Image: John Brannigan/Sherdog.com illustration
Bantamweight
1. Aljamain Sterling (23-3) | UFC [1]
Sterling held serve—and held onto his UFC title—at UFC 288 on May 6, taking a hard-fought decision over returning former two-division champ Henry Cejudo. While it may not have been the emphatic result he hoped for, his third title defense breaks a three-way tie with T.J. Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz for the most in UFC bantamweight history. Sterling has made noises about moving up to featherweight, but should he elect to stay at 135 pounds, his next title challenger would appear to be set, as Sean O’Malley entered the cage after the UFC 288 main event for a face-off that ended up having to be broken up by security. That bout has already been announced for UFC 292, though some questions remain regarding Sterling’s health.2. Merab Dvalishvili (16-4) | UFC [2]
If there was any question how Dvalishvili’s gas tank would hold up over a five-round fight heading into his UFC Fight Night 221 showdown with Petr Yan, there isn’t now. “The Machine” set a promotion record for takedowns attempted while outstriking the former bantamweight champion for 25 minutes in a clear-cut unanimous decision triumph in Las Vegas on March 11. Dvalishvili has won nine straight UFC bouts — eight at 135 pounds — but his road to the title is currently blocked by teammate and reigning bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.3. Sean O’Malley (16-1, 1 NC) UFC [3]
In a fight he wasn’t expected to win, O’Malley displayed his mettle against Petr Yan, capturing a split-decision triumph at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum kept his head against the former bantamweight champion, landing damaging shots while either defending or returning to his feet following takedown attempts. While many observers thought Yan deserved the nod, O’Malley made a strong enough impression to get the nod on two of the three cageside scorecards, potentially paving the way for a shot at 135-pound gold against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292.4. Henry Cejudo (16-3) | UFC [4]
Returning to action after three years away and looking to win back one of two UFC belts he never lost in the cage, Cejudo came up short against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288. By the eyeball test, however, the 36-year-old was quite competitive and appears to slot right in alongside the other top contenders in the UFC bantamweight division. “The Messenger” threatened another retirement in the wake of the loss, and even if that doesn't stick, he seems more inclined to try his luck at featherweight than to try and move back down to regain his 125-pound title. If he chooses to keep competing at bantamweight, however, there is no shortage of interesting matchups awaiting him.5. Petr Yan (16-5) | UFC [5]
Yan had no answer for Dvalishvili’s relentless pressure and pace in the UFC Fight Night 221 headliner, as he dropped a unanimous decision to “The Machine” at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas on March 11. Though Yan has lost four of his last five outings in UFC competition, that record is deceptive: Two of those setbacks were split decisions and another was the controversial disqualification loss to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259. “No Mercy” remains a top-tier bantamweight, though he may now be facing a longer road if he hopes to receive another title shot in the future.6. T.J. Dillashaw (17-5) | UFC [6]
Dillashaw entered UFC 280 with a shoulder injury and was clearly affected by the ailment for the duration of his second-round technical knockout loss to Aljamain Sterling in the evening’s co-main event in Abu Dhabi. Not only was Dillashaw not competitive in the fight, but by electing to compete with an injury that had affected him since April, he risked suffering even more damage to the shoulder. The ex-champ could face a lengthy recovery process from the injury, and he informed the UFC of his retirement a little less than two months after the loss to Sterling. As a result, his rankings eligibility is set to expire on Oct. 22, 2023.7. Cory Sandhagen (16-4) | UFC [7]
While it wasn’t the action-packed bout many expected coming in, Sandhagen was extremely impressive in dispatching Marlon Vera in the UFC on ESPN 43 headliner in San Antonio. And don’t let the split decision fool you: The Elevation Fight Team product was in control throughout, regardless of what one questionable scorecard might say. With back-to-back triumphs over Vera and Yadong Song in his pocket, “Sandman” has targeted a showdown with top contender Merab Dvalishvili for his next Octagon appearance.8. Patrick Mix (18-1) | Bellator [8]
Mix completed an impressive run through the Bellator bantamweight grand prix with a first-round knockout of Raufeon Stots in the Bellator 295 main event. In addition to Stots, “Patchy” bested the likes of Magomed Magomedov and Kyoji Horiguchi to claim the promotion’s interim 135-pound belt and a $1 million prize. The next challenge will be a title unification bout against the winner of the Sergio Pettis-Patricio Freire title bout scheduled for Bellator 297.9. Jose Aldo (31-8) | UFC [9]
Aldo remained upright for the duration of his showdown with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 278, but stellar takedown defense alone wasn’t enough for the Nova Uniao representative, as he was unable to pull the trigger consistently with his striking in a unanimous decision defeat. That snaps a three-fight winning streak for the former featherweight champ, who may have seen his last best chance for another title shot at 135 pounds come to an end. Aldo announced his retirement shortly after that defeat, so if a comeback doesn’t materialize, his rankings eligibility will expire on Aug. 20, 2023.10. Marlon Vera (20-8-1) | UFC [10]
While Vera’s power had proven to be the difference during a four-bout winning streak heading into the UFC on ESPN 43 main event, “Chito” simply couldn’t get out of first gear in a confounding split-decision loss to Cory Sandhagen in San Antonio. The Ecuadorean had a chance to cement his status as one of the bantamweight division’s top contenders with a victory, but his inability to pull the trigger against a well-rounded opponent dashes those hopes for the time being. With a resume that includes wins over the likes of Dominick Cruz, Rob Font, Frankie Edgar and Sean O’Malley, Vera still figures to have plenty of interesting options in the coming months.Other Contenders: Sergio Pettis, Yadong Song, Rob Font, Raufeon Stots, Dominick Cruz.
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