mma / Columns
411 MMA Rankings 03.19.19: Heavyweight Division – Brock Lesnar, Daniel Cormier, More
Image Credit: WWE
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Heavyweight Division
1) Daniel Cormier (22-1, 1 NC)
Birthday: March 20, 1979
Height: 5’9
Weight: 239
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018
– vs. Jon Jones – No Contest (originally a loss via TKO) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017
– vs. Anthony Johnson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 210 – April 8, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: One of the biggest mysteries in MMA right now is who Daniel Cormier will fight next. The reigning UFC heavyweight champion is turning 40 years old tomorrow, a date he originally wished to retire by. He has since come off that stance and has fighters from all over angling to challenge him: Stipe Miocic, Junior dos Santos, Francis Ngannou and that does not include current pro wrestling star Brock Lesnar. Lesnar looms large over everyone, he’s the one that Cormier seems to want to fight most and UFC president Dana White is purportedly doing what he can to book that fight. It’s easier said than done since Lesnar is more focused on his upcoming WWE Wrestlemania 35 main event on April 7th.
2) Stipe Miocic (18-3)
Birthday: August 19, 1982
Height: 6’4
Weight: 245
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Miocic insists that he is interested in fighting no one other than Cormier. It’s been about 8 months since he lost the heavyweight title to Cormier and he’s had chances to return against various other heavyweights. Remaining inactive may not work in his favor, but if a Brock Lesnar fight never materializes, perhaps his bet will pay off.
3) Francis Ngannou (13-3)
Birthday: September 5, 1986
Height: 6’4
Weight: 255
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Cain Velasquez – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC on ESPN – February 17, 2019
– vs. Curtis Blades – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 24, 2018
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2016
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: It took Ngannou just 26 seconds to stop former champion Cain Velasquez. His pair of wins since November now place Francis right in the thick of the title hunt. If a title fight is not an option, a bout with Junior dos Santos makes the most sense this summer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhRrHINIOdc
4) Junior dos Santos (21-5)
Birthday: January 30, 1984
Height: 6’4
Weight: 243
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 9, 2019
– vs. Tai Tuivasa – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – December 1, 2018
– vs. Blagoi Ivanov – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 14, 2018
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017
– vs. Ben Rothwell – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 10, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
5) Derrick Lewis (21-7, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 7, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 260
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 9, 2019
– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Alexander Volkov – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 229 – October 6, 2018
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2016
– vs. Marcin Tybura – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – February 18, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Lewis was stopped by Junior dos Santos earlier this month, giving him consecutive losses. After the fight, his team told reporter Helen Yee that he went into the fight with a torn meniscus, ACL and MCL. If true, Lewis insisted on not pulling out and paid the price for it. The loss knocks him down a peg or two; hopefully he will take as much time as he needs to heal up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZZgnmBC2zM
6) Alexander “Drago” Volkov (30-7)
Birthday: October 24, 1988
Height: 6’7
Weight: 235
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Derrick Lewis – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 229 – October 6, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Alistair Overeem – UFC Fight Night – April 20, 2019
7) Curtis Blaydes (10-2, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 18, 1991
Height: 6’4
Weight: 250
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 24, 2018
– vs. Alistair Overeem – Win via TKO (elbows) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Justin Willis – UFC Fight Night – March 23, 2019
Comment: Blaydes/Willis is the co-main event fight this weekend in Nashville as Blaydes looks to get back on the wagon following his loss to Francis Ngannou last year. For Willis, this is a huge opportunity to knock off a Top 10 heavyweight and insert himself into the group of top contenders in doing so.
8) Alexey Oleynik (57-11-1)
Birthday: June 25, 1977
Height: 6’1
Weight: 240
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Mark Hunt – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – September 15, 2018
– vs. Junior Albini – Win via submission (Ezekiel choke) — UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) Alistair Overeem (44-17, 1 No Contest)
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Height: 6’5
Weight: 240
Birthday: May 17, 1980
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Sergey Pavlovich – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 24, 2018
– vs. Curtis Blaydes – Loss via TKO (elbows) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Alex Volkov – UFC Fight Night – April 20, 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT7-LvlANqY
10) Ryan Bader (27-5)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: June 7, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Fedor Emelianenko – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator MMA – January 26, 2019
– vs. Matt Mitrione – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 207 – October 12, 2018
– vs. King Mo Lawal – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator 199 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Linton Vassell – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 186 – November 3, 2017
– vs. Phil Davis – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Bellator heavyweight champion Bader was not too impressed by Cheick Kongo’s performance in his win over Vitaly Minakov to become the new number one contender. Bader has yet to confirm whether he’ll defend the heavyweight title or his light heavyweight title next.
11) Blagoy Ivanov (17-2, 1 NC)
Birthday: October 9, 1986
Height: 5’11
Weight: 251
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ben Rothwell – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – March 9, 2019
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 14, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) Cain Velasquez (14-3)
Birthday: July 28, 1982
Height: 6’2
Weight: 242
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Frances Ngannou – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC on ESPN – February 17, 2019
– vs. Travis Browne – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
– vs. Fabricio Werdum – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015
– vs. Junior dos Santos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 166: Velasquez vs. JDS 3 – October 19, 2013
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva 2 – May 25, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
13) Marcin “Tybur” Tybura (17-4)
Birthday: November 9, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 249
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Stefan Struve – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov – UFC Fight Night – April 20, 2019
14) Cheick Kongo (30-10)
Birthday: May 17, 1975
Height: 6’4
Weight: 223
Currently fighting with: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Vitaly Minakov – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 216 – February 16, 2019
– vs. Timothy Johnson – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator 208 – October 13, 2018
– vs. Javy Ayala – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator 199 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Augusto Sakai – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 179 – May 19, 2017
– vs. Oli Thompson – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 172 – September 16, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Vitaly Minakov (21-1)
Birthday: February 6, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 249
Currently fighting with: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Cheick Kongo – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 216 – February 16, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: One of the most disappointing performances and letdowns has to be Vitaly Minakov’s return to Bellator last month. With a 21-0 record, needing a second win over Cheick Kongo to set himself up for a title fight, Minakov laid an egg and was unable to touch a backstepping Kongo.
