mma / Columns

411’s MMA Rankings: Featherweight Division – Max Holloway, Jose Aldo, More

December 14, 2017 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon


411’s MMA Ranking Rules

– Which fighters are eligible for these rankings? They will meet the following qualifications: fight at least once in the past 365 days, or have an upcoming bout officially scheduled.

– A fighter serving a disciplinary suspension will not be ranked. They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded. This includes fighters who may disregard their suspension locally to fight overseas.


411’s Official MMA Rankings

Featherweight Division (145 lbs)


1) Max Holloway (19-3)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: December 4, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

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

– vs. Jose Aldo – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 212 – June 3, 2017

– vs. Anthony Pettis – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 206 – December 10, 2016

– vs. Ricardo Lamas – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping – June 4, 2016

– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Win via decision (unanumous) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




2) Jose Aldo (26-4)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: September 9, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Max Holloway – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017

– vs. Max Holloway – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 212 – June 3, 2017

– vs. Frankie Edgar – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200: Cormier vs. Jones 2 – July 9, 2016

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

– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2 – October 25, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



3) Frankie Edgar (22-5-1)

Height: 5’6

Birthday: October 16, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 6 fights:

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

– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016

– vs. Jose Aldo – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200: Cormier vs. Jones 2 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via KO (punches) – UFC TUF Finale – December 11, 2015

– vs. Urijah Faber – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber – May 16, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Edgar will be back in training within the next week or two following a broken orbital bone last month that forced him from UFC 218. He hopes to challenge Max Holloway for the championship in the first quarter of 2018.



4) Brian Ortega (13-0, 1 NC)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: February 21, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Diego Brandao – Win via submission (triangle choke) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016

– vs. Thiago Tavares – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 6, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Ortega secured the biggest win of his career this weekend when he choked out Cub Swanson in the main event on Fox Sports 1. A fighter who began building a name on the regional scene in California six years ago, he continues to impress as he becomes a legitimate title contender in the UFC. Since serving a nine month suspension for testing positive with an anabolic steroid in 2014, he has reeled off five consecutive wins, all finishes.



5) Ricardo Lamas (18-5)

Height: 5’8

Birthday: May 21, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jason Knight – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017

– vs. Charles Oliveira – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC TUF Finale – November 5, 2016

– vs. Max Holloway – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping – June 4, 2016

– vs. Diego Sanchez – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 21, 2015

– vs. Chad Mendes – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Mendes vs. Lamas – April 4, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Josh Emmett – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017



6) Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (26-4)

Height: 5’5

Birthday: July 7, 1987

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

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

– vs. Benson Henderson – Loss via TKO (leg injury) – Bellator 160 – August 26, 2016

– vs. Henry Corrales – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – Bellator 153 – April 22, 2016

– vs. Daniel Straus – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 145 – November 6, 2015

– vs. Daniel Weichel – Win via KO (punch) – Bellator 138 – June 19, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Daniel Weichel – Bellator 188 – November 16, 2017

Comment: Bellator’s champion was set to defend his featherweight title against Daniel Weichel in November, but a late injury scrapped the fight. The main event of Bellator’s Israel show was canceled the week of the card with Pitbull stating he was expecting to need a month off. He is looking to return in February.



7) Cub Swanson (25-8)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: November 2, 1983

Currently Fighting With: Free Agent

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Brian Ortega – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – December 9, 2017

– vs. Artem Lobov – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 22, 2017

– vs. Doo Ho Choi – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 206 – December 10, 2016

– vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – August 6, 2016

– vs. Hacran Dias – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans – April 16, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Cub suffered a loss Saturday night and closed out his UFC contract with a loss. He went into the fight gambling on himself to hit free agency on a five-fight win streak, but he ran into undefeated Brian Ortega’s nasty guillotine choke in the second round. Now, Swanson will look to negotiate with the UFC and other groups.




8) Darren Elkins (23-5)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: May 16, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Dennis Bermudez – Win via decision (split) – UFC on Fox – July 22, 2017

– vs. Mirsad Bektic – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 209 – March 4, 2017

vs. Godofredo Pepey – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – July 23, 2016

– vs. Chas Skelly – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 196 – March 5, 2016

– vs. Robert Whiteford – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 24, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Michael Johnson – UFC Fight Night – January 14, 2018

Comment: Elkins, a longtime featherweight contender, will welcome former lightweight contender Michael Johnson to the division next month. Elkins is looking to win six consecutive fights for the first time in the UFC while Johnson wants to quickly make a run into championship contention.




9) “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (17-4)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: March 17, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Dustin Poirier – Win via submission (D’arce choke) – UFC on Fuel: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier – May 15, 2012

– vs. Mark Hominick – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida – December 10, 2011

– vs. Leonard Garcia – Win via submission (twister) – UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis – March 26, 2011

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




10) “The Korean Superboy” Doo Ho Choi (14-2)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: April 6, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Cub Swanson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 206 – December 10, 2016

– vs. Thiago Tavares – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC TUF Finale – July 8, 2016

– vs. Sam Sicilia – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 28, 2015

– vs. Juan Puig – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 22, 2014

– vs. Shoji Maruyama – Win via TKO (strikes) – Deep: Cage Impact 2013 – June 15, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Jeremy Stephens – UFC Fight Night – January 14, 2018

Comment: Talk about exciting fights in the new year, and look no further than this featherweight match-up. The main event in St. Louis next month will see Superboy return after missing all of 2017, to take on brawler Jeremy Stephens. Choi last fought in December 2016, a fight of the year candidate with Cub Swanson (Choi lost by unanimous decision).



11) Daniel “The Weasel” Weichel (39-9)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: November 22, 1984

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. John Teixeira Conceicao – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 177 – April 14, 2017

– vs. Brian Moore – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – Bellator 169 – December 16, 2016

– vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 159 – July 22, 2016

– vs. Georgi Karakhanyan – Win via decision (unanimous) – December 4, 2015

– vs. Pitbull Freire – Loss via KO (punch) – Bellator 138 – June 19, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens (26-14)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: May 26, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Gilbert Melendez – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 215 – September 9, 2017

– vs. Renato Moicano – Loss via decision (split) -UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017

– vs. Frankie Edgar – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016

– vs. Renan Barao – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 29, 2016

– vs. Max Holloway – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Doo Ho Choi – UFC Fight Night – January 14, 2018




13) Yair Rodriguez (9-2)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: October 6, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Alex Caceres – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – August 6, 2016

– vs. Andre Fili – Win via KO (flying head kick) – UFC 197 – April 23, 2016

– vs. Dan Hooker – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 192 – October 3, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




14) Renato Moicano (11-1-1)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: May 21, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Brian Ortega – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017

– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Win via decision (split) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017

– vs. Zubaira Tukhugov – Win via decision (split) – UFC 198 – May 14, 2016

– vs. Tom Niinimaki – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – December 20, 2014

– vs. Ismael Bonfim – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Jungle Fight 71 – July 19, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Emmanuel “El Matador” Sanchez (16-3)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: August 11, 1990

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

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

– vs. Marcos Galvao – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator MMA – March 31, 2017

– vs. Georgi Karakhanyan – Win via decision (split) – Bellator MMA – January 21, 2017

– vs. Daniel Weichel – Loss via decision (split) – Bellator MMA – July 22, 2016

– vs. Daniel Pineda – Win va decision (split) – Bellator MMA – February 19, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown