Bantamweight
1. Cody Garbrandt (11-0)
Following his thrilling bantamweight title win over Dominick Cruz at UFC 207 in December, Garbrandt was one of the first rising talents to be heavily pushed by the new WME-IMG ownership of the UFC, as the group lined up “No Love” against former Team Alpha Male training partner T.J. Dillashaw as opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter 25.” Unfortunately, their season-culminating date at UFC 213 was scuttled when Garbrandt's back injury continued to flare up, knocking him out of the fight.2. Dominick Cruz (22-2)
Having not lost a pro MMA fight in nearly 10 years and with a career full of success against Team Alpha Male, Cruz looked to be in the driver’s seat headed into his bantamweight title defense against Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207. The sentiment was further enhanced when Cruz’s pre-fight trash talk seemed to truly rattle and upset his challenger. Instead, Garbrandt put on an incredible display, as he bested Cruz in his own trademark style, dropping “The Dominator” over 25 minutes and earning a unanimous decision to take Cruz’s 135-pound crown.3. T.J. Dillashaw (14-3)
Given Cody Garbrandt's uncertain status due to a nagging back injury, Dillashaw's chance to regain the UFC bantamweight title this summer got nixed. Dillashaw then turned his attention to another potential title bid, hoping to cut 10 extra pounds to challenge flyweight king Demetrious Johnson, which only drew the ire of the 125-pound ace. In spite of his would-be opportunism, Dillashaw now seems content to wait for rival and former Team Alpha Male training partner Garbrandt to heal up for a bantamweight title clash.4. Raphael Assuncao (25-5)
Not many people thought Assuncao deserved the nod over prized UFC free-agent acquisition Marlon Moraes at UFC 212, but two official judges thought differently. With the contentious split decision win, the Atlanta-based Brazilian is now an impressive 9-1 at bantamweight, but his well-rounded, conservative style earns him little fanfare or preferential matchmaking, so it seems unlikely he is any closer to a UFC title shot.5. Jimmie Rivera (21-1)
Rivera earned his 20th straight win at the UFC on Fox 25, prevailing in a thrilling brawl with Brazilian Thomas Almeida and taking a split decision. Now 5-0 in the Octagon and officially unbeaten in nearly nine years, “El Terror” is clearly looking for an even bigger opportunity, and after essentially earning the Almeida fight by stumping for it on social media, he knows how to get it. Rivera used his post-fight camera time on Fox to confront former UFC champion and current analyst Dominick Cruz from the cage.6. Marlon Moraes (18-5-1)
After putting himself on the map as one of the best fighters outside the UFC during his run as World Series of Fighting bantamweight champion, Moraes did not light the world on fire in his Octagon debut at UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro. However, apart from two cageside judges, most felt Moraes won at least two rounds in a split decision loss that snapped his 13-bout winning streak.7. Bryan Caraway (21-7)
With back-to-back wins over Eddie Wineland and Aljamain Sterling, Caraway put himself in bantamweight title contention. However, ahead of his scheduled bout with Jimmie Rivera on Jan. 15, Caraway was once again struck by the injury bug, leading him to pull out of the fight and take a familiar place on the sideline.8. Thomas Almeida (22-2)
After starting his MMA career 21-0, Almeida has dropped two of his last three bouts inside the UFC. It is hardly a cause for despair, however, as those defeats came against current UFC champion Cody Garbrandt and emerging elite contender Jimmie Rivera. More than that, “Thominhas” remains one of the most exciting young fighters the sport has to offer.9. John Lineker (29-8)
A win at UFC 207 over former bantamweight king T.J. Dillashaw likely would have punched Lineker’s ticket to a title bout in the Octagon. Instead, the massive-hitting Brazilian had his six-fight winning streak snapped by Dillashaw, who grounded and savagely pounded on Lineker for 15 minutes. Though soundly defeated, Lineker remains one of MMA’s most devastating punchers; and in a lopsided defeat to Dillashaw, he showed off exactly the kind of physical toughness that figures to make him an elite 135-pound fixture for the foreseeable future.10. Aljamain Sterling (14-2)
Sterling is in no position to dictate his matchmaking with the UFC, so his decision to take on former bantamweight champion Renan Barao made sense. However, Sterling was thrown a curveball when Barao's past weight-cutting issues and the California State Athletic Commission's weight regulations necessitated the bout happen at a 140-pound catchweight. It did not matter, as “Funkmaster Aljo” went to work over 15 minutes against Barao, easily earning a unanimous decision over the Brazilian.Other Contenders: Darrion Caldwell, Eduardo Dantas, John Dodson, Pedro Munhoz, Eddie Wineland.
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