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411 Light Heavyweight MMA Rankings: Glover Teixeira, Jan Blachowicz, More
411’s Official MMA Rankings: Light Heavyweight Division
Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs)
1) Jan Blachowicz (28-8)
Birthday: February 24, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Israel Adesanya – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 259 – March 6, 2021
– vs. Dominick Reyes – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 253 – September 26, 2020
– vs. Corey Anderson – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – February 15, 2020
– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 16, 2019
– vs. Luke Rockhold – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Glover Teixeira – UFC 267 – October 30, 2021
2) Glover Teixeira (32-7)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: October 28, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Thiago Santos – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on ESPN – November 7, 2020
– vs. Anthony Smith – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 13, 2020
– vs. Nikita Krylov – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – September 14, 2019
– vs. Ion Cutelaba – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – April 27, 2019
– vs. Karl Roberson – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night – January 19, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jan Blachowicz – UFC 267 – October 30, 2021
3) Jiri Prochazka (28-3-1)
Height: 6’4
Birthday: October 14, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Dominick Reyes – Win via KO (spinning back elbow) – UFC Fight Night – May 1, 2021
– vs. Volkan Oezedemir – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 251 – July 11, 2020
– vs. C.B. Dolloway – Win via KO (strikes) – Rizin FF 20 – December 31, 2019
– vs. Fabio Maldonado – Win via KO (strikes) – Rizin FF 19 – October 12, 2019
– vs. King Mo Lawal – Win via TKO (strikes) – Rizin FF 15 – April 21, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Unless Prochazka is willing to wait until perhaps the spring 2022 to fight the champion, the more obvious fight in the near term would be with Aleksandar Rakic. The two are the top contenders not named Glover and a fight between the two before the end of this year should clarify the top of the division going in the new year. This assumes Jon Jones really does move up to heavyweight.
4) Vadim Nemkov (13-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: June 20, 1992
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Phil Davis – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 257 – April 16, 2021
– vs. Ryan Bader – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 244 – August 21, 2020
– vs. Rafael Carvalho – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 230 – October 12, 2019
– vs. Phil Davis – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 209 – November 15, 2018
– vs. Liam McGeary – Win via TKO (leg kicks) – Bellator 194 – February 16, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Anthony Johnson – Bellator – TBD
Comment: The Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix semifinals have not yet been scheduled but we know champion Nemkov will be fighting Anthony Johnson and then former champion Ryan Bader will fight Corey Anderson. Bellator has only announced shows through next month, so it’s looking like we can expect this tournament to continue in the fall.
5) Corey Anderson (15-5)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: September 22, 1989
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 257 – April 16, 2021
– vs. Melvin Manhoef – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 251 – November 5, 2020
– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – February 15, 2020
– vs. Johnny Walker – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019
– vs. Ilir Latifi – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Ryan Bader – Bellator – TBD
6) Aleksandar Rakic (14-2)
Birthday: February 6, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Thiago Santos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 259 – March 6, 2021
– vs. Anthony Smith – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – August 29, 2020
– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – December 21, 2019
– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night – June 1, 2019
– vs. Devin Clark – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Phil Davis (22-6, 1 No Contest)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: September 25, 1984
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Vadim Nemkov – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 257 – April 16, 2021
– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 245 – September 11, 2020
– vs. Karl Albrektsson – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 231 – October 25, 2019
– vs. Liam McGeary – Win via TKO (injury) – Bellator 220 – April 27, 2019
– vs. Vadim Nemkov – Loss via decision (split) – Bellator 209 – November 15, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Dominick Reyes (12-3)
Height: 6’4
Birthday: December 26, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jiri Prochazka – Loss via KO (spinning back elbow) – UFC Fight Night – May 1, 2021
– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 253 – September 26, 2020
– vs. Jon Jones – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 247 – February 8, 2020
– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on ESPN – October 18, 2019
– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – Win via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN+ – March 16, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Reyes underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee at the beginning of July. He expects to be able to get back to training in September.
9) Ryan Bader (28-6, 1 NC)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: June 7, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 256 – April 9, 2021
– vs. Vadim Nemkov – Loss via TKO (strikes) Bellator 244 – August 21, 2020
– vs. Cheick Kongo – No Contest – Bellator – September 7, 2019
– vs. Fedor Emelianenko – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 214 – January 26, 2019
– vs. Matt Mitrione – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 207 – October 12, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Corey Anderson – Bellator – TBD
10) Anthony Smith (35-16)
Height: 6’4
Birthday: July 26, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jimmy Crute – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 261 – April 24, 2021
– vs. Devin Clark – Win via submission (triangle choke) – UFC on ESPN – November 28, 2020
– vs. Aleksandar Rakic – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – August 29, 2020
– vs. Glover Teixeira – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 13, 2020
– vs. Alexander Gustafsson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on ESPN+ – June 1, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Ryan Spann – UFC Fight Night – September 18, 2021
11) Tomasz Narkun (18-4)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: December 3, 1989
Currently Fighting With: KSW
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Philip De Fries – Loss via TKO (strikes) – KSW 60 – April 24, 2021
– vs. Ivan Erslan – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – KSW 56 – November 14, 2020
– vs. Przemyslaw Mysiala – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – KSW 50 – September 14, 2019
– vs. Philip De Fries – Loss via decision (unanimous) – KSW 47 – March 23, 2019
– vs. Mamed Khalidov – Win via decision (unanimous) – KSW 46 – December 1, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) Magomed Ankalaev (15-1)
Birthday: November 25, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Nikita Krylov – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 27, 2021
– vs. Ion Cutelaba – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 254 – October 24, 2020
– vs. Ion Cutelaba – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 29, 2020
– vs. Dalcha Lungiambula – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 9, 2019
– vs. Klidson Abreu – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
13) Thiago Santos (21-9)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: January 7, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Aleksander Rakic – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 259 – March 6, 2021
– vs. Glover Teixeira – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on ESPN – November 7, 2020
– vs. Jon Jones – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019
– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2019
– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Johnny Walker – UFC Fight Night – October 2, 2021
14) Johnny Walker (18-5)
Height: 6’6
Birthday: March 30, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ryan Spann – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 19, 2020
– vs. Nikita Krylov – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – March 14, 2020
– vs. Corey Anderson – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019
– vs. Misha Cirkunov – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019
– vs. Justin Ledet – Win via TKO (spinning backlist) – UFC Fight Night – February 2, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Thiago Santos – UFC Fight Night – October 2, 2021
15) Nikita Krylov (27-8)
Birthday: March 7, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Magomed Ankalaev – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 27, 2021
– vs. Johnny Walker – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – March 14, 2020
– vs. Glover Teixeira – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – September 14, 2019
– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 236 – April 13, 2019
– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Loss via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night – September 15, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
