Cub Swanson. Carneiro will make his second 155-pound appearance against Rafael Fiziev at UFC 256.10. Calvin Kattar (22-4) [10]
Kattar become the first fighter to go 2-0 during the COVID-19 pandemic, as snapped Dan Ige’s six-bout winning streak in the UFC on ESPN 13 headliner on July 15. Couple that with a spectacular elbow KO of Jeremy Stephens at UFC 249, and “The Boston Finisher” is making the most of his 2020 thus far. The 32-year-old Team Sityodtong representative has won four of his last five UFC appearances dating back to October 2018. Kattar will attempt to keep rolling when he squares off against former featherweight king Max Holloway in the headliner of a UFC event on Jan. 16.Other Contenders: Frankie Edgar, A.J. McKee, Jeremy Stephens, Josh Emmett, Shane Burgos.
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