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411 Welterweight MMA Rankings: Jorge Masvidal, Kamaru Usman, More
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Welterweight Division
1) Kamaru Usman (18-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: May 11, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Gilbert Burns – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 258 – February 13, 2021
– vs. Jorge Masvidal – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 251 – July 11, 2020
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Usman is now 5th all-time in UFC welterweight championship defenses behind GSP (9x), Matt Hughes (5x), Pat Miletich (4x) and Tyron Woodley (4x), following his win over Gilbert Burns on Saturday. It was as impressive Usman has looked in a title fight with improved striking that picked the Brazilian apart. It was Burns’ first loss in nearly three years.
Who may be Usman’s next challenger? It’s uncertain since nobody is a direct threat with Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington, Nate Diaz, Leon Edwards and anyone else at least one win away from staking their claims. Perhaps they will try to move right into a rematch with Masvidal for the quick money.
2) Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (35-14)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: November 12, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kamaru Usman – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 251 – July 11, 2020
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
3) Gilbert Burns (19-4)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: July 20, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kamaru Usman – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 258 – February 13, 2021
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 30, 2020
– vs. Demian Maia – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 14, 2020
– vs. Gunnar Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 28, 2019
– vs. Alexey Kunchenko – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – August 10, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSE9-GDHyX4
4) Colby Covington (16-2)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: February 22, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 19, 2020
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
5) 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
6) 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. TBD – UFC Fight Night – March 13, 2021
Comment: Edwards cannot seem to catch a break. Originally, he was set to fight Tyron Woodley back in March last year, but the pandemic forced the show to be moved from England to the U.S. and then it was canceled outright. Late in 2020, it was announced Edwards would return to action against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of a Fight Night show in December. Weeks before the show, Chimaev was said to have tested positive for COVID-19 before it was announced Edwards had tested positive for COVID-19. The fight was postponed until this month but then Chimaev was still recovering and withdrew altogether. Then, the fight was brought back and scheduled for March 13. Last week, UFC president Dana White announced that Chimaev was still not ready to return and was pulled from the fight, again.
Now, the UFC is trying to put together a matchup between Edwards and Colby Covington, even if it means pushing Edwards back for some time. Edwards was challenging Covington, Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz in hopes to get back into action before anything else happens.
7) Douglas Lima (32-8)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: January 5, 1988
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 250 – October 29, 2020
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Lima has not defended the Bellator welterweight championship since he defeated Rory MacDonald for it in late 2019. With his dream of becoming the middleweight champion now in the rearview mirror, Lima will be among the stars for Bellator as they kick off their new TV home on Showtime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tglD-1fDGUY
8) Tyron Woodley (19-6-1)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: April 17, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Colby Covington – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 19, 2020
– vs. Gilbert Burns – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 30, 2020
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Vicente Luque – UFC 260 – March 27, 2021
9) Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (16-4-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: February 11, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Geoff Neal – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – December 19, 2020
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
10) Rory MacDonald (21-6-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: July 22, 1989
Currently Fighting With: PFL
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Douglas Lima – 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: The PFL is back! They have not held an event since 2019 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. That also means Rory MacDonald will be making his PFL debut whenever their welterweight season starts. Their first show will be in April, so expect Rory to be in action some time around then. Other welterweights in action this season will include Magomed Magomedkerimov, Ray Cooper, Sadibou Sy, David Michaud and Joao Zeferino. The winner of the welterweight tournament will earn a $1 million check.
According to MMAFighting.com, MacDonald has moved camps from Tri-Star to Sanford MMA along with the likes of Gilbert Burns and Michael Chandler.
11) Michael Chiesa (18-4)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: December 7, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Neil Magny – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – January 20, 2021
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – January 25, 2020
– vs. Diego Sanchez – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019
– vs. Carlos Condit – Win via submission (Kimura) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
– vs. Anthony Pettis – Loss via submission (triangle armbar) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) Jingliang Li (18-6)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: March 20, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio – Win via KO (punch) – UFC on ABC – January 16, 2021
– vs. Neil Magny – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020
– vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – August 31, 2019
– vs. David Zawada – Win via KO (body kick) – UFC Fight Night – November 24, 2018
– vs. Daichi Abe – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 23, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Li bounced back from his last loss by welcoming Santiago Ponzinibbio back to the cage with a first round knockout. While Santiago had not fought since November 2018 due to various injuries, when he last competed, he was among the top contenders in the division – not any longer. Li had lost a decision to Neil Magny last year but with this win, he should definitely get another fight with a welterweight ranked above him. Depending on the timing, ideal matchups could be either Michael Chiesa or Stephen Thompson. In fact, the potential fireworks with a fight against Wonderboy should be where the UFC goes next.
13) Santiago Ponzinibbio (27-4)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: September 26, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jingliang Li – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC on ABC – January 16, 2021
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
14) Neil Magny (24-8)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: August 3, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Michael Chiesa – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – January 20, 2021
– vs. Robbie Lawler – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – August 29, 2020
– vs. Anthony Rocco Martin – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 250 – June 6, 2020
– vs. Jingliang Li – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020
– vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – November 17, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Vicente Luque (19-7)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: November 17, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Randy Brown – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – August 1, 2020
– vs. Niko Price – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 249 – May 9, 2020
– vs. Stephen Thompson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019
– vs. Mike Perry – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – August 10, 2019
– vs. Derrick Krantz – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 18, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Tyron Woodley – UFC 260 – March 27, 2021
Comment: Yes, Tyron Woodley has lost three consecutive fights, but he remains a former UFC welterweight champion. For Vicente Luque, this is a great matchup as Woodley will be the opponent with a bigger name than anyone he’s fought before. The last time Luque fought a real title contender, he was on the losing side of a decision against Stephen Thompson. If Luque is to make his ascent up the rankings in 2021, he’s got to beat Woodley next month.
