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Flyweight

1. Ian McCall (11-2-1)

McCall couldn’t catch a break in his UFC debut: after being announced the loser of a decision against Demetrious Johnson, it was revealed that the bout had been scored a majority draw and should have gone to a fourth round. As such, “Uncle Creepy” and “Mighty Mouse” will duel again later this year, with the winner moving on to face Joseph Benavidez for the vacant UFC flyweight title.

2. Jussier da Silva (14-1)

There’s a flyweight party in the UFC, but “Formiga” wasn’t invited. In the meantime, the Brazilian ant-man has lined up a pair of bouts to keep him busy until he gets his call from the big show. On March 18, da Silva will move up to 132 pounds to meet Argentinean Martin Coria, then back down to defend his Shooto South America flyweight belt against Lincoln de Sa on April 21.

3. Joseph Benavidez (16-2)

During his tenure at bantamweight, it was often said that Benavidez could be the best flyweight fighter in the world. On March 3, he took the first step toward proving that claim by punching out Shooto champion Yasuhiro Urushitani at UFC on FX 2. Having guaranteed himself a shot at the UFC flyweight title, Benavidez now awaits the winner of the to-be-scheduled Demetrious Johnson-Ian McCall rematch.

4. Demetrious Johnson (14-2-1)

“Mighty Mouse” thought he had secured his passage to a UFC title bout with a majority decision over Ian McCall, but a scorekeeping error left him in the same spot as he had been three rounds prior. The flyweights will have to do it again later this year to decide who will face Joseph Benavidez for the mantle of inaugural UFC 125-pound champion.

5. Yasuhiro Urushitani (19-5-6)

Shooto’s former 123-pound ace was dealt the first knockout loss of his lengthy career on March 3, falling in his UFC debut to former bantamweight contender Joseph Benavidez. The defeat snapped a five-fight winning streak which had seen Urushitani defeat Pancrase champ Kiyotaka Shimizu, Yuki Shojo and Ryuichi Miki.

6. Mamoru Yamaguchi (26-6-3)

Mamoru Yamaguchi might not have any MMA fights scheduled, but the longtime Shooto star is never one to sit by idly and wait. On Feb. 5, Yamaguchi hopped back into the Shoot Boxing ring to grab himself a majority decision and a payday in the kickboxing ring over Kazuyuki Fushimi.

7. Darrell Montague (9-2)

Darrell Montague was looking at a potential March 9 date with Jussier da Silva under the Tachi Palace Fights banner. However, life interceded, as Montague is now expecting the birth of his first child, a personal undertaking that nixed a slated bout with the Brazilian.

8. Shinichi "B.J." Kojima (12-4-5)

It hasn’t been pretty, but the world’s former No. 1 flyweight has racked up back-to-back wins since returning last August from a career-threatening knee injury. Next up for Shooto’s blonde bomber: a March 10 engagement with Korean youngster Nam Jin Jo in Tokyo.

9. Yuki Shojo (11-6-2)

Yuki Shojo struck out trying to win the Shooto world title at 123 pounds when Yasuhiro Urushitani went upside his head in July. The action-oriented Shojo is now bound for Shooto's 115-pound division, signing on to face free-swinging Junji Ito on March 10.

10. Louis Gaudinot (5-1)

Louis Gaudinot is lucky in that next time in the Octagon, he'll get to compete at his more natural weight class at 125 pounds. However, it won't be easy for the green-haired dynamo, as he'll meet big-punching Brazilian prospect John Lineker, who will cut down from bantamweight for his flyweight debut.

Other contenders:

Fumihiro Kitahara, Dustin Ortiz, Sean Santella, Kiyotaka Shimizu, Jose Maria Tome.

With the entries of Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson, previously ninth-ranked Kiyotaka Shimizu and 10th-ranked Jose Maria Tome fall to the contenders list.