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411 MMA Rankings 01.23.18: Heavyweight Division – Stipe Miocic Is #1, Is Francis Ngannou #2?
Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix Update
Bellator’s grand prix to determine a new heavyweight champion for the first time in two years kicked off Saturday night. Each of the eight fighters confirmed for the tournament were present in California to see Rampage Jackson fight Chael Sonnen to get things started. Chael secured the win after three rounds by unanimous decision and will move on to the semifinals (expected to take place no sooner than late summer) down the road against either Fedor Emelianenko or Frank Mir.
The remaining quarterfinal matches are below with confirmed or expected timeframes:
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir – April 2018
Matt Mitrione vs. Roy Nelson – February 16, 2018
Ryan Bader vs. “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal – May 2018
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:
– Unknown
Comment: Miocic rose above any thoughts that he was a sitting duck for the new blood of the heavyweight division over the weekend. He was never in significant danger en route to a unanimous decision win over Francis Ngannou, good for the reigning champion’s third successful title defense. The win means Stipe has defended the UFC heavyweight championship more times than any other titleholder since Mark Coleman first won it in 1997. Miocic has defeated all of the top contenders in the UFC (Derrick Lewis would be the highest ranked heavyweight in the promotion who has not fought him yet), so it’s anyones guess who his next foe will be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFWNIXfLWOk
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
Comment: Francis was picked apart by Stipe Miocic, tired out over the course of his first five round fight and struggled to put a consistent attack together. This was the first time Ngannou had been out of the first round in nearly two years and it showed. He should have a clear expectation of what he needs to improve upon in the coming months if he’s going to get back to the point of challenging for a championship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMi_cAeMF38
3) 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:
– Unknown
4) Fabricio Werdum (23-7-1)
Birthday: July 30, 1977
Height: 6’4
Weight: 242
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 wins:
– 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
– vs. Stipe Miocic – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_-0D2YWio8
5) Mark Hunt (13-11-1, 1 NC)
Birthday: March 23, 1974
Height: 5’10
Weight: 264
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm – November 14, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Curtis Blaydes – UFC 221 – February 10, 2018
6) Derrick Lewis (18-5, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 7, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 260
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Gabriel Gonzaga – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night: Rothwell vs. dos Santos – April 10, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Marcin Tybura – UFC Fight Night – February 18, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixG1KV8_xWU
7) 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
Comment: The last Bellator heavyweight champion (he was stripped of it in the spring of 2016 because he had not fought for Bellator since the spring of 2014) won his 21st consecutive pro fight in December.
8) Alexander “Drago” Volkov (29-6)
Birthday: October 24, 1988
Height: 6’7
Weight: 235
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Denis Smoldarev – Win via submission (triangle choke) – M-1 Challenge 64 – February 19, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: A good trivia note is that Volkov is the only Bellator heavyweight champion to have actually been defeated for his gold. First champion Cole Konrad retired from the sport after making one defense and Vitaly Minakov ultimately left the company after beating Volkov in 2013.
9) Stefan Struve (28-9)
Birthday: February 18, 1988
Height: 6’11
Weight: 247
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Alex Volkov – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 2, 2017
– vs. Daniel Omielanczuk – Win via submission (Brabo choke) – UFC 204 – October 8, 2016
– vs. Antonio Silva – Win via KO (elbows) – UFC Fight Night – May 8, 2016
– vs. Jared Rosholt – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 193 – November 15, 2015
– vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 190 – August 1, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Andrei Arlovski – UFC 222 – March 3, 2018
10) Curtis Blaydes (8-1, 1 NC)
Birthday: February 18, 1991
Height: 6’4
Weight: 250
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Francis Ngannou – Loss via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC Fight Night – April 10, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Mark Hunt – UFC 221 – February 10, 2018
11) Marcin “Tybur” Tybura (16-3)
Birthday: November 9, 1985
Height: 6’3
Weight: 249
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Timothy Johnson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 10, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Derrick Lewis – UFC Fight Night – February 18, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXfqWWsr33A
12) 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
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:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb5Kfhbwh7k
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
