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411 MMA Rankings 09.29.15: Middleweight Division
That’s all folks.
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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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
Middleweight Division (185 pounds)
1) Chris Weidman (13-0)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: June 17, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Mark Munoz – Win via KO (elbow and punches) – UFC on Fuel: Munoz vs. Weidman – July 11, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Luke Rockhold – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
2) Luke Rockhold (13-2)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: October 17, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Costa Philippou – Win via KO (body kick) – UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou – January 15, 2014
– vs. Vitor Belfort – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold – May 18, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Chris Weidman – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
3) Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (22-3, 1 No Contest)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: December 7, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Yushin Okami – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader – September 4, 2013
– vs. Chris Camozzi – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold – May 18, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Yoel Romero – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
4) Yoel Romero (10-1)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: April 30, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Ronny Markes – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC: Fight for the Troops 3 – November 6, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jacare Souza – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
5) Vitor Belfort (24-11)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: January 4, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Michael Bisping – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on FX 7: Belfort vs. Bisping – January 19, 2013
– vs. Jon Jones – Loss via submission (americana) – UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort – September 22, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Dan Henderson – UFC Fight Night – November 7, 2015
6) Lyoto Machida (22-7)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: May 3, 1978
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Yoel Romero – Loss via KO (elbows) – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero – June 27, 2015
– vs. Luke Rockhold – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on FOX: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015
– vs. C.B. Dolloway – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dolloway – December 20, 2014
– vs. Chris Weidman – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 175: Weidman vs. Machida – July 5, 2014
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi – February 15, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Michael Bisping (26-7)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: February 28, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Cung Le – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Le vs. Bisping – August 23, 2014
– vs. Tim Kennedy – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Kennedy – April 16, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Robert Whittaker – UFC 193: Lawler vs. Condit – November 15, 2015
Comment: While Lisping is preparing to return in two months to fight Australian Robert Whittaker, he found his name in the news this weekend thanks to currently-suspended Anderson Silva. Silva told the media he believes he will return to action in the spring against Bisping, a note that had never been reported or even thrown out as a possibility until this weekend. For what it’s worth, Bisping has said this was news to him, too. As for now, he’s busy trying to build a three-fight win streak for the first time in about four years.
8) Thales Leites (25-5)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: September 6, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Trevor Smith – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson – April 11, 2014
– vs. Ed Herman – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 167: St. Pierre vs. Hendricks – November 16, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) Uriah Hall (12-5)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: July 31, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Thiago Santos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 175 – July 5, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Well, Hall bursts into our Top 10 thanks to his impressive knockout of Gegard Mousasi Saturday in Japan. It’s a highlight reel performance that marked the first time Mousasi has been finished by strikes in his 12-year, 45-fight professional career. Now, Hall will get offers for more prominent fights and with expectations assuredly rising fast, we’ll see whether Uriah can build on this success.
10) Dave Branch (17-3)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: September 26, 1981
Currently Fighting With: World Series of Fighting
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Danillo Vilefort – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 5 – September 14, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
11) Gegard Mousasi (37-6-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: August 1, 1985
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Jacare Souza – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Souza vs. Mousasi – September 5, 2014
– vs. Mark Munoz – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night: Munoz vs. Mousasi – May 31, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) Derek Brunson (14-3)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: January 4, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Brian Houston – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight for the Troops 3 – November 6, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
13) Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-0)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: September 16, 1986
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kendall Grove – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 137 – May 15, 2015
– vs. Alexander Shlemenko – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 126 – September 26, 2014
– vs. Brett Cooper – Win via submission (armbar) – Bellator 122 – July 25, 2014
– vs. Joe Pacheco – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 116 – April 11, 2014
– vs. Hector Ramirez – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 106 – November 2, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Rafael Carvalho – Bellator 144 – October 23, 2015
14) Robert Whittaker (14-4)
Height: 6′
Birthday: December 20, 1990
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Stephen Thompson – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 170 – February 22, 2014
– vs. Court McGee – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – August 28, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Michael Bisping – UFC 193: Lawler vs. Condit – November 15, 2015
15) Mamed Khalidov (30-4-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: July 17, 1980
Currently Fighting With: KSW
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Brett Cooper – Win via decision (unanimous) – KSW 29 – December 6, 2014
– vs. Maiquel Falcao – Win via submission (armbar) – KSW 27 – May 17, 2014
– vs. Ryuta Sakurai – Win via submission (triangle choke) – KSW 25 – December 7, 2013
– vs. Melvin Manhoef – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – KSW 23 – June 8, 2013
– vs. Kendall Grove – Win via submission (achilles lock) – KSW 21 – December 1, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Michal Materla – KSW 33 – November 28, 2015
Closing Comments: Kelvin Gastelum received additional votes.
Anderson Silva is ineligible for the 411 MMA Rankings while he is serving his suspension for failing multiple drug tests.
