Flyweight

Flyweight (116-125lb) World Rankings

• Last Updated – April 7, 2012

1. Joseph Benavidez – 16-2 (4 TKOs, 8 Subs)

After dispatching of Yasuhiro Urushitani with a 2nd round TKO in Australia, Benavidez sat back and watched one of the most bizarre judging debacles in MMA history play out. He now awaits the winner of the Ian McCall/Demetrious Johnson rematch for a shot to become the UFC’s inaugural Flyweight champion.

2. Ian McCall – 11-2-1 (4 TKOs, 3 Subs)

‘Uncle Creepy’ came into his bout with Demetrious Johnson as a heavy underdog, but those who had been tracking his development through the Flyweight division since making the drop in weight knew that it was much closer than the odds indicated. McCall proved those with faith in him right, as he slowly turned up the heat on Johnson throughout the fight, taking what many (and even judge Sal D’Amato) considered at 10-8 in the third round, which depending on your scoring should have either won him the fight or resulted in the oft-joked about 4th round. Instead we had nothing resolved in the cage that night, and the two will rematch on June 3rd, headlining the UFC on FX 3 card (but not being scheduled for 5 rounds). Not surprisingly, the odds are much closer this time around.

3. Demetrious Johnson – 14-2-1 (3 TKOs, 6 Subs)

The man on the other side of the previously mentioned debacle showed what many expected heading into the Flyweight tournament, he can certainly compete with the best 125ers in the world. Unfortunately for Johnson, some expected that he and Benavidez would simply waltz through every other Flyweight in the world, which obviously wasn’t the case. On the bright side for Johnson, he was saved from what would have likely resulted in a 4th round loss to McCall due to the incompetence of the Australian commission, and gets a 2nd shot at advancing to the final.

4. Jussier da Silva – 13-1 (6 Subs)

The best Flyweight not currently under a Zuffa contract, ‘Formiga’ will make his way to the organization eventually. That journey will be expedited if he continues fighting in the manner he has since losing a decision to Ian McCall just over a year ago. Since that time he has picked up 4 straight wins, including 3 submissions and a decision over Mamoru Yamaguchi, one of the best Flyweights of all time. By the end of 2012 I expect to see da Silva in the UFC, taking people’s backs, and in a recent development actually submitting them. He has another fight coming up on April 21 in defence of his Shooto South American Flyweight title.

5. Yasuhiro Urushitani – 19-5-6 (4 TKOs, 1 Sub)

For many years considered one of the top 3 Flyweights on the world, Urushitani was still ranked as such heading into his bout with Joseph Benavidez, but was a colossal underdog. The fight played out as expected, with Benavidez winning emphatically, and moving forward I would expect him to struggle with the bigger, stronger wrestlers he was never exposed to in Japan. Urushitani will still hang around the top 10 because some fighters will never be able to figure out his style, but his days as one of the elite at 125 are done.

6. Mamoru Yamguchi – 26-6-3 (10 TKOs, 4 Subs)

Another pillar of the 123lb division in Shooto, the man with the most famous afro in MMA has been relatively inactive in the MMA scene, not having a fight since losing a decision to Jussier da Silva last August. Like Urushitani, he is nearing the tail end of his career, and at 34 probably needs to pick up a few wins before he gets an invitation to the UFC.

7. Darrell Montague – 9-2 (4 TKOs, 3 Subs)

Montague, who surprisingly captured the Tachi Palace Flyweight title in 2011, fell in his first title defense to Ian McCall and since has taken some time away from the sport to be with his newborn child. Relying on his takedown defence and varied striking, ‘The Mongoose’ should eventually find his way to the UFC, as most top Flyweights will eventually do.

8. Fumihiro Kitahara – 10-2-1 (5 Subs)

Currently on a streak that has seen him win 6 of his past 7 fights, with the only loss coming to Mamoru Yamaguchi, Kitahara is one of the few bright spots remaining in a fading Japanese 125lb scene. When Shooto gets around to crowning a Bantamweight champion, Kitahara should be near the front of the line.

9. Dustin Ortiz – 8-1 (4 TKOs, 4 Subs)

A young, rising Flyweight, Ortiz was given a stern test for his Tachi Palace debut in 2011 against Ian McCall. Aside from Jussier da Silva, Ortiz gave the UFC Flyweight his toughest fight albeit dropping a unanimous verdict. He rebounded with a rollicking performance against Josh Rave, in what was one of the best bouts in 2011. Like Shooto, Tachi Palace currently sports a vacant Flyweight title, and along with Darrell Montague, Ortiz has to be one of the top contenders for the belt.

10. Haruo Ochi – 9-2-1 (4 TKOs, 2 Subs)

On a 5-fight winning streak at the moment, Ochi has reeled off consecutive wins over solid Flyweights Ryuichi Miki, Masaaki Sugawara and Kiyotaka Shimizu. While most 125ers are finding themselves in a transition period, Ochi has taken the opportunity to stay active, fighting 3 times in the past 6 months. It has paid off, as he makes his debut in top 10 on the strength of those performances.