mma / Columns
411 MMA Rankings 04.12.16: Heavyweight Division
One new face to the UFC championship ranks fell this weekend thanks to Junior dos Santos, who had his most decisive victory since he knocked out Mark Hunt in 2013. In losing, Ben Rothwell falls behind current top contenders Stipe Miocic and Cain Velasquez and then the likes of JDS and Alistair Overeem in the pecking order. We saw the same thing happen to Andrei Arlovski in January, who lost to Miocic and now the busy title picture looks a bit more focused.
By this time next month, we should have already witnessed the next big fights in this division: Fabricio Werdum’s title defense against Miocic and Overeem fighting Arlovski. Regardless of who wins the title fight, it seems like Cain Velasquez gets the next one later this year as long as he can beat Travis Browne at UFC 200 and remain healthy. I’m not sure which of those points is more unlikely, but Cain back in action doesn’t seem like great news for the rest of these fighters.
Unfortunately, outside the UFC, there are no concrete updates on Fedor Emelianenko (I hope to see him in action before the end of the summer) or Vitaly Minakov (he actually remains the reigning Bellator heavyweight champion). It would be nice for the heavyweight division to regain a buzz its not had in more than a decade, but perhaps it’s just the natural ebb and flow of these things.
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411’s MMA Ranking Rules
– Which fighters are eligible for these rankings? They must meet the following qualifications: fight at least once in the past 365 days or if they have not, be officially scheduled for an upcoming fight.
– A fighter serving a disciplinary suspension will not be ranked. They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded. This includes fighters who may disregard their suspension locally to fight overseas.
– If a fighter appears on just a single ballot, and in the top ten, five points will be deducted to balance between other fighters who may be ranked lower, but appear on a greater amount of ballots.
– Want to complain about a fighter’s ranking in the comments section? Please include an objective reason why you despise the list, and try your best to bring the rest of us to your way of thinking.
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Heavyweight Division
1) Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1)
Birthday: July 30, 1977
Height: 6’4
Weight: 242
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 wins:
– vs. Cain Velasquez – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 180: Hunt vs. Werdum – November 15, 2014
– vs. Travis Browne – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne – April 19, 2014
– vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC on Fuel: Werdum vs. Nogueira – June 8, 2013
– vs. Mike Russow – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin 2 – June 23, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Stipe Miocic – UFC 198 – May 14, 2016
2) Cain Velasquez (13-2)
Birthday: July 28, 1982
Height: 6’2
Weight: 242
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 166: Velasquez vs. JDS 3 – October 19, 2013
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva 2 – May 25, 2013
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 155: dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2 – December 29, 2012
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir – May 26, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Travis Browne – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
Comment: Velasquez’s return at UFC 200 will mark the third time in his career that the former UFC heavyweight champion has gone more than a year between fights (all due to injuries). A win over Browne in July should be enough to throw him right back into the title mix against either Werdum or Stipe Miocic in the fall.
3) Stipe Miocic (14-2)
Birthday: August 19, 1982
Height: 6’4
Weight: 245
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Miocic – May 10, 2015
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on FOX: dos Santos vs. Miocic – December 13, 2014
– vs. Fabio Maldonado – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC TUF Brazil 3 Finale – May 31, 2014
– vs. Gabriel Gonzaga – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Thomson – January 25, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – UFC 198 – May 14, 2016
4) Alistair Overeem (40-14, 1 No Contest)
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Height: 6’5
Weight: 240
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – December 19, 2015
– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 185: Pettis vs. dos Anjos – March 14, 2015
– vs. Stefan Struve – Win via KO (punches) – UFC on FOX: dos Santos vs. Miocic – December 13, 2014
– vs. Ben Rothwell – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Mousasi – September 5, 2014
– vs. Frank Mir – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 169: Barao vs. Faber – February 1, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – UFC Fight Night – May 8, 2016
5) Junior dos Santos (18-4)
Birthday: January 30, 1984
Height: 6’4
Weight: 243
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ben Rothwell – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 10, 2016
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – December 19, 2015
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on FOX: dos Santos vs. Miocic – December 13, 2014
– vs. Cain Velasquez – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 166: Velasquez vs. JDS 3 – October 19, 2013
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via KO (spinning heel kick and punches) – UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva 2 – May 25, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
6) Ben Rothwell (36-10)
Birthday: October 17, 1981
Height: 6’4
Weight: 262
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 10, 2016
– vs. Josh Barnett – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016
– vs. Matt Mitrione – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson – June 6, 2015
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 5, 2014
– vs. Brandon Vera – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis 2 – August 31, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Unfortunately, Rothwell’s impressive four fight win streak came to an end Sunday against Junior dos Santos. He was clearly outmatched over the course of the five rounds, but hopefully this will not mark the end of Ben as a potential title contender.
