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The UFC bantamweight division will take center stage this weekend when Marlon 'Chito' Vera faces Dominick Cruz in the main event. This fight is just one of several enticing match-ups coming up in the 135 pound division, which has arguably become the deepest and most exciting in the sport.
In the coming months, two UFC Fight Night events will be headlined by bantamweight bouts ,as well as a title fight and other top ten fighters in action. With so many important match-ups on the horizon, here are the five biggest fights coming up in the UFC bantamweight division:
#5. Cory Sandhagen vs. Song Yadong
On September 17, Cory Sandhagen and Song Yadong will headline a Fight Night in a top ten clash in the UFC bantamweight division. It will be a particularly important fight for Sandhagen, who is on a two-fight skid for the first time in his career and must now defend his top five status.
Sandhagen is currently the No.4-ranked bantamweight in the UFC and while he's lost two straight, those results have come against elite fighters in T.J. Dillashaw and Petr Yan. Both fights were very close — particularly the one against Dillashaw. Regardless, he must now prove he too is elite against a young up-and-comer riding a wave of momentum.
Yadong is 24-years-old, ranked No.10 in the division, and retired Marlon Moraes with a first-round KO in his most recent octagon appearance. He is now on a three-fight win streak and has earned an opportunity against a big name in the division. It will be truly fascinating to see which of these two fighters comes out on top.
#4. Petr Yan vs. Sean O'Malley
In terms of the anticipation surrounding this fight, you could argue it could be ranked at the number one spot. It is a incredibly interesting match-up featuring the former bantamweight champion, Petr Yan, in his return to action against one of the most popular fighters on the roster: Sean O'Malley. The pair will fight October 22 at UFC 280.
O'Malley has produced some highlight reel finishes during his time in the UFC and has described his only loss as a "freak accident." With that being said, he has never beaten anyone near the level of the No.1-ranked bantamweight in the UFC, with zero career wins over top ten opponents. If he is able to pull out a victory against Yan, he could very well find himself in line for a title shot.
Yan will also be in a good position to get back in the title picture with a win given how good he looked in both losses against current champion Aljamain Sterling. This fight is a must-see and only falls short of ranking higher because O'Malley is the only fighter outside the top ten to feature on this list.
#3. Marlon 'Chito' Vera vs. Dominick Cruz
The main event this Saturday will see a huge clash between the No.5 and No.8-ranked fighters in the UFC bantamweight division. While whoever wins this match-up will likely need one more win to earn a title shot, the fight is hugely important to both men and should produce a great fight.
Dominick Cruz and his unique style always produce intriguing encounters inside the octagon. Given he is in the midst of what may be his last run at the title, a loss would likely put an end to his title aspirations. Marlon Vera is another entertaining striker, which is why you can be confident this bout will be a must-watch occasion.
Vera is on a three-fight winning streak that has earned him a spot in the top five. With that being said, he has struggled in the past when he's on the verge of entering the title picture, as fans saw when he lost to Jose Aldo.
#2. Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili
Jose Aldo is a future Hall-of-Famer, and he may be a single win away from the 13th UFC title fight of his decorated career. While he is better known for his lengthy reign as featherweight champion, he has looked great at bantamweight recently and is now a three-fight win streak.
His opponent on August 20 will be Merab Dvalishvili, a talented grappler who has arguably become the boogeyman of the 135 lb division. The Georgian is currently on an incredible seven-fight winning streak, and his style makes him an awkward match-up for many of the top fighters at bantamweight.
This fight will be a classic striker vs. grappler match-up with high stakes and no clear favorite. Should Aldo win, he will likely become the No.1-contender, whilst a Dvalishvili win would see him announce himself as a top five fighter at 135 pounds.
#1. Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw - UFC bantamweight championship
Naturally, the upcoming UFC bantamweight title fight takes top billing on this list. Aljamain Sterling silenced many of his doubters by defeating Petr Yan last time out and will now face a fresh challenge in former two-time champion, T.J. Dillashaw.
The bout will go down on October 22 at UFC 280, the same event where Petr Yan and Sean O'Malley will be competing. The match-up is an interesting one stylistically and could play out somewhat similarly to Sterling's fight with Yan.
Dillashaw will likely have the advantage on the feet, so Sterling will probably look to take him down. Whoever is able to play to their strengths is likely to come out on top, but it's tough to predict who that will be. With the gold on the line, it will be fascinating too see who is crowned king of the bantamweights in October.
