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411’s MMA Rankings 09.15.15: Featherweight Division
Over a 48-hour stretch in December, the top five featherweights in the world will compete inside the UFC’s octagon. Bellator’s top featherweights will be in action in November and while we watch all that action, we can safely see why the 145-pounders have taken hold of the everyone’s attention in MMA. Certainly, Conor McGregor’s ability to rile people up is the primary reason. Let’s not forget Jose Aldo, the man who has run through everyone booked to fight him going back many years to the point conventional thought was he would have to move up to lightweight before he received a legitimate challenge. I’m not sure of a time when enough people actually believed Aldo’s run (which has continued despite his counterparts Fedor Emelianenko, Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva and Jon Jones all falling for different reasons) was in danger, but that appears to be the case entering the final quarter of 2015.
McGregor was criticized for years because of a perceived wrestling weakness, though that appeared to be disproven when he handled Chad Mendes in July. So, the Irishman appears poised to become the biggest male star (if he isn’t already) in the sport, and only second overall to Ronda Rousey.
Frankie Edgar is set to fight Chad Mendes the night before UFC 194, headlining the next TUF Finale. Edgar has also said publicly that he’s been pegged by the UFC to act as a substitute should either McGregor or Aldo fall injured ahead of their fight. If the MMA gods have hearts, no such thing will come to fruition, and not because the UFC is charging an astronomical amount for tickets in Las Vegas. Look at the top fights on this card:
Aldo vs. McGregor – featherweight title
Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold – middleweight title
Jacare Souza vs. Yoel Romero
Gunnar Nelson vs. Demian Maia
Michelle Waterson vs. Tecia Torres
Urijah Faber vs. Frankie Saenz
Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens
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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 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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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.
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Featherweight Division (145 lbs)
1) Jose Aldo (25-1)
Height: 5’7
Birthday: September 9, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2 – October 25, 2014
– vs. Ricardo Lamas – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 169: Barao vs. Faber 2 – February 1, 2014
– vs. Chan Sung Jung – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 163: Aldo vs. Korean Zombie – August 3, 2013
– vs. Frankie Edgar – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar – February 2, 2013
– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via KO (knee) – UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes – January 14, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Conor McGregor – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
2) “Notorious” Conor McGregor (18-2)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: July 14, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 189: McGregor vs. Mendes – July 11, 2015
– vs. Dennis Siver – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver – January 18, 2015
– vs. Dustin Poirier – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 178: Cerrone vs. Alvarez – September 27, 2014
– vs. Diego Brandao – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao – July 19, 2014
– vs. Max Holloway – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen – August 17, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jose Aldo – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
Comment: Less than three months!
3) Frankie Edgar (19-4-1)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: October 16, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 6 fights:
– vs. Urijah Faber – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber – May 16, 2015
– vs. Cub Swanson – Win via submission (neck crank) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson – November 22, 2014
– vs. B.J. Penn – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC TUF Finale – July 6, 2014
– vs. Charles Oliveira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman – July 6, 2013
– vs. Jose Aldo – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar – February 2, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Chad Mendes – UFC TUF Finale – December 11, 2015
4) Chad Mendes (17-3)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: May 1, 1985
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Conor McGregor – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 189: McGregor vs. Mendes – July 11, 2015
– vs. Ricardo Lamas – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas – April 4, 2015
– vs. Jose Aldo – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2 – October 25, 2014
– vs. Nik Lentz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez – December 14, 2013
– vs. Clay Guida – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis 2 – August 31, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Frankie Edgar – UFC TUF Finale – December 11, 2015
Comment: If Mendes is to avoid becoming the best fighter not in UFC title contention, he must beat Frankie Edgar. A loss and Mendes will be nothing more than a featherweight gatekeeper until 2017 at the earliest.
5) Max Holloway (14-3)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: December 4, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Charles Oliveira – Win via TKO (injury) – UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira – August 23, 2015
– vs. Cub Swanson – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015
– vs. Cole Miller – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch – February 14, 2014
– vs. Akira Corassani – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story – October 4, 2014
– vs. Clay Collard – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos – August 23, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jeremy Stephens – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
6) Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (24-2)
Height: 5’5
Birthday: July 7, 1987
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Daniel Weichel – Win via KO (punch) – Bellator 138 – June 19, 2015
– vs. Daniel Straus – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 132: Pitbull vs. Straus 2 – January 16, 2015
– vs. Pat Curran – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 123: Curran vs. Pitbull 2 – September 5, 2014
– vs. Justin Wilcox – Win via TKO (punches) – Bellator 108 – November 15, 2013
– vs. Fabricio Guerreiro – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 103 – October 11, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Daniel Straus – Bellator 145 – November 6, 2015
7) Ricardo Lamas (15-4)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: May 21, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Chad Mendes – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas – April 4, 2015
– vs. Dennis Bermudez – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 180: Hunt vs. Werdum – November 15, 2014
– vs. Hacran Dias – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens – June 28, 2014
– vs. Jose Aldo – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 169: Barao vs. Faber 2 – February 1, 2014
– vs. Erik Koch – Win via TKO (elbows and punches) – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Dodson – January 26, 2013
– vs. Hatsu Hioki – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on FX: Maynard vs. Guida – June 22, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Diego Sanchez – UFC TUF Latin America 2 Finale – November 21, 2015
8) Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira (20-5, 1 NC)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: October 17, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Max Hollloway – Loss via TKO (injury) – UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira – August 23, 2015
– vs. Nik Lentz – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves – May 30, 2015
– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC TUF Finale – December 12, 2014
– vs. Hatsu Hioki – Win via submission (anaconda choke) – UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt – June 28, 2014
– vs. Andy Ogle – Win via submission (triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi – February 15, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Oliveira suffered an injury early in the first round of his fight with Max Holloway. He was forced to submit to the pain and the fight was abruptly stopped. In the week following, the UFC released a statement saying no serious injuries to his chest, neck or throat were found. Charles has since returned to Brazil as it’s still unclear (publicly) what caused him so much pain during the fight.
