Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Bantamweight

1. Dominick Cruz (17-1)
Cruz exhibited pure dominance in his five-round December sweep of Scott Jorgensen, but the former WEC and current UFC bantamweight ace went on the shelf immediately afterward due to hand surgery. Now recuperated, the 25-year-old Alliance MMA product will attempt to avenge the sole defeat on his ledger in a July 2 rematch with Urijah Faber.

2. Joseph Benavidez (14-2)
Despite his two losses to champion Dominick Cruz and the fact that he may be a natural 125-pounder, Benavidez has picked off more top bantamweights than nearly any other 135-pound fighter. The Team Alpha Male product added another Top 10 win to his ledger by submitting Wagnney Fabiano and made a successful UFC debut on March 19 with a unanimous decision over Ian Loveland.

3. Urijah Faber (25-4)
“The California Kid” overcame a slow start and used his trademark wrestling to take unanimous decision over fellow ex-WEC champion Eddie Wineland at UFC 128 on March 19. The win was the last hurdle for Faber to clear on his way to a July 2 rematch with current UFC bantamweight ace Dominick Cruz, whom Faber submitted via guillotine choke at 145 pounds in 2007.

4. Brian Bowles (9-1)
On March 3, 362 days after losing his WEC bantamweight title to Dominick Cruz, Bowles returned to submit Damacio Page via guillotine choke for a second time. Next up for the former champ is a July 2 encounter with tough Japanese import Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 132.

5. Scott Jorgensen (11-4)
A gritty collegiate wrestling convert, Jorgensen had a five-fight win streak snapped in his final WEC appearance -- a demoralizing five-round loss to champion Dominick Cruz. However, “Young Guns” will make his Octagon debut at the “The Ultimate Fighter 13” Finale on June 4, when he will look to bounce back against Ken Stone.

6. Miguel Torres (39-3)
The former WEC bantamweight ruler made a successful Octagon debut in February, topping Antonio Banuelos via unanimous decision. Torres will look for his third straight win on May 28, when he faces Demetrious Johnson, a late replacement for original opponent Brad Pickett.

7. Takeya Mizugaki (14-5-2)
Following the first submission loss of his career at the hands of Urijah Faber, Mizugaki rebounded with a narrow split decision victory against Reuben Duran in his March UFC debut. The former Cage Force champ will go straight back to facing the cream of the 135-pound crop on July 2, as Mizugaki is slated to square off with former WEC champ Brian Bowles in Las Vegas.

8. Brad Pickett (20-5)
American Top Team’s British slugger was set to make his UFC debut against Miguel Torres at UFC 130 on May 28, but an undisclosed injury forced “One Punch” from the high-profile matchup. Pickett has won 10 of his last 11 fights.

9. Masakatsu Ueda (12-1-2)
Shooto’s former 132-pound ruler has won two in a row since his shocking March 2010 title loss to Shuichiro Katsumura. After outpointing Akitoshi Tamura and submitting Ralpha Acosta, Ueda has been assigned to a bout with Shooto legend Rumina Sato. The pair will meet at a catchweight of 134 pounds at “Shootor’s Legacy 3” in Tokyo on July 18.

10. Demetrious Johnson (8-1)
The diminutive “Mighty Mouse” was impressive in handling Japanese star Norifumi Yamamoto on Feb. 5 and was scheduled to return against Brazilian phenom Renan “Barao” do Nascimento Mota Pegado on June 4. However, after Brad Pickett was forced from his May 28 bout with Miguel Torres, Johnson was called in to face the former WEC bantamweight champion at UFC 130.

Other contenders: Renan “Barao”, Wagnney Fabiano, Zach Makovsky, Michael McDonald, Eddie Wineland.

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