UFC Bantamweight Rankings: Henry Cejudo Falls Out Of Top 10 Following Another Loss At UFC Seattle

The UFC bantamweight rankings are a showcase of a division that has slowly evolved to become arguably the most talent-rich in the entire sport. Where lightweight was once considered the deepest weight class in the promotion, 135 pounds has surpassed it with an impressive and wide variety of fighters.

With that in mind, here is the official Ringside Intel top-10 for the organization’s bantamweight class.

10. Rob Font (22-8)

Rob Font has been a top-10 level 135-pounder for the last half-decade. However, heading into his October fight against Kyler Phillips he needed a win badly. He lost four of his last five (all to elite competition) and was bounced from our UFC bantamweight rankings. However, he changed camps and came back with a vengeance. Scoring a big win over a fast-rising star at UFC Vegas 99.

He then kicked off his 2025 by getting another victory over Jean Matsumoto at UFC Seattle. He won’t compete for a world title in the UFC but he remains one of the 10 best 135ers on Earth.

9. Mario Bautista (15-2)

Mario Bautista had a rough start to his UFC career after splitting his first four fights. However, the prospect has caught fire since then by winning seven straight. His biggest yet came in 2024 when he scored a very hard-fought split decision victory over featherweight legend Jose Aldo. The 31-year-old is right in his prime and could have the opportunity to break into the top five with some big wins in 2025.

8. Yadong Song (20-7)

Yadong Song has been one of the better fighters in the division over the last five years. He has scored some strong wins, including over former WSOF champion Marlon Moraes. However, after a two-fight win streak, he came up short in a big fight against former division king Petr Yan in 2024.

To begin his 2025 he got a main event slot against Henry Cejudo at UFC Seattle. The fight ended after the third due to an eye poke but he got the victory because he was leading on the scorecards. However, he does not move up because of the questionable way he got the big win.

Also Read: Jon Jones next fight – When will the MMA GOAT be back in action?

7. Marlon Vera (21-8-1)

Marlon Vera is one of the most fun fighters to watch in the UFC. He puts it on the line in every bout and gives fans their money’s worth. However, he has limitations in athletic ability and it shows in big fights. That happened last year when he scored back-to-back losses to then-champion Sean O’Malley and Deiveson Figueiredo. He may never fight for gold again but he is still one of the company’s most must-see fighters.

6. Deiveson Figueiredo (22-4-1)

Some certainly questioned if Deiveson Figueiredo could have the same level of success when he moved from flyweight to bantamweight. But in three fights, he has quickly quieted those doubts with big wins over top-10 stalwarts and one former champion. It is why he got a huge main event opportunity against former division king Petr Yan in November.

While he was very competitive with the Russian over five hard-fought rounds, he was unable to do enough to sway the judges and suffered a frustrating unanimous decision loss.

Also Read: Khamzat Chimaev next fight – Details on ‘Borz’s’ next scrap in the Octagon

5. Cory Sandhagen (17-5)

While Cory Sandhagen hasn’t won every big fight during his career, he still has won quite a few. It is why he is a constant in the top five of the 135-pound rankings. He is a very well-rounded fighter and is an absolute handful in a striking battle.

However, in a bout that likely decided the next contender to new champ Merab Dvalishvili, the top star came up short of fast-rising contender Umar Nurmagomedov in August. Now “Sandman” will have to reclimb the contender ladder in 2025.

Also Read: Conor McGregor next fight – When will “Notorious” make his UFC return?

4. Petr Yan (17-5)

After losing three straight and four of his previous five, Petr Yan got a big bounce-back victory in March against Yadong Song. It showed that he is still among the very best in the division and that concerns he may be past his prime were exaggerated. In his next bout, he faced off with former flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of the company’s return to China.

While the Brazilian gave Yan all he could handle in Macau, the Russian proved to be the better man. Scoring a big win that bolsters his case for a title opportunity in 2025.

3. Umar Nurmagomedov (18-1)

Umar Nurmagomedov has quickly become one of the best fighters in the UFC bantamweight division. Not just because he shares a last name with one of the best fighters in promotion history, but because he has evolved into an elite star with world-champion potential.

He locked up a championship opportunity when he overcame the biggest test of his career and scored a huge decision win over top-five fighter Cory Sandhagen in August 2024. However, he was unable to topple the champ in their clash at UFC 311. But since the bout was fantastic and very competitive, Nurmagomedov holds steady at three.

2. Sean O’Malley (18-2-1)

Sean O’Malley has been a divisive talent in the UFC since he first entered the company. Many have questioned his rise by claiming he received favorable matchups and avoided certain competition. Nevertheless, “Sugar” worked his way to a title fight with his impressive showings and a big victory over former champion Petr Yan in 2022.

There were still many doubters when he entered the Octagon against Sterling at UFC 292, but he needed a little over five minutes to put that all to rest. Following a dominant title defense against Marlon Vera, he found out what makes Merab Dvalishvili different and lost his spot at the top of the UFC bantamweight rankings at UFC 306.

1. Merab Dvalishvili (19-4)

After losing back-to-back fights, Merab Dvalishvili really has been a “Machine.” He has won 12 straight, including over bantamweight greats Henry Cejudo, Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, and Sean O’Malley. At UFC 311 he defended his belt for the first time against a fighter many thought would be a bad matchup for him, Umar Nurmagomedov.

However, his relentless gas tank, takedowns, and underrated striking again turned away another elite challenger. There is no better 135er on the planet than Dvalishvili.