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411 MMA Rankings 07.19.16: Bantamweight Division
While the bantamweight division is quickly becoming the most interesting in the UFC with a laundry list of contenders (both established and up-and-comers) and a dominant champion, it’s unclear what it will exactly look like in the second half of the year. Champion Dominick Cruz finally dispatched of longtime rival Urijah Faber for good last month and is looking for a big fight outside the 135-pound division because as he understands it, none of his potential challengers offers much in terms of fan interest. Specifically, he’s looking at either moving up to featherweight to fight interim champion Jose Aldo or reigning champion Conor McGregor to become the first UFC fighter to hold two different championships simultaneously. Otherwise, he’s okay with welcoming current flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson back to bantamweight for a rematch of their fight from nearly five years ago (Cruz won, which led DJ to 125-pounds).
The latter is not going to happen. The former, is also extremely unlikely. So, where does that leave Dominick?
Unfortunately for him, waiting for a challenger to be crowned between the likes of Cody Garbrandt (who Cruz says is essentially a nobody), Bryan Caraway, former champion T.J. Dillashaw (who Cruz insists he has no interest in fighting again) and John Lineker (fresh off his impressive knockout of Michael McDonald).
Or John Dodson can always get another UFC title crack. I’d be interested to see him take on Cruz and look to unload a knockout punch for five rounds.
411’s MMA Rankings Guidelines
– Which fighters are eligible for these rankings? They must meet the following qualifications: fight at least once in the past 365 days or if they have not, be officially scheduled for an upcoming fight.
– A fighter serving a disciplinary suspension will not be ranked. They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded. This includes fighters who may disregard their suspension locally to fight overseas.
– If a fighter appears on just one single ballot, and in the top ten, five points will be deducted to balance between other fighters who may be ranked lower, but appear on a greater amount of ballots.
– Want to complain about a fighter’s ranking in the comments section? Please include an objective reason why you despise the list, and try your best to bring the rest of us to your way of thinking.
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Bantamweight Division (135 pounds)
1) Dominick Cruz (22-1)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: September 3, 1985
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Urijah Faber – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 – June 4, 2016
– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
– vs. Takeya Mizugaki – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 178: Alvarez vs. Cerrone – September 27, 2014
– vs. Demetrious Johnson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Versus: Cruz vs. Faber – October 1, 2011
– vs. Urijah Faber – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber – July 2, 2011
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Cruz ended his trilogy with Urijah Faber by winning another unanimous decision. It was not a close fight and it was his first successful title defense since he beat Demetrious Johnson in 2011. Now, the attention turns to who will be his next opponent with the primary candidates being former champ T.J. Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt or John Lineker.
2) T.J. Dillashaw (13-3)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: February 7, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Raphael Assuncao – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
– vs. Dominick Cruz – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
– vs. Renan Barao – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 – July 25, 2015
– vs. Joe Soto – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 177: Dillashaw vs. Soto – August 30, 2014
– vs. Renan Barao – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw – May 24, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: T.J. avenged one of his three professional losses at UFC 200 with his decision victory over Raphael Assuncao. It, too, was not a close fight as Dillashaw’s movement and bursts of offense kept the Brazilian in check.
3) Urijah Faber (33-9)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: May 14, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Dominick Cruz – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Weidman 2 – June 4, 2016
– vs. Frankie Saenz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
– vs. Frankie Edgar – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Faber vs. Edgar – May 16, 2015
– vs. Francisco Rivera – Win via submission (bulldog choke) – UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler – December 6, 2014
– vs. Alex Caceres – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 175: Weidman vs. Machida – July 5, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jimmie Rivera – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016
4) Cody Garbrandt (9-0)
Height: 5’7
Birthday: July 7, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Thomas Almeida – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – May 29, 2016
– vs. Augusto Mendes – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 21, 2016
– vs. Henry Briones – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 189 – July 11, 2015
– vs. Marcus Brimage – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 182 – January 3, 2015
– vs. Charles Stanford – Win via TKO (strikes) – NAAFS 8 – October 4, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
5) Marlon Moraes (17-4-1)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: April 26, 1988
Currently Fighting With: World Series of Fighting
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Joseph Barajas – Win via TKO (leg kicks) – WSOF 28 – February 20, 2016
– vs. Sheymon da Silva Moraes – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – WSOF 22 – August 1, 2015
– vs. Josh Hill – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 18: Moraes vs. Hill – February 12, 2015
– vs. Cody Bollinger – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – WSOF 13: Moraes vs. Bollinger – September 13, 2014
– vs. Josh Rettinghouse – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 9: Carl vs. Palhares – March 29, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Josh Hill – WSOF 32 – July 30, 2016
6) Bryan Caraway (21-7)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: August 4, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Aljamain Sterling – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – May 29, 2016
– vs. Eddie Wineland – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 – July 25, 2015
– vs. Raphael Assuncao – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine – October 4, 2014
– vs. Erik Perez – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov – June 7, 2014
– vs. Johnny Bedford – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen – April 27, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Raphael Assuncao (23-5)
Height: 5’4
Birthday: July 19, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200: Cormier vs. Jones 2 – July 9, 2016
– vs. Bryan Caraway – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine – October 4, 2014
– vs. Pedro Munhoz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann – February 22, 2014
– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields – October 9, 2013
– vs. Vaughan Lee – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC on Fuel: Nogueira vs. Werdum – June 8, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) John Lineker (29-7)
Height: 5’3
Birthday: January 1, 1990
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Michael McDonald – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 13, 2016
– vs. Rob Font – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 198 – May 14, 2016
– vs. Francisco Rivera – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 191 – September 5, 2015
– vs. Ian McCall – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 183 – January 31, 2015
– vs. Alptekin Ozkilic – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller – July 16, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Lineker secured his first KO/TKO win in two years last week with a first-round stoppage against Michael McDonald. Now on a five-fight win streak, Lineker is likely one more win away from a potential title fight.
