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411 MMA Rankings 12.01.15: Welterweight Division

December 1, 2015 | 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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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.

– 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: Lawler vs. Condit – 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: It’s an important point in Hendricks’ career on multiple fronts. First, he has connected with weight management specialist Lou Giordano and committed to making lifestyle changes in an effort to best control his weight. Additionally, he has parted ways with his old management team at Team TakeDown who have helped him up to this point in his MMA career. So, when Johny returns to action in 2016, it looks to be after the biggest turning point of his career.



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



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: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016



6) 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:

– Unknown



7) 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



8) 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:

– Unknown

Comment: Askren never ended up fighting Luis Santos again last month. Santos missed weight and later refused a condition that Ben issued, which was that neither fighter could weight more than 190-pounds the day of the fight. One FC was pissed at Santos, Luis was pissed at Askren and the reigning welterweight champion moved on with his life.



9) “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (21-3-1, 1 NC)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: November 17, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Dominic Waters – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 28, 2015

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



10) Benson “Smooth” Henderson (23-5)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: November 16, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jorge Masvidal – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 28, 2015

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Henderson won his second pro fight at welterweight days ago with a decision win over Masvidal in South Korea.



11) 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:

– vs. TBA – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2015

Comment: Thompson’s previous opponent at UFC 195, Neil Magny was pulled to compete as an injury replacement recently. Thus, Thompson is going to end up fighting (if a suitable replacement can be found) someone on less than a month’s notice.



12) Neil Magny (17-4)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: August 3, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Kiichi Kunimoto – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch – February 14, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Magny scored the biggest win of his career two weeks ago when he fought Kelvin Gastelum on short notice in Mexico and won via split decision.



13) 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




14) Gunnar Nelson (14-1-1)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: July 28, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Omari Akhmedov – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – March 8, 2014

– vs. Jorge Santiago – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fuel TV – February 16, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Demian Maia – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015



15) Albert Tumenov (16-2)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: December 26, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Anthony Lapsley – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – May 10, 2014

– vs. Ildemar Alcantara – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – February 15, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Lorenz Larkin – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016

Comment: The soon-to-be 24-year-old is expected to fight on his first PPV main card next month against Lorenz Larkin. Larkin is undefeated at welterweight (2-0), but he’ll be taking on a Russian fighter who has finished ten of his last twelve fights with strikes. If he can continue his success, look for Tumenov to emerge over the next year along with the likes of Benson Henderson, Neil Magny and Gunnar Nelson as fresh contenders at 170-pounds.

Final Notes: Tarec Saffiedine, Kelvin Gastelum, Andrey Koreshkov and Borys Minkowski received additional votes.

Rousimar Palhares was ineligible due to his suspension for his behavior during his fight with Jake Shields.

Rick Story was ineligible because it has been more than a year since he last competed and he is not scheduled to return.