Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Bantamweight

1. Dominick Cruz (22-1)

When he hasn't been besieged by injuries, Dominick Cruz has made his bones by dominating Team Alpha Male. With the UFC bantamweight title back in his grasp, Cruz now has the ability to put another W in his column against Urijah Faber's brigade: “The Dominator” will defend his 135-pound title against undefeated puncher Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.

2. T.J. Dillashaw (13-3)

Many thought Dillashaw won his first fight with Raphael Assuncao back in October 2013, but the former UFC bantamweight champion gained revenge at UFC 200, soundly outworking and outpointing Assuncao in his first performance since losing the UFC title to Dominick Cruz in January. Dillashaw may not be far from another crack at UFC gold, but for now, he'll need to wait behind former Team Alpha Male teammate Cody Garbrandt, who faces Dominick Cruz for the title on Dec. 30 at UFC 207.

3. Marlon Moraes (17-4-1)

Marlon Moraes has won 12 in a row and is perhaps the finest fighter under World Series of Fighting employ. While fans dream of a day when Brazilian dynamo takes his act to the UFC, Moraes is due for the fifth defense of his WSOF bantamweight title on Dec. 31, when he takes on his fellow countryman Josenaldo Silva at WSOF 34 at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden.

4. Cody Garbrandt (10-0)

With a 10-0 pro MMA record, massive punching power and his Team Alpha Male affiliation, Cody Garbrandt seems like as appealing of a foil as you could get for Dominick Cruz at 135 pounds. As such, “No Love” has been granted the next crack at “The Dominator” and the UFC bantamweight title, as well as another chance for Team Alpha Male to get some redemption over its tormentor come UFC 207 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.

5. Jimmie Rivera (20-1)

After 19 wins in 20 pro fights, including three impressive UFC victories, Rivera was clearly ready for a step up in competition. Taking on perennial standout Urijah Faber at UFC 203, “The Terror” showed that the 135-pound guard is changing on the whole, dominating “The California Kid” for 15 minutes and staking his place among the bantamweight elite.

6. Urijah Faber (33-10)

At 37 years old and having lost three of his last four, with four cracks at UFC titles behind him, it seemed only rational that Urijah Faber would be eyeing a retirement in the near future. Now, “The California Kid” has made it official, stating that his Dec. 17 bout with Brad Pickett at UFC on Fox 22 in his Sacramento backyard would be the last in his storied fighting career.

7. Raphael Assuncao (23-5)

Assuncao returned to these rankings after spending nearly two years away from the cage. However, his re-eligibility comes on account of a loss, as he could not replicate his close decision win over T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 200, getting outworked by the former champion over 15 minutes. Nonetheless, Assuncao remains one of the sport’s top bantamweights, with recent wins over divisional standouts Bryan Caraway and Pedro Munhoz. He will take on Aljamain Sterling at a UFC Fight Night event on Dec. 9 in Albany, New York.

8. Bryan Caraway (21-7)

Through his eight bouts inside the Octagon, Caraway has gotten a little bit better each time out. Those incremental improvements finally turned into a big payoff for “Kid Lightning,” as he overcame a tough first five minutes to come back and take a split decision over the previously unbeaten Aljamain Sterling on May 29, vaulting him into these rankings.

9. Aljamain Sterling (12-1)

For the first five minutes of his May 29 bout with Bryan Caraway, Sterling looked every bit a dominant, undefeated prospect. However, when Caraway battled back over the final 10 minutes, he managed to outwrestle and outhustle the Serra-Longo Fight Team product, handing “The Funkmaster” the first loss of his pro career. Sterling will try to point himself in the right direction at a UFC Fight Night event on Dec. 9, when he confronts Raphael Assuncao in Albany, New York.

10. Thomas Almeida (21-1)

In May, 25-year-old Thomas Almeida tasted defeat for the first time in his pro career, getting knocked silly by Cody Garbrandt in the first round. Nonetheless, the thrilling and dynamic Almeida seems destined to challenge for UFC gold one day. Almeida's path toward those lofty expectations resumes on Nov. 19 in his native Sao Paulo, where he faces considerable underdog Alberto Morales.

Other Contenders: Eduardo Dantas, John Lineker, Takeya Mizugaki, Joe Taimanglo, Eddie Wineland.

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