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411 MMA Rankings 01.08.19: Light Heavyweight Division – Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, More
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs)
1) Jon Jones (23-1, 1 NC)
Height: 6’4
Birthday: July 19, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Alexander Gustafsson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
– vs. Daniel Cormier – No Contest (originally – Win via KO (punches)) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017
– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 197: Jones vs. OSP – April 23, 2016
– vs. Daniel Cormier – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier – January 3, 2015
– vs. Glover Teixeira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 172: Jones vs. Teixeira – April 26, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Jones returned to action just over a week ago and looked as impressive as ever. He finished Alexander Gustafsson in the third round and instantly returns to being the best light heavyweight in the world. He continued talking trash to reigning heavyweight champion and longtime rival Daniel Cormier following the win. While it appears unlikely Cormier returns to 205-pounds (he vacated the title), the decision on if they meet for a third time will rest with Jones and whether he wants to move up to heavyweight for such a fight.
In the mean time, TMZ broke the news over the weekend of Jones’ next proposed fight. Assuming he can be licensed by Nevada, he is expected to defend the championship against Anthony Smith at UFC 235 in March.
2) 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
3) Ryan Bader (26-5)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: June 7, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Matt Mitrione – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 207 – October 12, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Fedor Emelianenko – Bellator 214 – January 26, 2019
Comment: Bellator’s World Heavyweight Grand Prix kicked off in January 2018 and will come to an end in 18 days. Light heavyweight champ Ryan Bader will fight Fedor Emelianenko to decide the tournament winner and new Bellator heavyweight champion. Bader’s coach has publicly said they intend to bring the fight to Fedor and keep him on his toes. If Bader is able to be successful, he’ll make history as the first two-division champion in Bellator to hold titles simultaneously.
Also, with a win, there will be no shortage of opponents for Bader at either weight class. Bader has not defended his 205-pound title since he knocked out Linton Vassell about 13 months ago. Potential new challengers include Lyoto Machida (he debuted successfully as a middleweight in Bellator last month and owns a KO win over Bader from 2012) and Vadim Nemkov (has wins over former champions Liam McGeary and Phil Davis). As a heavyweight champion, Bader would most likely meet former champion Vitaly Minakov (who remains unbeaten with 21 wins).
4) Alexander Gustafsson (18-5)
Height: 6’5
Birthday: January 15, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jon Jones – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
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:
– vs. Thiago Santos – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2019
6) Anthony Smith (31-13)
Height: 6’4
Birthday: July 26, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – October 27, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jon Jones – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019
Comment: Smith is reportedly getting his first shot at UFC gold when he headlines UFC 235 opposite champion Jon Jones. Smith made his professional MMA debut in 2008 and two years later, found himself with a 5-6 record. He fought an additional six times in the year that followed and improved to 10-7! He was picked up by Strikeforce to compete on their Challengers’ cards and went on to make cable television debut in the summer of 2012 when he choked out Lumumba Sayers on the Rousey/Kaufman undercard. He was choked out by Roger Gracie on the final Strikeforce show, was picked up by the UFC, submitted by Antonio Braga Neto and abruptly released by the UFC all in the first half of 2013.
He completed 2013 by losing to Josh Neer by submission in Ralston, Nebraska. At this point, you can consider it the first half of Smith’s career (17-11) and he was only 25-years-old.
Enter 2014, he picked up two wins in Bellator, took fights on a variety of regional shows, picked up two different middleweight titles and avenged the loss to Josh Neer. All of that earned him a second chance in the UFC, where he returned with a win in February 2016. A loss to Cezar Ferreira couldn’t keep him down, he reeled off three consecutive wins including when he knocked out Hector Lombard. He was finished by Thiago Santos last February but in the months that followed, knocked out Rashad Evans, and Shogun Rua and choked out Volkan Oezdemir. Now, with a 31-13 record and as a 30-year-old man, he will challenge Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title. That’s a hell of a story.
7) Tomasz Narkun (16-2)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: December 3, 1989
Currently Fighting With: KSW
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Mamed Khalidov – Win via decision (unanimous) – KSW 46 – December 1, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Narkun defeated Mamed Khalidov a second time in 2018 last month and retired the Polish MMA legend. Narkun turned 29 two days after the win and announced he had broken his hand during the win, so stay tuned on what’s next for him.
8) Corey Anderson (12-4)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: September 22, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ilir Latifi – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (26-11)
Birthday: November 25, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Tyson Pedro – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – December 1, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Shogun closed out 2018 with a win, his fourth in his last five fights. He is aiming to be back in action this spring when the UFC is expected to return to Curitiba, Shogun’s home town.
10) Volkan Oezdemir (15-3)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: September 19, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Anthony Smith – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – October 27, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Dominick Reyes – UFC on ESPN+ – March 16, 2019
11) Dominick Reyes (10-0)
Height: 6’4
Birthday: December 26, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 229 – October 6, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – UFC on ESPN+ – March 16, 2019
12) Ilir Latifi (14-6, 1 NC)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: July 28, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Corey Anderson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
13) Vadim Nemkov (10-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: June 20, 1992
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Phil Davis – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 209 – November 15, 2018
– vs. Liam McGeary – Win via TKO (leg kicks) – Bellator 194 – February 16, 2018
– vs. Philipe Lins – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator 182 – August 25, 2017
– vs. Alison Vicente – Win via TKO (strikes) – RIZIN FF WGP – December 29, 2016
– vs. Mikolaj Rozanski – Win via TKO (strikes) – Fight Nights Global 50 – June 17, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
14) Phil Davis (19-5, 1 No Contest)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: September 25, 1984
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Vadim Nemkov – Loss via decision (split) – Bellator 209 – November 15, 2018
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) 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:
Pay attention to this upcoming light heavyweight fight>>On the preliminary portion of next week’s UFC debut on ESPN+ (airing on ESPN on January 19), two fighters will make their promotional debuts fresh off of Dana White’s Contender Series. (9-1) Vinicius Alves Moreira choked out his opponent in August with a second-round triangle choke to earn his way into the octagon. (7-0) Alonzo Menifield knocked out his opponent in June in just eight seconds.
