Bantamweight
1. Dominick Cruz (22-1)
After reclaiming the UFC bantamweight crown in an outstanding and particularly close fight with T.J. Dillashaw in January, Cruz does not have a more righteous challenger now than Dillashaw, who rebounded nicely at UFC 200 by avenging a loss to Raphael Assuncao. Nonetheless, while Dillashaw might be the legitimate top contender at 135 pounds, Cruz has instead taken to calling out Dillashaw’s former Team Alpha Male teammate, Cody Garbrandt, laying early groundwork for a future showdown between the two.2. T.J. Dillashaw (13-3)
Many thought Dillashaw won his first fight with Raphael Assuncao back in October 2013, but the former UFC bantamweight champion gained revenge at UFC 200, soundly outworking and outpointing Assuncao in his first performance since losing the UFC title to Dominick Cruz in January. With the UFC 135-pound division lacking many viable contenders at the top of the division, the win may firm up Dillashaw for a rematch with Cruz later this year.3. Marlon Moraes (17-4-1)
In Moraes’ first encounter with Josh Hill back in February 2015, the World Series of Fighting bantamweight champion dominated his challenger for 25 minutes with his counterpunching and brutal leg kicks. In their rematch at WSOF 32 on July 30, Moraes was even more impressive, clobbering the Canadian with a nasty head kick and punches at just 38 seconds of round two. Moraes has now won 12 straight bouts and has not lost in nearly five years. However, he remains a massive fish in a tiny pond, and it remains questionable if the WSOF can continue to provide worthwhile opposition for the Brazilian.4. Cody Garbrandt (10-0)
Garbrandt was expected to knock out Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 202, but “No Love” got the job done faster than most anticipated, taking just 48 seconds to destroy his Japanese foe. Better for the Team Alpha Male product: He smashed Mizugaki 13 seconds faster than UFC champion Dominick Cruz did two years ago. That gives him some bragging rights over Cruz, who has recently started to call out Garbrandt in public, promoting a potential future showdown between the two.5. Jimmie Rivera (20-1)
After 19 wins in 20 pro fights, including three impressive UFC victories, Rivera was clearly ready for a step up in competition. Taking on perennial standout Urijah Faber at UFC 203, “The Terror” showed that the 135-pound guard is changing on the whole, dominating “The California Kid” for 15 minutes and staking his place among the bantamweight elite.6. Urijah Faber (33-10)
At 37 years old and after 13 years in the game, Faber is understandably starting to slow, and that was evident in his UFC 203 bout with Jimmie Rivera. “The California Kid” was dominated by the younger, fresher man for 15 minutes and suffered consecutive losses for the first time in his entire storied career.7. Raphael Assuncao (23-5)
Assuncao returned to these rankings after spending nearly two years away from the cage. However, his re-eligibility comes on account of a loss, as he could not replicate his close decision win over T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 200, getting outworked by the former champion over 15 minutes. Nonetheless, Assuncao remains one of the sport’s top bantamweights, with recent wins over divisional standouts Bryan Caraway and Pedro Munhoz. He will take on Aljamain Sterling at a UFC Fight Night event on Dec. 9 in Albany, New York.8. Bryan Caraway (21-7)
Through his eight bouts inside the Octagon, Caraway has gotten a little bit better each time out. Those incremental improvements finally turned into a big payoff for “Kid Lightning,” as he overcame a tough first five minutes to come back and take a split decision over the previously unbeaten Aljamain Sterling on May 29, vaulting him into these rankings.9. Aljamain Sterling (12-1)
For the first five minutes of his May 29 bout with Bryan Caraway, Sterling looked every bit a dominant, undefeated prospect. However, when Caraway battled back over the final 10 minutes, he managed to outwrestle and outhustle the Serra-Longo Fight Team product, handing “The Funkmaster” the first loss of his pro career. Sterling will try to point himself in the right direction at a UFC Fight Night event on Dec. 9, when he confronts Raphael Assuncao in Albany, New York.10. Thomas Almeida (21-1)
Almeida entered his May 29 showdown with Cody Garbrandt, not just as a slight favorite but as a favorite to earn a UFC bantamweight title shot in the near future if he stayed on his current trajectory. Garbrandt rejected that narrative wholesale, socking up Almeida from the outset before crushing him unconscious with a right hook early in the first round and handing “Thominhas” the first loss of his career.Other Contenders: Eduardo Dantas, John Lineker, Takeya Mizugaki, Joe Taimanglo, Eddie Wineland.
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