Flyweight
1. Demetrious Johnson (21-2-1)
The 125-pound division has a major problem, and that problem is named Demetrious Johnson. At UFC 178, Chris Cariaso became the fifth man to try and fail to take the UFC flyweight title from “Mighty Mouse.” Johnson showed why he was nearly a 20-to-1 favorite by outstriking Cariaso before finishing the fight on the floor with a second-round kimura.2. Joseph Benavidez (21-4)
With two losses to divisional ruler Demetrious Johnson, Benavidez has found himself in a tough situation, but that has not prevented Team Alpha Male’s top flyweight from staying productive. Since falling to “Mighty Mouse” for the second time, Benavidez has looked sensational in knocking off prospects Tim Elliott and Dustin Ortiz.3. John Dodson (16-6)
The “Magician” pulled another trick from his bag on June 7, this time using a high knee to explode John Moraga’s nose and force a doctor stoppage after two rounds. The victory and timing made the Jackson-Wink MMA product a perfect choice for champ Demetrious Johnson’s next challenger -- until Dodson suffered an ACL injury which will keep him out of action for the foreseeable future.4. Ian McCall (13-4-1)
Following back-to-back wins against Brad Pickett and Iliarde Santos, “Uncle Creepy” hoped to propel himself back into the No. 1 contender’s spot for the UFC flyweight title with a win against Brazilian slugger John Lineker. Unfortunately, the November bout was not to be, as McCall contracted a post-weigh-in bacterial infection and was forced to withdraw from the card. McCall and Lineker will try it again at UFC 183 on Jan. 31.5. Jussier da Silva (17-3)
The grappling chops which make “Formiga” a formidable foe for any flyweight were on full display in his Aug. 16 outpointing of former Bellator champ Zach Makovsky. Riding back-to-back wins over tough opponents, da Silva was forced to withdraw from a December clash with John Moraga.6. Zach Makovsky (18-5)
Makovsky’s four-fight winning streak came to an end on Aug. 16 in Bangor, Maine, where he ran up against talented Brazilian grappler Jussier “Formiga” da Silva. A late surge from the former Drexel University wrestler was not enough to overcome a two-round deficit, leading Makovsky to his first loss since exiting Bellator in 2012. He will head back into the Octagon on Feb. 14, when he confronts Tim Elliott at a UFC Fight Night event in Broomfield, Colo.7. John Moraga (16-3)
Moraga overcame an early knockdown and rear-naked choke scare from Willie Gates on Dec. 13 to turn the tide and finish the former Tachi Palace Fights titlist with a choke of his own in the third round. The hometown win capped a 3-1 year for the Phoenix native, who also knocked off prospects Justin Scoggins and Dustin Ortiz in the past 12 months. Moraga’s only losses have come at the hands of the division’s elite: flyweight ruler Demetrious Johnson and top contender John Dodson.8. Kyoji Horiguchi (15-1)
Horiguchi notched his ninth consecutive win and improved to 4-0 inside the Octagon with a unanimous decision over Louis Gaudinot at UFC 182. The former Shooto champion has looked sharp in all four of his UFC outings, with impressive speed and a work rate that has proven hard for opponents to match. In a division hungry for fresh and exciting contenders, the 24-year-old Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto protégé could find himself in the title picture sooner than later.9. John Lineker (24-7)
It took two trips to the scale, but Lineker once again managed to check in at the flyweight limit on Nov. 7, marking his third successful weigh-in after a string of difficulties. Unfortunately, the weight cut was for naught, as opponent Ian McCall withdrew from the potential title eliminator just hours before the event began. The matchup has now been rebooked for UFC 183 on Jan. 31.10. Dustin Ortiz (14-4)
After racking up three wins in his first four Octagon appearances, Ortiz bit off more than he could chew in his Nov. 22 bout with Joseph Benavidez. The 25-year-old prospect hung tough for 15 minutes but had no solution for the speed, precision and diversity of Benavidez’s attacks.Other Contenders: Chris Cariaso, Tim Elliott, Yuki Motoya, Adriano Moraes, Wilson Reis.
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