Rich Hansen's Take
HANSEN: Transparency in MMA Rankings - My Top 15 Flyweight Fighters (April 2014)
Apr 29, 2014 - 7:20:48 PM HANSEN: Transparency in MMA Rankings - My Top 15 Flyweight Fighters (April 2014)

DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM

...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!

By: Rich Hansen, MMATorch Guest Columnist

Despite my hiatus from this site, both writing and audio, I'm still keeping up with the sport and with the site. On top of that, I'm still in charge of compiling the monthly rankings. And since I'm going through the effort to compile the rankings, I still put together my own rankings in each division as well. My breakdown ends today with the flyweight ranks.

1.) Demetrious Johnson: The three lightest weight classes feature the three least vulnerable champions in the UFC. At this moment, it's nearly impossible to envision anyone in the flyweight division putting Mighty Mouse to the test. I was a major proponent of Joseph Benavidez being that guy. Johnson needed barely two minutes to finish that fight last December to remove all doubt. The knock on Johnson used to be his inability to finish fights, as after he submitted Damacio Page at WEC 52 in November 2010, Johnson's next seven bouts went the distance. But after submitting John Moraga and Joseph Benavidez in his last two fights, it's impossible to deny his dominance over the flyweight division.

Significant victories: Kid Yamamoto, Miguel Torres, Ian McCall, John Moraga, John Dodson, Joseph Benavidez (2x)

Notable losses: Brad Pickett, Dominick Cruz


2.) Joseph Benavidez: There's no greater gap in any division between numbers one and two than here at flyweight. Any doubt of that was erased in December when Johnson starched Benavidez with one punch, early in the first round. Benavidez is the consensus #2 flyweight in the world, and he's lost twice to the champion. His future is bleak, because not only has he lost twice to the champ, but Johnson is improving faster than any other sitting champion. And even if he wanted to move up to 135 lbs., two of his career losses are to Dominick Cruz, and I can't imagine Benavidez handling the size and power of Renan Barao. Benavidez is in that Junior dos Santos role where the UFC can't just book him against anyone top fighter, because Benavidez can and will pick them off. There's no point in building up Benavidez as long as Johnson sits on the Iron Throne, but there's no reason to get rid of him either. There are worse lots in life than the one Benavidez has drawn, but not many worse in MMA.

Significant victories: Jeff Curran, Rani Yahya, Miguel Torres, Yasuhiro Urushitani, Ian McCall, Darren Uyenoyama, Jussier Formiga

Notable losses: Dominick Cruz (2x), Demetrious Johnson (2x)


3.) John Dodson: Gotta admit, I never saw it coming. I was in the building for his fight with Demetrious Johnson, expecting him to get in zero offense over twenty five minutes, and damn if he didn't give Johnson his toughest fight. It was no fluke, either, as he has the best power in the division. Dodson's the only guy at 125 lbs. who's able to give the champion a moment's pause. Hopefully he'll get the next title shot after Johnson mows down Ali Bagautinov this June. Johnson and Dodson fight a week apart, so the timing works perfectly.

Significant victories: John Moraga, TJ Dillashaw, Tim Elliott, Jussier Formiga, Darrell Montague

Notable losses: Yasuhiro Urushitani, Mike Easton, Demetrious Johnson


4.) Zach Makovsky: Solid. Workmanlike. Competent. Quiet. Compliments or insults? A little of Column A, and a little of Column B. I guess that makes them Complinsults. Makovsky is damn good, and has a style that can stifle anyone. But there ain't nobody alive who's going to shell out decent money to watch him fight. I've got him based this high based on his proficiency with his grinding wrestling style more than because of his resume to date. In short, very few guys want to fight him because they aren't likely to win, and he doesn't have a lot of name value. Even if you beat Makovsky, you might not look good doing so.

Significant victories: Scott Jorgensen, Josh Sampo

Notable losses: Wilson Reis, Eduardo Dantas, Anthony Leone

5.) Ian McCall: McCall made his name and had his greatest success outside of the UFC, defeating Jussier Formiga, Dustin Ortiz, and Darrell Montague in his last three fights before signing with Zuffa. It's not a unique story to be the hot fighter who can't buy a win once you sign with the big show, so it wouldn't surprise me if my valuation of McCall's stock would get Mr. Fabulous pissed off at me. His fight with Brad Pickett is only the biggest fight of his life.

Significant victories: Jussier Formiga, Dustin Ortiz, Darrell Montague

Notable losses: Dominick Cruz, Demetrious Johnson, Joseph Benavidez.

