Flyweight
1. Demetrious Johnson (17-2-1)
As expected, Johnson’s speed played a huge factor in his Jan. 26 title defense against John Dodson, but it was the endurance and late offense from “Mighty Mouse” which won him the day. Johnson was set to make his second flyweight title defense against John Moraga at the “The Ultimate Fighter 17” Finale, but an injury forced the AMC Pankration representative to withdraw from the event’s headliner.
2. Joseph Benavidez (17-3)
Benavidez came up short in a close, five-round decision loss to Demetrious Johnson in September but bounced right back with a sound win over former No. 1 Ian McCall in February. He will not stay on the shelf long, as Benavidez has already been penciled in for an April 20 meeting with Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on Fox 7.
3. Ian McCall (11-4-1)
To say the world’s former No. 1 flyweight has had a rough start to his UFC career would be an understatement. After drawing with and losing to current champion Demetrious Johnson, “Uncle Creepy” looked to right the ship at UFC 156 but dropped a clear-cut decision to Joseph Benavidez, marking the first back-to-back losses of McCall’s career.
4. John Dodson (14-6)
Dodson showed flashes of the power that many felt could win him the UFC flyweight title, though he ultimately came up short on Jan. 26, falling to Demetrious Johnson in a five-round unanimous decision. The loss was Dodson’s first setback in the UFC and snapped a five-fight winning streak for “The Magician.”
5. Jussier da Silva (14-2)
The second loss of da Silva’s career came at the most inopportune time, as “Formiga” fell in his October UFC debut via second-round TKO at the hands of eventual title challenger John Dodson. The Brazilian grappler will be back in action on home soil come May 18, when he is slated to take on former bantamweight standout Chris Cariaso at UFC on FX 8.
6. Darrell Montague (12-2)
Montague used solid combinations and constant pressure to score a hard-fought split decision victory over former Shooto champion Mamoru Yamaguchi on Christmas Eve in Tokyo. As one of the top 125-pound talents not currently signed to a UFC contract, it seems only a matter of time before the Tachi Palace Fights veteran gets a chance to showcase his skills in the Octagon.
7. Louis Gaudinot (6-2)
Gaudinot used his grappling to thrill in his May comeback win against Brazilian thumper John Lineker. The green-haired New Yorker was set to return against Darren Uyenoyama on Oct. 5 before an unspecified injury knocked Gaudinot from the bout.
8. John Lineker (20-6)
After stumbling in his Octagon debut, Lineker showed what all the hype surrounding him was about by dismantling Shooto export Yasuhiro Urushitani in a dominant unanimous decision in November. The Brazilian slugger will get to fight at home for his next outing, when he welcomes Russian “Tough Guy” Azamat Gashimov to the 125-pound ranks at UFC on FX 8 in May.
9. John Moraga (13-1)
The once-beaten Arizona Combat Sports representative has made a serious splash with his first two UFC outings, besting Ulysses Gomez and Chris Cariaso. Moraga was set to be rewarded for his efforts with a title shot against Demetrious Johnson at the “The Ultimate Fighter 17” Finale, but an injury has forced the 125-pound champ off the April 13 card. It is currently unclear if Moraga will get a replacement opponent.
10. Yasuhiro Urushitani (19-6-6)
After a nasty knockout loss to Joseph Benavidez in his UFC debut in March, the Shooto standout's second stand did not go much better. Though Urushitani made it to the final bell on Nov. 10 in Macau, he was blasted for 15 minutes by Brazilian upstart John Lineker and dropped a unanimous verdict.