9) Cub Swanson (21-7)
Height: 5’7
Birthday: November 2, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Max Holloway – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015
– vs. Frankie Edgar – Loss via submission (neck crank) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson – November 22, 2014
– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens – June 28, 2014
– vs. Dennis Siver – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman – July 6, 2013
– vs. Dustin Poirier – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fuel: Barao vs. McDonald – February 16, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
10) Pat Curran (21-7)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: August 31, 1987
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 139 – June 26, 2015
– vs. Daniel Weichel – Loss via decision (split) – Bellator 133 – February 13, 2015
– vs. Patricio “Pitbull” Friere – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 123: Curran vs. Pitbull 2 – September 5, 2014
– vs. Daniel Straus – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 112 – March 14, 2014
– vs Daniel Straus – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 106 – November 2, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Justin Lawrence – Bellator 145 – November 6, 2015
Comment: Curran looks to build his first winning streak since 2013 when he fights 25-year-old Justin Lawrence in November. Lawrence made it to the UFC as a 22-year-old but went 1-2 (including a loss to Max Holloway) before leaving the promotion. However, he is on an active four-fight win streak and looking for the biggest win of his career when he tangles with Curran at Bellator 145.
11) Daniel Straus (24-6)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: July 27, 1984
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Henry Corrales – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – Bellator 138 – June 19, 2015
– vs. Pitbull Freire – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 132: Pitbull vs. Straus 2 – January 16, 2015
– vs. Justin Wilcox – Win via KO (left hook) – Bellator 127 – October 3, 2014
– vs. Pat Curran – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 112 – March 14, 2014
– vs. Pat Curran – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 106 – November 2, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Pitbull Freire – Bellator 145 – November 6, 2015
Comment: Straus is 0-2 against Pitbull, losing in 2011 by decision and in January by fourth round rear naked choke. However, he’s getting another opportunity to regain the Bellator featherweight championship (he lost it to Curran in 2014) on the heels of his win in June against Herny Corrales.
12) Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens (24-11)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: May 26, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Dennis Bermudez – Win via KO (flying knee) – UFC 189: McGregor vs. Mendes – July 11, 2015
– vs. Charles Oliveira – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC TUF Finale – December 12, 2014
– vs. Cub Swanson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens – June 28, 2014
– vs. Darren Elkins – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson – January 25, 2014
– vs. Rony Jason – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night: Beflort vs. Henderson – November 9, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Max Holloway – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
Comment: Stephens may have missed weight before his fight with Dennis Bermudez, but that has not dissuaded the UFC from providing him with an opportunity to further cement his status as a title contender. In December, he’ll meet Max Holloway, who aside from Conor McGregor, may be the hottest featherweight in the division.
13) Dennis “The Menace” Bermudez (14-5)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: December 13, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Loss via KO (flying knee) – UFC 189: McGregor vs. Mendes – July 11, 2015
– vs. Ricardo Lamas – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 180: Hunt vs. Werdum – November 15, 2014
– vs. Clay Guida – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. Brown – July 26, 2014
– vs. Jimy Hettes – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler – March 15, 2014
– vs. Steven Siler – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight for the Troops 3 – November 6, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
14) Clay Guida (32-15)
Height: 5’7
Birthday: December 8, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Robbie Peralta – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas – April 4, 2015
– vs. Dennis Bermudez – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. Brown – July 26, 2014
– vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson – April 11, 2014
– vs. Chad Mendes – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 164 – August 31, 2013
– vs. Hatsu Hioki – Win via decision (split) – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Dodson – January 26, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Mirsad Bektic (10-0)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: February 16, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Lucas Martins – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves – May 30, 2015
– vs. Paul Redmond – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs. Johnson – January 24, 2015
– vs. Chas Skelly – Win via decision (split) – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne – April 19, 2014
– vs. Joe Pearson – Win via TKO (strikes) – VFC 41 – December 14, 2013
– vs. Nick Macias – Win via TKO (strikes) – RFA 7 – March 22, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri – UFC TUF Finale – December 11, 2015
Comment: Bektic will have the opportunity to fight “Crusher” Kawajiri, an MMA veteran with over 40 pro fights under his belt, in December.
Final Notes: Georgi Karakhanyan and Brian Ortega received additional votes.
