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Around SBN: Bracketology 2012: Duke Finally Steps Up To The No. 1 Line

Compiling the rankings of twenty top mixed martial arts web sites, the USA TODAY / MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings present the top 25 fighters in MMA for the seven major weight classes. These world MMA rankings are the most accurate reflection of how the top fighters in MMA across all promotions like UFC, Strikeforce and ProElite are viewed by the experts who cover the sport.

Bantamweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted January 27, 2012

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank
1 Dominick Cruz 375 UFC 1
2 Urijah Faber 356 UFC 2
3 Joseph Benavidez 341 UFC 3
4 Brian Bowles 315 UFC 4
5 Scott Jorgensen 305 UFC 5
6 Demetrious Johnson 301 UFC 6
7 Renan Barao 261 UFC 7
8 Miguel Torres 220 UFC 8
9 Bibiano Fernandes 206 DREAM 13
10 Masakatsu Ueda 175 Shooto 10
11 Takeya Mizugaki 165 UFC 11
12 Brad Pickett 157 UFC 9
13 Michael McDonald 141 UFC 12
14 Zach Makovsky 118 Bellator 15
15 Eduardo Dantas 115 Bellator 16
16 Wagnney Fabiano 108 Bellator 14
17 Antonio Banuelos 104 DREAM 16
18 Eddie Wineland 93 UFC 18
19 Alexis Vila 88 Bellator 19
20 Damacio Page 69 UFC 21
21 Joe Warren 62 Bellator 23
22 Masakazu Imanari 58 DREAM 21
23 Marcos Galvao 56 Bellator 26
24 Raphael Assuncao 52 UFC 30
25 Yves Jabouin 51 UFC 32
1

Analysis by Richard Wade

The bantamweight division remains unchanged at the top of the rankings from last month. Dominick Cruz is still the undisputed king of the division.

Disagree? Read more & discuss at Bloody Elbow »

Bantamweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted December 29, 2011

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank
1 Dominick Cruz 425 UFC 1
2 Urijah Faber 405 UFC 2
3 Joseph Benavidez 389 UFC 3
4 Brian Bowles 355 UFC 4
5 Scott Jorgensen 344 UFC 5
6 Demetrious Johnson 338 UFC 6
7 Renan Barao 303 UFC 7
8 Miguel Torres 266 UFC 8
9 Brad Pickett 218 UFC 9
10 Masakatsu Ueda 185 Shooto 10
11 Takeya Mizugaki 177 UFC 11
12 Michael McDonald 173 UFC 12
13 Bibiano Fernandes 135 DREAM 13
14 Wagnney Fabiano 128 Bellator 13
15 Zach Makovsky 121 Bellator 16
16 Eduardo Dantas 116 Bellator 19
16 Antonio Banuelos 116 DREAM 15
18 Eddie Wineland 107 UFC 17
19 Alexis Vila 91 Bellator 18
20 Hideo Tokoro 85 DREAM 21
21 Masakazu Imanari 84 DREAM 20
21 Damacio Page 84 UFC 21
23 Joe Warren 66 Bellator 23
24 Takafumi Otsuka 63 DREAM 24
25 Charlie Valencia 62 UFC 25
2

Analysis by Richard Wade

#1 Dominick Cruz and #2 Urijah Faber are set to compete against each other as the coaches on the first season of TUF Live.

Disagree? Read more & discuss at Bloody Elbow »

Bantamweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted December 1, 2011

