Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Flyweight

1. Jussier da Silva (7-0)
After sitting around and waiting for offers from Shooto Japan, da Silva finally has a place to fight. “Formiga” has inked a four-fight deal with Tachi Palace Fights and will debut Dec. 2 for the promotion against WEC veteran Danny Martinez.

2. Yasuhiro Urushitani (17-4-6)
After his successful capture of the vacant Shooto world title against Ryuichi Miki in May, Urushitani will return to action in a tough albeit non-title bout. On Nov. 19 at “The way of Shooto 6,” he will meet gritty flyweight Takuya Mori in what should be a fun encounter between puncher and counterpuncher.

3. Mamoru Yamaguchi (24-5-3)
Yamaguchi has recently enjoyed success outside of Shooto, earning the King of the Cage 125-pound title. However, the Afro-clad action fighter will return to his home in professional Shooto on Nov. 19 at “The Way of Shooto 6” in Tokyo. There, he will look to give up-and-comer Fumihiro Kitahara an inhospitable welcome to the upper echelon of the flyweight division.

4. Yuki Shojo (10-5-2)
In a more entertaining outing than his September majority points win over Junya Kudo, Shojo earned a lopsided unanimous decision victory over tough Guam product Jesse Taitano on March 22. With it, he kept pace in the Shooto 123-pound division.

5. Ryuichi Miki (10-4-3)
A third bout with Yasuhiro Urushitani was the chance of a lifetime for Miki, who had the opportunity to vie for the Shooto world title. However, the first two bouts between Miki and Urushitani already told us who was the better fighter, and it was Urushitani who walked out the victor and champion on May 30.

6. Kiyotaka Shimizu (6-3-1)
In June 2008, Shimizu started his professional career with a loss to Mitsuhisa Sunabe. In February, he avenged it by taking the flyweight King of Pancrase from the Okinawan. Now, on Dec. 5, the flyweight rivals will settle the score with a rubber match, and Pancrase’s 125-pound strap will be on the line.

7. Alexis Vila (8-0)
The best kept secret in the flyweight division, the former Olympic wrestling bronze medalist posted his eighth career win on June 25, as he savaged tough veteran Omar Choudhury, stopping him in the second frame. One can only hope the win will position the dynamic Cuban for a bigger bout in the 125-pound division.

8. Fumihiro Kitahara (9-1-1)
Rung by rung, Kitahara climbed the 123-pound ladder in professional Shooto. Having now reached the top level of the division, the kid gloves are off. The 2008 rookie tournament champion will take on former Shooto world champion Mamoru Yamaguchi at “The Way of Shooto 6” on Nov. 19 in Tokyo.

9. Mitsuhisa Sunabe (13-6-3)
After taking the flyweight King of Pancrase title last year, Sunabe seemed poised to become Pancrase’s first flyweight star. Instead, in February, Kiyotaka Shimizu upset him and took the throne. On Dec. 5, Sunabe and Shimizu will square off for the third time and determine Pancrase’s top 125-pounder.

10. John Dodson (9-5)
Though “The Magician” continues to be dogged by a perceived lack of focus in the cage, he looked every bit his nickname in May. He bashed then-unbeaten Jessie Riggleman over three lopsided rounds, showing off the blistering speed and striking skills that make him a wild card at 125 pounds. Dodson will meet the unbeaten John Moraga under the Nemesis Fighting banner on Dec. 11 in the Dominican Republic.

Other contenders: Louis Gaudinot, Ulysses Gomez, Isao Hirose, Alexandre Pantoja, Masaaki Sugawara.