On the first Wednesday of every month, theScore's MMA editors compile a list of the top 10 fighters in each of the major weight classes.
Rankings
Heavyweight | Light Heavyweight
Middleweight | Welterweight
Lightweight | Featherweight
Bantamweight | Flyweight
Women: Bantamweight | Strawweight
Bantamweight
| Ranking | Fighter |
|---|---|
| 1 | T.J. Dillashaw |
| 2 | Dominick Cruz |
| 3 | Renan Barao |
| 4 | Urijah Faber |
| 5 | Raphael Assuncao |
| 6 | Aljamain Sterling |
| 7 | Takeya Mizugaki |
| 8 | Thomas Almeida |
| 9 | Marlon Moraes |
| 10 | Bibiano Fernandes |
- The ghost of bantamweight past will throw down with the (not) ghost of bantamweight present when former division overlord Dominick Cruz meets current champion T.J. Dillashaw on Jan. 17.
- Speaking of Dillashaw, his former mentor at Team Alpha Male is looking for a fight. Without pesky team labels standing in the way, Urijah Faber is open to a potential bout against the UFC bantamweight champion. Faber will have to get by Frankie Saenz at UFC 194 before the fight can materialize.
- Two-time flyweight title challenger John Dodson is also itching to throw hands with Dillashaw. Dodson, who TKO'd Dillashaw at the TUF 14 Finale, is moving up to 135 pounds, and has the Elevation Fight Team member firmly in his crosshairs.
- After questioning his future in the sport, blue chip prospect Aljamain Sterling returns to the Octagon on Dec. 10 against seasoned veteran Johnny Eduardo. The 26-year-old is 3-0 since making his UFC debut in 2014, including a submission victory in the biggest test of his career against Takeya Mizugaki.
- Thomas Almeida continues to terrify. The 24-year-old Brazilian buzzsaw added Anthony Birchak to his growing list of victims at UFC Fight Night 77, sending Birchak on a no-expenses paid trip to dreamland with a devastating right hand.
