mma / Columns

411 Welterweight MMA Rankings: Conor McGregor, Kamaru Usman, More

January 21, 2020 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon


411’s Official MMA Rankings

Welterweight Division


1) Kamaru Usman (16-1)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: May 11, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Colby Covington – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

– vs. Tyron Woodley – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 30, 2018

– vs. Demian Maia – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018

– vs. Emil Weber Meek – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – January 14, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Usman delivered in his first title defense last month, one of the best fights in all of 2019. A physical war between the champion and challenger Colby Covington that left unfinished business in the eyes of some despite the stoppage. While a rematch between them appears like something that could happen at the end of the year or in 2021, Usman’s name is on a shortlist of fighters who have some chance of a big payday being an opponent for Conor McGregor. If that does not pan out, potential challengers in the near term would be Jorge Masvidal (unless he becomes CM’s next fight) or potentially a Tyron Woodley/Leon Edwards winner.



2) Tyron Woodley (19-4-1)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: April 17, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Kamaru Usman – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– vs. Darren Till – Win via submission (D’Arce choke) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018

– vs. Demian Maia – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017

– vs. Stephen Thompson – Win via decision (split) – UFC 209: Woodley vs. Thompson 2 – March 4, 2017

– vs. Stephen Thompson – Draw via decision – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Leon Edwards – UFC on ESPN+ – March 21, 2020



3) Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (35-13)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: November 12, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Nate Diaz – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019

– vs. Ben Askren – Win via KO (flying knee) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019

– vs. Darren Till – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 16, 2019

– vs. Stephen Thompson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017

– vs. Demian Maia – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



4) Colby Covington (15-2)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: February 22, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Kamaru Usman – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

– vs. Robbie Lawler – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – August 3, 2019

– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018

– vs. Demian Maia – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017

– vs. Dong Hyun Kim – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 17, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: It’s likely Covington suffered a broken jaw in his loss against Usman, though he has not spoken much, if at all, about it since the fight. There’s been no talk, also, of a return date. Assuming he can heal up in time for a fight in late-spring or the summer, which path he takes on his redemption trek to a title fight rematch will be one of the more interesting stories of the year in the welterweight division.



5) “Notorious” Conor McGregor (22-4)

Height: 5’8

Birthday: July 14, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 246 – January 18, 2020

– vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov – Loss via submission (neck crank) – UFC 229 – October 6, 2018

– vs. Eddie Alvarez – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016

– vs. Nate Diaz – Win via decision (split) – UFC 202 – August 20, 2016

– vs. Nate Diaz – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 196 – March 5, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: In his first action in 14 months, McGregor stopped Cowboy Cerrone in 40 seconds. Even going into UFC 246, it seemed the biggest question was who Conor would be fighting next, instead of any concern involving Cerrone. Today, that has not changed. UFC President Dana White has publicly talked of his desire to book a rematch between Khabib Nurmagomedov and McGregor, if the former comes out of his UFC 249 fight with Tony Ferguson still unbeaten. However, there’s some momentum and a lot of interest to see McGregor stick around at welterweight and specifically fight Jorge Masvidal. This idea makes sense for Masvidal who has said time and again that he’s not solely focused on a title belt and instead is interested in the biggest money fights available to him – McGregor is the largest such fight for anyone he fights.

If Conor McGregor is true in his intentions to stay active this year, it may not be long before we find out what’s next for him or at least whether that next fight will take place at welterweight or lightweight.



6) Nate Diaz (20-12)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: April 16, 1985

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jorge Masvidal – Loss via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019

– vs. Anthony Pettis – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019

– vs. Conor McGregor – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 202: Diaz vs. McGregor 2 – August 20, 2016

– vs. Conor McGregor – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz – March 5, 2016

– vs. Michael Johnson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy – December 19, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



7) Douglas Lima (32-7)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: January 5, 1988

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rory MacDonald – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 232 – October 26, 2019

– vs. Michael Page – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix – May 11, 2019

– vs. Andrey Koreshkov – Win via technical submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 206 – September 29, 2018

– vs. Rory MacDonald – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator MMA – January 20, 2018

– vs. Lorenz Larkin – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



8) Santiago Ponzinibbio (27-3)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: September 26, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Neil Magny – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – November 17, 2018

– vs. Mike Perry – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017

– vs. Gunnar Nelson – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 16, 2017

– vs. Nordine Taleb – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 19, 2017

– vs. Zak Cummings – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – August 6, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



9) Rory MacDonald (21-6-1)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: July 22, 1989

Currently Fighting With: PFL

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rory MacDonald – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 232 – October 26, 2019

– vs. Neiman Gracie – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 222 – June 14, 2019

– vs. Jon Fitch – Draw via decision (split) – Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix – Bellator 220 – April 27, 2019

– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Bellator MMA – September 29, 2018

– vs. Douglas Lima – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 192 – January 20, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: MacDonald has signed to join the Professional Fighters League and will participate in their 2020 welterweight tournament with a prize of $1 million and season championship. Expect it to kick off in the spring.



10) Leon Edwards (18-3)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: August 25, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – July 20, 2019

– vs. Gunnar Nelson – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – March 16, 2019

– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 23, 2018

– vs. Peter Sobotta – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 17, 2018

– vs. Bryan Barbarena – Win via decision (unanimous) – September 2, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Tyron Woodley – UFC on ESPN+ – March 21, 2020



11) Demian Maia (28-9)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: November 6, 1977

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Ben Askren – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – October 26, 2019

– vs. Anthony Rocco Martin – Win via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN – June 29, 2019

– vs. Lyman Good – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – February 2, 2019

– vs. Kamaru Usman – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018

– vs. Colby Covington – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Gilbert Burns – UFC Fight Night – March 14, 2020

Comment: This fight between Maia and Gilbert Burns is a must-see fight. Two Brazilians, two of the best submission grapplers in the world – under MMA rules. Maia has won his last three fights, Burns is on a four-fight win streak.



12) Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (15-4-1)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: February 11, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Vicente Luque – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019

– vs. Anthony Pettis – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 23, 2019

– vs. Darren Till – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 27, 2018

– vs. Jorge Masvidal – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017

– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 209: Woodley vs. Thompson 2 – March 4, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



13) “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (28-14, 1 NC)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: March 20, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Colby Covington – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – August 3, 2019

– vs. Ben Askren – Loss via submission (bulldog choke) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017

– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017

– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 201: Lawler vs. Woodley – July 30, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



14) Jon Fitch (31-7-2, 1 NC)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: February 24, 1978

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rory MacDonald – Draw via decision (split) – Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix – Bellator 220 – April 27, 2019

– vs. Paul Daley – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 199 – May 12, 2018

– vs. Brian Foster – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – PFL – June 30, 2017

– vs. Jake Shields – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 34 – December 31, 2016

– vs. Joao Zeferino – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 30 – April 2, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Geoff Neal (13-2)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: August 28, 1990

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Mike Perry – Win via TKO (head kick) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

– vs. Niko Price – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 240 – July 27, 2019

– vs. Belal Muhammad – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – January 19, 2019

– vs. Frank Camacho – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018

– vs. Brian Camozzi – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – February 18, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown