The Rankings are just that – The MMA Manifesto’s rankings of the best fighters in mixed martial arts today. Check back every Monday and Friday for our rankings of a different weight class. Next up: The Bantamweight Rankings.
Voting Panel: Jeff Fox, Daniel Vreeland, Ryan MacDonald, and Ricky Leone
*stipulations: 1) any fighter currently suspended or 2) inactive for at least 12 months (without an upcoming fight scheduled) are excluded from the rankings
(click on fighter’s name for detailed scouting report)
The Bantamweight Rankings
1) (Last ranking: 1) Dominick Cruz – UFC Bantamweight Champion – 40 points (out of a possible 40)
Record: 22-1
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 3-1 (W-Faber, W-Dillashaw, W-Faber, L-Faber)
Next Fight: vs #3 Cody Garbrandt – UFC 207 – Dec 30th
Cruz hasn’t missed a beat after all that time on the shelf. Impressive.
2) (2) T.J. Dillashaw – UFC – 36 points
Record: 13-3
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 1-2 (W-Assuncao, L-Cruz, L-Assuncao)
Next Fight: vs #5 John Lineker – UFC 207 – Dec 30th
Dillashaw avenged his earlier loss to Raphael Assuncao, but he’ll have to wait longer for the chance to do the same with Dominick Cruz.
3) (3) Cody Garbrandt – UFC – 24 points
Record: 10-0
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 0-0
Next Fight: vs #1 Dominick Cruz – UFC 207 – Dec 30th
No Love is starting to get plenty of love. Winning your first 10 fights and knocking suckas out will do that.
4) (4) Jimmie Rivera – UFC – 21 points
Record: 20-1
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 1-0 (W-Faber)
Next Fight: vs #7 Bryan Caraway – UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs Korean Zombie – Feb 4th
The biggest win of his career has propelled El Terror high into the top 10.
5) (5) John Lineker – UFC – 18 points
Record: 29-7
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 0-0
Next Fight: vs #2 T.J. Dillashaw – UFC 207 – Dec 30th
Will weight issues slow Lineker’s roll to a title shot?
6) (6) Bibiano Fernandes – ONE Championship Bantamweight Champion – 15 points
Record: 20-3
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 0-1 (L-Faber)
Next Fight: TBA
The Flash hasn’t lost since 2010.
7) (tied) (7) Bryan Caraway – UFC – 11 points
Record: 21-7
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 0-1 (L-Assuncao)
Next Fight: vs #4 Jimmie Rivera – UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs Korean Zombie – Feb 4th
Caraway is on the rise.
7) (tied) (8) Raphael Assuncao – UFC – 11 points
Record: 23-5
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 2-2 (L-Dillashaw, W-Caraway, W-Dillashaw, L-Faber)
Next Fight: TBA
Assuncao is looking for his first win in over two years.
7) (tied) (8) Urijah Faber – UFC – 11 points
Record: 33-10
Last Five Fights: 2-3
Record vs Top 10: 3-3 (L-Rivera, L-Cruz, L-Cruz, W-Assuncao, W-Cruz, W-Fernandes)
Next Fight: vs Brad Pickett – UFC on Fox: VanZant vs Waterson – Dec 17th
The California Kid has lost back-to-back fights for the first time in his 13 year career.
7) (tied) (10) Eduardo Dantas – Bellator Bantamweight Champion – 11 points
Record: 19-4
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 0-0
Next Fight: TBA
One title defense in the books for DuDu.
Dropped off: (10) Thomas Almeida
Bubbling Under: Thomas Almeida, Marlon Moraes, John Dodson, Aljamain Sterling, Darrion Caldwell, Iuri Alcantara, Pedro Munhoz
Rankings:
Heavyweights
Light Heavyweights
Middleweights
Welterweights
Lightweights
Featherweights
Flyweights
Women’s Bantamweights
Women’s Strawweights
Pound for Pound
Non-UFC Fighters
Check back on Friday for our Flyweight rankings
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
