If you’re not acquainted with the little guys of MMA, now’s the time to get started.
This Saturday at UFC 132, Urijah Faber will take on Dominick Cruz for Cruz’s spanking-new UFC bantamweight title. A major fight between UFC featherweight champ and pound-for-pound all-worlder Jose Aldo and former UFC lightweight contender Kenny Florian seems all but assured for the fall.
With the UFC absorbing the WEC (which was well-known for its lighter-weight talents) and now adding a 125-pound flyweight division, the serious MMA fan already has a lot more faces to know, with a lot more on the way.
But the UFC isn’t alone here. This summer, Bellator FC is in the midst of its latest featherweight tournament, and just announced a bantamweight tournament to begin in September. If you’re a fan of the overseas action, you surely know the kind of tiny dynamos who have long fleshed out those promotions.
To get you primed and ready for UFC 132, Bellator and beyond, here’s a list of the 25 best featherweight, bantamweight and flyweight fighters doing it today.