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank
1 Dominick Cruz 400 UFC 1
2 Urijah Faber 380 UFC 4
3 Joseph Benavidez 367 UFC 2
4 Brian Bowles 336 UFC 3
5 Scott Jorgensen 325 UFC 6
6 Demetrious Johnson 312 UFC 5
7 Renan Barao 283 UFC 11
8 Miguel Torres 262 UFC 7
9 Brad Pickett 200 UFC 8
10 Masakatsu Ueda 180 Amazon Forest Combat 10
11 Takeya Mizugaki 158 UFC 9
12 Michael McDonald 146 UFC 13
13 Wagnney Fabiano 119 UFC 12
13 Bibiano Fernandes 119 DREAM 16
15 Antonio Banuelos 114 DREAM 17
16 Zach Makovsky 109 Bellator 19
17 Eddie Wineland 103 UFC 13
18 Alexis Vila 92 Bellator 15
19 Eduardo Dantas 89 Bellator 28
20 Masakazu Imanari 81 DREAM 20
21 Damacio Page 80 UFC 18
21 Hideo Tokoro 80 DREAM 22
23 Joe Warren 65 Bellator 21
24 Takafumi Otsuka 59 DREAM 24
25 Charlie Valencia 57 UFC 23
1

Analysis by Richard Wade

#2 Urijah Faber likely earned himself another go at #1 Dominick Cruz after his dominant victory over #4 Brian Bowles.

Disagree? Read more & discuss at Bloody Elbow »

Bantamweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted October 27, 2011

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank
1 Dominick Cruz 100 UFC 1
2 Joseph Benavidez 93 UFC 2
3 Brian Bowles 91 UFC 3
4 Urijah Faber 90 UFC 4
5 Demetrious Johnson 80 UFC 5
6 Scott Jorgensen 79 UFC 6
7 Miguel Torres 68 UFC 7
8 Brad Pickett 62 UFC 8
9 Takeya Mizugaki 54 UFC 9
10 Masakatsu Ueda 41 Shooto 10
11 Renan Barao 35 UFC 12
12 Wagnney Fabiano 33 UFC 11
13 Eddie Wineland 30 UFC 13
13 Michael McDonald 30 UFC 14
15 Alexis Vila 27 Bellator 16
16 Bibiano Fernandes 26 19
17 Antonio Banuelos 25 15
18 Damacio Page 23 18
19 Zach Makovsky 22 Bellator 17
20 Masakazu Imanari 20 20
21 Joe Warren 18 Bellator 21
22 Hideo Tokoro 16 22
23 Charlie Valencia 14 UFC 23
24 Takafumi Otsuka 13 24
25 Raphael Assuncao 13 25
1

Analysis by Richard Wade

UFC 139 features one of the best possible bantamweight match ups available in #3 Brian Bowles vs. Urijah Faber.

Disagree? Read more & discuss at Bloody Elbow »

Bantamweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted October 1, 2011

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank
1 Dominick Cruz 100 UFC 1
2 Joseph Benavidez 93 UFC 2
3 Brian Bowles 91 UFC 3
4 Urijah Faber 90 UFC 4
5 Demetrious Johnson 82 UFC 5
6 Scott Jorgensen 79 UFC 6
7 Miguel Torres 68 UFC 7
8 Brad Pickett 59 UFC 8
9 Takeya Mizugaki 51 UFC 9
10 Masakatsu Ueda 43 Amazon Forest Combat 10
11 Wagnney Fabiano 36 UFC 12
12 Renan Barao 34 UFC 11
13 Eddie Wineland 33 UFC 13
14 Michael McDonald 32 UFC 14
15 Antonio Banuelos 27 DREAM 20
16 Alexis Vila 25 Bellator NR
17 Zach Makovsky 25 Bellator 15
18 Damacio Page 25 UFC 16
19 Bibiano Fernandes 23 DREAM 27
20 Masakazu Imanari 21 DREAM 17
21 Joe Warren 18 Bellator 21
22 Hideo Tokoro 18 DREAM 18
23 Charlie Valencia 14 UFC 22
24 Takafumi Otsuka 13 DREAM 19
24 Raphael Assuncao 13 UFC NR
5

Analysis by Richard Wade

Having already defeated bantamweights ranked 2-4, #1 Dominick Cruz will defend his belt against #5 Demetrious Johnson at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson this Saturday.