9) Bibiano Fernandes (19-3)
Height: 5’7
Birthday: March 30, 1980
Currently Fighting With: One Fighting Championship
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kevin Belingon – Win via submission (Kimura) – One FC 36: Dynasty of Champions – January 23, 2016
– vs. Toni Tauru – Win via KO (punch) – One FC 29: Kingdom of Warriors – July 18, 2015
– vs. Dae Hwan Kim – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – One FC 23: Warrior’s Way – December 5, 2014
– vs. Masakatsu Ueda – Win via decision (unanimous) – One FC 15: Rise of Heroes – May 2, 2014
– vs. Soo Chul Kim – Win via decision (unanimous) – One FC: Total Domination – October 18, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
10) Thomas Almeida (20-1)
Height: 5’7
Birthday: July 31, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Cody Garbrandt – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – May 29, 2016
– vs. Anthony Birchak – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – November 7, 2015
– vs. Brad Pickett – Win via KO (knee) – UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor – July 11, 2015
– vs. Yves Jabouin – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 186: Johnson vs. Horiguchi – April 25, 2015
– vs. Tim Gorman – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. St. Preux – November 8, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
11) Aljamain “The Funk Master” Sterling (12-1)
Height: 5’7
Birthday: July 31, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Bryan Caraway – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – May 29, 2016
– vs. Johnny Eduardo – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – December 10, 2015
– vs. Takeya Mizugaki – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC on FOX: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015
– vs. Hugo Viana – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller – July 16, 2014
– vs. Cody Gibson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 170 – February 22, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) Eduardo Dantas (18-4)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: February 3, 1989
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Marcos Galvao – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 156 – June 17, 2016
– vs. Mike Richman – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 137 – May 15, 2015
– vs. Joe Warren – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 128 – October 10, 2014
– vs. Anthony Leone – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 111 – March 7, 2014
– vs. Marcos Galvao – Win via KO (punches) – Bellator 89 – February 14, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Dantas became the fifth fighter in Bellator history to become a two-time champion after he beat champion Marcos Galvao last month. Now, hopefully he can stay healthy and fight twice in a single calendar year for the first time since 2014. His first challenger should be determined this weekend when Darrion Caldwell fights Joe Taimanglo in Kansas.
13) John Dodson (19-7)
Height: 5’3
Birthday: September 26, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Manny Gamburyan – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 16, 2016
– vs. Demetrious Johnson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 191 – September 5, 2015
– vs. Zach Makovsky – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 187 – May 23, 2015
– vs. John Moraga – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC Fight Night – June 7, 2014
– vs. Darrell Montague – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 166 – October 19, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
14) Jimmie “El Terror” Rivera (19-1)
Height: 5’4
Birthday: June 29, 1980
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Iuri Alcantara – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016
– vs. Pedro Munhoz – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 7, 2015
– vs. Marcus Brimage – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites – July 18, 2015
– vs. Carson Beebe – Win via KO (punch) – CFFC 48: Good vs. Burrell – May 9, 2015
– vs. Anthony Durnell – Win via TKO (punch) – CFFC 43: Webb vs. Good – November 1, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Urijah Faber – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016
Comment: Jimmie Rivera is 27-years-old from the New York metropolitan area with a 19-1 record. Before he signed with the UFC right before his seventh year as a professional, he won bantamweight titles in three northeast regional MMA groups. Since joining the UFC, he has won three more fights and he’s now scheduled to return to the cage at UFC 203 to fight Urijah Faber. To say this is a test for him or the biggest fight of his career is an understatement.
15) Darrion Caldwell (9-0)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: December 19, 1987
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Joe Warren – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 151 – March 4, 2016
– vs. Shawn Bunch – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 143 – September 25, 2015
– vs. Rafael Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 137 – May 15, 2015
– vs. Anthony Dizy – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 130 – October 24, 2014
– vs. Joe Pingitore – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 118 – May 2, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Joe Taimanglo – Bellator 159 – July 22, 2016
Closing Comments: Rani Yahya received additional votes.
