Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Flyweight

1. Demetrious Johnson (24-2-1)

“Mighty Mouse” likes to stay active, so it was not unusual when he signed up to defend his flyweight title against Wilson Reis at UFC 201, despite already having a Dec. 3 title defense scheduled against the winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 24. The bad news: A Johnson injury nixed that in-between title defense and left Reis out in the cold. The good news: As mentioned, we are still promised another 2016 outing from one of the very best fighter’s in the sport, even if his challenger will come via a reality show.

2. Joseph Benavidez (24-4)

If Benavidez is ever to challenge for the UFC flyweight title again, his path runs through “The Ultimate Fighter.” On Season 24 of the reality series, Benavidez will coach opposite fellow former title challenger Henry Cejudo. If Benavidez can notch a win over Cejudo at “The Ultimate Fighter 24” Finale on Dec. 3, he may get a third crack at the UFC flyweight crown.

3. Henry Cejudo (10-1)

In his first UFC flyweight title challenge, Cejudo kissed his perfect record goodbye, as he went down to knees to the body from champion Demetrious Johnson in mere minutes. If Cejudo wants to get another crack at 125-pound gold in the near future, he will need to deal with Joseph Benavidez on Dec. 3 -- after they coach opposite one another on Season 24 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

4. Jussier da Silva (19-4)

Following a split decision loss to 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo in November, da Silva rebounded smoothly on Sept. 24 in his native Brazil, soundly out-grappling divisional standout Dustin Ortiz to reaffirm himself as one of the 125-pound division’s finest. However, in order for “Formiga” to earn a title shot, several more of those sorts of wins will have to be in order, with the Brazilian stuck behind the likes of Cejudo, Joseph Benavidez and, of course, the forthcoming “Ultimate Fighter” winner.

5. Kyoji Horiguchi (17-2)

Horiguchi, the best Japanese fighter in the game at this point, is 5-1 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and no one holds his UFC 186 defeat to champion Demetrious Johnson against him. The former Shooto world champion has pounded out decisions over Chico Camus and Neil Seery since his April 2015 loss to “Mighty Mouse” and will next meet a fellow former UFC title challenger when he takes on Ali Bagautinov under the UFC Fight Night banner on Oct. 15 in Manila.

6. Wilson Reis (21-6)

UFC 201 was bittersweet for Reis. On one hand, he quickly and impressively submitted UFC newcomer Hector Sandoval in the first round in Atlanta. On the other, Reis was facing a fighter making his Octagon debut in the prelims. He was originally scheduled to face flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson in the co-headliner before Johnson’s injury nixed those plans. Now, Reis will have to keep winning to have another chance at a title bid, as “Mighty Mouse” is set to meet the winner of the 24th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” in December.

7. Matheus Nicolau Pereira (12-1-1)

Little-known Pereira shocked onlookers in July, when he strolled into his bout against former UFC flyweight title challenger John Moraga and won a hard-earned split decision. The 23-year-old Brazilian will try to prove he is no flash in the pan on Nov. 19, when he heads back to his native Brazil to meet slick-grappling Japanese fighter Yuta Sasaki at UFC Fight Night in Sao Paulo.

8. John Moraga (16-5)

Throughout his career, Moraga had only fallen short against the sport’s unquestioned elite, like Demetrious Johnson, Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson. However, on July 8, he was upset by 23-year-old Brazilian Matheus Nicolau Pereira, who frustrated a lackadaisical Moraga, stopped him from showing off his powerful punching and wrestling and dropped “Chicano John” back in the 125-pound pecking order.

9. Dustin Ortiz (15-6)

Ortiz has lost three of his last four bouts inside the Octagon, but the Roufusport rep remains the gatekeeper to the stars at 125 pounds. Despite losses to divisional elites like Joseph Benavidez, Wilson Reis and Jussier da Silva, wins over Ray Borg, Justin Scoggins and Willie Gates keep Ortiz buoyed in these rankings.

10. Justin Scoggins (11-2)

Long considered one of the flyweight division’s finest prospects, Scoggins hit stumbling blocks with consecutive losses to Dustin Ortiz and John Moraga. However, the South Carolina native has gotten back on track in style, earning entertaning decisions over Josh Sampo and Ray Borg. Those victories set up the 24-year-old for a Nov. 19 date opposite Pedro Munhoz in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Other Contenders: Ali Bagautinov, Magomed Bibulatov, Zach Makovsky, Brandon Moreno, Louis Smolka

Continue Reading » Women’s Bantamweight