Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

---

Featherweight

1. Jose Aldo (25-1)

Aldo maintained his stranglehold on the 145-pound division with a gritty, five-round unanimous decision against old rival Chad Mendes in the main event of UFC 179. “Scarface” persevered through knockdowns and takedowns, using superior technical striking down the stretch to earn his 18th consecutive victory. Still the first and only UFC featherweight champion, Aldo has now defended his title seven straight times against the likes of Mendes (twice), Frankie Edgar and Kenny Florian.

2. Chad Mendes (16-2)

Mendes’ second encounter with Jose Aldo lasted a good deal longer than his first -- a full four rounds longer, in fact, during which the Team Alpha Male product showed off his much-improved striking and even put the featherweight king in rare levels of danger. In the end, Mendes could not overcome Aldo and fell via unanimous decision, but even in defeat, “Money” undoubtedly raised his stock.

3. Ricardo Lamas (15-3)

Lamas looked a cut above Dennis Bermudez in their main-card showdown at UFC 180, as “The Bully” used a jab to put Bermudez on the ground before pouncing to finish with a guillotine choke in the opening round. Now two fights removed from his lackluster decision loss to Jose Aldo, Lamas remains in the title picture thanks to wins over Bermudez and Hacran Dias.

4. Cub Swanson (21-5)

Swanson made a strong case to be named the featherweight division’s No. 1 contender in waiting at UFC Fight Night San Antonio, capturing a unanimous verdict over Jeremy Stephens in the headliner. The Jackson-Wink MMA product displayed a versatile striking attack throughout the contest, most notably rocking “Lil Heathen” with a pair of thudding kicks to the body. For another shot at gold, Swanson will have to beat former lightweight ace Frankie Edgar -- the man he will meet in a UFC Fight Night headliner on Nov. 22 in Austin, Texas.

5. Frankie Edgar (17-4-1)

The first time Edgar beat B.J. Penn, it was a stunning and somewhat controversial upset. The second time, things were more clear-cut. The New Jersey native’s third win against “The Prodigy” was nothing short of a one-sided pounding, as Edgar beat Penn into retirement with third-round ground-and-pound. Edgar will get another shot at a top-10 featherweight when he faces Cub Swanson on Nov. 22.

6. Conor McGregor (16-2)

All of the hype and excitement around the sport’s hottest up-and-comer appears to be well-justified. Two months after punching out Diego Brandao before a riotous Irish crowd, McGregor made his Las Vegas debut in perfect fashion at UFC 178. This time, it was Dustin Poirier who succumbed to the fast and heavy hands of the 26-year-old Irishman, giving McGregor his third first-round stoppage in four Octagon appearances. Next on McGregor’s ledger: a meeting with Dennis Siver on Jan. 18 in Boston.

7. Dennis Bermudez (14-4)

After racking up seven straight wins against the likes of Clay Guida and Max Holloway, Bermudez saw his streak snapped at UFC 180. Former title challenger Ricardo Lamas proved too much for the New York native, as “The Bully” dropped Bermudez with a stiff jab and finished the fight with a first-round guillotine choke.

8. Jeremy Stephens (23-10)

Stephens flashed his vaunted power on occasion in his UFC Fight Night showdown with Cub Swanson, but the Alliance MMA representative was never able to connect with a fight-altering blow. “Lil’ Heathen” would ultimately drop a five-round verdict, his first loss in four appearances since moving to featherweight. Stephens will return to the Octagon on Dec. 12, when he battles Charles Oliveira at “The Ultimate Fighter 20” Finale.

9. Nik Lentz (25-6-2, 1 NC)

After a hiccup against No. 1 contender Chad Mendes, Lentz returned to his winning ways at UFC Fight Night “Brown vs. Silva,” taking a unanimous verdict over Manny Gamburyan in Cincinnati. “The Carny” battered Gamburyan against the fence and landed several takedowns to clinch his fourth win in five featherweight outings. Lentz was scheduled to face Charles Oliveira in a rematch at a UFC Fight Night event on Sept. 5, but a viral infection forced the Brazilian to withdraw.

10. Dustin Poirier (16-4)

Poirier vowed to silence Conor McGregor at UFC 178, but instead it was the American Top Team fighter who became the brash Irish prospect’s latest victim. The much-anticipated clash was over almost as soon as it began, and Poirier never got off the starting blocks before McGregor punched him out and ended his three-fight winning streak at 1:46 of round one.

Other Contenders: Pat Curran, Patricio Freire, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, Daniel Straus.

Continue Reading » Bantamweight