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411’s Featherweight MMA Rankings: Alexander Volkanovski, Korean Zombie, More

December 24, 2019 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s Official MMA Rankings

Featherweight Division (145 lbs)


1) Alexander Volkanovski (21-1)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: September 29, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Max Holloway – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

– vs. Jose Aldo – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 237 – May 10, 2019

– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018

– vs. Darren Elkins – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 14, 2018

– vs. Jeremy Kennedy – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 221 – February 10, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Volkanovski became the fourth different UFC featherweight champion with his decision victory over Max Holloway at UFC 245 ten days ago. Considering his Spring win over Jose Aldo, he now has wins over two previous champions. He appeared willing to offer Max an immediate rematch in 2020, although it’s possible someone else can leap into that spot based on variables.



2) Max Holloway (21-5)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: December 4, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Alexander Volkanovski – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

– vs. Frankie Edgar – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 240 – July 27, 2019

– vs. Dustin Poirier – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 236 – April 13, 2019

– vs. Brian Ortega – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018

– vs. Jose Aldo – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Entering 2019, Holloway was fresh off his most dominant win as featherweight champion when he battered Brian Ortega. Unfortunately for him, 2019 proved more difficult than anyone could have anticipated. He moved up to lightweight for a fight with Dustin Poirier and lost. While he was able to defend the featherweight crown against Frankie Edgar, he ended up losing the title to Alexander Volkanovski. Max just turned 28-years-old, so he likely has not even reached his physical prime yet. It would be shocking if he is considered anything other than one of the elite featherweights at this time next year.



3) Brian Ortega (14-1, 1 NC)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: February 21, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Max Holloway – Loss via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018

– vs. Frankie Edgar – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 222 – March 3, 2018

– vs. Cub Swanson – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – December 9, 2017

– vs. Renato Moicano – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017

– vs. Clay Guida – Win via KO (knee) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping – June 4, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



4) Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (30-4)

Height: 5’5

Birthday: July 7, 1987

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Juan Archuleta – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 228 – September 28, 2019

– vs. Michael Chandler – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 221 – May 11, 2019

– vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 209 – November 15, 2018

– vs. Daniel Weichel – Win via decision (split) – Bellator MMA – July 14, 2018

– vs. Daniel Straus – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – Bellator 178 – April 21, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



5) Josh Emmett (15-2)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: March 4, 1985

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Mirsad Bektic – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 13, 2019

– vs. Michael Johnson – Win via KO (punch) – UFC on ESPN 2 – March 30, 2019

– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – February 24, 2018

– vs. Ricardo Lamas – Win via KO (punch) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017

– vs. Felipe Arantes – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 21, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Arnold Allen – UFC Fight Night – January 25, 2020




6) Zabit Magomedsharipov (18-1)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: March 1, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Calvin Kattar – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 9, 2019

– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– vs. Brandon Davis – Win via submission (kneeler) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018

– vs. Kyle Bochniak – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 223 – April 7, 2018

– vs. Sheymon Moraes – Win via submission (anaconda choke) – UFC Fight Night – November 25, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



7) Yair Rodriguez (12-2, 1 NC)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: October 6, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – October 18, 2019

– vs. Jeremy Stephens – No Contest (accidental eye poke) – UFC Fight Night – September 21, 2019

– vs. Chan Sung Jung – Win via KO (elbow) – UFC Fight Night – November 10, 2018

– vs. Frankie Edgar – Loss via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017

– vs. B.J. Penn – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – January 15, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



8) “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (16-5)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: March 17, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Frankie Edgar – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on ESPN – December 21, 2019

– vs. Renato Moicano – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 22, 2019

– vs. Yair Rodriguez – Loss via KO (elbow) – UFC Fight Night – November 10, 2018

– vs. Dennis Bermudez – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – February 4, 2017

– vs. Jose Aldo – Loss via TKO (punches) – UFC 163: Aldo vs. Korean Zombie – August 3, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: The Korean Zombie looked great and secured the biggest win of his career by stopping Frankie Edgar. Is it enough to earn him a title fight with Volkanovski? Unlikely, although if timing works in his favor, it’s possible another win could prove enough.



9) Frankie Edgar (23-8-1)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: October 16, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 6 fights:

– vs. Chan Sung Jung – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on ESPN – December 21, 2019

– vs. Max Holloway – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 240 – July 27, 2019

– vs. Cub Swanson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 21. 2018

– vs. Brian Ortega – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 222 – March 3, 2018

– vs. Yair Rodriguez – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Edgar took a fight against The Korean Zombie in South Korea on short notice and was finished by strikes on Saturday. 2019 will mark the first year since 2012 that Edgar will go a calendar year without a win (back then it was due to Benson Henderson). Edgar’s days as a contender at 145 appear slimmer and slimmer each time he leaves the octagon. s



10) Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens (28-17, 1 NC)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: May 26, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Yair Rodriguez – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – October 18, 2019

– vs. Yair Rodriguez – No Contest (accidental eye poke) – UFC Fight Night – September 21, 2019

– vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– vs. Jose Aldo – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – July 28, 2018

– vs. Josh Emmett – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – February 24, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



11) Emmanuel “El Matador” Sanchez (19-4)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: August 11, 1990

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Tywan Claxton – Win via submission (triangle choke) – Bellator 226 – September 7, 2019

– vs. Georgi Karakhanyan – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 218 – March 22, 2019

– vs. Pitbull Freire – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 209 – November 15, 2018

– vs. Sam Sicilia – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – Bellator 198 – April 28, 2018

– vs. Daniel Straus – Win via submission (triangle choke) – Bellator MMA – October 6, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) Mateusz Gamrot (15-0, 1 NC)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: December 11, 1990

Currently Fighting With: KSW

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Kleber Koike Erbst – Win via decision (unanimous) – KSW 46 – December 1, 2018

– vs. Grzegorz Szulakowski – Win via submission (Keylock) – KSW 42 – March 3, 2018

– vs. Norman Parke – No Contest (eye poke) – KSW 40 – October 22, 2017

– vs. Norman Parke – Win via decision (unanimous) – KSW 39 – May 27, 2017

– vs. Renato Gomes Gabriel – Win via submission (heel hook) – KSW 36 – October 1, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



13) Shane Burgos (13-1)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: March 19, 1991

Currently Fighting With: Free Agent

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Makwan Amirkhani – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019

– vs. Cub Swanson – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – May 4, 2019

– vs. Kurt Holobaugh – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018

– vs. Calvin Kattar – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018

– vs. Godofredo Pepey – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – July 22, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



14) Mirsad Bektic (13-2)

Height: 5’8

Birthday: February 16, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Josh Emmett – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 13, 2019

– vs. Ricardo Lamas – Win via decision (split) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018

– vs. Godofredo Castro – Win via KO (body punch) – UFC on Fox – January 27, 2018

– vs. Darren Elkins – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 209 – March 4, 2017

– vs. Russell Doane – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 204 – October 8, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Dan Age – UFC 247 – February 8, 2020



15) Andre Fili (20-6)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: June 25, 1990

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Sheymon Moraes – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 13, 2019

– vs. Myles Jury – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – February 17, 2019

– vs. Michael Johnson – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – August 25, 2018

– vs. Dennis Bermudez – Win via decision (split) – UFC on Fox – January 27, 2018

– vs. Artem Lobov – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 21, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Sodiq Yusuff – UFC 246 – January 18, 2020