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411 MMA Middleweight Rankings: Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, More
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Middleweight Division (185 pounds)
1) Israel Adesanya (19-0)
Height: 6’4
Birthday: July 22, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Yoel Romero – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020
– vs. Robert Whittaker – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 243 – October 6, 2019
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 236 – April 13, 2019
– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 234 – February 9, 2019
– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Paulo Costa – UFC 253 – September 19, 2020
Comment: Adesanya will look to defend the UFC middleweight championship for a second time this year and pull off his 20th career win in the process. He’s up against undefeated Brazilian powerhouse Paulo Costa in the last big fight of the summer.
2) Robert Whittaker (21-5)
Height: 6′
Birthday: December 20, 1990
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Darren Till – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – July 25, 2020
– vs. Israel Adesanya – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 243 – October 6, 2019
– vs. Yoel Romero – Win via decision (split) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Yoel Romero – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Whittaker looked great in his decision win over Darren Till Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Afterwards, he talked about being ready in case a substitute for the UFC 253 title fight is needed. Clearly, he wants back in the title mix.
3) Paulo Costa (13-0)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: April 21, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Yoel Romero – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019
– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017
– vs. Oluwale Bamgbose – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 212 – June 3, 2017
– vs. Garreth McLellan – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 11, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Israel Adesanya – UFC 253 – September 19, 2020
Comment: Costa was at his most impressive when he beat Yoel Romero last summer. It was the first and only decision of Costa’s career and the ensuing war did not have a negative impact on Costa’s gas tank.
4) Yoel Romero (13-5)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: April 30, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Israel Adesanya – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020
– vs. Paulo Costa – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019
– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Luke Rockhold – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 221 – February 11, 2018
– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Uriah Hall – UFC Fight Night – August 22, 2020
Comment: Romero is 43-years-old and 1-4 in his last five fights. But, he’s still seen as one of the most dangerous fighters in the division. Nothing about that makes sense, but Romero is just a win, or two, away from finding himself back in the mix atop the division.
5) Jared Cannonier (13-4)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: March 3, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jack Hermansson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 28, 2019
– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via TKO (leg kick) – UFC 237 – May 11, 2019
– vs. David Branch – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Dominick Reyes – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018
– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
6) Jack Hermansson (21-5)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: June 10, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via submission (heel hook) – UFC Fight Night – July 18, 2020
– vs. Jared Cannonier – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 28, 2019
– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – April 27, 2019
– vs. David Branch – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on ESPN – March 30, 2019
– vs. Gerald Meerschaert – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – December 15, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Darren Till (18-3-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: December 24, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – July 25, 2020
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via decision (split) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019
– vs. Jorge Masvidal – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 16, 2019
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via submission (D’Arce choke) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018
– vs. Stephen Thompson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 27, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJtDu4yTEvE
8) Kelvin Gastelum (15-6, 1 NC)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: October 24, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jack Hermansson – Loss via submission (heel hook) – UFC Fight Night – July 18, 2020
– vs. Darren Till – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019
– vs. Israel Adesanya – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 236 – April 13, 2019
– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via decision (split) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Michael Bisping – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – November 25, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Just as Gastelum was viewed as one of the best prospects in the division for years, then he was the top contender, now he’s on the downswing and he’s not even 29-years-old yet. Will he continue to fall down the rankings or can he stop the bleeding?
9) Derek Brunson (20-7)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: January 4, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ian Heinisch – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019
– vs. Elias Theodorou – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 4, 2019
– vs. Israel Adesanya – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Jacare Souza – Loss via KO (head kick and punches) – UFC on Fox – January 27, 2018
– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Edmen Shahbazyan – UFC Fight Night – August 1, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJHNyKvWMjk
10) Gegard Mousasi (46-7-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: August 1, 1985
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via decision (split) – Bellator MMA – September 28, 2019
– vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator MMA – June 22, 2019
– vs. Rory MacDonald – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 206 – September 29, 2018
– vs. Rafael Carvalho – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 200 – May 25, 2018
– vs. Alexander Shlemenko – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 185 – October 20, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
11) Omari Akhmedov (20-4-1)
Height: 6’
Birthday: October 12, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ian Heinisch – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019
– vs. Zak Cummings – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 242 – September 7, 2019
– vs. Tim Boetsch – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – March 9, 2019
– vs. Marvin Vettori – Draw via decision (split) – UFC 219 – December 30, 2017
– vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – May 28, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Chris Weidman – UFC Fight Night – August 8, 2020
12) Uriah Hall (15-9)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: July 31, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Antonio Carlos Jr. – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – September 14, 2019
– vs. Bevon Lewis – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
– vs. Paulo Costa – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
– vs. Krzysztof Jotko – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 16, 2017
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Yoel Romero – UFC Fight Night – August 22, 2020
Comment: Yes, Yoel Romero is 1-4 in his last five fights. But, make no mistake, this is the biggest fight of Uriah Hall’s career. Hall lost the TUF Finale to Gastelum in 2013. His first UFC win streak ended at 3 thanks to Rafael Natal in 2015. He knocked out Gegard Mousasi that same year but followed it up by losing his next three, including a rematch with Mousasi. Since then, he’s 3-1 with the loss coming against Paulo Costa.
A win over Romero would be his most impressive win, a win over the highest ranked opponent for him and puts him in discussion of a title eliminator fight. Hall turns 36-years old later this week; maybe the best is yet to come.
13) Edmen Shahbazyan (11-0)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: November 20, 1997
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Brad Tavares – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019
– vs. Jack Marshman – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019
– vs. Charles Byrd – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019
– vs. Darren Stewart – Win via decision (split) – UFC TUF Finale – November 30, 2018
– vs. Antonio Jones – Win via TKO (strikes) – DW Contender Series – July 17, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Derek Brunson – UFC Fight Night – August 1, 2020
14) Ian “Hurricane” Heinisch (14-3)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: August 5, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Gerald Meerschaert – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 250 – June 6, 2020
– vs. Omari Akhmedov – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019
– vs. Derek Brunson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019
– vs. Antonio Carlos Jr. – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 18, 2019
– vs. Cezar Ferreira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 17, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Brendan Allen (15-3)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: December 28, 1995
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kyle Daukaus – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – June 27, 2020
– vs. Tom Breese – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 29, 2020
– vs. Kevin Holland – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on ESPN – October 18, 2019
– vs. Aaron Jeffery – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – DW Contender Series – July 16, 2019
– vs. Moses Murrietta – Wi via decision (unanimous) – LFA 61 – February 22, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
