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

June 16, 2020 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s Official MMA Rankings

Bantamweight Division (135 pounds)


1) Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling (19-3)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: July 31, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Cory Sandhagen – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – May 16, 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

– vs. Brett Johns – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 21, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Sterling pulled off the most impressive win of his run in the UFC with a rear naked choke of Cory Sandhagen in under 90 seconds last week. Now on a five-fight win streak, It’s safe to suspect the UFC will try and get a rematch signed between Sterling and Marlon Moraes, the last man to beat Sterling.



2) Marlon Moraes (23-6-1)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: April 26, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

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

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

– vs. Raphael Assuncao – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – February 2, 2019

– vs. Jimmie Rivera – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night – June 1, 2018

– vs. Aljamain Sterling – Win via KO (knee) – UFC Fight Night – December 9, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: With Henry Cejudo retired and the bantamweight championship now vacant, it is debatable who is the best in the division. Moraes has a valid claim considering his wins over Sterling and most recently Jose Aldo. But, the split decision nature of the latter has him on the outside looking in with the UFC booking a vacant title fight between Aldo and Petr Yan next month.



3) Petr Yan (14-1)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: February 11, 1993

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. John Dodson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2019

– vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade – Win via TKO (corner stoppage) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018

– vs. Jin Soo Son – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 15, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Jose Aldo – UFC 251 – July 12, 2020

Comment: Henry Cejudo’s retirement turned out great for Yan as he moves right into a title fight against Aldo next month. Yan is undefeated in the UFC (6-0) and would have to be considered the favorite heading into the next bantamweight title scrap against a former featherweight champion that has not won a fight in over a year.



4) Cory Sandhagen (12-2)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: April 20, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Aljamain Sterling – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – May 16, 2020

– vs. Raphael Assuncao – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019

– vs. John Lineker – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – April 27, 2019

– vs. Mario Bautista – Win via submission (armor) – UFC Fight Night – January 19, 2019

– vs. Iuri Alcantara – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – August 25, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



5) Pedro Munhoz (18-4, 1 NC)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: September 7, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

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

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

– vs. Bryan Caraway – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 30, 2018

– vs. Brett Johns – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 227 – August 4, 2018

– vs. John Dodson – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 222 – March 3, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Frankie Edgar – UFC 251 – July 11, 2020

Comment: History will be made in this undercard bantamweight fight. First, legendary former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar makes his bantamweight debut following a 1-3 run at 145-pounds. Edgar, now 38-years-old, will be returning to Abu Dhabi for a fight – he famously upset B.J. Penn at UFC 112 in 2010 to become the lightweight champion. A win over Munhoz and Edgar will find himself in the mix of a stacked bantamweight class.

But, Munhoz will try to welcome him down in weight by giving him the second three-fight losing streak of his career. Pedro has avoided any losing streak and needs a win here against a division newcomer to stay relevant. Plus, Munhoz has said he wants to be the first man to make Frankie Edgar submit in an MMA fight.



6) John Lineker (32-9)

Height: 5’3

Birthday: January 1, 1990

Currently Fighting With: One Championship

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Marlon Vera – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017

– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 207 – December 30, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



7) Kyoji Horiguchi (28-3)

Height: 5’5

Birthday: October 12, 1990

Currently Fighting With: Rizin Fighting

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Darrion Caldwell – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – Rizin 14 – December 31, 2018

– vs. Hiromasa Ogikubo – Win via decision (unanumous) – Rizin FF – July 28, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




8) Cody Garbrandt (12-3)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: July 7, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Raphael Assuncao – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 250 – June 6, 2020

– vs. Pedro Munoz – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 227 – August 4, 2018

– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017

– vs. Dominick Cruz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 207 – December 30, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

-Unknown

Comment: Cody pulled off a huge win earlier this month with a second round knock out of the always durable Raphael Assuncao. The former champion had not won a fight since he beat Dominick Cruz to become champion in 2016. Plus, his three losses since then were all by devastating knockout. To see him back in the win column is a bright spot in 2020. He’ll turn just 29-years-old next month.



9) Jose Aldo (28-6)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: September 9, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

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

– vs. Alexander Volkanovski – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 237 – May 10, 2019

– vs. Renato Moicano – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 2, 2019

– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – July 28, 2018

– vs. Max Holloway – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Petr Yan – UFC 251 – July 11, 2020

Comment: Aldo will have his 12th career UFC championship fight next month. Unbelievably, this one comes on the heels of two consecutive losses, even if the last was a split decision. The best featherweight of all time is getting this opportunity because he’s the best featherweight of all time and back before Cejudo retired, he desired to fight someone with more name value.



10) Cody Stamann (19-2-1)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: November 9, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Brian Kelleher – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 250 – June 6, 2020

– vs. Yadong Song – Draw via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN – December 7, 2019

– vs. Alejandro Perez – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– vs. Aljamain Sterling – Loss via submission (kneebar) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018

– vs. Bryan Caraway – Win via decision (split) – UFC 222 – March 3, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



11) Jimmie “El Terror” Rivera (22-4)

Height: 5’4

Birthday: June 29, 1980

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Petr Yan – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019

– vs. Aljamain Sterling – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – February 17, 2019

– vs. John Dodson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018

– vs. Marlon Moraes – Loss via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night – June 1, 2018

– vs. Thomas Almeida – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – July 22, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) 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:

– Unknown



13) Sean O’Malley (12-0)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: October 24, 1994

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

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

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

– vs. Andre Soukhamthath – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 222 – March 3, 2018

– vs. Terrion Ware – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC TUF Finale – December 1, 2017

– vs. Alfred Khashakyan – Win via KO (punch) – DW Tuesday Contender Series – July 18, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



14) Kevin Belingon (20-7)

Height: 5’5

Birthday: October 30, 1987

Currently Fighting With: One Championship

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Bibiano Fernandes – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – ONE Championship – October 13, 2019

– vs. Bibiano Fernandes – Loss via DQ (illegal elbows) – One Championship – March 31, 2019

– vs. Bibiano Fernandes – Win via decision (split) – One Championship – November 9, 2018

– vs. Martin Nguyen – Win via decision (unanimous) – One Championship – July 27, 2018

– vs. Andrew Leone – Win via TKO (spinning back kick) – One Championship – April 20, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Urijah Faber (35-11)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: May 14, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Peter Yan – Loss via KO (head kick) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

– vs. Ricky Simon – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 13, 2019

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown