mma / Columns

411’s Middleweight MMA Rankings: Israel Adesanya, Yoel Romero, More

February 4, 2020 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s Official MMA Rankings

Middleweight Division (185 pounds)


1) Israel Adesanya (18-0)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: July 22, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Robert Whittaker – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 243 – October 6, 2019

– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 236 – April 13, 2019

– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 234 – February 9, 2019

– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018

– vs. Brad Tavares – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC TUF Finale – July 6, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Yoel Romero – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020

Comment: With Paulo Costa injured, no one benefits more than Yoel Romero. Despite not having won a fight in nearly two full years, Romero will be the first man to challenge champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 248 next month.



2) Robert Whittaker (20-5)

Height: 6′

Birthday: December 20, 1990

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Israel Adesanya – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 243 – October 6, 2019

– vs. Yoel Romero – Win via decision (split) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018

– vs. Yoel Romero – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017

– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017

– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 26, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Whittaker had been signed to fight Jared Cannonier next month, but pulled out of the fight last month due to personal reasons.



3) Paulo Costa (13-0)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: April 21, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Yoel Romero – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019

– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018

– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017

– vs. Oluwale Bamgbose – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 212 – June 3, 2017

– vs. Garreth McLellan – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 11, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



4) Yoel Romero (13-4)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: April 30, 1977

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Paulo Costa – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019

– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 221 – February 11, 2018

– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017

– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via KO (flying knee) – UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor – November 12, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Israel Adesanya – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020



5) Darren Till (18-2-1)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: December 24, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via decision (split) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019

– vs. Jorge Masvidal – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 16, 2019

– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via submission (D’Arce choke) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018

– vs. Stephen Thompson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 27, 2018

– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 21, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



6) Jared Cannonier (13-4)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: March 3, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jack Hermansson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 28, 2019

– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via TKO (leg kick) – UFC 237 – May 11, 2019

– vs. David Branch – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018

– vs. Dominick Reyes – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018

– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. TBA – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020

Comment: Jared is hoping to fight Kelvin Gastelum, though no replacement bout has been announced yet.



7) Kelvin Gastelum (15-5, 1 NC)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: October 24, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Darren Till – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019

– vs. Israel Adesanya – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 236 – April 13, 2019

– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via decision (split) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018

– vs. Michael Bisping – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – November 25, 2017

– vs. Chris Weidman – Loss via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC on Fox – July 22, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



8) Jack Hermansson (20-5)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: June 10, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jared Cannonier – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 28, 2019

– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – April 27, 2019

– vs. David Branch – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on ESPN – March 30, 2019

– vs. Gerald Meerschaert – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – December 15, 2018

– vs. Thales Leites – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



9) Derek Brunson (20-7)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: January 4, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Ian Heinisch – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019

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

– vs. Israel Adesanya – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018

– vs. Jacare Souza – Loss via KO (head kick and punches) – UFC on Fox – January 27, 2018

– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Edmen Shahbazyan – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020



10) Rafael Lovato Jr. (10-0)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: June 25, 1983

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator – June 22, 2019

– vs. John Salter – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 205 – September 21, 2018

– vs. Gerald Harris – Win via submission (armbar) – Bellator 198 – April 28, 2018

– vs. Chris Honeycutt – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 189 – December 1, 2017

– vs. Mike Rhodes – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 181 – July 14, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Lovato appeared on Joe Rogan’s MMA podcast last week and spoke about what he’s current dealing with. A brain scan last year prior to his fight with Gegard Mousasi revealed a disease called cavernoma. He is hopeful he will be able to continue his career in the future, but his focus is currently on his health right now and what may need to be done considering the health of his brain.

Bellator released a statement saying they support Lovato as he’s gone public with this difficult matter. They have not made any decisions as far as the state of Lovato’s middleweight championship.



11) Gegard Mousasi (46-7-2)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: August 1, 1985

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via decision (split) – Bellator MMA – September 28, 2019

– vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator MMA – June 22, 2019

– vs. Rory MacDonald – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 206 – September 29, 2018

– vs. Rafael Carvalho – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 200 – May 25, 2018

– vs. Alexander Shlemenko – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 185 – October 20, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) Omari Akhmedov (20-4-1)

Height: 6’

Birthday: October 12, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Ian Heinisch – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

– vs. Zak Cummings – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 242 – September 7, 2019

– vs. Tim Boetsch – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – March 9, 2019

– vs. Marvin Vettori – Draw via decision (split) – UFC 219 – December 30, 2017

– vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – May 28, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



13) Edmen Shahbazyan (11-0)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: November 20, 1997

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

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

– vs. Jack Marshman – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019

– vs. Charles Byrd – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– vs. Darren Stewart – Win via decision (split) – UFC TUF Finale – November 30, 2018

– vs. Antonio Jones – Win via TKO (strikes) – DW Contender Series – July 17, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Derek Brunson – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020



14) Ian “Hurricane” Heinisch (13-3)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: August 5, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Omari Akhmedov – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019

– vs. Derek Brunson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019

– vs. Antonio Carlos Jr. – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 18, 2019

– vs. Cezar Ferreira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 17, 2018

– vs. Justin Sumter – Win via KO (elbows) – DW Contender Series – July 31, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Lyoto Machida (26-9)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: May 30, 1978

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via decision (split) – Bellator MMA – September 28, 2019

– vs. Chael Sonnen – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator MMA – July 14, 2019

– vs. Rafael Carvalho – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 213 – December 15, 2018

– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via KO (front kick) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018

– vs. Eryk Anders – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – February 3, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown