Bantamweight

1. Renan Barao (29-1, 1 NC)

Though Dominick Cruz is assuredly Renan Barao’s primary focus, the Brazilian’s first 2013 task is going to be defending his interim title against hot prospect Michael McDonald. Should Barao take McDonald out, he still might wind up defending his interim title again before Cruz is fully healed from his knee injury.

2. Urijah Faber (26-6)

In January 2006, Urijah Faber and Ivan Menjivar met in one of the most sought-after featherweight contests of its day. Seven years after that dissatisfying disqualification, Faber will try to replicate his win against Menjivar at UFC 157 on Feb. 23, this time at 135 pounds.

3. Michael McDonald (15-1)

It was already expected that Michael McDonald would expect Renan Barao in 2013. However, now the stakes are more clear: with Dominick Cruz on the shelf so long, Barao-MacDonald will determine a more legitimate 135-pound champion, one that might even have to defend an interim title again after the contest.

4. Brad Pickett (22-6)

In September in Nottingham, England, Pickett turned in his most stellar UFC performance to date, annihilating Yves Jabouin in front of his British faithful. Next up for Pickett is a Dec. 29 date with perhaps the division’s most ferocious power puncher in Eddie Wineland at UFC 155.

5. Eddie Wineland (19-8-1)

Consecutive 2011 losses to Team Alpha Male stars Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez had Eddie Wineland’s Zuffa employment on the ropes. However, his June crushing of Scott Jorgensen has earned him a UFC 155 bout with rising contender Brad Pickett in a fight laced with both potential excitement and divisional importance.

6. Scott Jorgensen (14-6)

In one of the best rounds of MMA action this year, Scott Jorgensen thwarted a tight triangle from TUF alum John Albert before coming back and locking up the fight-ending rear-naked choke with less than second left in the round. The thrilling contest earned Jorgensen both “Submission of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” honors at the UFC on Fox 5 and helped him keep pace at 135 pounds.

7. Raphael Assuncao (19-4)

Stepping in on short notice seldom pays off with a victory, but it sure did for a game Raphael Assuncao. After notching two wins in his first two bantamweight outings, the Atlanta-based Brazilian stepped up to face once-beaten Mike Easton at the UFC on Fox 5 on two weeks’ notice and earned the biggest win of his career via workmanlike decision.

8. Marcos Galvao (13-5-1)

For now, “Loro” is sitting pretty and waiting for his Bellator bantamweight title shot against fellow Nova Uniao representative Eduardo Dantas, who is coming off of his August upset loss to Tyson Nam in Shooto Brazil. Since his Zuffa release in March 2009, Galvao is 7-2 and could easily be 9-0 if not for highly questionable decision losses to Joe Warren and Alexis Vila.

9. Tyson Nam (12-4)

After his breakout win against Bellator champion Eduardo Dantas in August, contractual quagmires over Nam’s previously existing deal with Bellator seemed to put him on freeze. However, it appears at least for now that Nam will take on recent Miguel Torres tormentor Marlon Moraes at the yet-to-be-scheduled World Series of Fighting 2.

10. Eduardo Dantas (14-3)

Nova Uniao’s bantamweight prodigy is still on the road to recovery following the worst loss of his young career, a shocking August knockout at the hands of underdog Tyson Nam. When he’s ready to return, “Dudu” is expected to defend his Bellator title against recent tournament winner and former training partner Marcos Galvao in the promotion’s upcoming eighth season.

Other contenders:

T.J. Dillashaw, Mike Easton, Bibiano Fernandes, Takeya Mizugaki

With no bouts in the last year and none scheduled in the next 90 days, previously top-ranked Dominick Cruz is ineligible to be ranked.

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