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411 Middleweight MMA Rankings: Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa, 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:
– Unknown
Comment: It was not the performance anyone expected on Saturday, but Israel remained undefeated and middleweight champion in the UFC. It was peculiar from the start as Romero was limited in engaging the champion while Adesanya played the long-game, trying his best to avoid Romero’s power when he did throw kicks or punches. Adesanya lit him up with leg kicks and was able to bounce back up when Yoel shot for takedowns, the two or three times he tried in the 25-minute fight.
With his first title defense out of the way, Adesanya’s next challenger appears set as Paulo Costa. The diesel truck of a Brazilian powerhouse, Costa went 15 minutes with Romero last summer and displayed tremendous stamina in the process. One thing is for sure, if we do see Adesanya/Costa later this year, there will be more action inside the first round than the entire main event fight at UFC 248.
2) Robert Whittaker (20-5)
Height: 6′
Birthday: December 20, 1990
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 26, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
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:
– Unknown
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:
– Unknown
Comment: Despite the fact that Romero is now 1-4 in his last five fights, he is no less dangerous now than he was prior to this slide. Whether fighters beneath him on these rankings start calling him out to try and make their name or quickly get into the title mix, we cannot be sure. Kelvin Gastelum?
5) Darren Till (18-2-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: December 24, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 21, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
6) 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
Comment: Last month, Cannonier underwent surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle and hopes to be back “soon.” He was originally set to fight Robert Whittaker at last weekend’s event before the former champion withdrew in January. Then, the UFC was trying to book a fight between Cannonier and Darren Till that never came to fruition, then the muscle tear happened. There’s a safe bet we’ll see that fight by the summer if Till is not in a rush to get back into action. If we do see that fight, it becomes a potential title eliminator.
7) Kelvin Gastelum (15-5, 1 NC)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: October 24, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Chris Weidman – Loss via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC on Fox – July 22, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Jack Hermansson (20-5)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: June 10, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Thales Leites – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Chris Weidman – UFC Fight Night – May 2, 2020
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 – April 11, 2020
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:
– vs. Douglas Lima – Bellator – May 9, 2020
Comment: Champion Rafael Lovato Jr. vacated the title due to his current health struggles as he puts all his focus in battling cerebral cavernoma. To decide the new Bellator champion, top contender Gegard Mousasi will fight reigning welterweight champion Douglas Lima in May. For Lima, this will be his first fight at 185-pounds in over a decade. He will look to become the next champ-champ in MMA (third in Bellator right now behind Ryan Bader and Patricio Friere).
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:
– Unknown
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. Jacare Souza – UFC 249 – April 18, 2020
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 – April 11, 2020
14) Ian “Hurricane” Heinisch (13-3)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: August 5, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Justin Sumter – Win via KO (elbows) – DW Contender Series – July 31, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Lyoto Machida (26-9)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: May 30, 1978
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via decision (split) – Bellator MMA – September 28, 2019
– vs. Chael Sonnen – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator MMA – July 14, 2019
– vs. Rafael Carvalho – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 213 – December 15, 2018
– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via KO (front kick) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Eryk Anders – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – February 3, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
