5 reasons why the UFC bantamweight division is the best in the sport

The UFC bantamweight division hasn't always been the marquee weight class in the world's premier MMA promotion. The 135-pound bracket has slowly but surely emerged as arguably the deepest and most competitive division in the promotion over the last few years.

Lightweight and bantamweight are currently considered the most explosive divisions in the sport, with the former usually garnering more attention. However, we believe the 135-pound division has now surpassed the 155-pound bracket as the most exciting in the sport.

Here are five reasons why the UFC bantamweight division is the best division across MMA.

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#5. Healthy mix of former champions, veterans and young up-and-comers

Unlike every other division in the UFC, the promotion's bantamweight division currently has three former undisputed champions who are still active – Cody Garbrandt, Dominick Cruz and Petr Yan. Cruz and Yan are still ranked inside the divisional top 10, while Garbrandt still has time to make another title run.

Additionally, former 135-pound champion Henry Cejudo is set to return to the mix later this year, as is former flyweight king Deiveson Figueiredo, who is now committing to the bantamweight division.

Cody Garbrandt, Dominick Cruz, Petr Yan, Deiveson Figueiredo [Images via @codynolove, @dominickcruz, @petr_yan & @daico_deusdaguerra on Instagram]

In contrast to the aforementioned names, there is a surge of promising talent on the rise in the bantamweight division. These prospects are looking to usurp the perennial contenders and former champions in the division as they represent a new age of 135-pound contenders.

Song Yadong, Chris Gutierrez and Adrian Yanez are among the best up-and-coming bantamweights on the roster, with all three currently ranked in the divisional top 15.

Adrian Yanez, Chris Gutierrez and Song Yadong [Images via adrianyanez93, @el_guap_mma & @yadongsong on Instagram]

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#4. Smaller weight classes have more skilled fighters

In the early days of the UFC, heavier weight classes received the majority of attention and hype from the masses. At the time, the lower divisions, specifically flyweight and bantamweight, were seemingly always on the chopping block.

Today, the lower weight classes are thriving and there's a real case to be made that smaller fighters are, atleast technically, far superior to their heavier peers.

Urijah Faber on the bantamweight division [Image via @MMALatestNews on Twitter]

Currently, the middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions in the UFC are significantly top-heavy. There is clearly a tangible gap in skill between the top rier contenders in these divisions and the rest of the pack behind them.

Interestingly, in the bantamweight division, one gets the feeling that fighters in the top 15 can beat any other ranked contender on any given night as they're all so evenly matched. In fact, fighters like No.11-ranked Umar Nurmagomedov would arguably be the betting favorite against every fighter ahead of him.

Flyweights are certainly fun to watch, but they don't really have the same knockout ability as bantamweights. The 135-pound division offers a unique blend of skill, speed and power, making almost every potential pairing an explosive matchup.

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#3. Polarizing, interesting and colorful characters

There's a case to be made that the UFC bantamweight division has the most interesting crop of contenders across combat sports. It's near-impossible to determine why this phenomenon came to be, but the 135-pounders currently signed to the UFC are certainly a motley crew.

The current champion, Aljamain Sterling, isn't averse to turning the crowd against him, as is his upcoming challenger, 'The King of Cringe' himself, Henry Cejudo. The build-up to their upcoming clash at UFC 288 should have no shortage of memorable exchanges and drama.

Marlon Vera has emerged as a fan favorite with his no-nonsense savage outlook on the game as a whole. Cory Sandhagen is a cerebral and highly creative individual with a warrior mindset unlike no one else. Merab Dvalishvili has also resonated with the masses, garnering support for his affable nature and limitless gas tank.

Most bantamweight contenders are comfortable sharing their personalities, none more so than Sean O'Malley. 'Sugar' is among the most recognizable figures across the entire sport and could take the division to astronomical levels of popularity if he wins gold down the line.

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#2. Toughest top 15 in the UFC

When it comes to the level of competition and strength of schedule in the UFC, two divisions stand above the rest – lightweight and bantamweight. While the 155-pound bracket is undeniably a shark tank, the 135-pound division has arguably overtaken the lightweights.

UFC bantamweight and lightweight rankings [Images via UFC.com]

Top-ranked lightweight contenders Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira have all lost title fights over the last two years, with the new generation of 155-pounders still one or two wins off a shot at the belt. Moreover, Chandler and Rafael dos Anjos' future in the division is uncertain, with both fighters eyeing a move up.

Outside the top 10, Dan Hooker has struggled with inconsistency, Damir Ismagulov is on the verge of leaving the UFC, and the likes of Drew Dober and Renato Moicano have been in the promotion for ages already. Rafael Fiziev, Arman Tsarukyan, Mateusz Gamrot and Jalin Turner are all promising contenders, but they haven't quite had their breakthrough moments as of yet.

Additionally, while Poirier, Gaethje, Oliveira and champion Islam Makhachev are popular fighters, the division lacks a bonafide superstar. The biggest star in the division other than these four is Paddy Pimblett, who at the moment doesn't seem to have a very high ceiling.

On the flipside, the bantamweight division is brimming with fresh contenders yet to claim undisputed gold, many of whom haven't even featured in title fights as yet.

Since the recent retirements of Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar, the 135-pound division has emerged as the most competitive in the promotion. Championship caliber prospects Umar Nurmagomedov, Adrian Yanez and Chris Gutierrez are all outside the top 10 and would likely be betting favorites against higher-ranked contenders.

Unranked 18-year-old prospect Raul Rosas Jr. has shown tremendous potential as well, which bodes well for the future of the bantamweight division.

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#1. Potential superstars

What makes a superstar? From what we've seen in the UFC over the years, stars are forged from a combination of storylines and personalities. The UFC bantamweight division has no shortage of either.

Since Khabib Nurmagomedov's championship reign, the Dagestani's teammates have greatly benefitted from 'The Eagle's stardom. His younger cousin, unbeaten UFC bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov, certainly has the skills to dominate the division for a long time to come.

Umar has come out of his shell in recent times, doing more interviews in English, and just needs a worthy adversary to get the masses to truly take notice.

Elsewhere in the division, there are quite a few rivalries brewing. Having lost to teammates Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili, Russian ace Petr Yan has now lost on three occasions to the Serra-Longo duo and is likely itching for revenge.

Sterling and Henry Cejudo have been going back-and-forth for several months now and both fighters rarely miss an opportunity to troll one another. Additionally, Sterling's friendship with No.1-ranked Dvalishvili makes for an interesting dynamic atop the division.

There's no love lost between Marlon Vera and Sean O'Malley, who squared off two three years ago in a bout that ended in anticlimactic fashion. With both fighters in the title mix, their rematch is inevitable.

All things considered, the bantamweight division is on fire at the moment.