Flyweight
1. Demetrious Johnson (21-2-1)
The 125-pound division has a major problem, and that problem is named Demetrious Johnson. At UFC 178, Chris Cariaso became the fifth man to try and fail to take the UFC flyweight title from “Mighty Mouse.” Johnson showed why he was nearly a 20-to-1 favorite by outstriking Cariaso before finishing the fight on the floor with a second-round kimura. The 28-year-old Matt Hume pupil will next defend his strap against highly regarded Japanese prospect Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC 186.2. Joseph Benavidez (21-4)
With two losses to divisional ruler Demetrious Johnson, Benavidez has found himself in a tough situation, but that has not prevented Team Alpha Male’s top flyweight from staying productive. Since falling to “Mighty Mouse” for the second time, Benavidez has looked sensational in knocking off prospects Tim Elliott and Dustin Ortiz. Benavidez will go for his third straight win against another former title challenger, John Moraga, at UFC 187.3. John Dodson (16-6)
Before he underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL last year, Dodson looked to be on his way to a rematch with flyweight king Demetrious Johnson. Now, after nearly a year away from the cage, “The Magician” will reappear at UFC 187, where he will attempt to affirm his contender status with a win over former Bellator bantamweight ace Zach Makovsky.4. Ian McCall (13-5-1)
McCall got off to a strong start in his rescheduled bout with John Lineker at UFC 183, but the Brazilian turned up the heat in rounds two and three, eventually taking a unanimous decision over “Uncle Creepy.” While the loss stopped any immediate thought of McCall earning a third bout with Demetrious Johnson, it did not impact the 30-year-old’s ranking due to Lineker weighing in at 130 pounds.5. Jussier da Silva (17-3)
The grappling chops which make “Formiga” a formidable foe for any flyweight were on full display in his Aug. 16 outpointing of former Bellator champ Zach Makovsky. Riding back-to-back wins over tough opponents, da Silva was forced to withdraw from a December clash with John Moraga. He will be back in action on May 30, when he collides with Wilson Reis at a UFC Fight Night event in Brazil.6. Zach Makovsky (19-5)
After suffering his first Octagon defeat in an August decision loss to Jussier da Silva, former Bellator champ Makovsky righted the ship by earning a unanimous nod against Tim Elliott on Feb. 14. The 32-year-old is now 3-1 under the UFC banner, with all four fights going to the judges’ scorecards. “Fun Size” could propel himself into title contention with a victory in his next bout -- a meeting with the returning John Dodson at UFC 187.7. John Moraga (16-3)
Moraga overcame an early knockdown and rear-naked choke scare from Willie Gates on Dec. 13 to turn the tide and finish the former Tachi Palace Fights titlist with a choke of his own in the third round. The hometown win capped a 3-1 year for the Phoenix native, who also knocked off prospects Justin Scoggins and Dustin Ortiz in the past 12 months. Moraga’s only losses have come at the hands of the division’s elite: flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson and top contender John Dodson. He will confront Team Alpha Male standout Joseph Benavidez at UFC 187 on May 23.8. Kyoji Horiguchi (15-1)
Horiguchi notched his ninth consecutive win and improved to 4-0 inside the Octagon with a unanimous decision over Louis Gaudinot at UFC 182. The former Shooto champion has looked sharp in all four of his UFC outings, with impressive speed and a work rate that has proven hard for opponents to match. The “Kid” Yamamoto protégé’s performances have put him on a fast-track to the title, which he will attempt to take from Demetrious Johnson at UFC 186 in April.9. John Lineker (25-7)
Lineker put on a strong performance against Ian McCall at UFC 183, mixing submission attempts with his trademark power punches to earn a unanimous decision. The win was bittersweet, however, as “Hands of Stone” missed weight for the fourth time in eight Octagon appearances; according to UFC President Dana White, Lineker will now be forced to move up to bantamweight.10. Henry Cejudo (8-0)
Two years into his MMA career, Cejudo is finally where he belongs. The Olympic gold medalist made his long-delayed flyweight debut at UFC 185 and used his world-class wrestling to grind out Chris Cariaso over three rounds. Cejudo, the son of Mexican immigrants, will likely be featured on the UFC 188 card in Mexico City.Other Contenders: Ray Borg, Adriano Moraes, Yuki Motoya, Dustin Ortiz, Wilson Reis.
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