標籤: Evaluating

The UFC Featherweight Rankings showcase some of the best fighters in the entire sport. While lightweight was once considered the deepest weight class in MMA, 145 pounds has taken hold and become one of the premier divisions in the UFC.

With that in mind, here is the official SportsNut Top 10 for the organization’s featherweight class.

10. Arnold Allen (21-4)

A few years ago, England’s Arnold Allen was being touted as a future title contender after winning 10 consecutive titles early in his UFC career. However, he then began facing the division’s top players and saw what appeared to be the end of the water at featherweight, as he lost two in a row.

Although he is still well outside the title pictures, he has won two of his last three. His latest effort was a workmanlike effort as he picked up a decision win against Melquizel Costa in a main event scrap in May.

9. Yousuf Jalal (18-6-1)

After going winless four-straight, Youssef Zalal was fired from the UFC four years ago and had to fight his way back into the company. He did so and entered UFC 320 on an impressive seven-fight winning streak. In his tough scrap on the main card of the PPV, he dominated and scored a first-round submission victory over top-10 veteran, Josh Emmett.

The big win brought him into the limelight for the first time when he defeated former bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling. Unfortunately, the future Hall of Famer was able to outwit him. Their winning streak ended at eight straight.

8. Steve Garcia (19-5)

After losing two of his first three starts inside the Octagon and coming on the verge of retirement, veteran Steve Garcia has caught fire over the past four years. In that time, he has won seven in a row, with all but one of those victories coming by decision.

Three of his last four wins were first-round knockouts. He has violently earned his spot in the top 10 of our latest UFC featherweight rankings.

7. Yair Rodriguez (20-5)

After a period in which he struggled with injuries and some tough defeats, there were doubts whether Yair Rodríguez would ever reach his potential. He put all the uncertainties to rest with massive wins over Brian Ortega and Josh Emmett. The latter made him the new interim champion. However, his reign was short-lived as Alexander Volkanovski took back the undisputed spot at UFC 290.

He then suffered another decisive defeat in his home country to Brian Ortega in February. He will need to enter UFC 314 in a must-win situation if he ever wants to fight for UFC gold again. In a big fight welcoming Patricio Pitbull to the UFC, “El Pantera” scored a dominant win to get his name back into the championship conversation.

6. Aljamain Sterling (26-5)

After a stellar performance at bantamweight that should earn him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame, Aljamain Sterling makes the jump to featherweight in 2024. While he split his first two at 145 pounds, his only loss came against the division’s top contender Movsar Evloev.

Since that loss, he has reeled off two consecutive wins, including an April main event victory over one of the division’s most popular fighters, Youssef Zalal.

5. Jean Silva (17-3)

If there was any doubt about how good Jean Silva was, he sent a huge message to the division by shutting down Bryce Mitchell’s grappling and stomping him on the feet at UFC 314. Unfortunately, despite seeing good points in his follow-up against Diego Lopes in September, he suffered a TKO loss, ending a 13-fight winning streak.

But he proved he remains a rising contender ranked 145 in January this year when he bounced back with a hard-fought victory at UFC 324 against another ranked fighter, Arnold Allen. The win gets them back on track and in the 2026 contender mix.

4. Leron Murphy (17-1-1)

England’s Leron Murphy has quietly become one of the best 145-pound fighters in the world. “The Miracle” had won nine in a row inside the Octagon, setting himself up for a title fight in his next bout with his victory at UFC 319.

However, instead, they were given the unsolved puzzle that is Movsar Evloev in March. Unfortunately, he was the victim of Russia’s latest decision loss. Murphy is still one of the best featherweights in the world, but a title shot in 2026 is no longer a possibility.

3. Diego Lopez (27-8)

Since making his UFC debut in a very tough short-notice clash with Movses Avloev, Diego Lopes has put in an impressive performance inside the Octagon. He is 6-3 in the UFC and has suffered setbacks in elite competition. However, in that time, he has picked up some big wins, including wins over Brian Ortega and Gene Silva.

In January, he got a second – perhaps unfair – chance at the title. And just like his opportunity in April 2025, he was outmatched and outmatched by division veteran Alexander Volkanovski. Still, the 31-year-old remains one of the must-watch fighters in the division.

2. Movser Avloev (20-0) – Top Contender

Since entering the UFC in 2019, former M1 star Movser Evloev has been a problem featherweight fighters can’t solve. Entering 2026, the Russian was 9-0 inside the Octagon and has wins over top talents like Diego Lopes, Aljamain Sterling and Arnold Allen.

