Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Flyweight

1. Demetrious Johnson (24-2-1)

“Mighty Mouse” likes to stay active, so it was not unusual when he signed up to defend his flyweight title against Wilson Reis at UFC 201, despite already having a Dec. 3 title defense scheduled against the winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 24. The bad news: A Johnson injury nixed that in-between title defense and left Reis out in the cold. The good news: As mentioned, we are still promised another 2016 outing from one of the very best fighter’s in the sport, even if his challenger will come via a reality show.

2. Joseph Benavidez (24-4)

If Benavidez is ever to challenge for the UFC flyweight title again, his path runs through “The Ultimate Fighter.” On Season 24 of the reality series, Benavidez will coach opposite fellow former title challenger Henry Cejudo. If Benavidez can notch a win over Cejudo at “The Ultimate Fighter 24” Finale on Dec. 3, he may get a third crack at the UFC flyweight crown.

3. John Dodson (18-7)

Having lost twice in title bids against reigning flyweight ruler Demetrious Johnson, the 31-year-old Dodson was left without a real direction in the UFC. A move back up to 135 pounds in April saw him demolish Manny Gamburyan in just 47 seconds, and now, “The Magician” is going to stick around at bantamweight for the sake of entertaining fights. In a dynamite pairing, Dodson will take on fellow all-world puncher John Lineker in a UFC Fight Night main event on Oct. 1 in Portland, Oregon.

4. Henry Cejudo (10-1)

In his first UFC flyweight title challenge, Cejudo kissed his perfect record goodbye, as he went down to knees to the body from champion Demetrious Johnson in mere minutes. If Cejudo wants to get another crack at 125-pound gold in the near future, he will need to deal with Joseph Benavidez on Dec. 3 -- after they coach opposite one another on Season 24 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

5. Jussier da Silva (18-4)

Da Silva has ranked among the MMA flyweight elite for seven years, but he is coming off a decision loss to Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo in November. “Formiga” needs to keep pace just like everybody else, so his chance for a future crack at Demetrious Johnson now hinges on whether or not he can bounce back on Sept. 24, when he takes on always-tough Dustin Ortiz at a UFC Fight Night event in Brasilia, Brazil.

6. Kyoji Horiguchi (17-2)

Horiguchi, the best Japanese fighter in the game at this point, is 5-1 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and no one holds his UFC 186 defeat to champion Demetrious Johnson against him. The former Shooto world champion has pounded out decisions over Chico Camus and Neil Seery since his April 2015 loss to “Mighty Mouse” and will next meet a fellow former UFC title challenger when he takes on Ali Bagautinov under the UFC Fight Night banner on Oct. 15 in Manila.

7. Wilson Reis (21-6)

UFC 201 was bittersweet for Reis. On one hand, he quickly and impressively submitted UFC newcomer Hector Sandoval in the first round in Atlanta. On the other, Reis was facing a fighter making his Octagon debut in the prelims. He was originally scheduled to face flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson in the co-headliner before Johnson’s injury nixed those plans. Now, Reis will have to keep winning to have another chance at a title bid, as “Mighty Mouse” is set to meet the winner of the 24th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” in December.

8. Matheus Nicolau Pereira (12-1-1)

After a successful UFC debut in November, Pereira dropped to 125 pounds to face John Moraga at “The Ultimate Fighter 23” Finale and outworked the former UFC title challenger over 15 minutes. After an eye-opening upset win to enter the flyweight division, Nicolau is now firmly in the mix at 125 pounds.

9. John Moraga (16-5)

Throughout his career, Moraga had only fallen short against the sport’s unquestioned elite, like Demetrious Johnson, Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson. However, on July 8, he was upset by 23-year-old Brazilian Matheus Nicolau Pereira, who frustrated a lackadaisical Moraga, stopped him from showing off his powerful punching and wrestling and dropped “Chicano John” back in the 125-pound pecking order.

10. Dustin Ortiz (15-5)

Perpetually on the fringes of flyweight contendership since entering the UFC three years ago, Ortiz dropped a unanimous decision to Wilson Reis in January. However, he has been afforded a major opportunity to rebound: At the UFC Fight Night card in Brasilia, Brazil, on Sept. 24, Ortiz will face perennial divisional standout Jussier da Silva in a bout that could vault the American into the 125-pound title picture.

Other Contenders: Ali Bagautinov, Magomed Bibulatov, Zach Makovsky, Justin Scoggins, Louis Smolka

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