7) Andrei “Pitbull” Arlovski (25-11, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 4, 1979
Height: 6’4
Weight: 245
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016
– vs. Frank Mir – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 – September 5, 2015
– vs. Travis Browne – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 187: Jones vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Arlovski – September 13, 2014
– vs. Brendan Schaub – Win via decision (split) – UFC 174 – June 14, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Alistair Overeem – UFC Fight Night – May 8, 2016
8) Mark Hunt (12-10-1)
Birthday: March 23, 1974
Height: 5’10
Weight: 264
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Frank Mir – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 20, 2016
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm – November 14, 2015
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Miocic – May 10, 2015
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 180: Hunt vs. Werdum – November 15, 2014
– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via KO (uppercut) – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson – September 21, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) Travis Browne (18-3-1)
Birthday: July 17, 1982
Height: 6’7
Weight: 255
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Matt Mitrione – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 187: Jones vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015
– vs. Brendan Schaub – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 181: Pettis vs. Melendez – December 6, 2014
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne – April 19, 2014
– vs. Josh Barnett – Win via KO (elbows) – UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 – December 28, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Cain Velasquez – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
10) Josh Barnett (34-8)
Birthday: November 10, 1977
Height: 6’4
Weight: 240
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ben Rothwell – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016
– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 26, 2015
– vs. Travis Browne – Loss via KO (elbows) – UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 – December 28, 2013
– vs. Frank Mir – Win via TKO (knee) – UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis 2 – August 31, 2013
– vs. Nandor Guelmino – Win via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine – January 12, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
11) Fedor Emelianenko (35-4, 1 No Contest)
Birthday: September 28, 1976
Height: 6’0
Weight: 225
Currently fighting with: Rizin Fighting Federation
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jaideep Singh – Win via TKO (strikes) – Rizin MMA – December 31, 2015
– vs. Pedro Rizzo – Win via KO (punches) – M-1 Global – June 21, 2012
– vs. Satoshi Ishii – Win via KO (punches) – Dream: Fight for Japan – December 31, 2011
– vs. Jeff Monson – Win via decision (unanimous) – M-1 Global – November 20, 2011
– vs. Dan Henderson – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Strikeforce – February 12, 2011
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) Ruslan Magomedov (14-1)
Birthday: November 26, 1986
Height: 6’3
Weight: 246
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Shawn Jordan – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson – October 3, 2015
– vs. Josh Copeland – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson – November 22, 2014
– vs. Viktor Pesta – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Munoz – May 31, 2014
– vs. Tim Sylvia – Win via decision (unanimous) – Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 13 – October 27, 2013
– vs. Mike Hayes – Win via decision (unanimous) – Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 10 – February 23, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
13) Vitaly Minakov (17-0)
Birthday: February 6, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 249
Currently fighting with: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Josh Copeland – Win via submission (Kimura) – EFN: Fight Nights Moscow – December 11, 2015
– vs. Geronimo dos Santos – Win via submission (armbar) – EFN: FIght Nights Dagestan – September 25, 2015
– vs. Adam Maciejewski – Win via TKO (strikes) – Fight Nights: Sochi – July 31, 2015
– vs. Cheick Kongo – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 115 – April 14, 2014
– vs. Alexander Volkov – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 108 – November 15, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
14) Roy Nelson (21-12)
Birthday: June 20, 1976
Height: 6’0
Weight: 264
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jared Rosholt – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 6, 2016
– vs. Josh Barnett – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 27, 2015
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 185 – March 14, 2015
– vs. Mark Hunt – Loss via KO (uppercut) – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson – September 21, 2014
– vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson – April 11, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Derrick Lewis (15-4, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 7, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 260
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Gabriel Gonzaga – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos – April 10, 2016
– vs. Damian Grabowski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson – February 6, 2016
– vs. Viktor Pesta – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson – October 3, 2015
– vs. Shawn Jordan – Loss via TKO (kick and punches) – UFC Fight Night – June 6, 2015
– vs. Ruan Potts – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 184: Rousey vs. Zingano – February 28, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Lewis absolutely destroyed Gonzaga with a barrage of punches and if the fighters have their way, it looks like Lewis could return as soon as UFC 200 against Roy Nelson.
Closing Comments: No other fighter received additional votes.
