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MMA Divisional rankings: Flyweight

Check out my rankings within each division by clicking on the links below.

Who is the best fighter regardless of weight class? See ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings. Plus, check out our women's pound-for-pound rankings.

Note: Results through April 11, 2018.

Divisional Rankings

Heavyweight | Light heavyweight
Middleweight | Welterweight | Lightweight
Featherweight | Bantamweight | Flyweight
Women's bantamweight | Women's strawweight


FLYWEIGHT DIVISION (UP TO 125 POUNDS)

1. Demetrious Johnson (27-2-1)
One does not just suplex another man and hit him with an armbar before his body hits the mat. You're not supposed to be pull off trick moves at the highest level. That's DJ, though. He broke Anderson Silva's record at UFC 216, and did it in style.
Next: TBD

2. Joseph Benavidez (25-4)
It will be nearly impossible to deny Benavidez his third crack at Demetrious Johnson now, following what had to be a very satisfying decision win over Henry Cejudo in December. There will be a lot on the line for Benavidez whenever he gets that opportunity.
Next: UFC 225 on June 9, vs. Sergio Pettis

3. Henry Cejudo (12-2)

After going winless in 2016, Cejudo came back with a vengeance in 2017, recording easy wins over Wilson Reis and Sergio Pettis. The problem is, the only two men he lost to are still the ones ahead of him. Has he improved enough to take down the top of the flyweight mountain?
Next: TBD

4. Kyoji Horiguchi (23-2)
The Japanese flyweight added three wins to his resume in the span of two days, competing in Rizin FF's bantamweight tournament at the end of 2017. The UFC's decision to part ways with Horiguchi remains puzzling. He's clearly one of the best 135-pounders in the world.
Next: TBD

5. Ray Borg (11-3)

Borg was thoroughly outclassed by Demetrious Johnson at UFC 216. He was downright styled on, at times. That's what happens when you fight the champ, though. Future is still bright for Borg.
Next: TBD

6. Jussier da Silva (20-5)

"Formiga" continues to look absolutely unbeatable -- against any opponent not ranked in the Top 5. It's when he faces the division's elite, he struggles. A 7-4 record in the UFC, but the losses have been to marquee names like Henry Cejudo, Joseph Benavidez, Ray Borg and John Dodson. If he can beat a name like that, a title shot could be his.
Next: TBD

7. Sergio Pettis (16-3)
We learned one thing about Pettis at UFC 218: He wasn't ready for the Olympic-caliber wrestling of Henry Cejudo. Pettis has plenty of time to get better, and he tends to do so between each fight. He'll probably need to close that wide gap in wrestling if he's to win a title, but we're not putting that past him down the road.
Next: UFC 225 on June 9, vs. Joseph Benavidez

8. Wilson Reis (22-8)

Reis has been a very solid player at 125 pounds, but an Reis has been a steady competitor for years, but one-sided losses to Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo have seemingly put a firm cap on his ceiling.
Next: TBD

9. Brandon Moreno (14-4)

At 23 years old, Moreno is still well ahead of the curve. But a five-round loss to Sergio Pettis in August also showed how far he still has to go. There is still plenty of time for this Mexican talent to develop into a true title contender.
Next: TBD

10. Dustin Ortiz (18-7)

Every time Ortiz is at risk of becoming an afterthought in this division, he tends to pick up a convincing win that keeps him in the conversation. He's not running out of time to make a run, by any stretch of imagination, but any more failures against Top 10 opposition will do significant damage to his title aspirations.
Next: TBD