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411’s MMA Rankings 04.24.18: Featherweight Division – Max Holloway, Jose Aldo, More

April 24, 2018 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon


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 (unanimous) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Brian Ortega – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018



2) Brian Ortega (14-0, 1 NC)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: February 21, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Max Holloway – UFC 226 – July 8, 2018

Comment: Ortega has been able to emerge out of a consistently busy featherweight division as the top contender this year. He is immensely talented on the ground, where his chokeholds appear to be the most dangerous submission holds in the division, but cemented his top contender status by knocking out Frankie Edgar. He’ll get his first crack at becoming the best in the world when he meets Max Holloway this summer at UFC 226.




3) 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



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: Edgar suffered the first knockout loss of his career (the first time he’s been finished at all, as a matter of fact) last month at the hands of Brian Ortega. Somehow, Edgar was able to get back on the horse this month by beating Cub Swanson via unanimous decision.




5) Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens (28-14)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: May 26, 1986

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




6) Darren Elkins (24-5)

Height: 5’9

Birthday: May 16, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Michael Johnson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – January 14, 2018

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: I’m not sure how realistic it will be but I would love to see Elkins matched up against either Jose Aldo or Frankie Edgar later this year. At featherweight, Aldo already has two losses to current champion Max Holloway. Edgar has two losses to Aldo and a knockout loss to Brian Ortega. Meanwhile, Elkins has yet to secure that career defining win, in spite of a 13-3 record in this division, all in the UFC.



7) 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 MMA – July 14, 2018



8) Renato Moicano (12-1-1)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: May 21, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



9) Cub Swanson (25-9)

Height: 5’7

Birthday: November 2, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Frankie Edgar – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 21, 2018

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



10) 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



11) Ricardo Lamas (18-6)

Height: 5’8

Birthday: May 21, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Mirsad Bektic – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018



12) “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

Comment: The Korean Zombie is healthy after tearing his ACL last year and is already looking to get a fight with Frankie Edgar later this year.



13) “The Korean Superboy” Doo Ho Choi (14-3)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: April 6, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jeremy Stephens – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – January 14, 2018

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



14) 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:

– vs. Sam Sicilia – Bellator 198 – April 28, 2018




15) 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:

– vs. Patricio Pitbull Freire – Bellator MMA – July 14, 2018