UFC bantamweight rankings: Merab Dvalishvili is the new king of 135 pounds after UFC 306 (original) (raw)

The UFC bantamweight rankings are a showcase of a division that has slowly evolved to become arguably the most talent-rich in the entire sport. Where lightweight was once considered the deepest weight class in the promotion, 135 pounds has surpassed it with an impressive and wide variety of fighters. With that in mind, here is the official Sportsnaut top-10 for the organization’s bantamweight class.

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Who tops the latest UFC bantamweight rankings?

10. Jose Aldo (32-8)

Credit: Jason Silva-Imagn Images

While he’s no longer in his prime, featherweight legend Jose Aldo is still a viable fighter at 135 pounds. He probably won’t be getting a title shot ever again but he showed his relevancy in May when he ended a new two-year retirement and scored a win over a talented up-and-comer in Jonathan Martinez. Who knows how much longer he sticks around, but fight fans will enjoy it as long as it lasts.

9. Deiveson Figueiredo (22-3)

It isn’t common to jump into the top 10 after just one fight in a division, however, these are very different times in the world of MMA and Deiveson Figueiredo’s victory over Rob Font at UFC Austin was impressive. Most around the sport scored all three rounds for the Brazilian and he showed not only could he take big punches at 135 pounds but his power traveled up with him to bantamweight.

The former flyweight champion had much to prove in his division debut on Saturday and answered a lot of questions in his victory over the rankings stalwart.

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8. Henry Cejudo (16-4)

After three years away from the sport, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo made his Octagon return in May. Unfortunately, he was unable to extend his UFC win streak to seven when he fell by unanimous decision to champion Aljamain Sterling. In defeat, he showed he still has elite-level talent and is willing to climb the ladder to the top.

However, he was dominantly beaten by Sterling’s pal Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298. At this point, it is unclear if Cejudo will continue his career with him well out of the title picture now.

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7. Yadong Song (20-7)

Yadong Song has been one of the better fighters in the division over the last five years. In that time he is 9-2-1, has beaten some established stars at bantamweight, and has only suffered defeats to some very good fighters, including Cory Sandhagen.

At UFC Vegas 83 in December, he started a new win streak by following up his victory against Ricky Simon in April by defeating Chris Gutierrez. These last two wins should earn him another opportunity against a top-five-level fighter early in 2024.

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6. Petr Yan (16-5)

Petr Yan has now lost three straight bouts for the first time in his career. While he was one of the best fighters in the weight class for a couple of years, the division has caught up and he has not been able to stem the tide of the plethora of contenders at bantamweight.

At UFC Vegas 71, he did a good job of thwarting Merab Dvalishvili’s wrestling advances over the first few rounds, however, “The Machine’s” relentless pace had an effect and he was able to take the final two rounds in a highly competitive fight. It will be interesting to see where Yan, a former bantamweight champion, goes next after this latest setback.

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5. Marlon Vera (21-8-1)

Marlon Vera is legitimately one of the best bantamweights on the planet. And his knockout wins over a pair of UFC immortals, Frankie Edgar and Dominick Cruz, stamped his place in the weight class. He is a tough out in every fight he is in, however, he has failed in some big opportunities that might have landed him a title fight in losses to Jose Aldo and Cory Sandhagen over the last few years.

Nevertheless, his win at UFC 292 keeps him right in the thick of title contention and he may be a win away from getting his long sought-after championship booking.

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4. Umar Nurmagomedov (17-0)

Umar Nurmagomedov has quickly become a fighter to watch in the UFC bantamweight division. Not just because he shares a last name with one of the best fighters in promotion history, but because he has evolved into an elite prospect with world-champion potential.

He has been impressive over his first five bouts in the UFC and continued that consistent dominance with another dominant win at UFC Vegas 87. Nurmagomedov has earned a chance against one of the studs in the bantamweight top five and could push himself into serious title contention with a big win in the summer.

3. Cory Sandhagen (16-4)

Despite his recent setbacks to TJ Dillashaw and Petr Yan, Cory Sandhagen is still was of the most dangerous fighters in the division. He showed that again at UFC Vegas 61 when he sliced open rising star Yadong Song with an elbow and eventually got a fourth-round TKO from a doctor stoppage.

At UFC San Antonio he put on another display of his elite talent in a highly anticipated affair with Marlon Vera where he won nearly every round and pushed himself right back toward the front of the contender line. Then at UFC Nashville, he scored a third straight win with another dominant showing, this time over Rob Font.

If Sandhagen isn’t in a title bout next he should be in a title eliminator.

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2. Sean O’Malley (18-2-1)

Sean O’Malley has been a divisive talent in the UFC since he first entered the company. Many have questioned his rise by claiming he received favorable matchups and avoided certain competition. Nevertheless, “Sugar” worked his way to a title fight with his impressive showings and a big victory over former champion Petr Yan in 2022.

There were still many doubters when he entered the Octagon against Sterling at UFC 292, but he needed a little over five minutes to put that all to rest. Following a dominant title defense against Marlon Vera, he found out what makes Merab Dvalishvili different and lost his spot at the top of the UFC bantamweight rankings at UFC 306.

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1. Merab Dvalishvili (18-4)

Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

After losing back-to-back fights, Merab Dvalishvili really has been a “Machine.” He has won 11 straight, including over bantamweight greats Henry Cejudo, Jose Aldo, and Petr Yan. However, his UFC 306 win over Sean O’Malley made him a bonafide MMA star. It also landed him in our latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings top 10.

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