Bantamweight
1. Renan Barao (32-1, 1 NC)
Barao looked better than ever in dispatching Urijah Faber for a second time in the UFC 169 headliner. The bantamweight ruler floored “The California Kid” with a right hand two minutes into the bout and kept the pressure on with knees and punches. Once Faber recovered, “The Baron” dropped his foe yet again with an overhand right and followed-up with a barrage of unanswered hammerfists to get the victory. Barao gets another Team Alpha Male member for his next title defense, as he squares off with T.J. Dillashaw in the UFC 173 headliner on May 24.2. Urijah Faber (30-7)
Faber has now lost his last six championship bouts, but the Team Alpha Male product probably deserved a better fate at UFC 169. A subtle “thumbs up” to referee Herb Dean as Renan Barao unloaded with punches was not enough to save “The California Kid” from what many deemed an early stoppage in their bantamweight title tilt. Still, Faber remains a matchmaking conundrum -- head-and-shoulders above most of the division but not quite good enough to beat the very best.3. Michael McDonald (16-3)
For McDonald, a win over Urijah Faber at UFC on Fox 9 might have signaled the beginning of a new era. However, Faber showed he still has plenty left in the tank by submitting “Mayday” in the second round of their co-main event clash. Just 22 years old, McDonald still has plenty of time to develop his skills.4. Eddie Wineland (21-9-1)
After a disappointing knockout loss to Renan Barao in a bantamweight title bout at UFC 165, Wineland returned to his winning ways at UFC on Fox 10. The hard-punching former WEC champion was in prime form against Yves Jabouin, as he cracked the Tristar Gym member with a right hand standing before finishing the contest with a barrage of ground-and-pound. Wineland did not have to wait long for his next assignment: He will face Brazilian veteran Johnny Eduardo on May 10 in Cincinnati.5. Raphael Assuncao (22-4)
After outpointing highly touted prospect Pedro Munhoz at UFC 170, Assuncao now quietly owns the second-longest winning streak among active UFC bantamweights at six fights. The only man ahead of him, 135-pound king Renan Barao, has won seven straight. Assuncao was supposed to be next in line to face the champ at UFC 173 but was forced to decline the fight due to a rib injury. He will likely face the Barao-T.J. Dillashaw winner at a later date.6. Eduardo Dantas (16-3)
Fights have been few and far between for Dantas of late, with only four bouts in the last two years, but the Bellator champion has shined bright in his most recent outings. Since his upset loss to Tyson Nam, “Dudu” has punched out top contender Marcos Galvao and, most recently, took out Anthony Leone with a brilliant second-round submission at Bellator 111. Dantas’ next appearance will be delayed, as a head injury suffered in training has forced the Nova Uniao product to pull out of a planned title defense against Joe Warren at Bellator 118.7. T.J. Dillashaw (9-2)
Dillashaw, who has won five of seven bouts in the Octagon, was originally slated to meet durable veteran Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 173. However, when the card lost its original headliner -- a middleweight title tilt between Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida -- Dillashaw received a call up to the main event and will now square off with Renan Barao for bantamweight gold on May 24.8. Marlon Moraes (13-4)
Moraes continues to roll under the World Series of Fighting banner, capturing the promotion’s inaugural bantamweight strap with a lopsided victory over Josh Rettinghouse on March 29. It was the Brazilian’s fifth straight win with the Las Vegas-based promotion, which could struggle to find viable challengers for its newly minted champion down the road.9. Takeya Mizugaki (19-7-2)
From April 2009 to February 2012, Mizugaki alternated wins and losses under the Zuffa banner, solidifying his spot as a durable gatekeeper. After outpointing Nam Phan at “Hunt vs. Bigfoot” on Dec. 7, Mizugaki has won four straight inside the Octagon, raising expectations for the respected Japanese bantamweight. Mizugaki will next clash with knockout artist Francisco Rivera at UFC 173.10. Iuri Alcantara (29-5, 1 NC)
Alcantara survived a late charge from countryman Wilson Reis on Feb. 15 to earn a split decision and rebound from an August loss against Urijah Faber. Now 4-2 in the UFC, “Marajo” will meet Vaughn Lee in his next outing at UFC Fight Night in Berlin.Other Contenders: Alex Caceres, Bibiano Fernandes, Marcos Galvao, Kyoji Horiguchi, Francisco Rivera.
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