mma / Columns

411’s Lightweight MMA Rankings: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson, More

January 7, 2020 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s Official MMA Rankings

Lightweight Division (155 lbs)


1) Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: September 20, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Dustin Poirier – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 242 – September 7, 2019

– vs. Conor McGregor – Win via submission (neck crank) – UFC 229 – October 6, 2018

– vs. Al Iaquinta – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 223 – April 7, 2018

– vs. Edson Barboza – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 219 – December 30, 2017

– vs. Michael Johnson – Win via submission (kimura) – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Tony Ferguson – UFC 249 – April 18, 2020

Comment: The most anticipated fight of the year – that we know about – is on the books for April in Brooklyn. The fifth iteration of a fight between Nurmagomedov and Ferguson that is literally years in the making, we can only hope both men remain healthy enough to enter the cage on April 18. Khabib is unbeaten in 28 professional fights. Ferguson has 25 wins in 28 pro fights and has not tasted defeat since 2012. We’re talking Jones/Cormier type of elite fighters.



2) Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson (25-3)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: February 12, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019

– vs. Anthony Pettis – Win via TKO (injury) – UFC 229 – October 6, 2018

– vs. Kevin Lee – Win via submission (triangle choke) – UFC 216 – October 7, 2017

– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via decision (unanimous) – TUF Finale – November 5, 2016

– vs. Lando Vanatta – Win via submission (Brabo choke) – UFC Fight Night – July 13, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov – UFC 249 – April 18, 2020

Comment: Ferguson entered the UFC by winning the TUF season with Lesnar and Dos Santos as coaches. This was nine years ago. To say that Ferguson is 15-1 since that night is incredible. There have been multiple chances for him to fall off the wagon before getting a UFC title fight, but he’s always pulled through and only increased his standing in the promotion. He’s only fought once in each of the past three years, but this spring will see him finally compete for an undisputed UFC belt.



3) Dustin Poirier (25-6, 1 NC)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: January 19, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 242 – September 7, 2019

– vs. Max Holloway – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 236 – April 13, 2019

– vs. Eddie Alvarez – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – July 28, 2018

– vs. Justin Gaethje – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 14, 2018

– vs. Anthony Pettis – Win via TKO (rib injury) – UFC Fight Night – November 11, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



4) Justin Gaethje (21-2)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: November 14, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 6 fights:

– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 14, 2019

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

– vs. James Vick – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – August 25, 2018

– vs. Dustin Poirier – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 14, 2018

– vs. Eddie Alvarez – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Gaethje didn’t get the Conor McGregor fight just yet, but there’s no denying he remains one of the most exciting fighters in the division. He may rematch with Dustin Poirier, perhaps he’ll be next up for McGregor later this year; he has options.



5) 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

Comment: Patricio was a stud undefeated (12-0) Brazilian fighter when he made his Bellator/U.S. debut in the spring of 2010. Ten years later, he’s considered one of the best lightweights in the world while being a champ-champ, holding the company’s featherweight title, too. He’s 30-4 now – is it possible we still haven’t seen the best from him?



6) “Notorious” Conor McGregor (21-4)

Height: 5’8

Birthday: July 14, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Jose Aldo – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Donald Cerrone – UFC 246 – January 18, 2020

Comment: McGregor will step back in the octagon in 11 days, his first fight since he was submitted by Khabib over a year ago. This fight is at welterweight and although he talks of possibly fighting Justin Gaethje and getting a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov, it’s likely he’ll stick at 170-pounds en route to fights with Jorge Masvidal, Kamaru Usman and even Nate Diaz. First, he’ll have to stop Cowboy Cerrone at UFC 246.



7) Kevin Lee (18-5)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: September 4, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Gregor Gillespie – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019

– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Loss via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night – May 18, 2019

– vs. Al Iaquinta – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 15, 2018

– vs. Edson Barboza – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC Fight Night – April 21, 2018

– vs. Tony Ferguson – Loss via submission (triangle choke) – UFC 216 – October 7, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



8) Michael Chandler (20-5)

Height: 5’8

Birthday: April 24, 1986

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Sidney Outlaw – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator 237 – December 29, 2019

– vs. Patricio “Pitbull” Friere – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 221 – May 11, 2019

– vs. Brent Primus – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 212 – December 14, 2018

– vs. Brandon Girtz – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – Bellator 197 – April 13, 2018

– vs. Goiti Yamauchi – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 192 – January 20, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



9) Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (23-9)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: January 21, 1986

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA & Rizin FF

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Tofig Musayev – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Rizin FF 20 – December 31, 2019

– vs. Luiz Gustavo – Win via TKO (strikes & soccer kick) – Rizin FF 20 – December 31, 2019

– vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri – Win via KO (flying knee) – Rizin FF 19 – October 12, 2019

– vs. Ryan Scope – Win via decision (split) – Bellator Newcastle – February 9, 2019

– vs. Roger Huerta – Win via KO (punch) – Bellator 205 – September 21, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



10) Paul Felder (17-4)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: April 25, 1985

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Edson Barboza – Win via decision (split) – UFC 242 – September 7, 2019

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

– vs. Mike Perry – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018

– vs. Charles Oliveira – Win via TKO (elbows) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017

– vs. Steven Ray – Win via KO (elbows) – UFC Fight Night – July 16, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Dan Hooker – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2020



11) “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (36-13, 1 NC)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: March 29, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Justin Gaethje – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 14, 2019

– vs. Tony Ferguson – Loss via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019

– vs. Al Iaquinta – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 4, 2019

– vs. Alexander Hernandez – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – January 19, 2019

– vs. Mike Perry – Win via submission (armor) – UFC Fight Night – November 10, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Conor McGregor – UFC 246 – January 18, 2020




12) Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira (28-8, 1 NC)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: October 17, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jared Gordon – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 16, 2019

– vs. Nik Lentz – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 18, 2019

– vs. David Teymur – Win via submission (anaconda choke) – UFC Fight Night – February 2, 2019

– vs. Jim Miller – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on Fox – December 15, 2018

– vs. Christos Giagos – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – September 22, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



13) Diego Ferreira (16-2)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: January 18, 1985

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Mairbek Taisumov – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 242 – September 7, 2019

– vs. Rustam Khabilov – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2019

– vs. Kyle Nelson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018

– vs. Jared Gordon – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 18, 2018

– vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Anthony Pettis – UFC 246 – January 18, 2020



14) Eddie Alvarez (30-7, 1 NC)

Birthday: November 11, 1984

Currently Fighting With: One Championship

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Eduard Folayang – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – ONE Championship – August 2, 2019

– vs. Timofey Nastyukhin – Loss via TKO (strikes) – ONE Championship – March 31, 2019

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

– vs. Justin Gaethje – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017

– vs. Dustin Poirier – No Contest (illegal strikes) – UFC 211: Miocic vs. dos Santos – May 13, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Dan Hooker (19-8)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: February 13, 1990

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Al Iaquinta – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 243 – October 6, 2019

– vs. James Vick – Win via KO (punch) – UFC on ESPN – July 20, 2019

– vs. Edson Barboza – Loss via TKO (body punch) – UFC on Fox – December 15, 2018

– vs. Gilbert Burns – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018

– vs. Jim Miller – Win via KO (knee) – UFC Fight Night – April 21, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Paul Felder – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2020