Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Bantamweight

1. T.J. Dillashaw (15-3)

Dillashaw lost his UFC bantamweight title by the slimmest of margins in January 2016, dropping a split decision to two-time champion Dominick Cruz. It took him nearly two years, but now “Killashaw” is back on top of the bantamweight world: At UFC 217, he finally got his showdown with former Team Alpha Male training partner Cody Garbrandt and overcame nearly being stopped in the opening round to knock out “No Love” and take back the UFC title. A Garbrandt rematch or a showdown with the winner of Cruz-Jimmie Rivera seemed like the immediately sensible option for Dillashaw’s first title defense of his second reign, but instead, the newly minted champ called out flyweight kingpin Demetrious Johnson for what would be a monumental superfight.

2. Cody Garbrandt (11-1)

Through five minutes of his UFC 217 co-main event on Nov. 4, Garbrandt looked well on his way to both defending his UFC bantamweight title for the first time and knocking out former teammate turned rival T.J. Dillashaw. Then, Round 2 came and Dillashaw cracked him with a right hand, pounded him out, took his title and handed him the first loss of his career. Whether or not “No Love” gets an immediate title rematch in 2018 remains to be seen.

3. Dominick Cruz (22-2)

When Cody Garbrandt-T.J. Dillashaw was announced, it seemed only natural that Cruz, a two-time UFC bantamweight champion, would be put in position to challenge the victor. Of course, “The Dominator” was not going to sit around for a year and be gifted a title shot, so an eliminator of sorts would be necessary. We have that now, and it is a good one: Cruz will face 21-1 Jimmie Rivera at UFC 219 on Dec. 30, with a potential UFC bantamweight title shot hanging in the balance.

4. Raphael Assuncao (25-5)

Though the split decision was a contentious one, Assuncao's win over former World Series of Fighting champion Marlon Moraes in June moved him to 9-1 as a bantamweight, all in the UFC. His only loss at 135 pounds is to former T.J. Dillashaw, an opponent over whom he also owns a victory. However, Assuncao is maybe MMA's most forgotten man and an opponent no bantamweight wants to face, so how he has been booked next time out comes as no surprise. Assuncao will meet little-known prospect Matthew Lopez at UFC Fight Night 120 on Nov. 11 in Norfolk, Virginia.

5. Jimmie Rivera (21-1)

Rivera has won 20 straight pro MMA bouts -- his tear dates back nearly nine years -- and owns a perfect 5-0 mark in the Octagon. Suffice to say, “El Terror” has earned a big fight, one with UFC title implications. He will get one at UFC 219 on Dec. 30, when he has a date with the man he called out back in July: two-time champion Dominick Cruz.

6. Marlon Moraes (18-5-1)

Moraes’ much-anticipated UFC debut in June did not go as expected, as he dropped a razor-thin split decision to veteran Raphael Assuncao in a bout most felt the Octagon newcomer won. Things are not going to get any easier for the former World Series of Fighting champion in his second UFC start, but it should still result in an action-packed affair, as Moraes has signed on to face the similarly nicknamed John Dodson at UFC Fight Night 120 on Nov. 11 in Norfolk, Virginia.

7. Bryan Caraway (21-7)

Following back-to-back decision wins over Eddie Wineland and the previously undefeated Aljamain Sterling, Caraway was in a plum position -- he was lined up to face red-hot contender Jimmie Rivera -- when 2017 began. Unfortunately, Caraway suffered an undisclosed injury and spent most of the year on the sideline. Now, Rivera is off to have a virtual title eliminator against former two-time UFC champ Dominick Cruz, while Caraway has accepted a risky fight with once-beaten prospect Luke Sanders at UFC Fight Night 123 on Dec. 9.

8. John Lineker (30-8)

Lineker sustained a broken jaw in his decision loss to former UFC champ T.J. Dillashaw in December, the injury sidelining him for most of 2017. Thankfully for MMA fans and violence lovers, Lineker returned to the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 119 in Sao Paulo on Oct. 28, hammering out a unanimous verdict over the much improved Marlon Vera. “Hands of Stone” is now 5-1 in his last six Octagon appearances.

9. Thomas Almeida (22-2)

After starting his MMA career 21-0, Almeida has dropped two of his last three bouts inside the UFC. It is hardly a cause for despair, however, as those defeats came against current UFC champion Cody Garbrandt and emerging elite contender Jimmie Rivera. More than that, “Thominhas” remains one of the most exciting young fighters the sport has to offer.

10. Darrion Caldwell (11-1)

Caldwell is no longer just an NCAA Division I national wrestling champion; he is a serious MMA champ, too. At Bellator 184 on Oct. 6, “The Wolf” used his wrestling and sublime suplexing skills to stymie Eduardo Dantas for five rounds and take the Bellator 135-pound title. It is possible his first title defense will come against another Brazilian, Leandro Higo. He defeated the only man to ever beat Caldwell, “Baby” Joe Taimanglo, as part of the Bellator 184 main card.

Other Contenders: Eduardo Dantas, John Dodson, Shintaro Ishiwatari, Pedro Munhoz, Aljamain Sterling.

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