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411 MMA Rankings: Middleweight Division

August 23, 2016 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon


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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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 one 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.

– Disagree with our rankings? Leave a comment or diatribe, all kinds are welcome, in the comments section towards the bottom of the page.

411’s Official MMA Rankings: Middleweight Division


1) Michael Bisping (28-7)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: February 28, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 – June 4, 2016

– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping – February 27, 2016

– vs. Thales Leites – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites – July 18, 2015

– vs. C.B. Dollaway – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 186 – April 25, 2015

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold – November 8, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Dan Henderson – UFC 204 – October 8, 2016




2) Luke Rockhold (14-3)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: October 17, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Michael Bisping – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 – June 4, 2016

– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on FOX: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015

– vs. Michael Bisping – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold – November 8, 2014

– vs. Tim Boetsch – Win via submission (inverted triangle-kimura) – UFC 172: Jones vs. Teixeira – April 26, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Disappointed is not even the proper word to describe how Luke feels after being knocked out by Michael Bisping Saturday night. After the fight, he was adamant that he would wipe the mat with Bisping if they ever meet for a third fight. He insisted he lost because he stuck to a bad game plan.




3) Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (23-4, 1 No Contest)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: December 7, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016

– vs. Yoel Romero – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Chris Camozzi – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC on FOX: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015

– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Souza vs. Mousasi – September 5, 2014

– vs. Francis Carmont – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi – February 15, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




4) Chris Weidman (13-1)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: June 17, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 187: Cormier vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015

– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 175: Weidman vs. Machida – July 5, 2014

– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via TKO (injury) – UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 – December 28, 2013

– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman – July 6, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



5) Gegard Mousasi (39-6-2)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: August 1, 1985

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Thiago Santos – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Thales Leites – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 27, 2016

– vs. Uriah Hall – Loss via TKO (many strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 26, 2015

– vs. Costa Philippou – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 16, 2015

– vs. Dan Henderson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on FOX: Gustafsson vs. Johnson – January 24, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Vitor Belfort – UFC 204 – October 8, 2016



6) Robert Whittaker (16-4)

Height: 6′

Birthday: December 20, 1990

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rafael Natal – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 197: Jones vs. St. Preux – April 23, 2016

– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm – November 14, 2015

– vs. Brad Tavares – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – May 10, 2015

– vs. Clint Hester – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 8, 2014

– vs. Mike Rhodes – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 28, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



7) Anderson Silva (33-8, 1 NC)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: April 14, 1975

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Michael Bisping – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping – February 27, 2016

– vs. Nick Diaz – No Contest (Originally a decision win, overturned because of a failed drug test) – UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – January 31, 2015

– vs. Chris Weidman – Loss via TKO (injury) – UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 – December 28, 2013

– vs. Chris Weidman – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman – July 6, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



8) Derek Brunson (15-3)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: January 4, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Roan Carneiro – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – February 21, 2016

– vs. Sam Alvey – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – August 8, 2015

– vs. Ed Herman – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – January 31, 2015

– vs. Lorenz Larkin – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 177 – August 30, 2014

– vs. Yoel Romero – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou – January 15, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Uriah Hall – UFC Fight Night – September 17, 2016



9) Vitor Belfort (25-12)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: January 4, 1977

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jacare Souza – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016

– vs. Dan Henderson – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night – November 7, 2015

– vs. Chris Weidman – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 187: Cormier vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015

– vs. Dan Henderson – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson – November 9, 2013

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold – May 18, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Gegard Mousasi – UFC 204 – October 8, 2016




10) Dave Branch (18-3)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: September 26, 1981

Currently Fighting With: World Series of Fighting

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Clifford Starks – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 30 – April 2, 2016

– vs. Teddy Holder – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – WSOF 23 – September 18, 2015

– vs. Jesse McElligott – Win via submission (Von Flue choke) – WSOF 20 – April 10, 2015

– vs. Yushin Okami – Win via TKO (strikes) – WSOF 15 – November 15, 2014

– vs. Jesse Taylor – Win via submission (D’arce choke) – WSOF 10 – June 21, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



11) Yoel Romero (11-1)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: April 30, 1977

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via decision (split) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via KO (elbows) – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero – June 27, 2015

– vs. Tim Kennedy – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 178: Cerrone vs. Alvarez – September 27, 2014

– vs. Brad Tavares – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne – April 19, 2014

– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou – January 15, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) Rafael Natal (21-7-1)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: December 25, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 197 – April 23, 2016

– vs. Kevin Casey – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016

– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via decision (split) – UFC 187 – May 23, 2015

– vs. Tom Watson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 183 – January 31, 2015

– vs. Chris Camozzi – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – September 5, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




13) Dan Henderson (32-14)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: August 24, 1970

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Hector Lombard – Win via KO (back elbow) – UFC 199 – June 4, 2016

– vs. Vitor Belfort – Loss via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night – November 7, 2015

– vs. Tim Boetsch – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – June 6, 2015

– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – January 24, 2015

– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 173 – May 24, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Michael Bisping – UFC 204 – October 8, 2016




14) Uriah Hall (12-6)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: July 31, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm – November 14, 2015

– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 27, 2015

– vs. Oluwale Bamgbose – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – August 8, 2015

– vs. Rafael Natal – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 187 – May 23, 2015

– vs. Ron Stallings – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC Fight Night – January 18, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Derek Brunson – UFC Fight Night – September 17, 2016



15) Thales Leites (26-6)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: September 6, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Chris Camozzi – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – August 6, 2016

– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 27, 2016

– vs. Michael Bisping – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites – July 18, 2015

– vs. Tim Boetsch – Win via submission (arm-triangle choke) – UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – January 31, 2015

– vs. Francis Carmont – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos – August 23, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Closing Comments: Mamed Khalidov received additional votes.

Lyoto Machida was ineligible for our rankings this month due to their respective PED test failures.

Yoel Romero completed his suspension for a failed drug test.