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411 MMA Rankings: Heavyweight Division – Daniel Cormier, Stipe Miocic, More
Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix Update
The semifinals of the tournament have not yet been confirmed for a particular date or location, but Bellator promoter Scott Coker is aiming for October for the pair. If it turns out to be mid-October, it’s likely the championship fight would be the first big Bellator fight of 2019.
Chael Sonnen vs. Fedor Emelianenko
Ryan Bader vs. Matt Mitrione
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Heavyweight Division
1) Daniel Cormier (21-1, 1 NC)
Birthday: March 20, 1979
Height: 5’9
Weight: 239
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018
– vs. Jon Jones – No Contest (originally a loss via TKO) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017
– vs. Anthony Johnson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 210 – April 8, 2017
– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Daniel Cormier is the new UFC heavyweight champion, making him the second person (Conor McGregor being the other) to hold UFC titles simultaneously. Cormier’s light heavyweight title appears to be on ice at the moment as he looks at defending his newly won championship this fall.
Cormier emerged as the best heavyweight in Strikeforce in 2012, when he was an injury replacement in their Heavyweight Grand Prix. He knocked out Bigfoot Silva and bested Josh Barnett in five rounds. In 2013, he switched to the UFC and beat Frank Mir and Roy Nelson before choosing to drop down to 205-pounds (primarily because of the presence of buddy Cain Velasquez). In the time since then, with the exception of Jon Jones, he has proven to be the best 205-pound fighter. Without any exciting challengers at light heavyweight, he had the chance to return to heavyweight to fight Stipe Miocic and despite being 39-years-old, Cormier looked as good as he ever has inside a cage.
What’s ahead? The man himself sees two more fights in his future before calling it a fight career. Specifically, he is planning for a November Madison Square Garden fight with Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar has not competed in MMA since July 2016 when he won a decision against Mark Hunt, but failed a drug test for a banned substance. He reportedly just recently reentered the USADA testing pool, though it would take an athletic commission waiver so he can fight in November.
2) Stipe Miocic (18-3)
Birthday: August 19, 1982
Height: 6’4
Weight: 245
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Miocic’s title reign came to an end Saturday night in Las Vegas in what would’ve been his fourth defense of the championship. Instead, he was knocked out in the first round, and it’s been nearly six years since he was last finished (by Stefan Struve). Stipe’s run at the top was littered with first round stoppages and with the exception of his five-round thrashing of Francis Ngannou earlier this year, he only fought within the first five minutes. He will be 36-years-old next month, but there’s no reason to think he will not be able to bounce back into the title picture by next spring.
It does look like his first non-title fight in over two years may be against Derrick Lewis, but there’s plenty of time to hypothesize about that.
3) Alexander “Drago” Volkov (30-6)
Birthday: October 24, 1988
Height: 6’7
Weight: 235
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 17, 2018
– vs. Stefan Struve – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 2, 2017
– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017
– vs. Timothy Johnson – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016
– vs. Attila Vegh – Win via KO (strikes) – M-1 Challenge 68 – June 16, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
4) Derrick Lewis (20-5, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 7, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 260
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2016
– vs. Marcin Tybura – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – February 18, 2018
– vs. Mark Hunt – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 10, 2017
– vs. Travis Browne – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 19, 2017
– vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – December 9, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
5) Francis Ngannou (11-3)
Birthday: September 5, 1986
Height: 6’4
Weight: 255
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2016
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – January 28, 2017
– vs. Anthony Hamilton – Win via submission (Kimura) – UFC Fight Night – December 9, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
6) Alistair Overeem (43-17, 1 No Contest)
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Height: 6’5
Weight: 240
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Curtis Blaydes – Loss via TKO (elbows) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via decision (split) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via KO (knee) – UFC 209 – March 4, 2017
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Fabricio Werdum (23-8-1)
Birthday: July 30, 1977
Height: 6’4
Weight: 242
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 wins:
– vs. Alexander Volkov – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 17, 2018
– vs. Marcin Tybura – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 18, 2017
– vs. Walt Harris – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC 216 – October 7, 2017
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
– vs. Travis Browne – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Curtis Blaydes (10-1, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 18, 1991
Height: 6’4
Weight: 250
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via TKO (elbows) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 221 – February 10, 2018
– vs. Alexey Oleynik – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017
– vs. Daniel Omielanczuk – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
– vs. Adam Milstead – No Contest (originally a Blaydes win via TKO overturned due to marijuana) – UFC Fight Night – February 4, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) Mark Hunt (13-12-1, 1 NC)
Birthday: March 23, 1974
Height: 5’10
Weight: 264
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Curtis Blaydes – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 221 – February 10, 2018
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 10, 2017
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via KO (knee) – UFC 209 – March 4, 2017
– vs. Brock Lesnar – No Contest (originally, unanimous decision loss) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
– vs. Frank Mir – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 20, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Though not official just yet, the UFC is working to sign a headline fight for the UFC’s September show in Russia between Hunt and Alexey Oliynyk.
