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411 Light Heavyweight MMA Rankings: Jon Jones, Thiago Santos, More

June 2, 2020 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s Official MMA Rankings: Light Heavyweight Division

Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs)


1) Jon Jones (26-1, 1 NC)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: July 19, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Dominick Reyes – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 247 – February 8, 2020

– vs. Thiago Santos – Win via decision (split) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019

– vs. Anthony Smith – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– vs. Alexander Gustafsson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018

– vs. Daniel Cormier – No Contest (originally – Win via KO (punches)) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: The big story of late in MMA revolves around whether the UFC will pay Jon Jones enough to make an unexpected heavyweight fight with Francis Ngannou a reality. On Sunday, Jones tweeted out a series of messages not so directly saying he was forfeiting the UFC championship and taking a break until the UFC pays him what he considers his worth to move up to heavyweight.

The idea of fighting the likes of Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira or rematches with Dominick Reyes or Thiago Santos don’t sound all that appealing to Jones. This is where Francis Ngannou comes into play who himself is now forced to wait for the heavyweight title picture to settle itself as champion Stipe Miocic and former champion Daniel Cormier have yet to set a date for their trilogy fight.



2) Thiago Santos (21-7)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: January 7, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Kevin Holland – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 227 – August 4, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



3) Dominick Reyes (12-1)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: December 26, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Jared Cannonier – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



4) Ryan Bader (27-5, 1 NC)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: June 7, 1983

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Linton Vassell – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 186 – November 3, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



5) Jan Blachowicz (26-8)

Birthday: February 24, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Nikita Krylov – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night – September 15, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



6) Glover Teixeira (31-7)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: October 28, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Corey Anderson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



7) Anthony Smith (32-15)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: July 26, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – October 27, 2018

– vs. Shogun Rua – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



8) Corey Anderson (13-5)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: September 22, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Patrick Cummins – Win via decision – UFC Fight Night – April 21, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



9) Tomasz Narkun (17-3)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: December 3, 1989

Currently Fighting With: KSW

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Marcin Wojclk – Win via submission (triangle choke) – KSW 39 – May 27, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



10) Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (26-11-1)

Birthday: November 25, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Paul Craig – Draw via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 16, 2019

– vs. Tyson Pedro – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – December 1, 2018

– vs. Anthony Smith – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018

– vs. Gian Villante – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 11, 2017

– vs. Corey Anderson – Win via decision (split) – UFC 198 – May 14, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



11) Vadim Nemkov (11-2)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: June 20, 1992

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Alison Vicente – Win via TKO (strikes) – RIZIN FF WGP – December 29, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) Phil Davis (21-5, 1 No Contest)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: September 25, 1984

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Leo Leite – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 186 – November 3, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



13) Volkan Oezdemir (17-4)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: September 19, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Aleksander Rakic – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – December 21, 2019

– vs. Ilir Latifi – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – August 10, 2019

– vs. Dominick Reyes – Loss via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN+ – March 16, 2019

– vs. Anthony Smith – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – October 27, 2018

– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



14) Ryan “Superman” Spann (18-5)

Height: 6’5

Birthday: August 24, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Sam Alvey – Win via decision (split) – UFC 249 – May 9, 2020

– vs. Devin Clark – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – October 12, 2019

– vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 237 – May 11, 2019

– vs. Luis Henrique Barbosa de Oliveira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 22, 2018

– vs. Emiliano Sordi – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – DW Tuesday Contender Series – June 19, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) 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:

– Unknown