mma / Columns

411 MMA Rankings: Heavyweight Division

July 15, 2016 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

In a sport where champions find difficulty in amassing extensive title reigns, the UFC in 2016 is more about big fights and interesting match-ups than long awaited title fights. Seemingly, gone are the days of Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, Georges St. Pierre, Jon Jones all dominating their respective divisions. Today, only flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson and bantamweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk have at least three title defenses. No UFC heavyweight champion has ever had more than two wins as champion.

Brock Lesnar, it gets no bigger than him. He returned Saturday night in Las Vegas at UFC 200 and scored a decision win over Mark Hunt. His wrestling and ability to avoid taking more than a big punch or two during the 15 minutes secured that win and instantly, he’s a top 10 contender. It’s likely he will continue in the UFC, though how exactly he’ll be able to split time between MMA and pro wrestling remains to be seen. His reported base pay was $2.5 million (not counting points based on pay-per-view buys) so clearly, you can understand why he is so happy to be back fighting.

With champion Stipe Miocic set to defend his title for the first time against Alistair Overeem in September, the potential fights in that aftermath are not limited. Cain Velasquez fought at UFC 200 for the first time in over a year and blasted Travis Browne to win by first round knockout. The two-time champion appeared to leave the bout as healthy as he could and he has no shortage of opponents either.

Perhaps the biggest question will be who gets the chance to fight the Miocic/REEM winner, presumably by April 2017. Is Cain automatically that guy? Does he first have to pick up another win? Fabricio Werdum (who unseated Cain as champion last year) is fighting Ben Rothwell in September.

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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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

– Disagree with our rankings? Drop by the comment section below and let us have it.


411’s Official MMA Rankings

Heavyweight Division


1) Stipe Miocic (15-2)

Birthday: August 19, 1982

Height: 6’4

Weight: 245

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016

– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Alistair Overeem – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016




2) Fabricio Werdum (20-6-1)

Birthday: July 30, 1977

Height: 6’4

Weight: 242

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 wins:

– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Ben Rothwell – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016



3) Alistair Overeem (41-14, 1 No Contest)

Birthday: May 17, 1980

Height: 6’5

Weight: 240

Birthday: May 17, 1980

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski – May 8, 2016

– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – December 19, 2015

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Stipe Miocic – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016

Comment:



4) Cain Velasquez (14-2)

Birthday: July 28, 1982

Height: 6’2

Weight: 242

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Travis Browne – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Cain returned to action for the first time since back surgery and looked tremendous Saturday night. It’s the best he’s looked in the cage since he slaughtered Junior dos Santos nearly three years ago. As has been the case for the former champion for several years, if he can stay healthy, there’s no reason to believe he cannot return to the top of the division.



5) Junior dos Santos (18-4)

Birthday: January 30, 1984

Height: 6’4

Weight: 243

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Ben Rothwell – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 10, 2016

– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – December 19, 2015

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



6) Ben Rothwell (36-10)

Birthday: October 17, 1981

Height: 6’4

Weight: 262

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 10, 2016

– vs. Josh Barnett – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Fabricio Werdum – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016



7) Brock Lesnar (6-3)

Birthday: July 12, 1977

Height: 6’3

Weight: 265

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 141 – December 30, 2011

– vs. Cain Velasquez – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 121 – October 23, 2010

– vs. Shane Carwin – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC 116 – July 3, 2010

– vs. Frank Mir – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 100 – July 11, 2009

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Brock answered lots of questions that hung over his head regarding whether he is capable of taking a punch. With Hunt spending lots of time on his back, Lesnar won the way many expected him to, takedowns and ground and pound. Lesnar said he had a ton of fun with his return to MMA after nearly five years, that he’s 100% healthy compared to his last run and he will think about continuing in MMA in the near future.

He will return to WWE in the immediate future, but do not close the door on the possibility of Lesnar making a run at becoming a two-time UFC heavyweight champion.



8) Andrei “Pitbull” Arlovski (25-12, 1 NC)

Birthday: February 4, 1979

Height: 6’4

Weight: 245

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski – May 8, 2016

– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Josh Barnett – UFC Fight Night – September 3, 2016



9) Mark Hunt (12-11-1)

Birthday: March 23, 1974

Height: 5’10

Weight: 264

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Brock Lesnar – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Frank Mir – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 20, 2016

– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm – November 14, 2015

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



10) Josh Barnett (34-8)

Birthday: November 10, 1977

Height: 6’4

Weight: 240

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Ben Rothwell – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016

– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 26, 2015

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Andrei Arlovski – UFC Fight Night – September 3, 2016



11) Derrick Lewis (16-4, 1 NC)

Birthday: February 7, 1985

Height: 6’3

Weight: 260

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez – July 7, 2016

– vs. Gabriel Gonzaga – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos – April 10, 2016

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

– vs. Viktor Pesta – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson – October 3, 2015

– vs. Shawn Jordan – Loss via TKO (kick and punches) – UFC Fight Night – June 6, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Lewis was disappointed that he was unable to finish Nelson, despite coming close on a number of occasions. To his credit, when Nelson was able to secure takedowns, the dangerous jiu-jitsu fighter could not do much with the positions. Lewis and Overeem are now the only UFC heavyweights with active four-fight win streaks.



12) Fedor Emelianenko (36-4, 1 No Contest)

Birthday: September 28, 1976

Height: 6’0

Weight: 225

Currently fighting with: Rizin Fighting Federation

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Fabio Maldonado – Win via decision (split) – Fight Nights Global – June 17, 2016

– vs. Jaideep Singh – Win via TKO (strikes) – Rizin MMA – December 31, 2015

– vs. Pedro Rizzo – Win via KO (punches) – M-1 Global – June 21, 2012

– vs. Satoshi Ishii – Win via KO (punches) – Dream: Fight for Japan – December 31, 2011

– vs. Jeff Monson – Win via decision (unanimous) – M-1 Global – November 20, 2011

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Fedor fought former UFC light heavyweight Fabio Maldonado in Russia last month, nearly was knocked out in the first round, but weathered the storm to win a split decision. Maldonado grew fatigued in rounds two and three, and lost his opportunity to stop Emelianenko.



13) Travis Browne (18-4-1)

Birthday: July 17, 1982

Height: 6’7

Weight: 255

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Cain Velasquez – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Matt Mitrione – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




14) Ruslan Magomedov (14-1)

Birthday: November 26, 1986

Height: 6’3

Weight: 246

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Shawn Jordan – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson – October 3, 2015

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Stefan Struve (27-8)

Birthday: February 18, 1988

Height: 6’11

Weight: 247

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via KO (elbows) – UFC Fight Night – May 8, 2016

– vs. Jared Rosholt – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 193 – November 15, 2015

– vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 190 – August 1, 2015

– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – December 13, 2014

– vs. Mark Hunt – Loss via TKO (punches) – UFC on Fuel: Silva vs. Stann – March 3, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Closing Comments: Vitaly Minakov and Alexey Oliynyk received additional votes.