Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Flyweight

1. Henry Cejudo (14-2)

When Cejudo made his mixed martial arts debut on the regional circuit, Demetrious Johnson was already the UFC’s reigning flyweight champion. When he squared off with “Mighty Mouse” the first time, he clearly was not ready, losing via first-round technical at UFC 197. The second time around, Cejudo had clearly evolved, and he ended Johnson’s record title reign with a split decision triumph in the UFC 227 co-main event. While Cejudo’s division may be on its last legs in the UFC, he will defend his flyweight crown against 135-pound champ T.J. Dillashaw at the UFC’s debut on ESPN+ in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Jan. 19.

2. Demetrious Johnson (27-3-1)

All good things must come to an end, including Johnson’s record streak of 11 successful flyweight title defenses. “Mighty Mouse” did not go down easily, losing a tension-filled split decision to Henry Cejudo in the UFC 227 co-main event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. With that, Johnson’s run in the UFC has reached its end, as the promotion “traded” the pound-for-pound stalwart’s contract for that of former One Championship and Bellator welterweight titlist Ben Askren. Johnson is scheduled to take part in One’s upcoming 125-pound grand prix tournament.

3. Kyoji Horiguchi (25-2)

It was business as usual for Horiguchi at Rizin Fighting Federation 11, as the former UFC title challenger outpointed Hiromasa Ogikubo in a 132-pound contest to run his winning streak to 10 fights. Pound-for-pound great and reigning UFC flyweight king Demetrious Johnson is the only man to best the Japanese standout in his last 20 professional MMA appearances. Horiguchi’s last seven triumphs have come under the Rizin Fighting Federation banner, and his stock wasn’t hurt in a game defeat against Tenshin Nasukawa in a kickboxing bout at Rizin 13. Horiguchi will attempt to become the Japanese organization’s inaugural bantamweight champion when he meets Bellator 135-pound titlist Darrion Caldwell in a cross-promotional duel on New Year’s Eve.

4. Joseph Benavidez (26-5)

Benavidez bounced back from his first loss in more than four years at “The Ultimate Fighter 28” finale, as he dispatched Alex Perez with ground-and-pound 4:19 into the opening stanza of their bout. Even though the long-term future of the UFC’s flyweight division is in question, Benavidez wasted no time calling out the winner of the Henry Cejudo-T.J. Dillashaw 125-pound title bout scheduled for UFC 233. Benavidez will attempt to make it eight wins in his last nine Octagon appearances when he faces Dustin Ortiz in a rematch at UFC on ESPN+ 1 in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Jan. 19.

5. Ray Borg (11-3)

It has been a year of misfortune for Borg, who has yet to log an Octagon appearance after being submitted by Demetrious Johnson in a flyweight title bout at UFC 216 in October 2017. The Jackson-Wink MMA representative had four separate bouts fall through in 2018 for various reasons. Most recently, Borg withdrew from a proposed clash against Joseph Benavidez at UFC Fight Night 139 due to medical issues.

6. Jussier da Silva (22-5)

It was far from a crowd pleaser, but that matters little to Jussier da Silva, who won his third straight bout with a decision over Sergio Pettis at UFC 229. Once regarded as the top flyweight in the world upon entering the UFC, “Formiga” is getting closer and closer to the top of the division. However, with the flyweight division reportedly nearing its demise in the UFC, da Silva may be forced to test his skill at 135 pounds.

7. Sergio Pettis (17-5)

Amid rumors of the flyweight division’s eventual demise in the UFC, Pettis announced his intention to return to bantamweight, where he competed during his first four Octagon appearances. The early returns weren’t promising, as the Roufusport product dropped a clear-cut unanimous verdict to Rob Font at UFC on Fox 31. Following what appeared to be a breakthrough win over Joseph Benavidez at UFC 225, the 25-year-old Pettis has lost two straight.

8. Deiveson Figueiredo (15-0)

Now that Demetrious Johnson’s lengthy reign atop the division is over, Figueiredo currently owns the UFC’s longest winning streak at 125 pounds. The 30-year-old Brazilian earned his most significant victory to date at UFC Fight Night 135, where he stopped former title challenger John Moraga via second-round technical knockout. Not only did Figueiredo end Moraga’s three-fight winning streak, but he instantly became a person of interest in the weight class. Figueiredo was briefly slated to face former title challenger Joseph Benavidez at UFC 233 before the event was canceled. Now Figueiredo awaits a new booking.

9. John Moraga (18-7)

Moraga had a three-fight winning streak snapped at UFC Fight Night 135 in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he ran into unbeaten Brazilian Deiveson Figueiredo. While “Chicano John” rocked his counterpart early, Figueiredo gradually took control down the stretch, ultimately earning a stoppage via second-round technical knockout. At the very least, the battle-tested Moraga figures to be a tough gatekeeper for the division as his career progresses.

10. Dustin Ortiz (19-7)

An emphatic stoppage of the underrated Matheus Nicolau Pereira at UFC on Fox 30 gave Ortiz his third consecutive victory, tying him for the second-longest active winning streak in the 125-pound weight class. Ortiz has fought some of the division’s toughest competition during his promotional tenure, but the 29-year-old seems to be peaking during his current run, which also includes a victory over Alexandre Pantoja. He will get a chance to avenge a previous defeat when he rematches Joseph Benavidez at UFC Fight Night in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 19.

Other Contenders: Magomed Bibulatov, Alexandre Pantoja, Brandon Moreno, Wilson Reis, Hiromasa Ogikubo.

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