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1.
Mike Brown
A helpful tip to all of the WEC’s featherweights – do not, under any circumstances, get caught by Mike Brown’s right hand. Brownie’s cast-iron power punches have been the beginning of the end for Urijah Faber and Leonard Garcia in back-to-back title fights, both in the first half of the first round. Carrying a nine-fight win streak, a championship belt, and fearsome momentum, the American Top Team fight-finisher is looking at a rematch with the California Kid sometime this summer. You sure you don’t need another tune-up match, Urijah?
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2.
Urijah Faber
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3.
Wagnney Fabiano
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4.
Norifumi Yamamoto
Gone from the top-three due to 14 months of inactivity, “Kid” will hopefully return to action in DREAM’s featherweight grand prix; he’s been offered a bye to the second round. It would be an incredible opportunity to prove himself once again, as the tournament could pit the unbeatable K-1 Hero’s star against such notable fighters as Yoshiro Maeda, Hiroyuki Takaya, and #5-ranked Masakazu Imanari.
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5.
Masakazu Imanari
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6.
Jose Aldo
The dude’s a killer, plain and simple. Since arriving in the WEC, “Junior” has racked up four straight T/KO victories, and has an entertaining fan-friendly personality to match his explosive striking. Once Brown and Faber sort out their rematch, Aldo deserves be the next in line to battle for the 145-pound title.
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7.
Hatsu Hioki
With L.C. Davis bounced out in the first round of Sengoku's featherweight GP, Shooto/TKO vet Hatsu Hioki is the odds-on favorite to sweep the whole thing. His smooth-as-butter submissions as well as the reach advantage provided by his beanpole frame have led to notable wins over Rumina Sato, Jeff Curran, and Hideki Kadowaki. This could be the year that American MMA fans learn Hioki's name.
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8.
Takeshi Inoue
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9.
Marlon Sandro
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10.
Rafael Assuncao
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