mma / Columns

411 MMA Rankings: Middleweight Division

April 20, 2017 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s Official MMA Rankings: Middleweight Division


1) Yoel Romero (12-1)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: April 30, 1977

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via KO (flying knee) – UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor – November 12, 2016

– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via decision (split) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



2) Michael Bisping (29-7)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: February 28, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Dan Henderson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 204: Bisping vs. Henderson 2 – October 8, 2016

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 – June 4, 2016

– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping – February 27, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Georges St. Pierre – UFC – TBD



3) Gegard Mousasi (42-6-2)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: August 1, 1985

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 210 – April 6, 2017

– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016

– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 204 – October 8, 2016

– vs. Thiago Santos – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Thales Leites – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 27, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



4) Robert Whittaker (18-4)

Height: 6′

Birthday: December 20, 1990

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017

– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 26, 2016

– vs. Rafael Natal – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 197: Jones vs. St. Preux – April 23, 2016

– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm – November 14, 2015

– vs. Brad Tavares – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – May 10, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



5) Luke Rockhold (14-3)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: October 17, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Michael Bisping – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 – June 4, 2016

– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



6) Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (24-5, 1 No Contest)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: December 7, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017

– vs. Tim Boetsch – Win via submission (kimura) – UFC 208 – February 11, 2017

– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016

– vs. Yoel Romero – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– vs. Chris Camozzi – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC on FOX: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Jacare was stopped with strikes for the first time since he fought Mousasi in Japan nine years ago. It’s a crushing defeat for the Brazilian who was on the road towards a UFC title fight. Now, with two losses in his last four fights, Souza has a bigger hill to climb. Ironically, this loss comes days after signing a new 8-fight deal with the UFC.



7) Chris Weidman (13-3)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: June 17, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 210 – April 6, 2017

– vs. Yoel Romero – Loss via KO (flying knee) – UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor – November 12, 2016

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



8) Anderson Silva (34-8, 1 NC)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: April 14, 1975

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 208 – February 11, 2017

– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Michael Bisping – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping – February 27, 2016

– vs. Nick Diaz – No Contest (Originally a decision win, overturned because of a failed drug test) – UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – January 31, 2015

– vs. Chris Weidman – Loss via TKO (injury) – UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 – December 28, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Anderson had been pegged to fight Kelvin Gastelum in June but the latter has been pulled from the fight. The UFC is looking for a replacement before it’s too late.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA4nWXedImI
9) Derek Brunson (16-5)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: January 4, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Anderson Silva – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 208 – February 11, 2017

– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 26, 2016

– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via TKO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – September 17, 2016

– vs. Roan Carneiro – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – February 21, 2016

– vs. Sam Alvey – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – August 8, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



10) Dave Branch (20-3)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: September 26, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Louis Taylor – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – WSOF 34 – December 31, 2016

– vs. Vinny Magalhaes – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 33 – October 7, 2016

– vs. Clifford Starks – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 30 – April 2, 2016

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Krzysztof Jotko – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017

Comment: The light heavyweight and middleweight WSOF champion makes his return to the UFC next month against Jotko. It will be Branch’s first fight in the octagon since 2011 when he was submitted by Rousimar Palhares. Since that fight, he is 12-1.



11) Mamed Khalidov (33-4-2)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: July 17, 1980

Currently Fighting With: KSW

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Luke Barnatt – Win via KO (punches) – ACB 54 – March 11, 2017

– vs. Azuz Karoglu – Win via decision (split) – KSW 35 – May 27, 2016

– vs. Michal Materla – Win via KO (flying knee) – KSW 33 – November 28, 2015

– vs. Brett Cooper – Win via decision (unanimous) – KSW 29 – December 6, 2014

– vs. Maiquel Falcao – Win via submission (armbar) – KSW 27 – May 17, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Borys Mankowski – KSW 39 – May 27, 2017



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7DfF2HBRvs
12) Krzysztof Jotko (19-1)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: August 19, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Thales Leites – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016

– vs. Tamdan McCrory – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 18, 2016

– vs. Brad Scott – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 27, 2016

– vs. Scott Askham – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – October 24, 2015

– vs. Tor Troeng – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 4, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Dave Branch – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017



13) Rafael Carvalho (14-1)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: July 27, 1986

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Melvin Manhood – Win via KO (head kick) – Bellator 176 – April 8, 2017

– vs. Melvin Manhoef – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 155 – May 20, 2016

– vs. Brandon Halsey – Win via KO (body kick) – Bellator 144 – October 23, 2015

– vs. Joe Schilling – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 136 – April 10, 2015

– vs. Brian Rogers – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 125 – September 19, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Carvalho defended his Bellator middleweight championship for the second time against Melvin Manhood and this time, he finished the kick boxer with a vicious head kick.



14) Kelvin Gastelum (14-2)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: October 24, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 11, 2017

– vs. Tim Kennedy – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 206 – December 10, 2016

– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Neil Magny – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 21, 2015

– vs. Nate Marquardt – Win via TKO (corner stoppage) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unkown

Comment: Although Gastelum knocked out Vitor Belfort last month, he also failed a drug test for marjiuana metabolites. He’s under a provisional suspension until a hearing is held and his win over Belfort remains on the books, although it’s possible it gets overturned to a No Contest.



15) Alexander Shlemenko (55-9, 1 NC)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: May 20, 1984

Currently Fighting With: M-1 Challenge

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Paul Bradley – Win via decision (unanimous) – M-1 Challenge 75 – March 3, 2017

– vs. Kendall Grove – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 162 – October 21, 2016

– vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – M-1 Challenge 68 – June 16, 2016

– vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky – Win via decision (split) – M-1 Challenge 64 – February 19, 2016

– vs. Melvin Manhoef – No Contest – Bellator 133 – February 13, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Brandon Halsey – M-1 Challenge 79 – June 1, 2017

Comment: Shlemenko will have a chance to avenge his last loss later this spring, when Halsey choked him out to become Bellator’s champion in 2014.