mma / Columns

411 MMA Rankings 10.02.18: Light Heavyweight Division – Daniel Cormier, Ryan Bader, More

October 2, 2018 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s Official MMA Rankings

Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs)


1) Daniel Cormier (21-1, 1 NC)

Birthday: March 20, 1979

Height: 5’9

Weight: 239

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– 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

– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: What to do, what to do? Daniel Cormier has been vocal the past week since USADA cut an end to Jon Jones’ suspension, making him eligible to return to action before winter comes. Cormier is the reigning UFC champion in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions. Jones beat him twice but failed a higher number of drug tests over the last three-plus years. Cormier, believing USADA to be a sham of an organization as a result of their leniency with Jones has already stated he does not want to be bothered by the group seeking his urine anymore (Cormier has been drug tested steadily since before he turned to MMA and has never failed).

Cormier has also been adamant that he has a heavyweight defense coming up (exactly when is unclear) against Brock Lesnar. With only one or two more fights before he heads to retirement, Cormier is only interested in massive fights. Would a potential heavyweight fight against Jones and opportunity to avenge the last three years nagging at him be enough to sway him off the Lesnar course?



2) Ryan Bader (25-5)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: June 7, 1983

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. King Mo Lawal – Win via TKO (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

– vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016

– vs. Ilir Latifi – Win via KO (knee) – UFC Fight Night – September 3, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Matt Mitrione – Bellator 207 – October 12, 2018

Comment: Bader will vie for a spot in the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals when he fights Matt Mitrione in 10 days. We’ll also find out the next night the other half of that match-up when Chael Sonnen fights Fedor Emelianenko.



3) Alexander Gustafsson (18-4)

Height: 6’5

Birthday: January 15, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Glover Teixeira – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 28, 2017

– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 3, 2016

– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson – October 3, 2015

– vs. Anthony Johnson – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on FOX: Gustafsson vs. Johnson – January 24, 2015

– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Manuwa – March 8, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: With word of Jones’ likely return striking the news over the last week, Gustafsson has already been rallying on social media for a rematch with the former champion. Their fight at UFC 165 in 2013 was easily the most exciting fight involving Jones and arguably the best fight of that year. With Cormier seemingly focused outside the division, Gustafsson (unless Jones is back and clean) is the top ranked challenger in the UFC, but with his loss to Cormier in 2015, is not close to receiving a second shot at him or the title. For him, a chance at a rematch with Jon Jones presents the most ideal and realistic fight.



4) Phil Davis (19-4, 1 No Contest)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: September 25, 1984

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Linton Vassell – Win via KO (head kick) – Bellator 200 – May 25, 2018

– vs. Leo Leite – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 186 – November 3, 2017

– vs. Ryan Bader – Loss via decision (split) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017

– vs. Liam McGeary – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 163 – November 4, 2016

– vs. King Mo Lawal – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 154 – May 14, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Vadim Nemkov – Bellator MMA – November 15, 2018

Comment: Nemkov has finished his last four opponents and will look to burst into the title hunt when he fights Phil Davis next month. Davis has picked up a pair of wins since losing to Bader last summer and is looking to get back to a place where Bellator wants to give him a rematch.



5) Jan Blachowicz (23-7)

Birthday: February 24, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Nikita Krylov – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night – September 15, 2018

– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – March 17, 2018

– vs. Jared Cannonier – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017

– vs. Devin Clark – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – October 21, 2017

– vs. Patrick Cummins – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 210 – April 8, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



6) Volkan Oezdemir (15-2)

Height: 6’1

Birthday: September 19, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 220 – January 20, 2018

– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017

– vs. Misha Cirkunov – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – May 28, 2017

– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – February 4, 2017

– vs. Ailhan Vahaev – Win via decision (unanimous) – WFCA 17 – April 9, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Anthony Smith – UFC Fight Night – October 27, 2018

Comment: Oezdemir put together a six fight win streak that led him to the fight with Daniel Cormier that he lost back in January. Now, he’s matched up against one of the most exciting fresh (as fresh as a guy with 40+ fights can be) fighters in Anthony Smith, with recent knockouts of Rashad Evans and Shogun Rua under his belt.



