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 Flyweights 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 Flyweight Rankings
1) (Last ranking: 1) Demetrious Johnson – UFC Flyweight Champion – 40 points (out of a possible 40)
(Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Record: 25-2-1
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 7-0 (W-Elliott, W-Cejudo, W-Horiguchi, W-Bagautinov, W-Benavidez, W-Moraga, W-Benavidez)
Next Fight: TBA
Tim Elliott put up a good fight, but Mighty Mouse still easily won four rounds to one. Yes, he’s that good.
2) (2) Joseph Benavidez – UFC – 36 points
Record: 25-4
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 5-2 (W-Cejudo, W-Bagautinov, W-Moraga, L-Johnson, W-Elliott, W-Formiga, L-Johnson)
Next Fight: TBA
Was his big win over Henry Cejudo enough to get Joe Jitsu a third shot at UFC gold?
3) (3) Henry Cejudo – UFC – 31 points
Record: 10-2
Last Five Fights: 3-2
Record vs Top 10: 1-2 (L-Benavidez, L-Johnson, W-Formiga)
Next Fight: TBA
It was controversial, but officially Cejudo is now on a two-fight losing streak.
4) (4) Kyoji Horiguchi – UFC – 29 points
Record: 18-2
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 1-1 (W-Bagautinov, L-Johnson)
Next Fight: TBA
Supernova has reeled off three-straight wins since losing to Mighty Mouse.
5) (5) Jussier ‘Formiga’ da Silva – UFC – 22 points
Record: 19-3
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 2-2 (L-Cejudo, W-Reis, W-Makovsky, L-Benavidez)
Next Fight: vs Sergio Pettis – UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs Penn – Jan 17th
Four wins out of his last five fights, all versus top talent, for Formiga.
6) (6) Wilson Reis – UFC – 21 points
Record: 21-6
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 0-1 (L-Formiga)
Next Fight: vs Ulka Sasaki – UFC 208 – Jan 21st
Will Reis ever get his title shot now?
7) (tied) (7) Ali Bagautinov – UFC – 8 points
Record: 14-5
Last Five Fights: 2-3
Record vs Top 10: 1-3 (L-Horiguchi, L-Benavidez, L-Johnson, W-Elliott)
Next Fight: TBA
Only one win in his last four fights for the former title challenger.
7) (tied) (NR) Tim Elliott – UFC – 8 points
Record: 13-7-1
Last Five Fights: 3-2
Record vs Top 10: 0-3 (L-Elliott, L-Benavidez, L-Bagautinov)
Next Fight: TBA
Sometimes a loss is a win. That is the case with Elliott’s performance against the champ.
7) (tied) (9) Brandon Moreno – UFC – 8 points
Record: 13-3
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 0-0
Next Fight: TBA
Moreno looks like he’s going to be sticking around with the elite of the flyweight division for a while.
10) (tied) (9) Magomed Bibulatov – WSOF Flyweight Champion – 5 points
Record: 13-0
Last Five Fights: 5-0
Record vs Top 10: 0-0
Next Fight: TBA
13 up, 13 down for the WSOF champ.
10) (tied) (9) John Moraga – UFC – 5 points
Record: 16-5
Last Five Fights: 2-3
Record vs Top 10: 0-2 (L-Benavidez, L-Johnson)
Next Fight: TBA
Moraga is coming up on two years since his last win.
Dropped out: (8) Matheus Nicolau (suspended)
Bubbling under: Ben Nguyen, Ian McCall, Louis Smolka, Zach Makovsky
Rankings:
Heavyweights
Light Heavyweights
Middleweights
Welterweights
Lightweights
Featherweights
Bantamweights
Women’s Bantamweights
Women’s Strawweights
Pound for Pound
Non-UFC Fighters
Check back on Monday for our Women’s Bantamweight rankings.
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