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411 Light Heavyweight MMA Rankings: Jan Blachowicz, Israel Adesanya, More

January 12, 2021 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s Official MMA Rankings: Light Heavyweight Division

Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs)


1) Jan Blachowicz (27-8)

Birthday: February 24, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Thiago Santos – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2019

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Israel Adesanya – UFC 259 – March 6, 2021

Comment: The first mega-show of 2021 is set for UFC 259 in March at a yet to be disclosed location. Three title fights are official with the headliner making potential history as light heavyweight champ Blachowicz will defend the title against reigning middleweight champ Israel Adesanya.

Also on the show will be Amanda Nunes defending the featherweight title against Megan Anderson and then Peter Yan defending the bantamweight championship against Aljamain Sterling.



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:

– Unknown



3) Thiago Santos (21-8)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: January 7, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Eryk Anders – Win via TKO (elbows) – UFC Fight Night – September 22, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Aleksander Rakic – UFC 259 – March 6, 2021




4) Dominick Reyes (12-2)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: December 26, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 229 – October 6, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Jiri Prochazka – UFC Fight Night – February 27, 2021



5) Vadim Nemkov (12-2)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: June 20, 1992

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Philipe Lins – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator 182 – August 25, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



6) Corey Anderson (14-5)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: September 22, 1989

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Glover Teixeira – Win via decision – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



7) Aleksandar Rakic (13-2)

Birthday: February 6, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Justin Ledet – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Thiago Santos – UFC 259 – March 6, 2021



8) Tomasz Narkun (18-3)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: December 3, 1989

Currently Fighting With: KSW

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Mamed Khalidov – Win via submission (triangle choke) – KSW 42 – March 3, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Narkun successfully defended the KSW light heavyweight title for the fifth time over the weekend, handing Croatian fighter Ivan Erslan the first loss of his career.



9) Jiri Prochazka (27-3)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: October 14, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Brandon Halsey – Win via TKO (submission due to strikes) – Rizin FF 14 – December 31, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Dominick Reyes – UFC Fight Night – February 27, 2021



10) Phil Davis (22-5, 1 No Contest)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: September 25, 1984

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Linton Vassell – Win via KO (head kick) – Bellator 200 – May 25, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



11) Ryan Bader (27-6, 1 NC)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: June 7, 1983

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. King Mo Lawal – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 199 – May 12, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) Anthony Smith (34-16)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: July 26, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Jon Jones – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




13) Nikita Krylov (27-7)

Birthday: March 7, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Fabio Maldonado – Win via KO (punch) – FNG – May 5, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Magomed Ankalaev – UFC Fight Night – February 27, 2021

Comment: For a fighter who is 2-2 in his last four fights, and not in title contention, Nikita Krylov has a big fight on tap for next month against Magomed Ankalaev. You can look at the match-up and think it’s actually Krylov who is being booekd as a stepping stone for 14-1 Ankalaev and you’re correct. Ankalaev has finished four of his last five fights and is part of the wave of Russian fighters across different weight classes to become champions or rising prospects in the UFC over the last few years.

Krylov is only a few months older than Ankalaev and has more than double the number of professional MMA fights under his belt (26-7 total record). When he debuted in the UFC in 2014, he did so with a 14-2 record but lost his first fight. After stopping Walt Harris, he lost again in his 205-pound debut. Since that time, Krylov is 11-3. Certainly even in defeat, Krylov can probably stick around in the UFC with a win here, a loss there, rinse and repeat. But, if he’s to ever burst through the next level in the light heavyweight division and away from being that stepping stone, an upset against the favored Ankalaev is a big way to do that.



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. Jimmy Crute – UFC Fight Night – March 27, 2021



15) Magomed Ankalaev (14-1)

Birthday: November 25, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Marcin Prachnio – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 15, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Nikita Krylov – UFC Fight Night – February 27, 2021