While Jose Aldo reigns as king, many suitable contenders are looking to dethrone the UFC featherweight champion.
Hatsu Hioki has long been recognized as one of the best at 145 pounds, though the Japanese star’s initial foray inside the Octagon was not indicative of his skills.
Now, Hioki has turned in a noteworthy performance, a decision victory over the always tough Bart Palaszewski at UFC 144.
The impressive win has now put Hioki on the short list of would-be contenders for Aldo’s belt. Here, we will take a look at the best of the rest and depict all of the top-10 opposition that exists in the MMA world today.
*These rankings are the combined efforts of some of Bleacher Report MMA’s best writers, as we continue to try and provide you with the best content on the web.*
Hatsu Hioki/ Ken Pishna for MMAWeekly.com