Disagree? Read more & discuss at Bloody Elbow »

Bantamweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted August 27, 2011

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank
1 Dominick Cruz 100 UFC 1
2 Joseph Benavidez 93 UFC 2
3 Brian Bowles 91 UFC 3
4 Urijah Faber 89 UFC 4
5 Demetrious Johnson 83 UFC 5
6 Scott Jorgensen 80 UFC 6
7 Miguel Torres 69 UFC 7
8 Brad Pickett 63 UFC 8
9 Takeya Mizugaki 49 UFC 9
10 Masakatsu Ueda 42 Shooto 10
11 Renan Barao 38 UFC 11
12 Wagnney Fabiano 37 UFC 13
13 Eddie Wineland 37 UFC 12
14 Michael McDonald 33 UFC 14
15 Zach Makovsky 25 Bellator 15
16 Damacio Page 24 UFC 16
17 Masakazu Imanari 22 DREAM 17
18 Hideo Tokoro 20 DREAM 20
19 Takafumi Otsuka 19 DEEP 19
20 Antonio Banuelos 18 DREAM 18
21 Joe Warren 17 Bellator 21
22 Charlie Valencia 14 UFC 22
23 Ian Loveland 13 UFC 23
24 Hiroshi Nakamura 13 DEEP 26
25 Ivan Menjivar 13 UFC 25
9

Analysis by Richard Wade

There has been absolutely no movement at the top of the bantamweight division this month, so Dominick Cruz remains your undisputed #1 bantamweight in the world.

Disagree? Read more & discuss at Bloody Elbow »

Bantamweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted July 30, 2011

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank
1 Dominick Cruz 100 UFC 1
2 Joseph Benavidez 92 UFC 2
3 Brian Bowles 91 UFC 3
4 Urijah Faber 90 UFC 4
5 Demetrious Johnson 83 UFC 6
6 Scott Jorgensen 80 UFC 5
7 Miguel Torres 70 UFC 7
8 Brad Pickett 63 UFC 9
9 Takeya Mizugaki 50 UFC 8
10 Masakatsu Ueda 45 Shooto 10
11 Renan Barao 39 UFC 16
12 Eddie Wineland 38 UFC 12
13 Wagnney Fabiano 37 UFC 11
14 Michael McDonald 30 UFC 13
15 Zach Makovsky 26 Bellator 17
16 Damacio Page 25 UFC 14
17 Masakazu Imanari 24 DREAM 15
18 Antonio Banuelos 20 UFC 18
19 Takafumi Otsuka 20 DEEP 19
20 Hideo Tokoro 19 DREAM 26
21 Joe Warren 17 Bellator 23
22 Charlie Valencia 14 UFC 20
23 Ian Loveland 13 UFC 23
24 Shuichiro Katsumura 13 Shooto 21
25 Ivan Menjivar 13 UFC 26
9

Analysis by Richard Wade

After defending his belt against #4 Urijah Faber in a fight of the year candidate, #1 Dominick Cruz will look to repeat the feat against #5 Demetrious Johnson at Versus 6.

Disagree? Read more & discuss at Bloody Elbow »

Bantamweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted July 1, 2011

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank
1 Dominick Cruz 100 UFC 1
2 Joseph Benavidez 93 UFC 2
3 Brian Bowles 91 UFC 3
4 Urijah Faber 89 UFC 4
5 Scott Jorgensen 82 UFC 6
6 Demetrious Johnson 80 UFC 9
7 Miguel Torres 67 UFC 5
8 Takeya Mizugaki 61 UFC 7
9 Brad Pickett 58 UFC 8
10 Masakatsu Ueda 50 Shooto 10
11 Wagnney Fabiano 40 UFC 11
12 Eddie Wineland 34 UFC 12
13 Michael McDonald 33 UFC 14
14 Damacio Page 28 UFC 13
15 Masakazu Imanari 30 DREAM 19
16 Renan Barao 28 UFC 15
17 Zach Makovsky 25 Bellator 16
18 Antonio Banuelos 20 UFC 18
19 Takafumi Otsuka 19 DEEP 22
20 Charlie Valencia 18 UFC 17
21 Shuichiro Katsumura 17 Shooto 24
22 Akitoshi Tamura 15 WVR 23
23 Joe Warren 15 Bellator 21
23 Ian Loveland 15 UFC 27
25 Hiroshi Nakamura 15 DEEP 20
6

Analysis by Richard Wade

#1 Dominick Cruz is set to defend his belt and his #1 ranking this Saturday night against #4 Urijah Faber at UFC 132 in Las Vegas.

