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411 Light Heavyweight MMA Rankings: Thiago Santos, Jan Blachowicz, More
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
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:
– vs. Glover Teixeira – UFC on ESPN – September 12, 2020
Comment: It’s not official yet, but reports have Santos’ return to action coming next month against Glover Teixeira. Santos has not competed since his title fight with Jones last summer. Santos suffered injuries during the fight which hindered his chances of mounting much offense in the later rounds, leading to a successful defense for the champion.
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) 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
5) 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:
– vs. Thiago Santos – UFC on ESPN – September 12, 2020
6) 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:
– vs. Vadim Nemkov – Bellator 244 – August 21, 2020
Comment: Bellator returned to action last month and is back in the groove with Bellator 243 this weekend. However, the most anticipated fight of the month will be two weeks later when heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader returns to defend the latter title against Vadim Nemkov.
Bader has not fought since the heavyweight title fight against Cheick Kongo that ended in a phantom eye poke (Kongo claimed he was unable to see). This will mark Bader’s first fight back at 205-pounds since he finished Linton Vassell in 2017. Nemkov, meanwhile, is 11-2 as a professional and has beaten the likes of Liam McGeary, Phil Davis and Rafael Carvalho in Bellator.
7) Anthony Smith (33-15)
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:
– vs. Aleksandar Rakic – UFC Fight Night – August 29, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8qQqfmeAlM
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJdr1oLhxuo
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) 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
11) 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:
– vs. Lyoto Machida – Bellator 245 – September 11, 2020
12) 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:
– Unknown
Comment: One of the best light heavyweights in the world, Prochazka finally made his UFC debut last month and the hype only increased. He knocked out Volkan Oezdemir seconds into the second round to earn his 27th professional win (coincidentally, he’s 27-years-old).
13) 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:
– vs. Johnny Walker – UFC 253 – September 19, 2020
14) 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
15) Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (27-11-1)
Birthday: November 25, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – Win via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN – July 25, 2020
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
