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Bantamweight
1. 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.2. 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.3. T.J. Dillashaw (17-4) [4]
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.4. Cory Sandhagen (14-3) [5]
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.5. Rob Font (19-4) [6]
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.6. Marlon Moraes (23-8-1) [7]
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 266.7. Jose Aldo (30-7) [8]
Even in 2021, Jose Aldo remains a formidable competitor in the Octagon. The Nova Uniao standout showcased impressive boxing against Pedro Munhoz at UFC 265, mixing in punches to the head and body en route to a clean sweep of the scorecards at the Toyota Center in Houston on Aug. 7. After coming up short in his first two fights at 135 pounds, the former featherweight king has scored back-to-back triumphs over Munhoz and Marlon Vera.8. Frankie Edgar (24-9-1) [9]
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.9. Pedro Munhoz (19-6, 1 NC) [10]
Munhoz was competitive throughout his UFC 265 showdown against Jose Aldo, but ultimately came up short in a unanimous decision loss to the former featherweight champion at the Toyota Center in Houston on Aug. 7. Munhoz has now lost three of his last four Octagon appearances — all against top competition in Aldo, Frankie Edgar and Aljamain Sterling.10. Cody Garbrandt (12-4) [11]
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. Next, the Ohio native will drop to flyweight for a showdown with Kai Kara France on Dec. 11.Other Contenders: Raphael Assuncao, Jimmie Rivera, Kyoji Horiguchi, Adriano Moraes, Dominick Cruz.
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