FloCombat Prospect Rankings | July 2018

FloCombat Prospect Rankings | Bantamweight | July 2018

FloCombat ranks the top 20 North American bantamweight MMA prospects for July 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.
RANKNAMEAGERECORDCOUNTRYNEXT FIGHTPREVIOUS RANKING
1Raufeon Stots299-1USA 1
2John Castaneda2616-4USA 2
3Ryan MacDonald249-0USA 3
4Manny Vazquez2412-3USA 4
5Joseph Maness269-0USA 5
6Maurice Mitchell3011-1USA 6
7Josh Rettinghouse2716-4USA 7
8Kyler Phillips225-0USAJuly 20 vs. Jordan Winski8
9Patrick Mix247-0USA 11
10Montel Jackson266-0USA NR
11Ray Rodriguez3013-4USA 12
12Jordan Howard2710-5USA 13
13Tony Gravely2613-5USA 14
14Miles Johns247-0USA 15
15Vince Morales277-1USAJuly 17 vs. Domingo PilarteNR
16Domingo Pilarte287-1USAJuly 17 vs. Vince MoralesNR
17Cheyden Leialoha237-1USA 20
18Adrian Yanez247-2USA 18
19Cole Smith285-0CANADA 19
20Xavier Alaoui268-3Canada 17


#1 – 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 fighter is coming off a first-round submission victory over Arnold Berdon Dec. 16 at Victory FC 59.

#2 – John Castaneda (16-4) 

Castaneda nearly won the Copa Combate tournament for Combate Americas back in November 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. However, Castaneda most recently dropped a split decision to Jose Alday, marking back-to-back defeats for the first time in his career. 

#3 – Ryan MacDonald (8-0) 

MacDonald is one of two fighters in the top five with an undefeated record and is the current MCF featherweight champion. The 24-year-old fighter is coming off a TKO win over Matt Murphy at MCF 15 in March. 

#4 – Manny Vazquez (12-3)  

Former Legacy FC bantamweight champion Vasquez is coming off a first-round submission victory March 10 over Shawn West at Caged Aggression 21: Night 2. The 24-year-old has won three of his last four fights with two of those victories coming by submission. 

#5 – Nathan Maness (9-0)

Maness is coming off a unanimous decision win over Caio Machado at TKO 42. 

Notes 

  • No. 9-ranked Ricky Bandejas has been removed from the rankings after signing with Bellator MMA
  • No. 10-ranked Brad Katona has been removed from the rankings after being set to compete at the TUF 27 Finale
  • Montel Jackson enters the rankings in the No. 10 spot
  • Vince Morales enters the rankings in the No. 15 spot
  • Domingo Pilarte enters the ranings in the No. 16 spot