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411 MMA Rankings 08.02.16: Welterweight Division

August 2, 2016 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon
Tyron Woodley

Tyron Woodley did it, he knocked out Robbie Lawler to become the new UFC welterweight champion in his fourth first-round knockout victory in the UFC. The Missouri native emerged in MMA as one of the top prospects in Strikeforce going 10-0 until he was knocked out by Nate Marquardt in his first bid for gold, the Strikeforce championship. It turned out to be his final fight in the promotion and in his first 16 months in the UFC, he went 3-2. Three wins later and he’s the best welterweight in the sport.

But, if recent history has told us anything, it’s that champions are not invisible (Amanda Nunes, Conor McGregor, Eddie Alvarez, Michael Bisping and Stipe Miocic join Woodley as new UFC champions within the past year). Stephen Thompson is right on Woodley’s heels and offers up as much knockout power as anyone else in the division. Other names bandied about as potential challengers include fighters who have not seen any action in at least a year: Nick Diaz (last fought in January 2015) and Georges St. Pierre (last fought in November 2013!).

Tyron Woodley says he wants big fights, hence why he’s not so publicly keen on taking on Thompson right away.

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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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

– 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

Welterweight Division


1) Tyron Woodley (16-4)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: April 17, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Robbie Lawler – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 201: Lawler vs. Woodley – July 30, 2016

– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via decision (split) – UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – January 31, 2015

– vs. Dong Hyun Kim – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Le – August 23, 2014

– vs. Rory MacDonald – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 174: Johnson vs. Bagautinov – June 14, 2014

– vs. Carlos Condit – Win via TKO (injury) – UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler – March 15, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: It was 18 months since we had seen Tyron Woodley fight in the octagon. The long layoff did not negatively impact him at all, apparently, because Woodley knocked out Lawler in 132 seconds. He’s now the man at 170-pounds and a fight with Wonderboy Thompson appears to be the next title fight. Perhaps Georges St. Pierre will be coaxed back into action, though if it has not happened already, why now all of a sudden?



2) Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (14-1)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: February 11, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rory MacDonald – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 18, 2016

– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson – February 6, 2016

– vs. Jake Ellenberger – Win via KO (spinning hook kick) – UFC TUF 21 Finale – July 12, 2015

– vs. Patrick Cote – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 178: Cerrone vs. Alvarez – September 27, 2014

– vs. Robert Whittaker – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 170 – February 22, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Interestingly, Thompson finished at least once in each of the #1, #2 and #3 spots, so despite Woodley’s big win, there appears to be anything but a decisive order in this new welterweight scenario. For Wonderboy, he’s hoping Georges St. Pierre stays retired until next year because that appears to be the only way he doesn’t get the first crack at Tyron Woodley. Any other fight makes no sense (Woodley/Nick Diaz would not be worth skipping Thompson, in my mind).



3) “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (27-11, 1 NC)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: March 20, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 201: Lawler vs. Woodley – July 30, 2016

– vs. Carlos Condit – Win via decision (split) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016

– vs. Rory MacDonald – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor – July 11, 2015

– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via decision (split) – UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 – December 6, 2014

– vs. Matt Brown – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. Brown – July 26, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Over two years without a loss, Robbie Lawler’s UFC championship reign came to an end Saturday night in Atlanta when he was knocked out by Tyron Woodley. It was Lawler’s first knockout loss since 2004 when Nick Diaz beat him at UFC 47. Lawler, 34, will have his reign best remembered for some of the best fights in recent years (his wins over Carlos Condit, Rory MacDonald and Matt Brown in particular were incredible).

Lawler gets no love as he falls directly to number three, past Wonderboy despite going 5-1 in his last six fights against more impressive competition than the string of fighters Thompson has fought going 7-0 since 2013. But, what have you done for me lately as the cliche goes. I also wonder whether Lawler’s drop has to do with a belief that he cannot return to championship form.



4) Demian Maia (23-6)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: November 6, 1977

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Matt Brown – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 198 – May 14, 2016

– vs. Gunnar Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Neil Magny – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 190: Rousey vs. Correia – August 1, 2015

– vs. Ryan LaFlare – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – March 21, 2015

– vs. Alexander Yakovlev – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC TUF Brazil Finale – May 31, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Carlos Condit – UFC on Fox – August 27, 2016



5) Carlos Condit (30-9)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: April 26, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Robbie Lawler – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016

– vs. Thiago Alves – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves – May 30, 2015

– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via TKO (injury) – UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler – March 15, 2014

– vs. Martin Kampmann – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 – August 28, 2013

– vs. Johny Hendricks – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 158: St. Pierre vs. Diaz – March 16, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Demian Maia – UFC on Fox – August 27, 2016



6) Rory MacDonald (18-4)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: July 22, 1989

Currently Fighting With: Free Agent

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Stephen Thompson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 18, 2016

– vs. Robbie Lawler – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor – July 11, 2015

– vs. Tarec Saffiedine – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine – October 4, 2014

– vs. Tyron Woodley – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 174: Johnson vs. Bagautinov – June 14, 2014

– vs. Demian Maia – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann – February 22, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: MacDonald is a free agent and listening to offers from other promotions, aside from the UFC.



