mma / Columns

411 MMA Rankings 09.08.15: Heavyweight Division

September 8, 2015 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

We’re less than four months away from 2016 and Andrei Arlovski is certainly looking like he’ll be the big UFC championship contender in the new year. That’s what four consecutive wins in the octagon will do for you, especially when there are not too many other standouts. There’s Ben Rothwell (who Arlovski beat many years ago) with a three-fight win streak, but he’ll need an impressive showing against Stipe Miocic to defiantly leap into this conversation.

In the meantime, we have a rematch between reigning champion Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez to (not) look forward to. However, it’s not going down anytime soon because of Werdum’s intent to not fight until the spring. I would rather see Werdum fight someone like Arlovski, Rothwell (if he beats Miocic) or even Junior dos Santos (if he beats Alistair Overeem later this year) than an immediate rematch with Cain. Velasquez only defended his title twice and went nearly two years without competition before he fought Werdum. So, an unappealing rematch we will likely see next year.

Looking ahead to something positive and coming up soon, is the return of Josh Barnett to the octagon. He has not competed since losing to Travis Browne in December 2013, but will be back in Japan when he fights Roy Nelson on September 27. They’re headlining the UFC’s return to Saitama and we’ll see whether Barnett is likely to fall by the wayside or if Nelson (1-4 in his last five) is done.

Lastly, it sounds like the greatest heavyweight of all-time, Fedor Emelianenko is about to end his retirement. He turns 39-years-old later this month and has not fought professionally since he beat Pedro Rizzo in 2012. There are conflicting reports as to whether he already has inked a deal with the UFC (CombatPress) or if he’s still engaged in negotiations and if so, specifically with whom?

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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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

– Unknown

Comment: Werdum finally accomplished the goal of becoming UFC heavyweight champion and did so just shy of his 38th birthday. In Mexico City, he choked out Cain Velasquez in the third round and instantly throws his name in the discussion as one of the best heavyweights of all-time. Looking ahead for the new champion, he has his eyes set on avenging earlier career losses to the likes of Junior dos Santos (2008) and Andrei Arlovski (2007).



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:

– Unknown

Comment: Was it the high elevation in Mexico? Was it the long 20 month layoff since he last fought? Cain Velasquez struggled before ultimately tapping out to Fabricio Werdum last month, becoming a former UFC champion for the second time. Ironically, when he lost to Junior dos Santos in 2011, he had been out of action for about 13 months. Whatever the case is, I will hate to see who ends up fighting him next if his fights following his first career defeat is a hint of what’s to come.



3) Junior dos Santos (17-3)

Birthday: January 30, 1984

Height: 6’4

Weight: 243

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Cain Velasquez – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 155: dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2 – December 29, 2012

– vs. Frank Mir – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir – May 26, 2012

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Alistair Overeem – UFC on Fox – December 19, 2015

Comment: A fight several years in the making, we’ll finally witness JDS fight Alistair Overeem in December. Both knockout artists may be on the downward trend, but this is one fight we can scratch off the list of bouts we never were able to see.



4) Stipe Miocic (13-2)

Birthday: August 19, 1982

Height: 6’4

Weight: 245

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 161: Evans vs. Henderson – June 15, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Ben Rothwell – UFC Fight Night – October 24, 2015

Comment: While Andrei Arlovski appears to be the next title contender, the winner of Miocic/Rothwell next month in Ireland should not be too far off.



5) Andrei “Pitbull” Arlovski (25-10, 1 NC)

Birthday: February 4, 1979

Height: 6’4

Weight: 245

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Andreas Kraniotakes – Win via TKO (strikes) – Fight Nights: Battle on Nyamiha – November 29, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



6) Mark Hunt (10-10-1)

Birthday: March 23, 1974

Height: 5’10

Weight: 264

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Antonio Silva – DRAW – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot – December 7, 2013

– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via KO (spinning heel kick and punches) – UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva 2 – May 25, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Antonio Silva – UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm – November 15, 2015

Comment: Nearly two full years since their first fight, Hunt and Bigfoot Silva will meet again in Australia. The original fight ended in a majority draw and Silva failed his post-fight drug test (for elevated levels of testosterone). Since then, both men are 1-2, each suffering pairs of knockout losses.



7) Travis Browne (17-3-1)

Birthday: July 17, 1982

Height: 6’7

Weight: 255

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via KO (front kick) – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen – August 17, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



8) Ben Rothwell (35-9)

Birthday: October 17, 1981

Height: 6’4

Weight: 262

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Gabe Gonzaga – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping – January 19, 2013

– vs. Brendan Schaub – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 145 – April 21, 2012

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Stipe Miocic – UFC Fight Night – October 24, 2015



9) Aleksiy Oliynyk (50-9-1)

Birthday: June 25, 1977

Height: 6’2

Weight: 235

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jared Rosholt – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson – November 22, 2014

– vs. Anthony Hamilton – Win via submission (scarf-hold headlock) – UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens – June 28, 2014

– vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic – Win via submission (scarf-hold headlock) – Legend Fight Show 2 – November 8, 2013

– vs. Dion Staring – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – ProFC 50 – October 16, 2013

– vs. Jeff Monson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Oplot Challenge 54 – June 20, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



10) Josh Barnett (33-7)

Birthday: November 10, 1977

Height: 6’4

Weight: 240

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier – May 19, 2012

– vs. Sergei Kharitonov – Win via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov – September 10, 2011

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Roy Nelson – UFC Fight Night – September 26, 2015



11) Alistair Overeem (39-14, 1 No Contest)

Birthday: May 17, 1980

Height: 6’5

Weight: 240

Birthday: May 17, 1980

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. 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

– vs. Travis Browne – Loss via KO (front kick) – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen – August 17, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Junior dos Santos – UFC on Fox – December 19, 2015



12) Jared Rosholt (14-2)

Birthday: August 4, 1986

Height: 6’2

Weight: 240

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:
– vs. Timothy Johnson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – August 8, 2015

– vs. Josh Copeland – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 185: Pettis vs. dos Anjos – March 14, 2015

– vs. Oleksiy Oliynyk – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson – November 22, 2014

– vs. Soa Palelei – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Te-Huna vs. Marquardt – June 28, 2014

– vs. Daniel Omielanczuk – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson – April 11, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




13) Ruslan Magomedov (13-1)

Birthday: November 26, 1986

Height: 6’3

Weight: 246

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Amir Aliskerov – Win via decision (unanimous) – Dictator Fighting Championship 1 – June 28, 2012

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Shawn Jordan – UFC 192 – October 3, 2015



14) Matt Mitrione (9-4)

Birthday: July 15, 1978

Height: 6’3

Weight: 260

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Ben Rothwell – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson – June 6, 2015

– vs. Gabriel Gonzaga – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic – December 13, 2014

– vs. Derrick Lewis – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Mousasi – September 5, 2014

– vs. Shawn Jordan – Win via KO (punches) – UFC TUF China Finale: Kim vs. Hathaway – March 1, 2014

– vs. Brendan Schaub – Loss via submision (D’Arce choke) – UFC 165 – September 21, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Shawn “The Savage” Jordan (18-6)

Birthday: October 21, 1984

Height: 6’0

Weight: 251

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Derrick Lewis – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson – June 6, 2015

– vs. Jared Cannonier – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier – January 3, 2015

– vs. Jack May – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. St. Preux – August 18, 2014

– vs. Matt Mitrione – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC TUF China Finale – March 1, 2014

– vs. Gabriel Gonzaga – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC 166: Velasquez vs. JDS 3 – October 19, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Ruslan Magomedov – UFC 192 – October 3, 2015