10) Vitaly Minakov (21-0)
Birthday: February 6, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 249
Currently fighting with: Fight Nights Global
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Tony Johnson – Win via TKO (strikes) – Fight Nights Global – December 16, 2017
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via KO (punches) – Fight Nights Global 68 – June 2, 2017
– vs. DJ Linderman – Win via KO (strikes) – Fight Nights Global 59 – February 23, 2017
– vs. Peter Graham – Win via submission (armor) – EFN 50 – June 17, 2016
– vs. Josh Copeland – Win via submission (Kimura) – EFN: Fight Nights Moscow – December 11, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
11) Alexey Oleynik (56-11-1)
Birthday: June 25, 1977
Height: 6’1
Weight: 240
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Junior Albini – Win via submission (Ezekiel choke) — UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Curtis Blaydes – Loss via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017
– vs. Travis Browne – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
– vs. Viktor Pesta – Win via submission (Ezekiel choke) – UFC Fight Night – January 15, 2017
– vs. Daniel Omielanczuk – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – July 13, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) Blagoy Ivanov (16-1, 1 NC)
Birthday: October 9, 1986
Height: 5’11
Weight: 251
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Caio Alencar – Win via decision (unanimous) – PFL – November 2, 2017
– vs. Shawn Jordan – Win via TKO (strikes) – WSOF 35 – March 18, 2017
– vs. Josh Copeland – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 31 – June 17, 2016
– vs. Derrick Mehmen – Win via TKO (strikes) – WSOF 24 – October 17, 2015
– vs. Smeallnho Rama – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – WSOF 21 – June 5, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Junior dos Santos – UFC Fight Night – July 14, 2018
13) Matt Mitrione (13-5)
Birthday: July 15, 1978
Height: 6’3
Weight: 260
Currently fighting with: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 194 – February 16, 2018
– vs. Fedor Emelianenko – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017
– vs. Oll Thompson – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 158 – July 16, 2016
– vs. Carl Seumanutafa – Win via KO (punch) – Bellator 157 – June 24, 2016
– vs. Travis Browne – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Ryan Bader – Bellator MMA – TBA
14) Marcin “Tybur” Tybura (16-4)
Birthday: November 9, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 249
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – February 18, 2018
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 18, 2017
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 17, 2017
– vs. Luis Henrique Barbosa de Oliveira – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 209 – March 4, 2017
– vs. Viktor Pesta – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night – August 6, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Stefan Struve – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018
15) Ryan Bader (25-5)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: June 7, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. King Mo Lawal – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator 199 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Linton Vassell – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 186 – November 3, 2017
– vs. Phil Davis – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017
– vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016
– vs. Ilir Latifi – Win via KO (knee) – UFC Fight Night – September 3, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Matt Mitrione – Bellator MMA – TBD
