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411 MMA Rankings 12.20.16: Bantamweight Division

December 20, 2016 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon


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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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:

– vs. Cody Garbrandt – UFC 207 – December 30, 2016



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:

– vs. John Lineker – UFC 207 – December 30, 2016

Comment: T.J. has his chance to definitively become the next title contender off of this upcoming fight against John Lineker. Cruz has had (mainly financial) reasons to not give Dillashaw a rematch following their January five-round battle, but it would be difficult to avoid a rematch if he can stop the Brazilian next week.



3) John Lineker (30-7)

Height: 5’3

Birthday: January 1, 1990

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. John Dodson – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – October 1, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – UFC 207 – December 30, 2016

Comment: Perhaps the biggest battle for Lineker this month won’t be T.J. Dillashaw, but himself. Lineker has missed weight four times as a flyweight and in his last fight, he missed the bantamweight limit by a half-pound. Despite the struggles to stay on weight, he has amassed a 10-2 UFC record.



4) Cody Garbrandt (10-0)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: July 7, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Takeya Mizugaki – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 202 – August 20, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Dominick Cruz – UFC 207 – December 30, 2016



5) Jimmie “El Terror” Rivera (20-1)

Height: 5’4

Birthday: June 29, 1980

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Urijah Faber – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Bryan Caraway – UFC Fight Night – January 15, 2017



6) 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



7) Marlon Moraes (17-4-1)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: April 26, 1988

Currently Fighting With: World Series of Fighting

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Josh Hill – Win via KO (strikes) – WSOF 32 – July 30, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Josenaldo Silva – WSOF 34 – December 31, 2016

Comment: Moraes’ next challenger is a 30-year-old Brazilian who has not lost in over five years. Silva’s record is 25-4 and he is 17-0 during this win streak.

WSOF 34 will take place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in NYC and they’re stacking the card with four title fights (among an 11-fight card). New Year’s Eve afternoon on NBC, Justin Gaethje defends his lightweight title against Luiz Firmino, welterweight champion Jon Fitch fights Jake Shields, and Moraes fights Silva. Their NBCSN card is headlined by middleweight champ (and NYC native) Dave Branch against Louis Taylor.



8) Bibiano Fernandes (20-3)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: March 30, 1980

Currently Fighting With: One Fighting Championship

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Reece McLaren – Win via decision (split) – One FC – December 2, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Bibiano has remained one of the best featherweights/bantamweights in the world and consistently among the best non-UFC fighter in either division for nearly a decade. In wake of Urijah Faber’s retirement, it’s always interesting to link Fernandes to him because of their 2006 fight in Nevada. At King of the Cage in the Brazilian’s second pro fight, Faber defeated him due to doctor stoppage after a cut opened on Bibiano’s head.

Bibiano returned to action earlier this month to defend his bantamweight title against Australia’s Reece McLaren and picked up his 20th win as a professional.



9) 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:

– vs. Jimmie Rivera – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2017



10) Urijah Faber (34-10)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: May 14, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Brad Pickett – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 17, 2016

– vs. Jimmie Rivera – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Faber’s historic fighting career has come to an end after over 13 years competing in MMA with a final record of 34-10. Urijah legitimately was the primary figure who made it possible for the UFC to bring in fighters below the 155-pound weight limit and proved they were every bit of the potential star as larger competitors.

After Zuffa (UFC’s former parent company) purchased World Extreme Cagefighting in 2006, Faber, the featherweight champion, emerged as the group’s biggest star. He handed then undefeated Dominick Cruz his first (and to date, only) loss at WEC 26. Months later, he headlined his first Versus TV show. In 2008, his first fight with Jens Pulver at ARCO Arena set company records in terms of attendance and television viewership. Urijah suffered his first loss in over three years at the hands of Mike Brown in Florida, and his rematch back at ARCO Arena in Sacramento more than half a year later remains one of my favorite all-time fights.

His first loss to Brown on November 5, 2008 proved to be the final time Urijah held any championships in the sport. He lost seven consecutive title fights counting his time in the UFC but remained among the most popular fights despite that fact. His UFC record concludes at 10-6 and his rivalry with Cruz, who became the best bantamweight fighter in the world, led to two rematches (both for Cruz’s 135-pound UFC title) and a season of The Ultimate Fighter. Plus, Cruz has a running rivalry with Team Alpha Male (which Faber founded over a decade ago) and his current record against their fighters stands at 5-1 and a UFC 208 main event coming up later this month, too.



11) John Dodson (19-8)

Height: 5’3

Birthday: September 26, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. John Lineker – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – October 1, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) 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


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czk2Y5ZoG3g
13) Thomas Almeida (21-1)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: July 31, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Albert Morales – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



14) Eduardo Dantas (19-4)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: February 3, 1989

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Joe Warren – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 166 – December 2, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Rani Yahya (23-8, 1 NC)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: September 12, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Michinori Tanaka – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 24, 2016

– vs. Matthew Lopez – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night: McDonald vs. Lineker – July 13, 2016

– vs. Masanori Kanehara – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Mir vs. Duffee – July 15, 2015

– vs. Johnny Bedford – Win via submission (kimura) – UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski – September 13, 2014

– vs. Johnny Bedford – No Contest (headbutt) – UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson – April 11, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Closing Comments: Pedro Munhoz received additional votes.