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411 MMA Rankings 08.20.19: Heavyweight Division – Stipe Miocic, Daniel Cormier, More
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Heavyweight Division
1) Stipe Miocic (19-3)
Birthday: August 19, 1982
Height: 6’4
Weight: 245
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Daniel Cormier – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019
– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Stipe Miocic became the first heavyweight to beat Daniel Cormier and regained the UFC title in the process. He joins Randy Couture, Tim Syliva and Cain Velasquez to have at least two heavyweight title reigns in the UFC. It was a change of strategy after losing three rounds that led to the finish, when Miocic targeted Cormier’s body and wearing down the defending champ. He insisted on a rematch following last summer’s loss and his patience paid off big time.
Unless Cormier jumps right back into action and wants a rematch of his own, smart money is on a rematch between Miocic and Francis Ngannou happening early in 2020. The wildcard is if/when light heavyweight champion Jon Jones makes the decision to go up to heavyweight (whether foregoing his own division or competing in both). The most lucrative opponent for Miocic is Jones (Brock Lesnar is not returning), but that’s a match-up that only gets made when Jones commits to the move.
2) Daniel Cormier (22-2, 1 NC)
Birthday: March 20, 1979
Height: 5’9
Weight: 239
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018
– vs. Jon Jones – No Contest (originally a loss via TKO) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Cormier turned 40 back in March; he underwent back surgery late last year; he suffered the second loss of his pro career. It’s not been the best string of time for the former two-division champion. He could walk away from an active MMA career tomorrow and still be remembered as one of the best fighters to ever step inside a cage. With nothing apparent to prove (unless we’re talking about Jon Jones, and that fight makes no sense for the defending light heavyweight champion), it will be interesting to see what decision Cormier and his family make in the months ahead..
3) Francis Ngannou (14-3)
Birthday: September 5, 1986
Height: 6’4
Weight: 255
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019
– vs. Cain Velasquez – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC on ESPN – February 17, 2019
– vs. Curtis Blades – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 24, 2018
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Ngannou is the favorite to get the next chance at the heavyweight championship. Plus, reports are he will soon book a role in the upcoming Fast & Furious 9 sequel.
4) Junior dos Santos (21-6)
Birthday: January 30, 1984
Height: 6’4
Weight: 243
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 9, 2019
– vs. Tai Tuivasa – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – December 1, 2018
– vs. Blagoi Ivanov – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 14, 2018
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
5) Derrick Lewis (21-7, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 7, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 260
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 9, 2019
– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Alexander Volkov – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 229 – October 6, 2018
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2016
– vs. Marcin Tybura – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – February 18, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Blagoy Ivanov – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019
6) Alexander “Drago” Volkov (30-7)
Birthday: October 24, 1988
Height: 6’7
Weight: 235
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 229 – October 6, 2018
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 17, 2018
– vs. Stefan Struve – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 2, 2017
– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017
– vs. Timothy Johnson – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Curtis Blaydes (11-2, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 18, 1991
Height: 6’4
Weight: 250
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Justin Willis – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – March 23, 2019
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 24, 2018
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via TKO (elbows) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 221 – February 10, 2018
– vs. Alexey Oleynik – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov – UFC 242 – September 7, 2019
8) Alistair Overeem (45-17, 1 No Contest)
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Height: 6’5
Weight: 240
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Alexey Oleynik – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – April 20, 2019
– vs. Sergey Pavlovich – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 24, 2018
– vs. Curtis Blaydes – Loss via TKO (elbows) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via decision (split) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Walt Harris – UFC on ESPN – December 7, 2019
9) Ryan Bader (27-5)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: June 7, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Fedor Emelianenko – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator MMA – January 26, 2019
– vs. Matt Mitrione – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 207 – October 12, 2018
– vs. King Mo Lawal – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator 199 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Linton Vassell – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 186 – November 3, 2017
– vs. Phil Davis – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Cheick Kongo – Bellator 226 – September 7, 2019
CommentIt’s official! Bader’s first defense of the Bellator heavyweight championship comes in a few weeks when he fights top contender Cheick Kongo.
10) Blagoy Ivanov (18-2, 1 NC)
Birthday: October 9, 1986
Height: 5’11
Weight: 251
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Tai Tuivasa – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019
– vs. Ben Rothwell – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – March 9, 2019
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 14, 2018
– vs. Caio Alencar – Win via decision (unanimous) – PFL – November 2, 2017
– vs. Shawn Jordan – Win via TKO (strikes) – WSOF 35 – March 18, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Derrick Lewis – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GTc_ZmyWNs
11) Shamil Abdurakhimov (20-4)
Birthday: September 2, 1981
Height: 6’3
Weight: 261
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Marcin Tybura – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – April 20, 2019
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 15, 2018
– vs. Chase Sherman – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – November 25, 2017
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – December 9, 2016
– vs. Walt Harris – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – October 1, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Curtis Blaydes – UFC 242 – September 7, 2019
12) Cheick Kongo (30-10)
Birthday: May 17, 1975
Height: 6’4
Weight: 223
Currently fighting with: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Vitaly Minakov – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 216 – February 16, 2019
– vs. Timothy Johnson – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator 208 – October 13, 2018
– vs. Javy Ayala – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator 199 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Augusto Sakai – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 179 – May 19, 2017
– vs. Oli Thompson – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 172 – September 16, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Ryan Bader – Bellator 226 – September 7, 2019
13) Walt Harris (13-7)
Birthday: June 10, 1983
Height: 6’5
Weight: 250
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Aleksei Oleinik – Win via KO (knee) – UFC on ESPN – July 20, 2019
– vs. Sergey Spivak – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 4, 2019
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – No Contest (win for Harris overturned due to banned substance) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
– vs. Daniel Spitz – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 1, 2018
– vs. Mark Godbeer – Loss via DQ (illegal head kick) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Alistair Overeem – UFC on ESPN – December 7, 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2L_wJvbAtM
14) Cain Velasquez (14-3)
Birthday: July 28, 1982
Height: 6’2
Weight: 242
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Frances Ngannou – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC on ESPN – February 17, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Velasquez’s return to the octagon is uncertain following his professional wrestling debut earlier this month at AAA Triplemania in Mexico. He may be taking more dates for the lucha libra promotion next month and beyond, so stay tuned.
15) Vitaly Minakov (21-1)
Birthday: February 6, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 249
Currently fighting with: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Cheick Kongo – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 216 – February 16, 2019
– vs. Tony Johnson – Win via TKO (strikes) – Fight Nights Global – December 16, 2017
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via KO (punches) – Fight Nights Global 68 – June 2, 2017
– vs. DJ Linderman – Win via KO (strikes) – Fight Nights Global 59 – February 23, 2017
– vs. Peter Graham – Win via submission (armor) – EFN 50 – June 17, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Javy Ayala – Bellator 225 – August 24, 2019
