5 blockbuster fights to book in the UFC bantamweight division

#2. Dominick Cruz vs. Jose Aldo

Jose Aldo and Dominick Cruz were dominant WEC champions until 2011, when they were handed the UFC featherweight and bantamweight titles, respectively, after the UFC's absorption of the smaller promotion's roster. They reigned over the 135 and 145-pound divisions for the next few years in the UFC and were regarded among the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.

At the time, there wasn't much talk of the duo fighting one another. This was before Conor McGregor became the first-ever champ-champ, singlehandedly raising the bar across the sport. While we've seen many titleholders attempt to replicate McGregor's two-division success in recent times, it wasn't a common occurrence before 2015.

Jose Aldo (left) and Dominick Cruz (right) [Images via @ODDSbible & @MMAHistoryToday on Twitter]

Jose Aldo, the former 145-pound king, has enjoyed an astonishing career resurgence since dropping down to bantamweight. In his most recent outing, the Brazilian legend put on a clinic against top-ranked contender Rob Font to make his way into the top five at 135 pounds.

Aldo has called for a fight against fellow legend and future Hall of Famer Dominick Cruz on multiple occasions.

Dominick Cruz is arguably the greatest 135-pound fighter of all time, considering his dominant championship runs in the WEC and the UFC. Despite being plagued by numerous recurring injuries throughout his professional career, Cruz is still one of the top bantamweights in the world, which is a testament to his mental resolve. Incredibly, he has never lost a non-championship bout.

At 37, Cruz is smart enough to know that he is likely amidst the final stretch of his professional MMA career. If he is to re-claim the title, his legacy as the greatest bantamweight of all time will be near-untouchable.

To get a shot at UFC gold, he will need a win over a top-ranked contender. He has been vocal about a potential clash with Jose Aldo previously, acknowledging the historic relevance of the bout.

A potential Jose Aldo vs. Dominick Cruz bout will have a lot riding on it. The victor will put himself in a fantastic position in terms of contention for the belt, and the loser might have to say goodbye to his title aspirations in the UFC once and for all.

This particular instance is rare in MMA. The fact that these two legends are in the same division is enough to warrant a fight between the duo. Add in championship implications, and we have an unmissable and hugely marketable bout on our hands.

Dominick Cruz & Jose Aldo [Image via @DiaztwinsMMA on Twitter]

---

#1. Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo – UFC bantamweight championship fight

Following his split decision win over Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling called for a fight against T.J. Dillashaw, who was in attendance at the arena on the night. Dillashaw appears confident that he will get the next shot at gold, and looking down the pecking order at 135 pounds currently, he likely has the best case.

However, one fighter could easily leapfrog the two-time champion. Incidentally, it's the last fighter Dillashaw lost to – Henry Cejudo.

As discussed in the introduction of this article, Cejudo vacated his bantamweight title after retiring in 2020. Two years later, 'Triple C' is back in the USADA testing pool and is raring to go.

The former two-division UFC champion was previously eyeing a fight against featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski, targeting triple champion status. He now appears to have taken aim at Aljamain Sterling since meeting with the UFC brass.

Everything points to a Henry Cejudo return, and if that's the case, his résumé warrants an immediate title shot. There's no way a fighter he's already knocked out in T.J. Dillashaw, who was also on performance enhancing drugs when they locked horns three years, should get a shot at the belt ahead of him.

Aljamain Sterling may have successfully defended his title against Yan, but he is yet to truly put a stamp on his championship reign. A win over someone as credentialed as Cejudo would see Sterling's stock reach new heights.

On the flipside, a win for Cejudo could pave the way for a highly anticipated and incredibly intriguing featherweight championship fight against Alexander Volkanovski.