Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Flyweight

1. Jussier da Silva (3-0)
After upsetting Shooto world champion Shinichi "BJ" Kojima in a non-title affair in July, it was expected "Formiga" would be brought back for a year-end title rematch. However, those prospects are in limbo as da Silva's management and pro Shooto promoters haggle over purse figures for the Natalense fighter.

2. Shinichi Kojima (10-4-5)
The Shooto world champion continued his career-long streak of inconsistency by dropping a unanimous verdict to Brazilian Jussier da Silva in a non-title bout on July 19. Whether or not Kojima will get a do-over with a title on the line remains to be seen.

3. Mamoru Yamaguchi (22-5-3)
After spending the year working on his stand-up -- and successfully so -- in Shoot Boxing, Yamaguchi returned to the ring to take a tougher-than-expected majority decision over Kiyotaka Shimizu on Nov. 23. The win was the second in less than a month for the former two division Shooto world champion, who punched out Guam's Jesse Taitano on Oct. 30.

4. Yuki Shojo (9-5-2)
In his first bout since falling to Shooto world champion Shinichi “BJ” Kojima in March, Shojo took a competitive, albeit pedestrian, majority decision over former bantamweight Junya Kudo and kept pace in Shooto’s active 123-pound class.

5. Yasuhiro Urushitani (16-4-6)
Though he deserved the victory the first time they fought in May 2008, justice prevailed in Urushitani’s Sept. 22 rematch with Ryuichi Miki. He slickly boxed his way to a unanimous decision verdict over the former Shooto rookie champion.

6. Ryuichi Miki (10-3-3)
In September, Miki lost his first bout in three and a half years when he dropped a unanimous decision to Yasuhiro Urushitani. However, the 2006 Shooto rookie champion rebounded soundly on Nov. 23, taking a points verdict of his own over Masaaki Sugawara in an enthralling slugfest.

7. Pat Runez (3-0)
Showing savvy far beyond his actual MMA experience, Runez overcame an early shellacking from John Dodson to take a well-earned split decision win on Oct. 3, as he claimed the Ultimate Warrior Challenge flyweight title in what was the most significant 125-pound bout to date outside of Japan.

8. Mitsuhisa Sunabe (11-5-3)
Sunabe became the first flyweight King of Pancrase in June by smashing Takuya Eizumi. In his first defense, the Okinawa native handled previously unbeaten Isao Hirose, taking a solid unanimous verdict to remain undefeated as a flyweight.

9. Masaaki Sugawara (9-4-1)
In his fourth bout in just eight months, Masaaki Sugawara was his usual exciting self against Ryuichi Miki in their Nov. 23 bout. Unfortunately for the lanky puncher, it wasn't good enough to win, as he dropped a unanimous decision to Miki.

10. Alexis Vila (5-0)
One of the flyweight division’s most intriguing prospects, Vila punched out Cody Bell in the second round on Sept. 26. The stoppage was the fifth in six career bouts for the 1996 Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medalist.

Other contenders: John Dodson, Isao Hirose, Junji Ikoma, Ayumu Shioda, Jesse Taitano.

*Despite returning to action with a win Nov. 23, formerly sixth-ranked Rambaa "M-16" Somdet's bout with Noboru Tahara was contested at 115 pounds. Now Shooto's first 115-pound champion, Somdet has not competed as a flyweight for more than a year, and he is therefore ineligible to be ranked on this list.