The Rankings: The Featherweights: Feb 24, 2017

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 Featherweight Rankings 

*Click on fighter’s name for a full scouting report*

The Featherweight Rankings

1) (Last ranking – 1) Jose Aldo – UFC Featherweight Champion – 40 points (out of 40)

Record: 26-2
Last Five Fights: 4-1
Record vs Top 10: 5-0 (W-Edgar, W-Lamas, W-Jung, W-Edgar, W-Swanson)
Next Fight: vs #2 Max Holloway – UFC 212 – Jun 3rd

Interim no more.

2) (tied) (2) Frankie Edgar – UFC – 34 points
                      Record: 21-5-1
                      Last Five Fights: 4-1
                      Record vs Top 10: 2-2 (W-Stephens, L-Aldo, W-Swanson, L-Aldo)
                      Next Fight: TBA

Now where does Frankie Edgar’s career go?

2) (tied) (2) Max Holloway – Interim UFC Featherweight Champion – 34 points
                     Record: 17-3
                     Last Five Fights: 5-0
                     Record vs Top 10: 4-0 (W-Pettis, W-Lamas, W-Stephens, W-Swanson)
                     Next Fight: vs #1 Jose Aldo – UFC 212 – Jun 3rd

Mad Max has UFC gold around his waist.  Kinda.

4) (5) Ricardo Lamas – UFC – 22 points

            Record: 17-5
            Last Five Fights: 3-2
            Record vs Top 10: 1-2 (L-Holloway, L-Aldo, W-Swanson)
            Next Fight: TBA

The Bully is looking to break out of his win-one-lose-one pattern.

5) (6) Cub Swanson – UFC – 20 points
             Record: 24-7
             Last Five Fights: 3-2
             Record vs Top 10: 1-4 (L-Holloway, L-Edgar, W-Stephens, L-Lamas, L-Aldo)
             Next Fight: vs Artem Lobov – UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs Lobov – Apr 22nd

A very impressive win over uber-prospect Doo Ho Choi makes it three wins in a row for Swanson.

6) (4) Anthony Pettis – UFC – 19 points
            Record: 19-6
            Last Five Fights: 1-4
            Record vs Top 10: 1-1 (L-Holloway, W-Stephens,)
            Next Fight: TBA

It sounds like Showtime is going to give up his bid at featherweight and move on up to lightweight again.  Probably a wise decision.

7) (7) Jeremy Stephens – UFC – 13 points
            Record: 25-13
            Last Five Fights: 2-3
            Record vs Top 10: 0-4 (L-Edgar, L-Holloway, L-Swanson, L-Pettis)
            Next Fight: TBA

Lil’ Heathen continues to struggle against the elite of the sport.

8) (NR) Chan Sung Jung – UFC – 12 points
               Record: 14-4
               Last Five Fights: 4-1
               Record vs Top 10: 0-1 (L-Aldo)
               Next Fight: TBA

After an almost four year absence, the Korean Zombie made a triumphant return to the cage.

9) (8) Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire – Bellator – 9 points
            Record: 25-4
            Last Five Fights: 3-2
            Record vs Top 10: 2-1 (L-Straus, W-Straus, W-Straus)
            Next Fight: vs #10 Daniel Straus – Bellator 178 – Apr 21st

Pitbull will try to get his belt back this spring.

10) (NR) Daniel Straus – Bellator Featherweight Champioin – 8 points   
                  Record: 25-6
                  Last Five Fights: 3-2
                  Record vs Top 10: 1-2 (W-Freire, L-Freire, L-Freire)
                  Next Fight: vs #9 Patricio Freire – Bellator 178 – Apr 21st

Straus-Pitbull Part 4 on the way.

Dropped off: (9) Charles Oliveira, (10) Doo Ho Choi

Bubbling under: Charles Oliveira, Brian Ortega, Doo Ho Choi, Daniel Weichel

Check back on Monday for our Bantamweight rankings