Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Featherweight

1. Conor McGregor (19-3)

It has been just over a month and a half since McGregor’s infamous and immortal tweet that proclaimed his retirement and exit from UFC 200. McGregor’s tweet touched off one of the most politically provocative six weeks in the annals of MMA, but “The Notorious” one’s beef with the UFC is on the back burner once again. The Irishman has officially signed on to rematch Nate Diaz, this time in the main event of UFC 202 on Aug. 20.

2. Jose Aldo (26-2)

Even though he is still only 29 years old, after a 12-year pro career and six years of ruling the 145-pound division with an iron fist, Aldo’s shocking 13-second knockout loss to Conor McGregor in December seemed like it may forecast a downturn for “Scarface.” Instead, Aldo returned at UFC 200 as a slight underdog against a surging Frankie Edgar and replicated his February 2013 unanimous decision over “The Answer” with a masterful counterpunching performance. Now the interim UFC featherweight champion, Aldo will hope for another rematch his next time out, this time with McGregor.

3. Frankie Edgar (20-5-1)

Edgar’s five-fight winning streak at 145 pounds was incredible and led to his entering a UFC 200 rematch with Jose Aldo as a slight favorite. Unfortunately, Aldo had the number of “The Answer” once more, brilliantly shutting down Edgar’s takedowns, hitting him with heavy counterpunches and winning another unanimous decision. Edgar remains one of the best fighters in the game, but with a pair of losses to Aldo, he may end up finally testing the waters at 135 pounds after several years of teasing the idea.

4. Max Holloway (16-3)

Holloway made it nine wins in a row by picking apart Ricardo Lamas and taking a lopsided unanimous decision in their UFC 199 encounter. Only 24 and already entering his fifth year as a UFC fighter, Holloway is undoubtedly in the running for a featherweight title shot; however, with the current mess atop the 145-pound division, exactly when that shot could materialize is anyone’s guess. In the meantime, Holloway said he is open to notching his 10th straight victory, preferably in his home state of Hawaii.

5. Cub Swanson (22-7)

Following back-to-back submission losses to Frankie Edgar and Max Holloway, Swanson got a much-needed victory on April 16, knocking off always-tough Brazilian Hacran Dias by unanimous decision. Swanson will look to make it two in a row on Aug. 6, when he meets Japanese veteran Tatsuya Kawajiri at UFC Fight Night 92 in Salt Lake City.

6. Charles Oliveira (21-5, 1 NC)

Despite missing the 145-pound limit, which has been a recurring theme for him, Oliveira earned a nifty guillotine choke win over Myles Jury on Dec. 19. Should he find a way to make the 145-pound limit, “do Bronx” will have a golden opportunity to take a leap forward in contention in his next outing on Aug. 27, as he will welcome former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis to the featherweight division at UFC on Fox 21.

7. Ricardo Lamas (16-5)

Lamas had no answer for the reach and precise striking of Max Holloway at UFC 199, as “The Bully” failed to bring the fight to the floor and wound up on the wrong end of a unanimous decision. The former featherweight title contender was coming off an impressive November win over “The Ultimate Fighter 1” winner Diego Sanchez.

8. Jeremy Stephens (25-12)

Way back in November 2008, Stephens famously knocked out future UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos with a brutal uppercut. Fast forward almost eight years, and “Lil Heathen” can say he has properly beaten another former UFC champion. Onetime bantamweight king Renan Barao moved up to 145 pounds for their May 29 encounter, only to be thwarted by Stephens’ defensive wrestling and power punching over 15 minutes, giving the Iowa native perhaps the biggest win of his career.

9. Hacran Dias (23-4-1)

Dias started strong but suffered multiple knockdowns and ultimately could not hang on the feet with hard-hitting veteran Cub Swanson in their April 16 encounter. The Nova Uniao fighter dropped a unanimous decision after three rounds, snapping a two-fight winning streak and leveling Dias’ UFC record at 3-3.

10. Brian Ortega (11-0, 1 NC)

Bringing an 8-0 record into his July 2014 UFC debut against Mike de la Torre, Ortega impressed with a 99-second submission before getting popped for the steroid drostanolone. Since having his win overturned and serving his suspension, Ortega has not only passed drug tests but stopped quality veterans Thiago Tavares, Diego Brandao and Clay Guida consecutively. More than that, Ortega has done it in come-from-behind, thrilling fashion each time, finishing all three foes while on the brink of defeat in the third round.

Other Contenders: Dennis Bermudez, Doo Ho Choi, Darren Elkins, Patricio Freire, Daniel Straus

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