mma / Columns

411 Bantamweight MMA Rankings: Aljamain Sterling, Jose Aldo, More

December 7, 2021 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s Official MMA Rankings

Bantamweight Division (135 pounds)


1) Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling (20-3)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: July 31, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Petr Yan – Win via Disqualification (illegal knee to head) – UFC 259 – March 6, 2021

– vs. Cory Sandhagen – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 250 – June 6, 2020

– vs. Pedro Munoz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019

– vs. Jimmie Rivera – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – February 17, 2019

– vs. Cody Stamann – Win via submission (kneebar) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




2) Petr Yan (16-2)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: February 11, 1993

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Cory Sandhagen – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 267 – October 30, 2021

– vs. Aljamain Sterling – Loss via via Disqualification (illegal knee to head) – UFC 259 – March 6, 2021

– vs. Jose Aldo – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 251 – July 12, 2020

– vs. Urijah Faber – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

– vs. Jimmie Rivera – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



3) T.J. Dillashaw (17-4)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: February 7, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Cory Sandhagen – Win via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN – July 24, 2021

– vs. Henry Cejudo – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on ESPN+ – January 26, 2019

– vs. Cody Garbrandt – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 227 – August 4, 2018

– vs. Cody Garbrandt – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017

– vs. John Lineker – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 207 – December 30, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



4) Cory Sandhagen (14-4)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: April 20, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Petr Yan – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 267 – October 30, 2021

– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – Loss via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN – July 24, 2021

– vs. Frankie Edgar – Win via KO (flying knee) – UFC Fight Night – February 6, 2021

– vs. Marlon Moraes – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 10, 2020

– vs. Aljamain Sterling – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 250 – June 6, 2020

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



5) Jose Aldo (31-7)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: September 9, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rob Font – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – December 4, 2021

– vs. Pedro Munhoz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 265 – August 7, 2021

– vs. Marlon Vera – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – December 19, 2020

– vs. Petr Yan – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 251 – July 11, 2020

– vs. Marlon Moraes – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Aldo secured a third consecutive win for the first time since he beat Chad Mendes in 2014. This time, he’s doing it as a bantamweight, and has called out T.J. Dillashaw next. If such a fight were to happen, it would be a title eliminator with the next championship fight still planned for early 2022 between Sterling and Yan.



6) Rob Font (19-5)

Height: 5’8

Birthday: June 25, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jose Aldo – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – December 4, 2021

– vs. Cody Garbrandt – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 22, 2021

– vs. Marlon Moraes – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – December 19, 2020

– vs. Ricky Simon – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – December 7, 2019

– vs. Sergio Pettis – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 15, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



7) John Lineker (34-9)

Height: 5’3

Birthday: January 1, 1990

Currently Fighting With: One Championship

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Troy Worthen – Win via KO (punch) – One Championship – April 7, 2021

– vs. Kevin Belingon – Win via TKO (strikes) – One Championship – October 30, 2020

– vs. Muin Gafurov – Win via decision (unanimous) – One Championship – October 25, 2019

– vs. Cory Sandhagen – Loss via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN – April 27, 2019

– vs. Brian Kelleher – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Bibiano Fernandes – One Championship – 2022



8) Merab Dvalishvili (14-4)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: January 10, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Marlon Moraes – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 266 – September 25, 2021

– vs. Cody Stamman – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – May 1, 2021

– vs. John Dodson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 252 – August 15, 2020

– vs. Gustavo Lopez – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – June 13, 2020

– vs. Casey Kenney – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 15, 2020

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



9) Sergio Pettis (22-5)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: August 18, 1993

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Kyoji Horiguchi – Win via KO (spinning backfist) – Bellator 272 – December 3, 2021

– vs. Juan Archuleta – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 258 – May 7, 2021

– vs. Ricky Bandejas – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 242 – July 24, 2020

– vs. Alfred Khashakyan – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – Bellator 238 – January 25, 2020

– vs. Tyson Nam – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 21, 2019

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: One of the best comeback wins of 2021 saw Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis retain his gold against Rizin champion Kyoji Horiguchi. The spinning backfist knockout came in the 4th round at a point when the challenger was likely leading three rounds to none.



10) Marlon Moraes (23-9-1)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: April 26, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Merab Dvalishvili – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 266 – September 25, 2021

– vs. Rob Font – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – December 19, 2020

– vs. Cory Sandhagen – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 10, 2020

– vs. Jose Aldo – Win via decision (split) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

– vs. Henry Cejudo – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



11) Pedro Munhoz (19-6, 1 NC)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: September 7, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jose Aldo – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 265 – August 7, 2021

– vs. Jimmie Rivera – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 258 – February 13, 2021

– vs. Frankie Edgar – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – August 22, 2020

– vs. Aljamain Sterling – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019

– vs. Cody Garbrandt – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Dominick Cruz – UFC 269 – December 11, 2021
Comment: Munhoz will look to get back on the horse when fights Dominick Cruz this weekend. Cruz has not fought more than once in a calendar year since 2016 and is coming off a split decision win over Casey Kenney in March. Muynhoz meanwhile, lost a decision to Aldo over the summer that kicked him back down the division.



12) Kyoji Horiguchi (29-4)

Height: 5’5

Birthday: October 12, 1990

Currently Fighting With: Rizin Fighting

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Sergio Pettis – Loss via KO (spinning backfist) – Bellator 272 – December 3, 2021

– vs. Kai Asakura – Win via KO (strikes) – Rizin FF – December 31, 2020

– vs. Kai Asakura – Loss via KO (punches) – Rizin FF – August 18, 2019

– vs. Darrion Caldwell – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 222 – June 14, 2019

– vs. Ben Nguyen – Win via KO (strikes) – Rizin FF – April 21, 2019

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



13) Sean O’Malley (14-1)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: October 24, 1994

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Kris Moutinho – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 264 – July 10, 2021

– vs. Thomas Almeida – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 260 – March 27, 2021

– vs. Marlon Vera – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 252 – August 15, 2020

– vs. Eddie Wineland – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 250 – June 6, 2020

– Jose Alberto Quinonez – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020

Next scheduled appearance:

– VS. Raulian Paiva – UFC 269 – December 11, 2021



14) Bibiano Fernandes (24-4)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: March 30, 1980

Currently Fighting With: One Championship

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Kevin Belingon – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – ONE Championship – October 13, 2019

– vs. Kevin Belingon – Win via DQ (illegal elbows) – One Championship – March 31, 2019

– vs. Kevin Belingon – Loss via decision (split) – One Championship – November 9, 2018

– vs. Martin Nguyen – Win via decision (split) – One Championship – March 24, 2018

– vs. Andrew Leone – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – One Championship – August 5, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. John Lineker – One Championship – 2022




15) Frankie Edgar (24-10-1)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: October 16, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 6 fights:

– vs. Marlon Vera – Loss via KO (front kick) – UFC 268 – November 6, 2021

– vs. Cory Sandhagen – Loss via KO (flying knee) – UFC Fight Night – February 6, 2021

– vs. Pedro Munhoz – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – August 22, 2020

– vs. Chan Sung Jung – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on ESPN – December 21, 2019

– vs. Max Holloway – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 240 – July 27, 2019

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown