Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

---

Bantamweight

1. Dominick Cruz (17-1)
Seldom does hyperactivity look easy, but that is Cruz. He continued to show the evolution of his slick punching and unpredictable style on Dec. 16, as he shut out the tough Scott Jorgensen over five rounds at WEC 53. The win set the table for a major bantamweight showdown against the only man to ever beat “The Dominator,” former WEC featherweight king Urijah Faber, once Cruz recovers from hand surgery.

2. Joseph Benavidez (13-2)
Despite his two losses to champion Dominick Cruz and the fact that he may be a natural 125-pounder, Benavidez has picked off more top bantamweights than nearly any other 135-pound fighter. The Team Alpha Male product added another Top 10 win to his ledger by submitting Wagnney Fabiano in November and will make his UFC debut on March 19 against Ian Loveland at UFC 128.

3. Urijah Faber (25-4)
The “California Kid” overcame a slow start and used his trademark wrestling to take unanimous decision over fellow ex-WEC champion Eddie Wineland at UFC 128 on March 19. The win was the last hurdle for Faber to clear on his way to a rematch with current UFC bantamweight ace Dominick Cruz, whom Faber submitted via guillotine choke at 145 pounds in 2007.

4. Brian Bowles (8-1)
On March 3, 362 days after losing his WEC bantamweight title to Dominick Cruz, Bowles returned in impressive fashion. In his UFC debut, the 30-year-old West Virginia native submitted the dangerous Damacio Page with a guillotine choke just 3:30 into round one -- the exact same method and time as in their August 2008 meeting.

5. Scott Jorgensen (11-4)
Gritty collegiate wrestling convert Jorgensen had a five-fight win streak snapped in his final WEC appearance, a demoralizing five-round loss to champion Dominick Cruz. However, “Young Guns” will make his Octagon debut at the “The Ultimate Fighter 13” Finale on June 4, when he will look to bounce back against Ken Stone.

6. Miguel Torres (39-3)
Torres’ road back to the top of the bantamweight division just got tougher. The former 135-pound ace has signed on to meet tough Brit Brad Pickett at UFC 130 on May 28. The winner figures to take a considerable leap forward in the bantamweight pack.

7. Takeya Mizugaki (14-5-2)
Mizugaki was choked unconscious by Urijah Faber at WEC 52 in November, but the Japanese standout rebounded from the first submission loss of his career in his March UFC debut. The 27-year-old notched a split decision win over fellow Octagon newcomer Reuben Duran at UFC Live 3, moving Mizugaki’s record under the Zuffa umbrella to 3-3.

8. Brad Pickett (20-5)
After a thrilling three-round decision win over Ivan Menjivar in Montreal, “One Punch” will take a significant jump up in competition. The tough Brit will take on former bantamweight ruler Miguel Torres at UFC 130 on May 28 with a considerable stake in the 135-pound division on the line.

9. Masakatsu Ueda (12-1-2)
Taking on late replacement Ralph Acosta in Tokyo on Jan. 10, the former Shooto 132-pound world champion showed all the facets of his evolving game. Ueda exhibited some improving standup skills, but more chiefly, put his expert grappling on display. Ueda and Acosta showed off their technical wrestling chops before Ueda closed the show with his patented Brabo choke.

10. Demetrious Johnson (8-1)
At UFC 126, Johnson showed once again that, regardless of his 5-foot-3 frame, he possesses all the goods to hang at 135 pounds. “Mighty Mouse” scored his third win in a little more than four months by stringing together combinations and using lightning-fast takedowns against Japanese star Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto. Next up for the AMC Pankration product is a chance to snap the 25-fight unbeaten streak of Brazilian phenom Renan “Barao” at “The Ultimate Fighter 13” Finale on June 4.

Other contenders: Renan “Barao,” Wagnney Fabiano, Zach Makovsky, Michael McDonald, Eddie Wineland.

Continue Reading » MMA Flyweight Rankings