Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Demetrious Johnson was a heavy favorite in his title defense against Kyoji Horiguchi, but no one could have predicted the ending to UFC 186.

After four-plus rounds of dominating Horiguchi on the mat, 125-pound kingpin Johnson shocked the Japanese prospect with an armbar at 4:59 of the fifth frame, setting a virtually unbeatable record for the latest finish in Ultimate Fighting Championship history. It was the sixth successful title defense for inaugural UFC flyweight champion “Mighty Mouse,” who has not tasted defeat since dropping a decision to then-bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz in 2011. With the win, Johnson retains his unrivaled No. 1 ranking in the flyweight top 10, while Horiguchi remains ranked at No. 8 following his first UFC setback.

The main card of UFC 186 also featured Michael Bisping earning a hard-fought unanimous decision over C.B. Dollaway. “The Count” returns to the middleweight rankings at No. 10, bumping Thales Leites back to the list of contenders.

Other UFC 186 action saw women’s bantamweight Alexis Davis jump one spot to No. 4 by submitting Sarah Kaufman with a second-round armbar, while prospect Thomas Almeida joins the list of 135-pound contenders following a sizzling first-round stoppage of Yves Jabouin.

The bottom half of the women’s strawweight top 10 was shaken up at Invicta Fighting Championships 12, where previously unranked Brazilian Livia Renata Souza snatched Katja Kankaanpaa’s 115-pound title via triangle choke. New champ “Livinha” joins the rankings at No. 8, knocking Alexa Grasso to the list of contenders. Previously sixth-ranked Kankaanpaa falls three spots to No. 9.

Lastly, welterweight Ben Askren remains ranked at No. 6 after his title defense against Luis Santos at One Championship 26 ended in an unsatisfying no-contest due to an Askren eye poke.

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