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411’s MMA Rankings 12.11.18: Featherweight Division – Max Holloway, Brian Ortega, More
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Featherweight Division (145 lbs)
1) Max Holloway (20-3)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: December 4, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Max Holloway put on a clinic, one of the best performances of his career, at UFC 231 Saturday night in Toronto. Over four rounds, he picked Brian Ortega apart, defended all takedown attempts and landed combination after combination at will. I’m not quite sure who would be next to challenge Holloway at featherweight, but based on his post-fight comments, he has no intention of leaving the division.
The other question would be whether his dream of fighting inside the octagon in Hawaii will come true in 2019. The word earlier this year was local officials in the state could not oblige the UFC when the pair spoke last. The issues at the time according to Hawaii News Now was a sizable difference in money (UFC requested $6 million in sponsorship money, the Hawaii Tourism Authority countered at $1 million. UFC wanted a summer event for Aloha Stadium, while the HTA preferred a spring or fall date to avoid their busy tourist season) and other issues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bujyYncv2V8
2) 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
Comment: Ortega did nothing wrong in his first UFC title fight, he didn’t crumble under that pressure. He was very simply outperformed by the best in the division. Although he was never in a position to win this fight, he never stopped trying to throw punches or work for takedowns. His nose was busted open early in the fight and over the course of the third and fourth rounds, his left eye began to swell to the point it was practically closed after the fourth round. It was a war the likes of which leave an imprint on a fighter’s career. At just 27, Ortega has no reason to believe he cannot get back to this spot. His bread and butter submission game was a non-factor with Holloway defending each takedown and having the fight turn into a boxing match was not the ideal situation for him.
Seeing Ortega bounce back from this loss in 2019 will be among the more intriguing stories next year.
3) Jose Aldo (27-4)
Height: 5’7
Birthday: September 9, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – July 28, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
4) Frankie Edgar (23–6-1)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: October 16, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 6 fights:
– 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
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Nine years ago, around this time, Edgar had just choked out Matt Veach and would be set up in the new year to fight lightweight champion B.J. Penn. At 12-1, nobody could have forseen the career Frankie would end up having (he would beat B.J. twice, become UFC champion and a perennial contender for the last nine years). Now, 2019 is three weeks away and Edgar just turned 37 earlier in the fall. He has only two losses in nontitle fights in his career and remains a top contender at featherweight. Will he again earn a title fight next year or will he start to show the wear and tear and his age?
5) Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (28-4)
Height: 5’5
Birthday: July 7, 1987
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
6) Renato Moicano (13-1-1)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: May 21, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Cub Swanson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 227 – August 4, 2018
– vs. Calvin Kattar – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 223 – April 7, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ1WnpNpzXk&t=15s
7) Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens (28-15)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: May 26, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Doo Ho Choi – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – January 14, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Alexander Volkanovski (18-1)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: September 29, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Shane Young – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 18, 2017
– vs. Mizuto Hirota – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 10, 2017
– vs. Yusuke Kasuya – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 26, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Chad Mendes – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
9) Mirsad Bektic (13-1)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: February 16, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Lucas Martins – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves – May 30, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
10) Emmanuel “El Matador” Sanchez (17-4)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: August 11, 1990
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Marcos Galvao – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator MMA – March 31, 2017
– vs. Georgi Karakhanyan – Win via decision (split) – Bellator MMA – January 21, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMP1VEsBeSc
11) 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
Comment: Gamrot won the KSW featherweight title earlier this month, making him a two-division champion (he already was their lightweight champion). One of the top fighters outside the U.S., Gamrot often trains out of American Top Team and is celebrating his 28th birthday today. Happy Birthday champ!
12) Yair Rodriguez (11-2)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: October 6, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Rodriguez’s amazing win over Chan Sung Jung, could be considered his first win over a bonafide contender. Entering 2019, will the one time super prospect finally be able to put together a series of wins that push him into that same dialogue?
13) Josh Emmett (13-2)
Height: 5’6
Birthday: March 4, 1985
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Desmond Green – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 210 – April 8, 2017
– vs. Scott Holtzman – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 17, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: After a slew of injuries that required much more intensive treatments than initially estimated, Emmett has only recently returned to some semblance of training. He hopes to return to action by the spring according to BJPenn.com.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5TOSdliOwY
14) Ricardo Lamas (19-7)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: May 21, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Darren Elkins – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 17, 2018
– vs. Mirsad Bektic – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Josh Emmett – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crwHiCZjUMI
15) “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (14-5)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: March 17, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: TKZ returned to action after a 21 month layoff and had one of the best fights of the year against Yair Rodriguez. Zombie was en route to a decision win when he was knocked out with a wicked elbow in the final second.
