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411 MMA Rankings 05.17.16: Heavyweight Division
Amazingly, Fedor Emelianenko remains the last major heavyweight champion to have defended his title more than two times, and that was New Years Eve 2006 in Pride! In the UFC, no heavyweight has been able to defend their title more than twice and Cain Velasquez was the last to do that in 2013. Stipe Miocic is the new champion having knocked out Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198 this weekend and will try to make history in the coming months.
A lack of a dominant champion in a weight class is not the norm, but it appears at heavyweight, it’s just expected because the USA has lacked such a fighter throughout the history of MMA. Someone like Cain Velasquez (who returns from injury in July) was pegged as that guy but even he fell in the middle of his prime, losing by submission to Werdum last year.
All these issues make anyone who labels Miocic as the longterm answer at heavyweight foolhardy, though Stipe has looked outstanding in recent fights especially.
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411’s MMA Ranking Rules
– Which fighters are eligible for these rankings? They must meet the following qualifications: fight at least once in the past 365 days or if they have not, be officially scheduled for an upcoming fight.
– A fighter serving a disciplinary suspension will not be ranked. They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded. This includes fighters who may disregard their suspension locally to fight overseas.
– If a fighter appears on just a single ballot, and in the top ten, five points will be deducted to balance between other fighters who may be ranked lower, but appear on a greater amount of ballots.
– Want to complain about a fighter’s ranking in the comments section? Please include an objective reason why you despise the list, and try your best to bring the rest of us to your way of thinking.
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Heavyweight Division
1) Stipe Miocic (15-2)
Birthday: August 19, 1982
Height: 6’4
Weight: 245
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Miocic – May 10, 2015
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on FOX: dos Santos vs. Miocic – December 13, 2014
– vs. Fabio Maldonado – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC TUF Brazil 3 Finale – May 31, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: The 19th heavyweight champion in UFC history is Stipe Miocic in wake of his one-punch knockout of Fabricio Werdum in Brazil Saturday. In under three minutes, he finished Werdum and becomes the best heavyweight in the world in the process. His next opponent should be Alistair Overeem but a healthy Cain Velasquez could always squeeze into the picture with an impressive showing at UFC 200.
2) Fabricio Werdum (20-6-1)
Birthday: July 30, 1977
Height: 6’4
Weight: 242
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 wins:
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016
– vs. Cain Velasquez – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 180: Hunt vs. Werdum – November 15, 2014
– vs. Travis Browne – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne – April 19, 2014
– vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC on Fuel: Werdum vs. Nogueira – June 8, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: In his second stint in the UFC, Werdum emerged as the best heavyweight thanks to a six-fight win streak that featured impressive striking and his storied submission game. He submitted Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cain Velasquez and he knocked out Mark Hunt with a flying knee. However, once he became champion by choking out Velasquez, that’s where the run came to an end. He was unable to defend his title and was knocked out as he ran forward for Miocic, leaving any cautiousness to fall by the wayside. It’s his first loss since the decision he dropped to Alistair Overeem in Strikeforce’s infamous heavyweight grand prix. It’s also his first UFC loss since he was knocked out by then-underdog Junior dos Santos in 2008!
3) Alistair Overeem (41-14, 1 No Contest)
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Height: 6’5
Weight: 240
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski – May 8, 2016
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – December 19, 2015
– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 185: Pettis vs. dos Anjos – March 14, 2015
– vs. Stefan Struve – Win via KO (punches) – UFC on FOX: dos Santos vs. Miocic – December 13, 2014
– vs. Ben Rothwell – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Mousasi – September 5, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Happy Birthday to Alistair Overeem! At 36-years-old, he’s on perhaps the most impressive streak of his near 17-year career. He knocked out Andrei Arlovski earlier this month, and is the only top ten heavyweight with a four-fight win streak as of today. This recent run should be enough to get him the first UFC title fight of his career and realistically, if he were to win such a fight, he joins Fabricio Werdum and Fedor Emelianenko as all-time great heavyweights.