Disagree? Read more & discuss at Bloody Elbow »

Bantamweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted May 25, 2011

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank
1 Dominick Cruz 100 UFC 1
2 Joseph Benavidez 93 UFC 2
3 Brian Bowles 91 UFC 3
4 Urijah Faber 89 UFC 4
5 Miguel Torres 83 UFC 5
6 Scott Jorgensen 82 UFC 6
7 Takeya Mizugaki 64 UFC 7
8 Brad Pickett 61 UFC 8
9 Demetrious Johnson 58 UFC 9
10 Masakatsu Ueda 52 Shooto 10
11 Wagnney Fabiano 44 UFC 11
12 Eddie Wineland 36 UFC 12
13 Michael McDonald 32 UFC 14
14 Damacio Page 30 UFC 13
15 Renan Barao 29 UFC 15
16 Masakazu Imanari 28 DEEP 19
17 Zach Makovsky 27 Bellator 16
18 Antonio Banuelos 22 UFC 18
19 Hiroshi Nakamura 21 DEEP 20
20 Takafumi Otsuka 19 DEEP 22
21 Charlie Valencia 17 UFC 17
22 Shuichiro Katsumura 16 Shooto 24
23 Akitoshi Tamura 15 WVR 23
24 Joe Warren 14 Bellator 21
25 Ian Loveland 13 UFC 26
0

Analysis by Richard Wade

#1 Dominick Cruz and #4 Urijah Faber are scheduled to headline UFC 132 on July 2 in the UFC's first Bantamweight title fight.

Disagree? Read more & discuss at Bloody Elbow »

Bantamweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted April 29, 2011

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank
1 Dominick Cruz 100 UFC 1
2 Joseph Benavidez 95 UFC 2
3 Brian Bowles 91 UFC 3
4 Urijah Faber 88 UFC 4
5 Miguel Torres 83 UFC 5
6 Scott Jorgensen 83 UFC 6
7 Takeya Mizugaki 68 UFC 7
8 Brad Pickett 61 UFC 8
9 Demetrious Johnson 58 UFC 9
10 Masakatsu Ueda 53 Shooto 10
11 Wagnney Fabiano 42 UFC 11
12 Eddie Wineland 34 UFC 12
13 Damacio Page 30 UFC 16
14 Michael McDonald 28 UFC 13
15 Renan Barao 26 UFC 14
16 Zach Makovsky 25 Bellator 15
17 Charlie Valencia 25 UFC 17
18 Antonio Banuelos 24 UFC 19
19 Masakazu Imanari 23 DEEP 18
20 Hiroshi Nakamura 20 DEEP 20
21 Joe Warren 20 Bellator NR
22 Takafumi Otsuka 19 DEEP 22
23 Akitoshi Tamura 18 WVR 23
24 Shuichiro Katsumura 17 Shooto 20
25 Hiroyuki Takaya 16 Strikeforce 29
11

Analysis by Richard Wade

Undisputed #1 Dominick Cruz will attempt to defend his title and avenge a loss when he locks horns with #4 Urijah Faber at UFC 132.

Disagree? Read more & discuss at Bloody Elbow »

About the Rankings

compiled by Kid Nate and Richard Wade of Bloody Elbow

Bloody ElbowBased on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the online MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA websites to produce our consensus rankings. Show more »

Sources

Jeremy Botter, Heavy MMA
Fight Matrix
Jordan Breen, Sherdog
Jim Genia, Full Contact Fighter
Jesse Holland, MMA Mania
Kevin Iole, Yahoo!
Eric Kamander, MMA Ratings
MMA Playground
MMA Weekly
Leland Roling, Bloody Elbow
Matthew Roth, Head Kick Legend
Wojslaw Rysiewski, MMA Rocks
Michael David Smith, MMA Fighting
Derek Suboticki, Fightlinker
Luke Thomas, SB Nation