Where We Stand: Bantamweight Division

Outlook: It’s easy to forget how good Henry Cejudo is as a mixed martial artist because of how much noise he chooses to make online and in interviews, especially since injuries have kept him out for about 10 months now. But don’t get it twisted, Cejudo has the goods. He’s the only flyweight to beat Demetrious Johnson in the Octagon, and he showed off his ability to grind out a win when he fought through a brutal lower body assault in his bantamweight title fight against Marlon Moraes. The adjustments Cejudo made in that bout were a testament to his fight IQ and toughness, and with two belts and an Olympic gold medal on his resume, his claims as the greatest combat sports athlete isn’t unfounded. He made the controversial choice to defend his bantamweight title against Jose Aldo, who is coming off two losses, but Aldo is still as tough a matchup as they come, so it would still be a real feather in his cap should he come out victorious. Cejudo has called for a featherweight bout against Alexander Volkanovski on social media, and his management mentioned his intentions to fight at 125 pounds, as well. Ultimately, as long as he keeps winning, the options are aplenty for “Triple C.”

Outlook: “Magic” Marlon Moraes seemed like he was on a direct course to a UFC belt. After a long reign as the World Series of Fighting bantamweight champ, Moraes bounced back from a split decision loss to Raphael Assuncao in his UFC debut and racked up four straight wins, including three-consecutive first-round finishes. After he avenged his loss to Assuncao, he earned a shot at the then-vacant bantamweight belt and ate Henry Cejudo up at range for the first five minutes of the fight. Cejudo made adjustments, however, and the tide turned so suddenly that it was Cejudo earning the belt with a third-round finish. Moraes, though, welcomed Jose Aldo to 135 pounds in his next fight, earning a close – albeit controversial to some – split decision. Given his loss to Cejudo, a rematch for the title was up in the air, but it probably feels a bit more sour that the man he just beat is the one competing for gold. That said, Moraes remains as dangerous a contender as there is in the division with his dynamic striking and slick submission game. One of the most impressive physical specimens on the roster with good technique paired with it, another title shot is not hard to see in his future. In the meantime, though, a bout with anyone inside of the top five makes sense as he tries to reestablish himself as the next person who deserves a chance at a UFC title.

Outlook: Aljamain Sterling looked as good as ever when he took a unanimous decision victory over Pedro Munhoz the same night the new bantamweight king was crowned. It was an all-around performance that showed his ability to strike at a high level out of both stances, which is a scary prospect given his wrestling acumen. It was the right path to victory against Munhoz, who loves to snatch a guillotine submission on his opponents. The bout had a solid pace as both fighters took turns pressuring each other, and Sterling was able to gut out the solid win. It was a nice pronouncement that Sterling is coming into his own as a mixed martial artist. He might be one more definitive win from solidifying himself as the next person who should earn a title shot, but the “Funk Master” isn’t far from bringing another championship bout to the team at Serra-Longo.

Outlook: Urijah Faber was the bigger name heading into his bout with Petr Yan at UFC 245, but the contest proved to be a coming out party for the Russian. Yan’s slick striking and finishing instincts were on display against Faber, who was a willing dance partner until Yan connected with the head kick that finished things. He also displayed a solid grappling game and got the better of Faber in a handful of those exchanges. Against Faber and Jimmie Rivera, Yan’s patient, methodical and devastating striking stood out, and anyone at the top of the division is well aware of the fight-changing power Yan holds. His well-rounded game makes him an entertaining matchup with anyone who dares to stand with him.

Outlook: The most under-the-radar member of the top 5 was all set to solidify his claim as yet another young, dangerous, well-rounded bantamweight when Cory Sandhagen signed up to fight Frankie Edgar in the former champion’s 135-pound debut. Instead, Edgar stepped in on short notice to headline UFC Busan against Korean Zombie, and Sandhagen was suddenly out of a fight. The 27-year-old is eager to prove he’s the best in the world but knows he needs a signature win, even poking fun at the fact that he might be the only person Henry Cejudo hasn’t aimed a joke toward in the division. When he does get the chance, though, Sandhagen is an all-around dangerous opponent who is as rangy as anyone in the division. At 5-foot-11 and with a matching reach, Sandhagen compounded those traits with his cerebral and patient approach. He looked at his best against Rafael Assuncao in his biggest win to date, and is now a squeaky-clean 5-0 inside the Octagon. When Sandhagen gets his next big chance, it’ll be well-earned.

Outlook: Looking at Raphael Assuncao’s record, it’s almost a marvel he hasn’t competed for the belt at some point. The Brazilian holds wins over TJ Dillashaw, Pedro Munhoz, Marlon Moraes and Aljamain Sterling. And although he missed almost two years to injury, the 37-year-old has remained in top contention for a long time at this point and doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Coming off a pair of losses to Cory Sandhagen and Moraes, he originally was looking to get back on track in a high-profile matchup against Cody Garbrandt before Garbrandt had to pull out due to medical issues. The card, however, was postponed anyway due to COVID-19, and so it’s not out of the imagination to think the matchup could get rebooked.