1. Mike Thomas Brown (20-4)
While he had quietly put together a rock-solid resume over the last four years, Brown was viewed as just another opponent for Urijah Faber at WEC 36. Instead, Brown used his Nov. 5 title shot to make a statement. He turned “The California Kid” into a ragdoll, captured the WEC featherweight crown and cemented his status as the alpha dog at 145 pounds with a first-round stoppage.

2. Urijah Faber (21-2)
Many fans had begun to question who could legitimately challenge Faber’s WEC title reign, and they received a stark answer on Nov. 5, as Brown trampled Faber in the first round at WEC 36. Now the featherweight division’s poster boy will have to fight his way back into title contention.

3. Leonard Garcia (12-3)
If his 91-second dispatch of Hiroyuki Takaya in February did not convince you, perhaps his 72-second mugging of Jens Pulver did. With two sensational victories since heading back to the WEC, Garcia would seem to be the first to challenge new champ Brown, possibly in March.

4. Dokonjonosuke Mishima (18-6-2)
Inactive since May when he dropped to the featherweight division and snatched Deep’s divisional title from Masakazu Imanari, Mishima will get in one more bout in 2008. He takes on Toshiaki Kitada in a non-title affair at Deep “Protect Impact” on Dec. 22.

5. Jeff Curran (30-10-1)
Having decided to cut to bantamweight, Curran was expected to make his 135-pound debut at WEC 37 on Dec. 3. However, an injured hand will postpone his divisional debut, as the “Big Frog” will likely make his first bantamweight appearance in 2009.

6. Masakazu Imanari (15-6-1)
Imanari dropped to bantamweight in August and needed only 29 seconds to heel hook Hiroshi Umemura to win Deep’s bantamweight title. However, his future has been uncertain, as there has been talk of his heading to Dream to compete as a featherweight. If nothing else, Deep has designed a bantamweight tournament, beginning in December, which will provide Imanari with a title challenger in 2009.

7. Hatsu Hioki (16-3-2)
Still rehabilitating after a woeful 2007, Hioki will look to close 2008 with a bang. The TKO featherweight champion will take on Shooto legend Rumina Sato on Nov. 29 and look to step into contention for a second title.

8. Hiroyuki Takaya (9-5-1)
Takaya’s slated August bout with Cub Swanson fell apart due to injury. However, with Swanson now at full health, the two will finally square off at WEC 37 on Dec. 3.

9. Takeshi Inoue (14-3)
Inoue was shocked by Savant Young in May, but the former Shooto world champion has not fallen out of favor with promoters and has been afforded the chance to regain his crown. “Lion Takeshi” will take on reigning Shooto 143-pound champion Hideki Kadowaki on Nov. 29, as he looks to become the first fighter to regain a Shooto world title.

10. Wagnney Fabiano (10-1)
It was a prayer answered by MMA’s premiere promotion for featherweights when the International Fight League’s only 145-pound champion announced he had signed with the WEC. The talented Brazilian will get his chance to prove he’s a top-flight featherweight when he makes his promotional debut against Akitoshi Tamura at WEC 37 on Dec. 3.