Interesting draw: Demetrious Johnson


6.) Ali Bagautinov: He's getting the title shot because Benavidez lost twice, Dodson lost once, Makovsky can't draw flies, and McCall lost once. I don't get how decision victories over Tim Elliott and Johnny Bloatface warrant a title shot, but whatever. When the line opens at Johnson -700, don't be surprised in the least. He's intriguing, powerful, and fun to watch, but that doesn't add up to more than a snowball's chance versus Mighty Mouse.

Significant victories: Tim Elliott, John Lineker


7.) John Lineker: I really wanted to be a total troll and rank him at bantamweight, because Lineker's fame comes 99% from his inability to make the 125 lb. weight limit, and 1% from having the best striking in this division. This is the guy the UFC wants to be able to promote as champion, as his power and fan-friendly style offer glimpses of dollar signs. But frankly, if he isn't willing to do whatever it takes to make 125, then I can't allow myself to invest in him.

Significant victories: Yasuhiro Urushitani

Notable losses: Felipe Arantes, Rafael Silva, Louis Gaudinot, Ali Bagautinov

God, as I look at the names above, I think I'm choking on the hype. If he doesn't kill it the next time out, he might drop out of my top 15.


8.) Jussier Formiga: He came into the UFC with the reputation as one of the very best flyweights in the world. And he certainly looked the part, as he is one of the best submission fighters in the weight class. But, these stories always end the same way. He got KO'd by Dodson and Benavidez, struggled with Chris Cariaso, and headbutted his way into a win against Scott Jorgensen. Add that to the fact that he lost to Ian McCall in Tachi three years ago, and it's clear he's at his ceiling.

Significant victories: Chris Cariaso, Scott Jorgensen

Notable losses: Ian McCall, John Dodson, Joseph Benavidez


9.) John Moraga: Another guy who got a gift title shot, got wrecked by the champ, and winds up getting higher ranked opponents than his talents deserve. He looked great against Ulysses Gomez, who was supposed to get the win because back then the UFC thought he was the better fighter. He looked bad against Chris Cariaso through two rounds, before an admittedly great third round finish. But Mighty Mouse exposed him, and Dustin Ortiz got screwed out of a victory due to bad judging. John Dodson's going to cruise over Moraga this June when they have their rematch. That I have him this highly ranked speaks to the bulimic nature of this division.

Significant victories: Chris Cariaso, Dustin Ortiz

Notable losses: John Dodson, Demetrious Johnson


10.) Brad Pickett: I was stunned when he didn't get the title shot that was handed to Ali Bagautinov. Not saying he deserved it, but he holds a win over the current champion, he's popular, and he's always in exciting fights. Now, Johnson would eat him alive because he's improved ten-fold since they fought four years back. And I would argue that Pickett has regressed. He didn't look good against Neil Seery, but I am willing to chalk that up to the adjustment to a new weight class. I'd be very surprised if a win over Ian McCall this summer doesn't earn him a title shot.

Significant victories: Demetrious Johnson, Ivan Menjivar, Yves Jabouin, Mike Easton

Notable losses: Hideo Tokoro, Scott Jorgensen, Renan Barao, Eddie Wineland, Michael McDonald


11.) Louis Smolka: Look, he might be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but he's exactly 1-0 in the UFC, and that win is over a journeyman. But he won with flair, and we're desperate to find anyone at 125 that we can rally behind. A win over Cariaso next month might lead to him getting a huge push, a huge push that might be too much for him to handle at this stage of his young career.

Significant victory: Alptekin Ozkilic


12.) Josh Sampo: Sampo, along with Ozkilic, Ortiz, and Makovsky, were signed from the regional circuit last year, and those signings had me extremely excited for the future of the division. Didn't take long for that to fade, did it?

Significant victories: Antonio Banuelos, Alexis Vila,

Notable losses: Will Campuzano, Zach Makovsky


13.) Alptekin Ozkilic: And THIS is why we used to only rank 10 Flyweights for so long.

Significant victories: Antonio Banuelos

Notable losses: Darren Uyenoyama


14.) Chris Cariaso: I've always wanted to see Cariaso succeed, and I really thought his drop to this division would be the start of a great run for him. Then he lost to Moraga and Formiga, and I realized that despite my familiarity with him (he's had 11 WEC/UFC fights), I'd forgotten that he is what he is.

Significant victories: Will Campuzano, Takeya Mizugaki,

Notable losses: Renan Barao, Michael McDonald, John Moraga, Jussier Formiga


15.) Tim Elliott: Hey, Tim Elliott. When the MMA Torch staff meets you at a bar after the biggest win of your career, and you give us your cell number and agree to an interview “any time, just give me five minutes notice,” how about you pick up the phone one out of fifteen times, OK? Is that too much to ask for buddy?

Significant victories: Jens Pulver, Louis Gaudinot

Notable losses: John Dodson, Ali Bagautinov