Please note that due to inactivity now former UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz is ineligible for the top 10 rankings until he competes again and Scott Jorgenson will not be listed due to competition at flyweight, however once he returns to bantamweight he’ll be eligible again. Also the bantamweight rankings were last updated March 28, 2013 and those rankings will be listed in parenthesis:
~ 1 (1) ~
Renan Barao
After two successful defenses against Michael McDonald and Eddie Wineland, Renan Barao is looking to defend his new UFC UFC Bantamweight Championship at UFC 169 February 1 in a rematch against the man he defeated for the Interim Championship, Urijah Faber.
~ 2 (4) ~
Urijah Faber
Urijah Faber had an extremely successful 2013 going 4-0 against several top contenders, the most recent of which was a submission win against Michael McDonald. Now with Dominick Cruz dropping out, Faber get’s the chance to avenge his loss against Renan Barao.
~ 3 (3) ~
Michael McDonald
A win against Urijah Faber would’ve earned him a possible title shot but a submission loss at UFC on Fox sets Michael McDonald back. However considering he got a title shot against Renan Barao earlier in the year maybe it’s time for him to work back up again.
~ 4 (5) ~
Eddie Wineland
With his only match in 2013 being a loss to Interim Champion Renan Barao, Eddie Wineland will be looking to return to his winning ways when he faces Yves Jabouin at UFC on Fox 10 on January 25.
~ 5 (7) ~
Brad Pickett
Having gone 1-1 this year, Brad Pickett will be dropping down to flyweight to face Ian McCall at UFC Fight Night 37 on March 8th. At that point he will be ranked as a flyweight but until then he will be listed as a bantamweight.
~ 6 (9) ~
Raphael Assuncao
Raphael Assuncao has gone undefeated since moving down to flyweight in 2011. One could argue that he should get a title shot in 2014.
~ 7 (N/A) ~
T.J. Dillashaw
Going 2-1 in 2013 with his only loss to the aforementioned Assuncao, T.J. Dillashaw is looking for a rebound against Mike Easton.
~ 8 (N/A) ~
Takeya Mizugaki
Without a doubt Takeya Mizugaki had a good year going 3-0, but not against a top 10 opponent. A win against one could earn a title shot.
~ 9 (8) ~
Tyson Nam
Tyson Nam hasn’t fought since March 25, 2013 and unless he fights before that time this year he’ll become ineligible for the rankings.
~ 10 (10) ~
Eduardo Dantes
After defending his title once in 2013, Bellator Champion Eduardo Dantes will be defending his title against Rafael Silva sometime this year.
Stay tuned for the continued updated rankings next week and feel free to leave a comment to voice your opinion on the rankings.