Evalov extended his undefeated streak in March when he scored his biggest win against Leron Murphy in his enemy’s home country. Although he is not an exciting fighter, he has done more than enough to become Volkanovski’s No. 1 contender.

1. Alexander Volkanovski (28-4) – Champion

Alexander Volkanovski has solidified his place as the best featherweight of all time. However, a move up in weight for a second title shot and the rise of Ilya Topuria led to “The Great” suffering three consecutive losses and speculation that his best days were behind him.

However, he has bounced back from those setbacks to establish his dominance at 145 pounds with back-to-back wins over Diego Lopes. Most recently appearing in front of his countrymen at UFC 325. Although he did not get the finish, he once again proved that he is a cut above the Brazilian native.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is over, and we’ve seen some skill players come off the board. Jeremiah Love is the headliner, but there are several top wide receiver prospects who are finding themselves in attractive landing spots and, of course, there are quarterbacks and tight ends who have come off the board.

Let’s dive into our fantasy football analysis of where each skill player taken in Round 1 ended up. Note, we’re doing this in the order they were chosen.

RELATED: Winners, losers from Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

How do you feel about Jared Goff? That’s pretty much all you’re going to get from Fernando Mendoza in his peak years. The good news is that he already has an All-Pro offensive weapon in Brock Bowers, and we’re confident that Clint Kubiak can get the most out of Mendoza. For 2026, we don’t see any realistic outcome where Mendoza is a top-16 fantasy quarterback. Looking ahead to the next decade, his status could be one of their top-12 fantasy options.

Jeremiah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Was this the ideal landing spot for Jeremiah Love from a fantasy football perspective? No, not even close. The Arizona Cardinals’ offensive line leaves a lot to be desired and, as helpful as Jacoby Brissett was in increasing their number of pass-catchers, Love will face a stacked box because of who Arizona has under center. As the saying goes, it’s the talent that counts. Ashton Jeanty averaged the 11th-most fantasy points among running backs on ESPN as a rookie, and Love’s pass-catching ability is better. We see Love as a top 10 fantasy pick this season and, if the situation ever improves in Arizona, he could be a top three RB in the offseason alongside Bijan Robinson and Jahmir Gibbs.

RELATED: 2026 Dynasty Positional Rankings

Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans made it abundantly clear tonight that they are fully in on Cam Ward and are willing to invest premium draft capital to back him up. Carnell Tate, the most polished wide receiver prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, steps in as the clear No. 1 receiver in Brian Daboll’s offense. When people compare him to Calvin Ridley, remember this is the version of the player who put up 3,061 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns in his first three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. We’d feel confident drafting Tate as a mid-tier WR2 in fantasy football this year, and he could be a high-tier No. 2 long-term.

Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Medical care is the primary concern for Jordan Tyson. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall with very good speed and excellent ball skills, he is capable of making big plays both downfield and in the red zone. He’s already a very good route runner who knows how to isolate downfield, a perfect pairing with Tyler Shaw. Some will point to the downside that he’ll share looks with Chris Olave, but Kellen Moore is a very good play-caller, and there are a growing number of examples of a passing game that can support two high-end receivers from a fantasy perspective. We think Tyson can become a low-end WR2 this season, but there will be some instability, and you must remember he has a long track record of lower body injuries.

Ty Simpson, QB, Los Angeles Rams

Well, that’s what happened. Ty Simpson clearly has no fantasy football value in 2026. So, it’s really an attempt to look at him through the lens of the dynasty perspective. There really isn’t a better landing spot for a young quarterback, as this Los Angeles Rams offense will have Sean McVay and Puka Nakua for years to come. It appears we are optimistic about Simpson long-term. Except that, Simpson is only a pedestrian athlete at the quarterback position, with arm strength and playmaking ability that can only be described as adequate. There is no top five fantasy QB upside here, not by a long shot. We don’t view him as a quarterback prospect worth passing on.

Kenyon Saadiq, TE, New York Jets

The fantasy football landscape at tight end isn’t as thin as it used to be. That said, Kenyon Saadiq has the potential to be a top-five player at the position. He is “only” 6 feet 3 inches tall, but his athleticism is off the charts. He is just as capable of leapfrogging a defender (43.5″ vertical leap) or making an acrobatic catch in the end zone as he is taking a short pass and turning on the jets with his speed (4.39 40-yard dash time). Plus, landing with the New York Jets means he’s in the offense with the No. 1 wide receiver, who immediately draws the defense’s attention, and New York’s other first-round pick (Omar Cooper Jr.) creates even more open space. NFL comparisons to Vernon Davis and Trey McBride; Sadiq is that special someone as an athlete and he could be one of the best fantasy players in the coming years.

