-
1
- Dominick Cruz
- "The Dominator"
- 24-4-0
-
Cruz has won ten straight fights (albeit with eight decisions) since being submitted by Urijah Faber at WEC 26. This streak includes two decision wins over top flyweight Joseph Benavidez, decisions over Charlie Valencia, Ian McCall, Urijah Faber and Demetrious Johnson, and a stoppage of Brian Bowles. In the ring he may appear dizzy or may not look like he knows what he's doing, but he gets the job done with puzzling standup and a style that emphasizes missing shots rather than taking them.
-
2
- Renan Barão
- "The Baron"
- 34-10-0, 1 NC
-
The ridiculously consistent Barao has more momentum than just about any fighter has ever had in MMA history. After dropping a decision in his pro debut, Barao earned ten straight wins, had a no contest bout, and earned eighteen more wins, for a grand total of twenty-nine straight lossless fights. His good finish rate didn't seem so great considering his competition, but that was before he entered the UFC (having gone 2-0 in the WEC) and defeated Cole Ecovedo, Brad Pickett and Scott Jorgensen, all in convincing fashion. Heading into the biggest fight of his life, which will be for the interim bantamweight belt versus Urijah Faber, Barao has everything to gain and may be be considered the best bantamweight alive with a quality win over Faber.
-
3
- Urijah Faber
- "The California Kid"
- 35-11-0
-
A too-long-to-list queue of fallen contenders makes Urijah Faber's record the most notable to include big featherweight and bantamweight wins. Past TKO losses to Tyson Griffin and Mike Brown have made Faber a smarter fighter whose speed, submissions and toughness are hard to match. Finishing a fight is hardly a problem, and an experience edge is had over just about all of his opponents. All of these will come into play when he faces phenom Renan Barao for the interim belt.
-
4
- Michael McDonald
- "Mayday"
- 19-4-0
-
21-year-old "Mayday" appears to be on a roll having just knocked out WEC legend Miguel Torres. Following his loss to Cole Escovedo in 2009, McDonald has rallied back with eight straight wins, including five knockouts with one being over Escovedo that avenged McDonald's lone loss. With proven power and a seemingly sufficient ground game McDonald is likely on the way to the title sooner than later and presents a problem for everyone in the division.
-
5
- Brian Bowles
- 10-3-0
-
Bowles, the first to finish Marcos Galvao, Will Ribeiro and Miguel Torres, can end fights and fights to fight, not to decision, if he can. Losses to Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber may have removed his once-present aura of invincibility, but don't affect his contender status too badly, as another win will take him right back up. Wins over Damacio Page and Takeya Mizugaki keep him relevant, but further levels of contention will require more impressive wins.
-
6
- Eddie Wineland
- 24-16-1
-
Similar to McDonald in power and status, Eddie Wineland presents a threat to any bantamweight on the feet, and comes to the cage with good takedown defense, making him all the more dangerous. Recent decision losses to Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez did little to harm Wineland's ranking in the division, which was reassured at UFC on FX: Johnson vs. MCCall when Wineland did what few thought he would by knocking out perennial top bantamweight Scott Jorgensen. This career-defining performance reemphasizes Wineland's ability and keeps him in title talk.
-
7
- Scott Jorgensen
- "Young Guns"
- 15-12-0
-
"Young Guns" will have to reevaluate his strategy from now on having lost to Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland in a way that could make one question his future relevance. Jorgensen, who maybe too good for gatekeeper status but who hasn't shone through to make his mark, has made a career out of being durable and competitive and is likely still able to remain near the top should he change up a few things.
-
8
- Brad Pickett
- "One Punch"
- 26-14-0
-
Brad Pickett has always been a good fighter but is one of the older ones in the division, meaning that if he wants to make a run for the title, he should do it now. Although his win over Demetrious Johnson was two years ago, it is credible, especially with more recent victories over Ivan Menjivar and Damacio Page on his side. The misstep had against Barao was disappointing but will definitely aid Pickett in getting to the top, and three Fight of the Night bonuses in four fights prove Pickett is still exciting and capable.
-
9
- Miguel Torres
- 44-9-0
-
After building a 9-year career from consistency, submissions, and an alarming 37-1 record, Torres seems to have slipped somewhere along the way, resulting in a 3-4 record since (although the Demetrious Johnson fight was close.) Torres has been finished three times during this run and needs to take more caution when standing up, with a goal being to bring the fight to the ground, where he is experienced and dangerous.
-
10
- Eduardo Dantas
- "Dudu"
- 23-8-0
-
Dantas, the newly crowned Bellator Bantamweight Champion, has lost twice, once by disqualification and once by decision, and both losses are long gone. Defeating the heavy-handed Alexis Vila and the champion Zach Makovsky is even more notable, though, and Dantas could be a champ for the long haul. Staying on the list will require above-average performances given he is not on the UFC's roster, and Dantas's submission skills and toughness may allow him to do just that.