Bantamweight
1. Dominick Cruz (22-1)
When he has not been besieged by injuries, Cruz has made his bones by dominating Team Alpha Male. With the UFC bantamweight title back in his grasp, Cruz now has the ability to put another W in his column against Urijah Faber’s brigade: “The Dominator” will defend his 135-pound title against undefeated puncher Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.2. T.J. Dillashaw (13-3)
Many thought Dillashaw won his first fight with Raphael Assuncao back in October 2013, but the former UFC bantamweight champion gained revenge at UFC 200, soundly outworking and outpointing Assuncao in his first performance since losing the UFC title to Dominick Cruz in January. Dillashaw may not be far from another crack at UFC gold, but for now, he will need to wait behind former Team Alpha Male teammate Cody Garbrandt, who faces Dominick Cruz for the title on Dec. 30 at UFC 207. Dillashaw, meanwhile, will face John Lineker at the event.3. Marlon Moraes (17-4-1)
Moraes has won 12 fights in a row and is perhaps the finest fighter under World Series of Fighting employ. While fans dream of a day when the Brazilian dynamo takes his act to the UFC, Moraes is due for the fifth defense of his WSOF bantamweight title on Dec. 31 at Madison Square Garden, where he takes on fellow countryman Josenaldo Silva at WSOF 34.4. Cody Garbrandt (10-0)
With a 10-0 pro MMA record, massive punching power and his Team Alpha Male affiliation, Garbrandt seems like as appealing a foil as you could get for Dominick Cruz at 135 pounds. As such, “No Love” has been granted the next crack at “The Dominator” and the UFC bantamweight title, as well as another chance for Team Alpha Male to get some redemption over its tormentor come UFC 207 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.5. Jimmie Rivera (20-1)
Rivera has won 19 straight bouts, has not lost a pro fight in over eight years and is coming off a sound domination of Urijah Faber in September. Now, “The Terror” can vault even further into UFC bantamweight title contention when the promotion heads to Phoenix on Jan. 15. There, he takes on Bryan Caraway in a pairing of emerging 135-pound contenders.6. Urijah Faber (33-10)
At 37 years old and having lost three of his last four, with four cracks at UFC titles behind him, it seemed only rational that Faber would be pondering a retirement in the near future. Now, “The California Kid” has made it official, stating that his Dec. 17 bout with Brad Pickett at UFC on Fox 22 in his Sacramento, California, backyard would be the last in his storied fighting career.7. Raphael Assuncao (23-5)
With both fighters established at 135 pounds and looking towards a title shot, Assuncao-Aljamain Sterling seemed like a perfect bout for the UFC Fight Night card on Dec. 9 in Albany, New York, until Sterling pulled out with an injury. UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby clearly liked his handiwork: Instead of finding new bouts for either man, Assuncao-Sterling has now been rescheduled for UFC on Fox 23 on Jan. 28 in Denver.8. Bryan Caraway (21-7)
Caraway earned his breakthrough win in May, taking a split decision over the previously unbeaten Aljamain Sterling. “Kid Lightning” will now return to action on Jan. 15 in Phoenix, where he takes on fellow rising contender Jimmie Rivera in a bout with significant implications for the UFC’s 135-pound title picture.9. Aljamain Sterling (12-1)
Sterling’s hot streak toward 135-pound contendership was cooled in May, when Brian Caraway gave him his first career loss via split decision. Raphael Assuncao seemed like a perfect, competitive pairing for a bounce-back bout, but Sterling was forced out of their Dec. 9 date in Albany, New York. Fortunately, the match will stay intact, just later than expected, with Assuncao-Sterling now rescheduled for the UFC’s return to Denver on Jan. 28.10. Thomas Almeida (22-1)
When Cody Garbrandt sent him to sleep in less than three minutes in May, it marked the first time Almeida had lost a pro fight. How would the 25-year-old prospect respond to his first loss when he returned to action in front of his hometown crowd in Sao Paulo, Brazil? Almeida put on a show on Nov. 19, battering Alberto Morales en route to a brutal second-round stoppage.Other Contenders: Darrion Caldwell, Eduardo Dantas, John Lineker, Takeya Mizugaki, Eddie Wineland.
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