Honorable Mention

Cody Garbrandt

Organization: UFC

Cody Garbrandt is an incredible fighter, with probably the fastest hands in the sport today. He is also the former UFC Bantamweight champion and won the title after defeating Dominick Cruz, who some people still regard as the greatest bantamweight of all time.  

Cody “No Love” Garbrandt has been in a rough patch lately and has lost 4 out of his last 5 fights. He lost his last fight against Rob Font, and he looks to move one weight division down to the UFC Flyweight rankings to face Kai Kara-France on December 11, 2021 at UFC 269.

 

 

Kyoji Horiguchi

Organization: RIZIN

Title: RIZIN Bantamweight Champion

The former Bellator Bantamweight Champion (vacated) is making his mark outside the two major promotions. The current champion has yet to fight again after avenging his loss against Kai Asakura winning by TKO back in December. 

Bellator President Scott Coker said Kyoji Horiguchi’s next fight will be in the US. No official announcement has been made on who his opponent is but rumor is it is current Bellator Bantamweight Champion Sergio Pettis in a cross promotion fight.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fan Rankings (@fanrankings)

^{Swipe for Bantamweight Fan Rankings and follow @fanrankings to stay up to date}

---

 

TOP 10 BANTAMWEIGHTS

10. Pedro Munhoz

Organization: UFC

Pedro Munhoz has won three out of his last five fights before he took on Jose Aldo at UFC 265. Munhoz was coming off a collection of big names on his win resume which includes Rivera, Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Bryan Caraway. 

When he took on Jose Aldo at UFC 265 he wasn’t able to keep up with the future hall of famer. At UFC 269 on Dec. 11th he takes on another future hall of famer in Dominick Cruz.

 

 

 

9. Sergio Pettis

Organization: Bellator

Title: Bellator Bantamweight Champion

Sergio Pettis is the current Bantamweight Champion who is on an impressive four-fight win streak, and in his last fight, he defeated Juan Archuleta to become the Bellator Bantamweight world champion. 

Pettis has a rumored bout against current RIZIN Bantamweight Champion Kyoji Horiguchi.

 

 

 

8. Frankie Edgar

Organization: UFC

Frankie Edgar, the future Hall of Famer and legend, has been on a weight class tour in the UFC. He’s the former UFC Lightweight Champion, fought twice for the Featherweight title, and is now fighting in this division. 

Frankie took a devastating loss to Cory Sanghagen and he looks to bounce back in his next fight against Marlon Vera who is coming off a win.

 

 

 

7. Merab Dvalishvili

Organization: UFC

Merab Dvalishvili is a fighter from Georgia with a professional record of 14-4. He is currently on a 7 fight win streak after starting off 0-2 in the UFC way back in 2017 starting at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs Ortega. 

Dvalishvili’s last 3 includes John Dodson, Cody Stamann, and Maroln Moraes whom he finished via TKO at UFC 266. His comeback win in round 2 has shot him up the UFC rankings. His next fight has not been announced yet. 

 

 

 

6. Rob Font

Organization: UFC

Rob Font is a MMA fighter in the UFC with a record of 19 wins and 4 losses. Font is coming off an excellent showing against Cody Garbrandt which continues his current UFC streak to four. 

The names in his winning streak include UFC Bantamweight fighters such as Sergio Pettis, Garbrandt, Marlon Moraes, and Ricky Simon. The Font has also won two post-fight bonuses in his recent fights.  His next fight is against Jose Aldo who has gathered 2 fights in a row.

 

 

 

5. Jose Aldo

Organization: UFC

The former WEC Featherweight Champion and two-time UFC featherweight champion has been making his mark in the Bantamweight division since moving down. The 35 year old proved he still had it when he gave a tough fight early on to former Bantamweight champion Peter Yan. 

Afterwards he defeated up-and-coming fighter Marlon Vera. Just recently looking amazingly sharp against Pedro Munhoz. Displayed outstanding boxing and gas tank since coming down multiple ufc weight divisions. This is the best we’ve seen Aldo in a while. His next fight is against a surging Rob Font in the main event of UFC Fight Night on December 4th.

 

 

 

4. Cory Sandhagen

Organization: UFC

Cory Sandhagen made a statement as being next in line after finishing Marlon Moraes and Frankie Edgar. But his next two fights have him at a 2 fight losing streak. He lost to a returning TJ Dillashaw in a close fight which he wasn’t as aggressive in the later rounds.

Adjustments were made filling in for Aljamain Sterling against Petr Yan for the Interim UFC Bantamweight Title. Unfortunately, he lost as Yan proved to be the better fighter at UFC 267. 

 

 

 

3. T.J. Dillashaw

Organization: UFC

T.J. Dillashaw returned to the UFC in exciting fashion after being suspended due to PED use. He was able to comeback without losing a step against the #1 contender Cory Sandhagen. He brought pressure every chance he got which helped him edge out a close fight in a split decision win. 

Just coming off suspension I’m not sure this makes him next in line after the unification bout between Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling but first he’ll have to overcome an injury in his left knee that was suffered in the Sandhagen fight.

 

 

 

2. Aljamain Sterling

Organization: UFC

Title: UFC Bantamweight Champion

Aljamain Sterling is the Current UFC Bantamweight champion and on a 7 fight win streak. When he captured his 7th victory which got him the title it ended in some controversy. “The Funkmaster ” was losing his fight in the scorecards until Yan threw that illegal knee, which resulted in a DQ.

The rematch was set for October 30th at UFC 267 but Sterling had to pull out of the fight. Sterling is set to take on Petr Yan to unify the UFC Bantamweight Titles.

 

 

 

1. Petr Yan

Organization: UFC

Title: Interim UFC Bantamweight Champion

Petr Yan, with a professional record of 16-2, is now the Interim UFC Bantamweight Champion. He successfully defeated Cory Sandhagen after Aljamain Sterling pulled out of the fight. 

Yan overcame the first two rounds which Sandhagen was winning but in the later rounds Yan showed his power knocking him down numerous times. Yan eventually figured out Sandhagen and won by unanimous decision. Yan now looks to unify the titles against Sterling to overcome the huge mistake he made in the first fight which lost him the title in the first place.

 

 

Where do you rank Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling, and the rest of the Bantamweights? Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon, Fanatics.com, or more that is specific to you. Join the contest by ranking below.

Related Links:

• MMA UFC Top 10 Heavyweights – August 2021 Rankings
• MMA UFC Top 10 Lightweight Rankings – Dustin Poirier defeats Conor McGregor
• MMA UFC Top 10 Pound for Pound Rankings
• MMA UFC Top 10 Bantamweight Rankings – August 2021
• MMA UFC Top 10 Light Heavyweight Rankings – September 2021
• MMA UFC Top 10 Featherweight Rankings – October 2021
• MMA UFC Top 10 Women’s Flyweight Rankings – October 2021
• MMA UFC Top 10 Middleweight Rankings – October 2021
• MMA UFC Top 10 Light Heavyweight Rankings – November 2021