Sherdog’s Top 10: Greatest Bantamweights

9. Urijah Faber

The next inclusion is yet another legendary fighter better known for their accomplishments at a different weight class, although this time in the opposite direction. Faber dropped down from featherweight to 135 after being dominated by the greatest fighter in that weight class's history, Jose Aldo. He started out by submitting then top 10 contender Takeya Mizugaki in round 1 and then winning a decision against Eddie Wineland. However, when he fought Dominick Cruz for the UFC bantamweight belt in 2011, a man he had submitted by guillotine choke for the World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight crown back in 2007 and the only loss on Cruz's ledger at that time, he found that his adversary had significantly improved. After losing the decision, Faber submitted former WEC bantamweight champion Brian Bowles, garnering an interim title shot as Cruz was injured. Again, he would be unsuccessful, as this time Renan Barao won the clear verdict.

Undeterred, Faber would have an impressive four-fight winning streak after this, including submissions of tough, skilled contenders in Ivan Menjivar, Scott Jorgenson and recent title challenger Michael McDonald, and a judges' verdict over Iuri Alcantra. Yet, Faber's rematch against Renan Barao was even less successful than his first attempt, being knocked out in the first round. Faber, as usual, went right back to winning, this time against somewhat lesser names, submitting Alex Caceres and Francisco Rivera and defeating Frank Saenz by decision, in between a decision loss back at featherweight to Frankie Edgar. This gave him an amazing fourth title shot, this time highly undeserved, against his old nemesis Cruz, and for the fourth time, Faber was unsuccessful, losing a decision. After that, Faber was dominated in his next fight by Jimmie Rivera, signaling the end of his time at the top. Still, for all his victories against tough contenders, many of them finishes, and an unprecedented four cracks at the title, Faber makes the list of greatest 135-pounders.

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