UFC Bantamweight Rankings: Petr Yan Rises After Big Win in UFC Macau Main Event

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 (21-8)

ufc bantamweight rankings — Rich Storry-Imagn Images

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.

9. Henry Cejudo (16-4)

After three years away from the sport, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo made his Octagon return in May. Unfortunately, he was unable to extend his UFC win streak to seven when he fell by unanimous decision to champion Aljamain Sterling. In defeat, he showed he still has elite-level talent and is willing to climb the ladder to the top.

However, he was dominantly beaten by Sterling’s pal Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298. At this point, it is unclear if Cejudo will continue his career with him well out of the title picture now.

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. The loss was a major setback for his title hopes in the near future.

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7. 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.

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6. Marlon Vera (21-8-1)

Marlon Vera is legitimately one of the best bantamweights on the planet. And his knockout wins over a pair of UFC immortals, Frankie Edgar and Dominick Cruz, stamped his place in the weight class. He is a tough out in every fight he is in, however, he has failed in some big opportunities that might have landed him a title fight in losses to Jose Aldo and Cory Sandhagen over the last few years.

Nevertheless, his win at UFC 292 keeps him right in the thick of title contention and he may be a win away from getting his long sought-after championship booking.

5. Cory Sandhagen (17-5)

https://sportsnaut.com/ufc-bantamweight-rankings/ — Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

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 to fast-rising contender Umar Nurmagomedov in August. Now “Sandman” will have to reclimb the contender ladder in 2025.

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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 (18-0)

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 bolstered his case for a championship opportunity very soon when he overcame the biggest test of his career and scored a huge decision win over top-five fighter Cory Sandhagen in August.

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 (18-4)

After losing back-to-back fights, Merab Dvalishvili really has been a “Machine.” He has won 11 straight, including over bantamweight greats Henry Cejudo, Jose Aldo, and Petr Yan. However, his UFC 306 win over Sean O’Malley made him a bonafide MMA star. It also landed him in our latest UFC pound-for-pound rankings top 10.