Makai Lemmon, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

So it is clear that AJ Brown is being traded to the New England Patriots in the first week of June. Makai Lemon, who almost landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, immediately moved into the No. 2 role in the Philadelphia Eagles offense. This assumes he’s playing DeVonta Smith’s role (113 targets in 17 games last season). There are Amon-Ra Saint Brown-lite qualities here with Lemon, and his skill set is perfect for making an impact in his rookie season. However, his upside is limited as he will be in a run-heavy offense and catching passes from a quarterback whose accuracy issues have already frustrated his two star wide receivers. Lemon may be a high-end WR2 in fantasy at some point in his career, but he’ll become a WR3 in 2026.

Casey Concepcion, WR, Cleveland Browns

While the quarterback situation is still a bit fluid with the Cleveland Browns, we like this landing spot for Casey Concepcion. He has an opportunity to immediately become the best receiver on the Browns offense, and play-caller Todd Monken has a proven track record of finding ways to get the football in the hands of his playmakers. As a rookie, we could also see Cleveland take advantage of his explosiveness as a returner. Our guess is that Concepcion will become a risk-reward WR3 this upcoming season and, in the long term, if he cleans up the downs and gets a great quarterback, he could be a high-end WR2.

Omar Cooper Jr., WR, New York Jets

Reporting in the weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft made it clear that the New York Jets were relying heavily on Omar Cooper Jr. Sure enough, they moved late in Round 1 to stop him. The NFL comparisons to Deebo Samuel are legitimate; Cooper offers attractive YAC ability at 6 feet tall, and defensive backs have a tough task bringing him down. He’s also running in a situation where Garrett Wilson and Kenyon Saadiq will already draw defenders away, creating more open space for Cooper to operate. He profiles as a low-end WR3 in fantasy for the 2026 season, but there is a very real long-term benefit to him being a strong WR2.

Jadarion Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Jadarion Price has certainly landed in a relatively favorable spot from a fantasy football perspective. Zach Charbonnet faces a long recovery from ACL surgery in January, and Emmanuel Wilson isn’t much of a depth prospect. Price entered the NFL with minimal tread on tires, handling only 295 career touches in three seasons at Notre Dame. He averaged more than 6 yards per carry in each of his previous seasons and scored a total of 20 scrimmage touchdowns on 243 attempts. The approach he brings bodes well for immediate success, and a clear path to a leading role in the Seahawks’ offense. However, his current limitations at third in PPR scoring impact his value. For now, he projects as a low-end RB2 in 2026 with more solid flex play.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Tottenham HotspurLuka Vuckovic has been struggling with injury at Hamburg SV this month.

Last summer, the Premier League team let him join Hamburg on loan and the centre-back impressed for them.

Since returning from the last international break, the defender started in a 1–1 draw against FC Augsburg on 4 April.

The Croatian international has since been on the sidelines with a knee injury and has missed two matches, during which the German club has conceded seven goals.

In their last 11 matches they have conceded only 11 goals. This gives an idea of ​​his importance in Hamburg.

On Monday, Sports Witness Covered claims from Germany That his knee is damaged, and his setback is much worse than initially expected.

The Tottenham man will return on May 10

sports news Take a look at these claims and immediately dismiss any concerns of a serious injury to Luka Vuckovic.

The Spurs man has suffered no new setbacks during the recovery process which is going according to plan. He suffered an injury during training and tests revealed a ‘minor ligament sprain’.

Hamburg have held talks with Tottenham Hotspur and during these discussions, both clubs agreed that he would miss three to four matches.

Sportske Novosti is not sure when he will make a full recovery. He is expected to miss the next two matches and will return on May 10 against SC Freiburg.

Spurs medical staff decision maker

Hamburger AbendblattA local newspaper of the German club has also pointed to the role of Tottenham Hotspur in arranging the return of Luka Vuckovic.

Hamburg are looking forward to the Croatian’s return against Hoffenheim this weekend. The decision will not depend only on him because Roberto De Zerbi’s side has a big authority.

As part of the loan deal, Spurs inserted a clause to decide when the 18-year-old would return in the event of injury.

The Tottenham medical staff, along with their German counterparts, are examining the latest MRI scan results. Vuckovic can return to the pitch only after getting the green signal from the Premier League.

We believe: The Tottenham clause makes sense

After this season, Luka Vuckovic will return to the north London club, where he is under contract until 2030.

Spurs want to ensure the player is not rushed back. If the English club refuses to sanction, it would be understandable as it would allow them to protect their assets to avoid aggravating the injury.

