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411 MMA Rankings 10.13.15: Welterweight Division
This is our first update to the welterweight rankings since the middle of summer and some fighters are looking better off while others are hanging on by a thread. Two men ranked this month have weight issues that will prevent them from being considered as serious contenders for the UFC welterweight championship. Johny Hendricks went to a hospital before he could fight Tyron Woodley at UFC 192 and Kelvin Gastelum is still attempting to prove he can stick at 170-pounds.
Carlos Condit is getting the next crack at champion Robbie Lawler, but not until 2016. Tyron Woodley will follow suit by next summer (meaning he may go 18 months until he fights again; he last competed in January). By then, perhaps Benson Henderson, Stephen Thompson, Gastelum or others will join the likes of Condit and Woodley.
Outside the UFC, One FC champion Ben Askren will defend his belt one month from today against Luis Santos (their fight in the spring ended prematurely due to an eye poke). Bellator’s top 170-pounder Andrey Koreshkov is on the sidelines waiting for a fight while the promotion instead is highlighting a ridiculous fight between Paul Daley and Josh Koscheck in 2015.
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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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) “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (26-10, 1 NC)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: March 20, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Jake Ellenberger – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw – May 24, 2014
– vs. Johny Hendricks – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler – March 15, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Carlos Condit – UFC 195 – January 2, 2016
2) Rory MacDonald (18-3)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: July 22, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Robbie Lawler – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 167: St. Pierre vs. Hendricks – November 16, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
3) Johny Hendricks (17-3)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: September 12, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Georges St. Pierre – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 167: St. Pierre vs. Hendricks – November 16, 2013
– vs. Carlos Condit – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 158: St. Pierre vs. Diaz – March 16, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Commment: Hendricks’ future as a welterweight is in doubt following UFC 192. The top contender was unable to make weight and was forced to go to the hospital in the hours before what would have been a number one contender’s fight with Tyron Woodley. Now, UFC president Dana White says he should be looking to move up to middleweight so he no longer has to try such a drastic weight cut.
4) Tyron Woodley (15-4)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: April 17, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Josh Koscheck – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 167: St. Pierre vs. Hendricks – November 16, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Despite coming away from UFC 192 without fighting thanks to Johny Hendricks’ inability to make weight, it was not a total loss for Woodley. For as much as words from UFC brass can be believed (hello Miesha Tate), Tyron Woodley has been named the next UFC championship contender and will earn a fight against the Lawler/Condit winner next year.
5) Carlos Condit (30-8)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: April 26, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Georges St. Pierre – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 154: St. Pierre vs. Condit – November 17, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Robbie Lawler – UFC 195 – January 2, 2016
6) Ben Askren (14-0, 1 NC)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: July 18, 1984
Currently Fighting With: One FC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Karl Amoussou – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Bellator 86 – January 24, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Luis Santos – ONE FC – November 13, 2015
7) Matt “The Immortal” Brown (20-13)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: January 10, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Tim Means – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor – July 11, 2015
– vs. Johny Hendricks – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 185 – March 14, 2015
– vs. Robbie Lawler – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. Brown – July 26, 2014
– vs. Erick Silva – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva – May 10, 2014
– vs. Mike Pyle – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen – August 17, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – UFC Fight Night – November 21, 2015
Comment: The Kelvin Gastelum, welterweight fighter experiment continues this fall as he will attempt to make 170-pounds once again. If he can do it, he’ll fight Matt Brown in Mexico City. If not, you have to believe his hand will be forced and the welterweight option will be off the table permanently.
8) Demian Maia (21-6)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: November 6, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Rory MacDonald – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann – February 22, 2014
– vs. Jake Shields – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields – October 9, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Gunnar Nelson – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
Comment: Maia put an end to Neil Magny’s seven fight win streak and is going to jump back in the cage in about two months. He’s scheduled to fight Gunnar Nelson in Las Vegas at UFC 194 in a battle of grappling experts.
9) Benson “Smooth” Henderson (22-5)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: November 16, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Brandon Thatch – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch – February 14, 2015
– vs. Donald Cerrone – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver – January 18, 2015
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos – August 23, 2014
– vs. Rustam Khabilov – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov – June 7, 2014
– vs. Josh Thomson – Win via decision (split) – UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson – January 25, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Thiago Alves – UFC Fight Night – November 28, 2015
10) Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (12-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: February 11, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Chris Clements – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 165 – September 21, 2013
– vs. Nah-Shon Burrell – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 160 – May 25, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
11) Neil Magny (16-4)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: August 3, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Kiichi Kunimoto – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch – February 14, 2015
– vs. William Macario – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 179 – October 25, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (20-3-1, 1 NC)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: November 17, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Josh Burkman – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC 187: Cormier vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Le – August 23, 2014
– vs. John Hathaway – Win via KO (spinning back elbow) – UFC Fight Night: Kim vs. Hathaway – March 1, 2014
– vs. Erick Silva – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields – October 9, 2013
– vs. Siyar Bahadurzada – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC in Japan: Silva vs. Stann – March 3, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jorge Masvidal – UFC Fight Night – November 28, 2015
13) Kelvin Gastelum (11-1)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: October 24, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Nicholas Musoke – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens – June 28, 2014
– vs. Rick Story – Win via decision (split) – UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler – March 15, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Matt Brown – UFC Fight night – November 21, 2015
14) Jake Shields (31-8-1, 1 NC)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: January 9, 1979
Currently Fighting With: World Series of Fighting
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rousimar Palhares – Loss via submission (Kimura) – WSOF 22: Palhares vs. Shields – August 1, 2015
– vs. Brian Foster – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – WSOF 17: Shields vs. Foster – January 17, 2015
– vs. Ryan Ford – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – WSOF 14: Ford vs. Shields – October 11, 2014
– vs. Hector Lombard – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler – March 15, 2014
– vs. Demian Maia – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields – October 9, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: It was a surreal scene in August when Rousimar Palhares successfully defended the WSOF championship against Jake Shields. To the surprise of no one, the controversy stemmed from Palhares eye gouging during the fight before holding on to the fight-ending Kimura even after the fight had been stopped. However, Shields was so frustrated that he punched Palhares when he finally did let go. For his trouble, the Nevada Athletic Commission is requiring Shields to complete 50 hours of community service.
In response to the actions of their champion, the WSOF stripped Palhares of the welterweight gold and has indefinitely suspended him.
15) Rick “The Horror” Story (18-8)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: August 28, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
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
– vs. Mike Pyle – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 160 – May 25, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Final Notes: Gunnar Nelson, Andrey Koreshkov, Tarec Saffiedine, Albert Tumenov and Douglas Lima received additional votes.
Due to his suspension (issued by WSOF), Rousimar Palhares was not ranked this month.