7) Neil Magny (18-4)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: August 3, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Hector Lombard – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 20, 2016

– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via decision (split) – UFC TUF Latin America 2 Finale – November 21, 2015

– vs. Erick Silva – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira – August 23, 2015

– vs. Demian Maia – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 190: Rousey vs. Correia – August 1, 2015

– vs. Hyun Gyu Lim – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber – May 16, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Lorenz Larkin – UFC 202 – August 20, 2016



8) Ben Askren (15-0, 1 NC)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: July 18, 1984

Currently Fighting With: One FC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Nikolay Aleksakhin – Win via decision (unanimous) – One FC 41 – April 15, 2016

– vs. Luis Santos – No Contest (eye poke) – ONE FC: Valor of Champions – April 27, 2015

– vs. Nobutatsu Suzuki – Win via TKO (strikes) – ONE FC: Reign of Champions – August 29, 2014

– vs. Bakhtiyar Abbasov – Win via submission (arm-triangle choke) – ONE FC: Honor and Glory – May 30, 2014

– vs. Andrey Koreshkov – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 97 – July 31, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



9) Andrey “Spartan” Koreshkov (19-1)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: August 23, 1990

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Benson Henderson – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 153 – April 22, 2016

– vs. Douglas Lima – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 140 – July 17, 2015

– vs. Adam McDonough – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 122 – July 25, 2014

– vs. Justin Baesman – Win via KO (flying knee) – Bellator 118 – May 2, 2014

– vs. Nah-Shon Burrell – Win via KO (knee and punches) – Bellator 112 – March 14, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



10) “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (30-7, 1 NC)

Height: 6′

Birthday: March 29, 2983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Patrick Cote – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 18, 2016

– vs. Alex Oliveira – Win via submission (triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night – February 21, 2016

– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cerrone 2 – December 19, 2015

– vs. John Makdessi – Win via TKO (head kick) – UFC 187 – May 23, 2015

– vs. Benson Henderson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver – January 18, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Rick Story – UFC 202 – August 20, 2016



11) Kelvin Gastelum (12-2)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: October 24, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Neil Magny – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 21, 2015

– vs. Nate Marquardt – Win via TKO (corner stoppage) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015

– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – January 31, 2015

– vs. Jake Ellenberger – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 180: Hunt vs. Werdum – November 15, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) Rick “The Horror” Story (19-8)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: August 28, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Tarec Saffiedine – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 29, 2016

– vs. Gunnar Nelson – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story – October 4, 2014

– vs. Leonardo Mafra – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller – July 16, 2014

– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 171 – March 15, 2014

– vs. Brian Ebersole – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 167 – November 16, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Donald Cerrone – UFC 202 – August 20, 2016



13) Johny Hendricks (17-5)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: September 12, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Stephen Thompson – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson – February 6, 2016

– vs. Matt Brown – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 185 – March 14, 2015

– vs. Robbie Lawler – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler 2 – December 6, 2014

– vs. Robbie Lawler – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler – March 15, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Commment: Hendricks missed weight for his UFC 200 fight against Kelvin Gastelum and then went on to lose a unanimous decision. Having lost three of his last five fights, it would probably make sense for him to move up to middleweight.




14) Gunnar Nelson (15-2-1)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: July 28, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Albert Tumenov – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night: REEM vs. Arlovski – May 8, 2016

– vs. Demian Maia – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Brandon Thatch – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 189 – July 11, 2015

– vs. Rick Story – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – October 4, 2014

– vs. Zak Cummings – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – July 19, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Albert Tumenov (17-3)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: December 26, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Gunnar Nelson – Loss via submission (neck crank) – UFC Fight Night – May 8, 2016

– vs. Lorenz Larkin – Win via decision (split) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016

– vs. Alan Jouban – Win via TKO (head kick) – UFC 192 – October 3, 2015

– vs. Nico Musoke – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs. Johnson – January 24, 2015

– vs. Matt Dwyer – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night – October 4, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Final Notes: Dong Hyun Kim received additional votes.