Image: John Brannigan/Sherdog.com illustration
Bantamweight
1. Henry Cejudo (17-2) [1]
Cejudo became only the second fighter in promotion history to successfully defend titles in two divisions at UFC 249 when he defeated Dominick Cruz via second-round technical knockout in the evening’s co-main event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. After the victory, the Olympic gold medalist made a surprising retirement announcement, citing a desire to start a family. Retirements often don’t last in MMA, but if it holds up, “Triple C” ends his career with a six-fight winning streak that includes triumphs over Demetrious Johnson, T.J. Dillashaw, Marlon Moraes and Cruz. If he isn’t booked for a fight, Cejudo’s rankings eligibility will expire on Nov. 9.2. Aljamain Sterling (20-3) [2]
Sterling became the seventh bantamweight champion in promotion history at UFC 259, but it wasn’t a satisfying victory for “The Funk Master.” After three competitive rounds, Sterling was rendered unable to continue in the fourth frame when Petr Yan landed an illegal knee. Sterling’s reaction in the aftermath said it all, as he dropped the belt on the Octagon floor before the leaving the cage. Given the nature of the ending, a rematch with Yan seems all but inevitable, but it won’t take place until later this year after Sterling recovers from neck surgery.3. Petr Yan (15-2) [3]
Though the early rounds were competitive, Yan appeared to be on his way to taking control of his bantamweight title defense against Aljamain Sterling. That all changed in Round 4, when Yan landed an illegal knee that left his opponent writhing on the mat in agony. With Sterling unable to continue, the bout was declared a disqualification and Yan was forced to relinquish the bout. The good news for the Russian is that a rematch with Sterling seems like a virtual certainty.4. T.J. Dillashaw (17-4) [NR]
After his disastrous attempt in 2019 to move down to flyweight and become a two-division champion, followed by a two-year suspension for banned performance enhancer EPO, Dillashaw returned at UFC on ESPN 27 on July 24. The 35-year-old former bantamweight champ took a narrow split decision over Cory Sandhagen, serving notice that he is an immediate factor in the title picture of the division he once ruled. In the wake of his successful comeback fight, Dillashaw called out the winner of the Aljamain Sterling-Petr Yan title rematch currently set for Oct. 30, but acknowledged his willingness to fight another contender in the meantime.5. Cory Sandhagen (14-2) [4]
Sandhagen welcomed T.J. Dillashaw back from USADA-imposed exile in the main event of UFC on ESPN 27 on July 24 and ended up on the wrong end of a razor-thin split decision. The setback snaps a two-fight winning streak of highlight-reel knockouts for the lanky Coloradan. Nonetheless, the “Sandman” loses little, if any standing after such a solid showing in his first five-round fight. Still just 29 and sporting a 7-2 record with losses only to current champ Aljamain Sterling and two-time former champ Dillashaw, Sandhagen looks primed to remain a fixture in the UFC bantamweight title picture for a while.6. Frankie Edgar (24-9-1) [5]
Edgar’s bantamweight foray had a promising beginning, as he took a split decision triumph over Pedro Munhoz in the UFC on ESPN 15 main event. However, the narrative shifted in his second 135-pound appearance, when he suffered a flying knee KO loss to Cory Sandhagen in the UFC Fight Night 184 co-main event. The 39-year-old former lightweight champion has now suffered three knockout losses in his last six UFC appearances.7. Pedro Munhoz (19-5, 1 NC) [6]
Munhoz gained a measure of revenge at UFC Fight Night 186, where he captured an entertaining three-round verdict against Jimmie Rivera on Feb. 27. Not only did the Brazilian snap a two-bout skid in the “Fight of the Night-“winning contest, but he avenged a split-decision loss to Rivera that occurred in a 2015 clash. “The Young Punisher” remains one of the bantamweight division’s unsung talents, with eight wins in 11 outings dating back to 2016. A showdown with Jose Aldo is in the works for UFC 265 on Aug. 7.8. Rob Font (19-4) [7]
Font was masterful in the UFC Fight Night 188 headliner, where he kept former bantamweight title holder Cody Garbrandt on his heels with a brilliant striking performance to capture a unanimous decision victory at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on May 22. Font is in the midst of the best stretch of his career, with a four-bout promotional winning streak that also includes triumphs over Sergio Pettis, Marlon Moraes and Ricky Simon. The Boston native will be an interested observer when Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan eventually rematch for the bantamweight crown.9. Marlon Moraes (23-8-1) [8]
Moraes came out with a different type of game plan against Rob Font, and for part of the first round, it worked. The former World Series of Fighting Champion grounded his foe for the first half of Round 1, but once the action returned to the feet it was all Font, who emerged with a technical knockout victory at the 3:47 mark of Round 1. Moraes has lost three of his last four UFC bouts — all by KO or TKO — and will attempt to return to the win column against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 266.10. Cody Garbrandt (12-4) [9]
One bout removed from a rejuvenating knockout of Raphael Assuncao at UFC 250, Garbrandt couldn’t get on track in a five-round loss to Rob Font in the UFC Fight Night 188 main event on May 22. Though he resisted the urge to brawl and mixed in takedowns effectively in early rounds, “No Love” was simply outmatched on the feet by a rangier opponent. While the UFC would undoubtedly love to put a big marketing push behind Garbrandt, a 1-4 record in his last five outings has made it difficult to do so.Other Contenders: Raphael Assuncao, Jose Aldo, Jimmie Rivera, Kyoji Horiguchi, Adriano Moraes.
Continue Reading » Flyweight