mma / Columns

411 MMA Rankings 03.20.18: Heavyweight Division – Alex Volkov, Daniel Cormier, More

March 20, 2018 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon


Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix Update

The tournament kicked off two months ago when Chael Sonnen won a unanimous decision against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in California.

Action continued in Connecticut last month with Matt Mitrione advancing as a result of his split decision win (one judge scored a draw) over Roy Nelson.

The remaining quarterfinal fights are confirmed for the following dates and events:

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir – April 28 at Bellator 198 in Rosemont, Illinois

Ryan Bader vs. “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal – May 12 at Bellator 199 in San Jose, California


411’s Official MMA Rankings

Heavyweight Division


1) Stipe Miocic (18-2)

Birthday: August 19, 1982

Height: 6’4

Weight: 245

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Francis Ngannou – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018

– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017

– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016

– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016

– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Daniel Cormier – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018



2) Francis Ngannou (11-2)

Birthday: September 5, 1986

Height: 6’4

Weight: 255

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018

– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017

– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – January 28, 2017

– vs. Anthony Hamilton – Win via submission (Kimura) – UFC Fight Night – December 9, 2016

– vs. Bojan Mihajlovic – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – July 23, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



3) Alexander “Drago” Volkov (30-6)

Birthday: October 24, 1988

Height: 6’7

Weight: 235

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 17, 2018

– vs. Stefan Struve – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 2, 2017

– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017

– vs. Timothy Johnson – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016

– vs. Attila Vegh – Win via KO (strikes) – M-1 Challenge 68 – June 16, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Volkov has not lost a fight in three years and is now fresh off the biggest win of his 9-year career thanks to his knockout of Fabricio Werdum Saturday.



4) Alistair Overeem (43-16, 1 No Contest)

Birthday: May 17, 1980

Height: 6’5

Weight: 240

Birthday: May 17, 1980

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Francis Ngannou – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017

– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Win via decision (split) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017

– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via KO (knee) – UFC 209 – March 4, 2017

– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016

– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski – May 8, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Curtis Blaydes – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018




5) Fabricio Werdum (23-8-1)

Birthday: July 30, 1977

Height: 6’4

Weight: 242

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 wins:

– vs. Alexander Volkov – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 17, 2018

– vs. Marcin Tybura – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 18, 2017

– vs. Walt Harris – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC 216 – October 7, 2017

– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017

– vs. Travis Browne – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



6) Curtis Blaydes (9-1, 1 NC)

Birthday: February 18, 1991

Height: 6’4

Weight: 250

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 221 – February 10, 2018

– vs. Alexey Oleynik – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017

– vs. Daniel Omielanczuk – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017

– vs. Adam Milstead – No Contest (originally a Blaydes win via TKO overturned due to marijuana) – UFC Fight Night – February 4, 2017

– vs. Cody East – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 1, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Alistair Overeem – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018



7) Mark Hunt (13-12-1, 1 NC)

Birthday: March 23, 1974

Height: 5’10

Weight: 264

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Curtis Blaydes – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 221 – February 10, 2018

– vs. Derrick Lewis – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 10, 2017

– vs. Alistair Overeem – Loss via KO (knee) – UFC 209 – March 4, 2017

– vs. Brock Lesnar – No Contest (originally, unanimous decision loss) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

– vs. Frank Mir – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 20, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



8) Derrick Lewis (19-5, 1 NC)

Birthday: February 7, 1985

Height: 6’3

Weight: 260

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Marcin Tybura – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – February 18, 2018

– vs. Mark Hunt – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 10, 2017

– vs. Travis Browne – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 19, 2017

– vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – December 9, 2016

– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez – July 7, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



9) Vitaly Minakov (21-0)

Birthday: February 6, 1985

Height: 6’3

Weight: 249

Currently fighting with: Fight Nights Global

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Tony Johnson – Win via TKO (strikes) – Fight Nights Global – December 16, 2017

– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via KO (punches) – Fight Nights Global 68 – June 2, 2017

– vs. DJ Linderman – Win via KO (strikes) – Fight Nights Global 59 – February 23, 2017

– vs. Peter Graham – Win via submission (armor) – EFN 50 – June 17, 2016

– vs. Josh Copeland – Win via submission (Kimura) – EFN: Fight Nights Moscow – December 11, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



10) Marcin “Tybur” Tybura (16-4)

Birthday: November 9, 1985

Height: 6’3

Weight: 249

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Derrick Lewis – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – February 18, 2018

– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 18, 2017

– vs. Andrei Arlovski – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 17, 2017

– vs. Luis Henrique Barbosa de Oliveira – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 209 – March 4, 2017

– vs. Viktor Pesta – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night – August 6, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



11) Blagoy Ivanov (16-1, 1 NC)

Birthday: October 9, 1986

Height: 5’11

Weight: 251

Currently fighting with: Professional Fighters League

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Caio Alencar – Win via decision (unanimous) – PFL – November 2, 2017

– vs. Shawn Jordan – Win via TKO (strikes) – WSOF 35 – March 18, 2017

– vs. Josh Copeland – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 31 – June 17, 2016

– vs. Derrick Mehmen – Win via TKO (strikes) – WSOF 24 – October 17, 2015

– vs. Smeallnho Rama – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – WSOF 21 – June 5, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) Matt Mitrione (13-5)

Birthday: July 15, 1978

Height: 6’3

Weight: 260

Currently fighting with: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Roy Nelson – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 194 – February 16, 2018

– vs. Fedor Emelianenko – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017

– vs. Oll Thompson – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 158 – July 16, 2016

– vs. Carl Seumanutafa – Win via KO (punch) – Bellator 157 – June 24, 2016

– vs. Travis Browne – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Mitrione is on an active four-fight win streak, his first of that length since 2011! If he is able to set a new career high (six) later this year or early in 2019, it would mean he is the new Bellator heavyweight champion.



13) Alexey Oleynik (55-11-1)

Birthday: June 25, 1977

Height: 6’1

Weight: 240

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Curtis Blaydes – Loss via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017

– vs. Travis Browne – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017

– vs. Viktor Pesta – Win via submission (Ezekiel choke) – UFC Fight Night – January 15, 2017

– vs. Daniel Omielanczuk – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – July 13, 2016

– vs. Jared Rosholt – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 22, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Junior Albini – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018

Comment: Oleynik’s daughter was in attendance, and unharmed, at Marjory Stonemason Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14th when a gunman shot and killed 17 students and adults.



14) Mukhomad Vakhaev (6-4-1)

Birthday: March 22, 1990

Height: 6’0

Weight: 249

Currently fighting with: ACB

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Denis Goltsov – Win via TKO (submission to strikes) – ACB 67 – August 19, 2017

– vs. Tanner Boser – Win via decision (split) – ACB 54 – March 11, 2017

– vs. Sergei Bllostennly – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – ACB 49 – October 22, 2016

– vs. Vladimir Dalneko – Win via TKO (strikes) – ACB 38 – May 20, 2016

– vs. Vinicius Lima – Draw – ACB 26 – November 28, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal (21-6, 1 NC)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: January 11, 1981

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rampage Jackson – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 175 – March 31, 2017

– vs. Mirko Cro Cop – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Rizin – December 29, 2016

– vs. Satoshi Ishii – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 169 – December 16, 2016

– vs. Phil Davis – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 154 – May 14, 2016

– vs. Jiri Prochazka – Win via KO (punch) – Rizin FF – December 31, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Ryan Bader – Bellator MMA – May 2018