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411 Welterweight MMA Rankings: Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns, More
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Welterweight Division
1) Kamaru Usman (17-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: May 11, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Demian Maia – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Originally planned for December’s UFC 256, the Usman title defense against Gilbert Burns has been pushed back to 2021. The champion reportedly needed additional time to heal and prepare. Whenever that fight happens, Burns is a lethal opponent for any welterweight and it shows how stacked this division has been over the last year.
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 (19-3)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: July 20, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Mike Davis – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – April 27, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
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
Comment: The natural fight to determine the next contender should see Covington and Masvidal square off, but nothing has been signed to date. Whether they’re even negotiating towards this is unclear, too.
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:
– vs. Dustin Poirier – UFC 257 – January 23, 2021
Comment: Finally, the McGregor-Poirier rematch is official and will take place in January at lightweight. With Khabib Nurmagomedov retiring, it made the most sense for both fighters, so don’t expect to see McGregor stick at welterweight beyond this set of rankings.
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) 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. Khamzat Chimaev – UFC Fight Night – December 19, 2020
Comment: When was the last time a UFC #3 ranked fighter on a win streak signed to fight an unranked prospect? Here we are.
Way back in March, about a week before many states across the United States (and cities worldwide) began closing down due to COVID-19, Leon Edwards had been prepping to fight Tyron Woodley at the O2 Arena in London. It would have been the biggest fight of Edwards’ career and a potential launching pad into a title fight. Due to the restrictions from the pandemic, the show was initially moved to the United States and then canceled outright. Two weeks ago, Edwards’ return to action was announced as a difficult matchup next month in Las Vegas. He will fight undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, a 26-year-old prospect out of Europe. It’s not the type of challenger that would vault Edwards into that UFC championship fight, but you can understand he’s itching to become active again. Perhaps not so amazingly, Chimaev is the odds-on favorite to beat Edwards, who was last seen handily beating Rafael dos Anjos in 2019.
How is a 9-0 fighter like Chimaev is already the favorite against a UFC veteran in the prime of his career like Edwards? After all, nobody Chimaev has beaten is a ranked fighter in the UFC or otherwise. Chimaev has jumped between 185-pounds and 170-pounds but this is in line with the “invasion” of impressive Eastern European fighters following in the footsteps of Khabib Nurmagomedov. With Edwards out of the limelight for over a year, a win halting the momentum of Chimaev would be a huge statement. A loss probably ends Edwards’ title hopes at the hands of COVID & Chimaev.
8) 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: Much like Rory MacDonald, reigning welterweight champ Douglas Lima moved up to middleweight to try and become a champ-champ. Just like MacDonald, Lima was outclassed by Gegard Mousasi. The loss assuredly means Lima will return to welterweight and focus on defending his championship in 2021.
9) 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:
– Unknown
10) 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
11) 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
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:
– vs. Geoff Neal – UFC Fight Night – December 19, 2020
13) Neil Magny (24-7)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: August 3, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Craig White – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 27, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
14) 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:
– vs. Stephen Thomspon – UFC Fight Night – December 19, 2020
15) Vincente 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:
– Unknown
