FloCombat Prospect Rankings - March 2018

FloCombat Prospect Rankings - Bantamweight - March 2018

FloCombat ranks the top 20 North American bantamweight MMA prospects for March 2018.

Rankings based off the following....

  • North American fighters only. For example, Thiago Moises wouldn't qualify for these rankings despite training in the U.S.
  • No fighters that have fought for or who are set to fight for the UFC.
  • Fighters competing on Dana White's Contender Series included.
  • No long-term Bellator fighters or champions. Exceptions for some preliminary fighters.
  • All fighters aged 30 and under.
  • Rankings based off age, record, and level of competition.

March Notes: 

  • Previously No. 1-ranked Manny Bermudez has been removed from the rankings after signing with the UFC.
  • Previously No. 3-ranked Gary Mangat is ineligible after turning 31 years old. 
  • Adrian Yanez enters the rankings in the No. 18 spot.
  • Cheyden Leialoha enters the rankings in the No. 19 spot
RANK
NAME
AGE
RECORD
COUNTRY
NEXT FIGHT
PREVIOUS RANKING
1
Ricky Simon
25
11-1
USA
March 23 vs. Vinicius Zani
2
2
Raufeon Stots
29
9-1
USA
 
4
3
John Castañeda
26
16-3
USA
 
5
4
Ryan MacDonald
24
8-0
USA
 
6
5
Maurice Mitchell
30
11-1
USA
 
7
6
Jordan Howard
27
10-4
USA
 
8
7
Josh Rettinghouse
27
16-4
USA
 
9
8
Kyler Phillips
22
5-0
USA
 
10
9
Ricky Bandejas
26
10-1
USA
 
11
10
Brad Katona
25
6-0
CANADA
 
12
11
Ray Rodriguez
30
13-4
USA
 
13
12
Tony Gravely
26
12-4
USA
 
18
13
Joseph Maness
26
8-0
USA
 
15
14
Miles Johns
23
6-0
USA
March 3 vs. Adrian Yanz
16
15
Dylan Cala
24
5-1
USA
 
14
16
Xavier Alaoui
26
8-3
Canada
 
17
17
Adrian Yanez
24
6-2
USA
March 3 vs. Miles Johns
NR
18
Cole Smith
28
4-0
CANADA
 
19
19
Cheyden Leialoha
23
6-1
USA
 
NR
20
Keith Lee
21
3-1
USA
 
20


#1 — Ricky Simon (11-1)

Simon captured the vacant LFA bantamweight title in December, defeating UFC veteran Chico Camus by unanimous decision at LFA 29. The 25-year-old has won four fights in a row and will make the first defense of his title on March 23 when he faces Vinicius Zani.

#2 — Raufeon Stots (9-1)

Stots is the current Victory FC bantamweight champion and boasts wins over UFC veterans Jeff Curran and Rob Emerson. The 29-year-old is coming off a first-round submission victory over Arnold Berdon at Victory FC 59 on Dec. 16.  

#3 — John Castaneda (16-3)

Castaneda nearly won the Copa Combate tournament for Combate Americas back in December before losing in the tournament finals to Levy Saúl Marroquín Salazar. The 26-year-old has a win over UFC veteran Chris Beal and also turned heads when he won a unanimous decision against Cheyden Leialoha at Dana White’s Contender Series 4 last year. 

#4 — Ryan MacDonald (8-0)

MacDonald is the only fighter in the top five with an undefeated record and is the current MCF featherweight champion. The 24-year-old is coming off a second-round stoppage victory over Chad Obermiller at MFC 14 back in October. 

#5 — Maurice Mitchell (11-1) 

Mitchell hasn’t lost a fight since January 2011 and is currently riding a six-fight win streak. His biggest issue has been his activity, having fought just four times since 2013. He competed last month at Alaska FC 137 where he finished Jordan Mackin in the second round to earn his fourth career win by submission.