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411 MMA Rankings 11.20.18: Bantamweight Division – TJ Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt, More

November 20, 2018 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon


411’s Official MMA Rankings

Bantamweight Division (135 pounds)


1) T.J. Dillashaw (16-3)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: February 7, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Henry Cejudo – UFC 233 – January 26, 2019

Comment: Dillashaw, the reigning bantamweight champion, will move down to flyweight (125 pounds) for the first time and challenge that division’s champion in Henry Cejudo. The first significant main event of 2019 is official for UFC 233 in Anaheim. This fight has also sort of taken on the context of having the fate of the flyweight division (which the UFC is apparently planning to remove from its roster by the end of next year) hanging in the balance. If Dillashaw loses to a smaller fighter, what does that say about him? Likewise, if T.J. beats Cejduo, is it all that impressive considering he will be expected to win? Dillashaw desperately wants to hold a second championship and “big fights” so it’s easy to see how he has stars in his eyes.




2) Cody Garbrandt (11-2)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: July 7, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



3) Raphael Assuncao (27-5)

Height: 5’4

Birthday: July 19, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rob Font – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018

– vs. Matthew Lopez – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – November 11, 2017

– vs. Marlon Moraes – Win via decision (split) – UFC 212 – June 3, 2017

– vs. Aljamain Sterling – Win via decision (split) – UFC on Fox – January 28, 2017

– vs. T.J. Dillashaw – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200: Cormier vs. Jones 2 – July 9, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: One sidenote to Dillashaw’s upcoming fight with Cejudo is how it places top contenders like Assuncao and Marlon Moares on pause.



4) Marlon Moraes (21-5-1)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: April 26, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. John Dodson – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 11, 2017

– vs. Raphael Assuncao – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 212 – June 3, 2017

– vs. Josenaldo Silva – Win via TKO (knee injury) – WSOF 34 – December 31, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



5) Jimmie “El Terror” Rivera (22-2)

Height: 5’4

Birthday: June 29, 1980

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



6) John Lineker (32-8)

Height: 5’3

Birthday: January 1, 1990

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Dominick Cruz – UFC 233 – January 26, 2019




7) Dominick Cruz (22-2)

Height: 5’8

Birthday: September 3, 1985

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Cody Garbrandt – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 207 – December 30, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. John Lineker – UFC 233 – January 26, 2019

Comment: The last time Cruz returned from such a long absence, he knocked out Takeya Mizugaki in 61 seconds, that was about three years since he previously fought. 15 months later, he beat T.J. Dillashaw. Now, he’s expected to return in January, which would be about 25 months since he last competed, a decision loss to Cody Garbrandt. Cruz will turn 34-years-old in March and considering he has lost about six years of his prime due to injuries, the fact he is still among the best bantamweights in the world is remarkable. A win over Lineker and some luck regarding his health would probably be enough to earn him a title fight by the summer.



8) Darrion Caldwell (13-1)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: December 19, 1987

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Noad Lahat – Win via KO (punches) – Bellator 204 – August 17, 2018

– vs. Leandro Higo – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – Bellator 195 – March 2, 2018

– vs. Eduardo Dantas – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 184 – October 6, 2017

– vs. Joe Taimanglo – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 167 – December 3, 2016

– vs. Joe Taimanglo – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – Bellator 159 – July 22, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



9) Kyoji Horiguchi (25-2)

Height: 5’5

Birthday: October 12, 1990

Currently Fighting With: Rizin Fighting

Last 5 fights:

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

– vs. Ian McCall – Win via TKO (punch) – Rizin FF – May 6, 2018

– vs. Shintaro Ishiwatari – Win via KO (punches) – Rizin Grand Prix 2017 Bantamweight Tournament – December 31, 2017

– vs. Manel Kape – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – Rizin Grand Prix 2017 Bantamweight Tournament – December 31, 2017

– vs. Gabriel Leite de Oliveira – Win via TKO (strikes) – Rizin Grand Prix 2017 Bantamweight Tournament – December 29, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. TBA – Rizin FF – December 31, 2018

Comment: The video above is from September, a kickboxing match in which Tenshin Nasukawa beat Horiguchi by decision (the 20-year-old’s 27th professional win). Nasukawa is now 28-0 and will apparently fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in an exhibition boxing match on New Year’s Eve in Japan. The result will not count on anyone’s record, although you can bet Nasukawa’s handlers will not let that stop them from flaunting the fight as long as their guy doesn’t get knocked out (a la Antoni Inoki and Muhammad Ali’s famous fight).



10) Aljamain “The Funk Master” Sterling (16-3)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: July 31, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Marlon Moraes – Loss via KO (knee) – UFC Fight Night – December 9, 2017

– vs. Renan Barao – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017

– vs. Augusto Mendes – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



11) Bibiano Fernandes (22-4)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: March 30, 1980

Currently Fighting With: One Championship

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Bibiano suffered his first loss in nearly 8 full years earlier this month when he was on the losing end of a five round split decision. Reaction online was mixed (at best) with many viewers believed Fernandes got the raw end of the decision.



12) Kevin Belingon (20-5)

Height: 5’5

Birthday: October 30, 1987

Currently Fighting With: One Championship

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Kevin Chung – Win via decision (unanimous) – One Championship – November 10, 2017

– vs. Reece McLaren – Win via KO (strikes) – One Championship – August 18, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: The new One Championship bantamweight champion, Belingon avenged his January 2016 submission loss to Bibiano Fernandes by beating him this month and taking the championship. Since that loss, Belingon has a 7-0 record, his best stretch since he first started his pro career.



13) John Dodson (20-10)

Height: 5’3

Birthday: September 26, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jimmie Rivera – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018

– vs. Pedro Munhoz – Win via decision (split) – UFC 222 – March 3, 2018

– vs. Marlon Moraes – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 11, 2017

– vs. Eddie Wineland – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 22, 2017

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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



14) Cody Stamann (17-2)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: November 9, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

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

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

– vs. Tom Duquesny – Win via decision (split) – UFC 216 – October 7, 2017

vs. Terrion Ware – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017

– vs. Zac Church – Win via TKO (strikes) – Knockout Promotions 55 – April 29, 107

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Pedro Munhoz (16-3)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: September 7, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

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

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

– vs. Rob Font – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017

– vs. Damian Stasiak – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 28, 2017

– vs. Justin Scoggins – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Bryan Caraway – UFC Fight Night – November 30, 2018