The New York Giants made a blockbuster trade on Saturday night, sending three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 10th pick.^th Overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Lawrence had been growing frustrated with his contract situation for the past few seasons, as he was the 12th highest-paid defensive tackle in the league. It was also reported that he was disappointed that, over the past two seasons, he had seen former teammates Saquon Barkley, Leonard Williams and Julian Love win Super Bowls with other teams, while the Giants went 7–27.

That’s why the 28-year-old defensive lineman requested a trade earlier this month. On Tuesday, general manager Joe Schoen said during his press conference that he had had a positive conversation with Lawrence’s representatives and was hopeful things would work out. But a few hours later, news came that the two sides were at an impasse and Lawrence wanted out of New York.

Lawrence was having the worst season statistically of his seven-year career as he had career lows in tackles (31) and sacks (0.5). The expectation was that New York could get a late first-round or second-round pick for him. But when the Bengals offered the 10th overall pick in the draft, New York balked at the deal.

RELATED: New York Giants GM Joe Schoen excited about top NFL draft prospect

Who will the Giants draft with pick 10?^th Overall selection?

Losing Lawrence will hurt the defense, but the team is now in a good position with the fifth and tenth overall selections in this week’s draft. The buzz around the league is that there are only 15-20 players in this draft class who have true first-round grades. So with two top-10 picks, Big Blue should undoubtedly have one of the winners of the draft.

It is well known that there are three players who rank very high on the Giants’ board, and they are Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and his teammate safety Caleb Downs.

There’s a good chance all three could be on the board when New York is on the clock with the fifth pick, and there’s a possibility Downs could still be on the board at 10. This would give the team the possibility of taking either Love or Styles with their first pick, and then the possibility of taking Downs five picks later.

If Downs is no longer on the board, the team could look to a corner like Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy to replace Cor’Dale Flote who signed with the Tennessee Titans. Or they could look at Arizona State wide receiver Jordan Tyson.

The team added free agent receivers Darnell Mooney and Kelvin Austin III this offseason, but they were signed to one-year deals, while the 6’2 203-pound Tyson could be a mainstay for years to come. Durability has been an issue for the Arizona State receiver as he has missed time dealing with hamstring, knee and collarbone injuries. But when healthy, he is an explosive playmaker and that would be a huge compliment to Malik Nabors.

We’ll find out in a few days which player the team will get in exchange for trading Lawrence, but you have to rest assured the team will be holding on to its first two draft picks on Thursday night.

RELATED: 5 NY Giants options with the 37th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Chris Johnson

At the beginning of the offseason, New York Jets general manager Darren Maugy identified quarterback as the team’s biggest weakness. Rumors were already suggesting Justin Fields was out long before the Jets traded him to the Chiefs.

At the start of free agency, the Jets got their new starting quarterback by trading for Geno Smith from the Raiders. But Smith is 35 years old, and he is only under contract through the 2026 season. By 2027, the Jets will again need another new starting quarterback.

Still, the Jets not only brought in Smith to potentially be a bridge starter, but they are also identifying potential long-term solutions at QB.

According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the Jets’ GM recently met with Miami (FL) QB prospect Carson Beck. The next day, Mauggi watched closely as Beck went through his Miami Pro Day. Still, it’s not just Beck’s infatuation; The Jets are also investigating other QB prospects.

SNY’s Jets insider Connor Hughes reports that the Jets also held a private workout with Penn State QB Drew Allar. Several Jets officials observed Allard make several throws to his receivers with the Nittany Lions.

Neither quarterback is viewed as a first-round prospect. However, they are both in the next tier of QBs who could be selected outside of the first round. With a total of nine draft selections, the Jets have plenty of ammo to go around and get their guy. Don’t expect this to happen with the second overall pick in the first round.

New York also has the 16th, 33rd and 44th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. After that, he has no selection till 103. Thus, either the Jets will have their potential QB of the future after making their pick at 44, or they can target a trade that becomes safer a little later.

Chances are, the QB they want still won’t be available at 103. With an aging veteran who is tossing an NFL-high 17 interceptions, the Jets should be viewed as one of the most desperate teams to solve the QB position this offseason.

RELATED: 2026 NFL mock draft after the first wave of free agency

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The Montreal Canadiens have become one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, and much of the credit for this should be given to the team’s top line.

There have been lineup changes, but in this case, we’re discussing the play of Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkowski and Cole Caufield, the most productive forwards in the Canadiens’ lineup.

5v5 production

All three members of the first line are on track to record career high points, which is a testament to their development, not to mention the impressive level of chemistry they have built over the past two seasons.

However, they aren’t really producing much at 5v5. Believe it or not, all three players have suffered a significant decline in points per 60 points this season.