4) Cain Velasquez (13-2)
Birthday: July 28, 1982
Height: 6’2
Weight: 242
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 166: Velasquez vs. JDS 3 – October 19, 2013
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva 2 – May 25, 2013
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 155: dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2 – December 29, 2012
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (punches) – UFC 146: dos Santos vs. Mir – May 26, 2012
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Travis Browne – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
5) Junior dos Santos (18-4)
Birthday: January 30, 1984
Height: 6’4
Weight: 243
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ben Rothwell – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 10, 2016
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – December 19, 2015
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on FOX: dos Santos vs. Miocic – December 13, 2014
– vs. Cain Velasquez – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 166: Velasquez vs. JDS 3 – October 19, 2013
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via KO (spinning heel kick and punches) – UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva 2 – May 25, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
6) Ben Rothwell (36-10)
Birthday: October 17, 1981
Height: 6’4
Weight: 262
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 10, 2016
– vs. Josh Barnett – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016
– vs. Matt Mitrione – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson – June 6, 2015
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 5, 2014
– vs. Brandon Vera – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis 2 – August 31, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Mark Hunt (12-10-1)
Birthday: March 23, 1974
Height: 5’10
Weight: 264
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Frank Mir – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 20, 2016
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm – November 14, 2015
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Miocic – May 10, 2015
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 180: Hunt vs. Werdum – November 15, 2014
– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via KO (uppercut) – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson – September 21, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdGWQxTaTwg
8) Andrei “Pitbull” Arlovski (25-12, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 4, 1979
Height: 6’4
Weight: 245
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski – May 8, 2016
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016
– vs. Frank Mir – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 – September 5, 2015
– vs. Travis Browne – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 187: Jones vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Arlovski – September 13, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) Travis Browne (18-3-1)
Birthday: July 17, 1982
Height: 6’7
Weight: 255
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Matt Mitrione – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 187: Jones vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015
– vs. Brendan Schaub – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 181: Pettis vs. Melendez – December 6, 2014
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne – April 19, 2014
– vs. Josh Barnett – Win via KO (elbows) – UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 – December 28, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Cain Velasquez – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rnqYNkegNM
10) Josh Barnett (34-8)
Birthday: November 10, 1977
Height: 6’4
Weight: 240
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ben Rothwell – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016
– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 26, 2015
– vs. Travis Browne – Loss via KO (elbows) – UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 – December 28, 2013
– vs. Frank Mir – Win via TKO (knee) – UFC 164: Henderson vs. Pettis 2 – August 31, 2013
– vs. Nandor Guelmino – Win via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine – January 12, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8rnZSnjeb0
11) Ruslan Magomedov (14-1)
Birthday: November 26, 1986
Height: 6’3
Weight: 246
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Shawn Jordan – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson – October 3, 2015
– vs. Josh Copeland – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson – November 22, 2014
– vs. Viktor Pesta – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Munoz – May 31, 2014
– vs. Tim Sylvia – Win via decision (unanimous) – Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 13 – October 27, 2013
– vs. Mike Hayes – Win via decision (unanimous) – Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 10 – February 23, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) Fedor Emelianenko (35-4, 1 No Contest)
Birthday: September 28, 1976
Height: 6’0
Weight: 225
Currently fighting with: Rizin Fighting Federation
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jaideep Singh – Win via TKO (strikes) – Rizin MMA – December 31, 2015
– vs. Pedro Rizzo – Win via KO (punches) – M-1 Global – June 21, 2012
– vs. Satoshi Ishii – Win via KO (punches) – Dream: Fight for Japan – December 31, 2011
– vs. Jeff Monson – Win via decision (unanimous) – M-1 Global – November 20, 2011
– vs. Dan Henderson – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Strikeforce – February 12, 2011
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Fabio Maldonado – Fight Nights Global – June 17, 2016
Comment: Fedor returns to action in Russia next month against former UFC light heavyweight Fabio Maldonado.
13) Vitaly Minakov (17-0)
Birthday: February 6, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 249
Currently fighting with: Eurasia Fight Nights
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Josh Copeland – Win via submission (Kimura) – EFN: Fight Nights Moscow – December 11, 2015
– vs. Geronimo dos Santos – Win via submission (armbar) – EFN: FIght Nights Dagestan – September 25, 2015
– vs. Adam Maciejewski – Win via TKO (strikes) – Fight Nights: Sochi – July 31, 2015
– vs. Cheick Kongo – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 115 – April 14, 2014
– vs. Alexander Volkov – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 108 – November 15, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Minakov has been stripped of the Bellator heavyweight title, although he is still a contracted fighter with the group. He has not competed there in over two years, though he returned to action in Russia from a sabbatical last fall. He remains undefeated at 17-0, but there’s no telling when or if he’ll fight in the U.S. again.
14) Roy Nelson (21-12)
Birthday: June 20, 1976
Height: 6’0
Weight: 264
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jared Rosholt – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 6, 2016
– vs. Josh Barnett – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 27, 2015
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 185 – March 14, 2015
– vs. Mark Hunt – Loss via KO (uppercut) – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson – September 21, 2014
– vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson – April 11, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Derrick Lewis – UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez – July 7, 2016
15) Derrick Lewis (15-4, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 7, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 260
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Gabriel Gonzaga – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos – April 10, 2016
– vs. Damian Grabowski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson – February 6, 2016
– vs. Viktor Pesta – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson – October 3, 2015
– vs. Shawn Jordan – Loss via TKO (kick and punches) – UFC Fight Night – June 6, 2015
– vs. Ruan Potts – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 184: Rousey vs. Zingano – February 28, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Roy Nelson – UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez – July 7, 2016
Closing Comments: Matt Mitrione received additional votes.