7) Tomasz Narkun (14-2)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: December 3, 1989

Currently Fighting With: KSW

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Mamed Khalidov – Win via submission (triangle choke) – KSW 42 – March 3, 2018

– vs. Marcin Wojclk – Win via submission (triangle choke) – KSW 39 – May 27, 2017

– vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou – Win via TKO (strikes) – KSW 36 – October 1, 2016

– vs. Cassio Barbosa de Oliveira – Win via TKO (strikes) – KSW 34 – March 5, 2016

– vs. Goran Reljic – Win via KO (strikes) – KSW 32 – October 31, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Narkun beat Mamed Khalidov in the biggest KSW fight of the year way back in March. There’s been no word on what’s next but KSW 45 is this weekend and an update may be announced then.



8) Anthony Smith (30-13)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: July 26, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Shogun Rua – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018

– vs. Rashad Evans – Win via KO (knee) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018

– vs. Thiago Santos – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 3, 2018

– vs. Hector Lombard – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 16, 2017

– vs. Andrew Sanchez – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 9, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – UFC Fight Night – October 27, 2018



9) Corey Anderson (11-4)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: September 22, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Glover Teixeira – Win via decision – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018

– vs. Patrick Cummins – Win via decision – UFC Fight Night – April 21, 2018

– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Loss via KO (head kick) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017

– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 18, 2017

– vs. Sean O’Connell – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – December 9, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Ilir Latifi – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018



10) “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal (21-7, 1 NC)

Height: 6’0

Birthday: January 11, 1981

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Ryan Bader – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 199 – May 12, 2018

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Liam McGeary – Bellator 211 – December 15, 2018



11) Ilir Latifi (14-5, 1 NC)

Height: 5’10

Birthday: July 28, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – February 24, 2018

– vs. Tyson Pedro – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 215 – September 9, 2017

– vs. Ryan Bader – Loss via KO (knee) – UFC Fight Night – September 3, 2016

– vs. Gian Villante – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 196 – March 5, 2016

– vs. Sean O’Connell – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Corey Anderson – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018



12) Nikita Krylov (24-6)

Birthday: March 7, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Loss via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night – September 15, 2018

– vs. Fabio Maldonado – Win via KO (punch) – FNG – May 5, 2018

– vs. Emanuel Newton – Win via KO (knee) – FNG 77 – October 13, 2017

– vs. Maro Perak – Win via TKO (strikes) – Donbass Combat Sports – August 26, 2017

– vs. Stjepan Bekavac – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – Fight Nights Global 68 – June 2, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Krylov left the UFC after being choked out by Misha Cirkunov in 2016. He reeled off for wins (all by finishes) in Eastern Europe, only to return to the UFC earlier this month to be choked out by Jan Blachowicz. He’s just 26-years-old with 24 professional wins (that includes his five-fight win streak in the UFC before the Cirkunov loss), so still keep an eye out for him in 2019.



13) Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (25-11)

Birthday: November 25, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Anthony Smith – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018

– vs. Gian Villante – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 11, 2017

– vs. Corey Anderson – Win via decision (split) – UFC 198 – May 14, 2016

– vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 190: Rousey vs. Correia – August 1, 2015

– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. OSP – November 8, 2014

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Tyson Pedro – UFC Fight Night – December 1, 2018



14) Gadzhimurad Antigulov (20-5)

Height: 5’11

Birthday: January 1, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Ion Cutelaba – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – July 28, 2018

– vs. Joachim Christensen – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017

– vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016

– vs. Muslim Makhmudov – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – ACB 35 – May 6, 2016

– vs. Jorge Luis Bezerra – Win via TKO (strikes) – ACB 27 – December 20, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15) Dominick Reyes (9-0)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: December 26, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jared Cannonier – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018

– vs. Jeremy Kimball – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 218 – December 2, 2017

– vs. Joachim Christensen – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – June 25, 2017

– vs. Jordan Powell – Win via KO (head kick) – LFA 13 – June 2, 2017

– vs. Marcus Govan – Win via KO (head kick) – Hoosier Fight Club – February 11, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Ovince St. Preux – UFC 229 – October 6, 2018