Suzuki suffered the biggest losses with Slafkowski and Caufield. It should be noted that he still maintained a good production rate at 5v5, as anything closer to 2.0 points per 60 is generally considered reasonably good.

powerplay production

The most notable increase in scoring has come on the powerplay, where all three players have enjoyed a significant increase in production. However, Slafkowski leads by a significant margin, while Suzuki and Caufield lag behind.

Their individual improvements are reflected in the overall improvements of the team.

In 2024–25, the Canadiens were 21st in the NHL with 7.27 goals per 60 on the power play.

In 2025-26, the Canadiens rank fourth in the NHL with 9.31 ppg/60. This represents an increase of 28.1%.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

There’s more to scoring on the power play than just having three talented forwards in the mix. Or in Montreal’s case, often involving four forwards.

Having Ivan Demidov on the first power play unit has certainly increased the scoring, however, I would argue that the biggest difference this season has been having two talented power play quarterbacks available: Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson.

For example, Hutson has scored 5.7 points per 60 on the power play, good for fifth among all Canadiens players. As for Dobson, he is producing 4.4 points per 60, another encouraging result when we consider that he is often used on the second powerplay unit.

In that sense, we can certainly give Slafkowski, Suzuki, and Caufield credit for the improvement on the power play, but we also have to share some praise with the defensemen, not to mention the Montreal Canadiens management, which has finally solved one of the team’s most significant issues, the lack of production on the power play.

The Canadiens scored just 2.4 goals per game on the power play last season, good for 17th in the NHL. However, this season that number has increased to 2.8 goals per game, which ranks fourth in the league.

In other words, as usual in hockey, it’s a combination of factors that have led to Montreal’s improved power play ability.

All Montreal Canadiens statistics are via Natural Stat Trick.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

It is no secret that the Montreal Canadiens have received less-than-stellar netminding this season, a situation that has led some to suggest the team should acquire a goaltender before the NHL trade deadline.

This is a logical approach, as the Habs could improve the team by trading for a goaltender who can perform better than Samuel Montembeault.

Frank Serravalli: Among teams potentially interested in adding a netminder, I would include Ottawa, Montreal, Vegas Golden Knights – NHL Now (3/4).

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 5 March 2026

However, the two names being mentioned as potential upgrades for the Canadiens, Jordan Binnington (32) and Sergei Bobrovsky (37), are far from their statistical prime.

In fact, the 29-year-old Montembeault is much younger than the troubled netminders. This doesn’t mean the Canadiens can’t acquire a goaltender over the age of 29, but if they do, they’ll have to make sure the player in question can potentially deliver better results than Montembeault.

According to Pierre LeBrun:

– If the Habs do trade for a goalie, it won’t be for a rental. He says Jordan Binnington, who is signed for next season, would make sense.

– The Habs are also monitoring the status of Nazem Kadri and perhaps Vincent Trocheck as well. https://t.co/NZDEPaqqIq

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 4 March 2026

Montreal Canadiens goaltending trade targets

Before we look at the numbers, it should be noted that Binnington and Bobrowski have won Stanley Cups in the past, and there is something to be said for providing valuable experience to the youngest team in the league.

However, the goaltender in question is no longer in Stanley Cup shape, as evidenced by his numbers, which are downright terrible.

To get a better idea, we’ll take a look at four different metrics at 5v5: save percentage (SV%), goals saved above average per 60 (GSAA/60), high-danger save percentage (HDSV%), and high-danger goals saved above average per 60 (HDGSAA/60).

We filtered results for players with at least 1000 minutes played at 5v5 this season, giving us a total of 49 goaltenders.

As you can see in the table above, Montbault is near the bottom of the league in all four metrics.

And yet, he’s still managed to produce better numbers than both Binnington and Bobrowski. They are ranked last or close to last in most categories, a good reminder that the grass is not always greener.

You could argue that this isn’t a fair comparison, as the Montreal Canadiens are a better team than the Florida Panthers and St. Louis Blues, but that would be to ignore the fact that the Canadiens are below both teams in high-danger shot share (46.3%).

In other words, the Canadiens squandered high-danger chances, making life much harder on their netminders. There are a dozen or more awkward rushes every night, not to mention a few instances of confused defensive coverages.

Simply put, the idea of ​​acquiring Jordan Binnington or Sergei Bobrovsky makes little to no sense for the Montreal Canadiens, as they would be unlikely to surpass Montembeault, not to mention Jacob Dobbs.

And then there’s the matter of freeing up cap space for netminders with worse numbers than the second-best Habs goalie.

All things considered, making this type of deal would be a mistake in the face of the smart, thorough work Kent Hughes and Co. have done since taking the reins in Montreal.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont