mma / Columns

411 MMA Rankings 07.09.19: Light Heavyweight Division – Jon Jones, Jan Blachowicz, More

July 9, 2019 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s Official MMA Rankings: Light Heavyweight Division

Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs)


1) Jon Jones (25-1, 1 NC)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: July 19, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Thiago Santos – Win via decision (split) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019

– vs. Anthony Smith – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Jones picked up a split decision win in Las Vegas, where he won 3 rounds on two of the judges’ scorecards. Jones was never in any dramatic danger, though he did eat a few punches and many leg kicks that left him hobbled after the fight. Having won three fights in the span of seven months, he has not been this active since 2012 and he still appears unbeatable (even after a split decision here). He’s looking to clean out the light heavyweight division again and his next challengers likely come from a group including Jan Blachowicz, Corey Anderson or Dominick Reyes.



2) Thiago Santos (21-7)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: January 7, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jon Jones – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019

– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2019

– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018

– vs. Eryk Anders – Win via TKO (elbows) – UFC Fight Night – September 22, 2018

– vs. Kevin Holland – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 227 – August 4, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Santos appeared to have suffered a knee injury in the first round but did not appear in any discernible pain. He had trouble balancing on one leg and slipped several times. In spite of this, he attacked Jon Jones’ legs and came within inches of landing a fight-altering punch several times. After the fight, Jones credited him for successfully going after his legs, a strategy nobody had yet been able to do. Plus, Santos is now the answer to a trivia question – the first fighter to win a scorecard against Jones.



3) 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 214 – January 26, 2019

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



4) Anthony Smith (32-14)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: July 26, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Alexander Gustafsson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on ESPN+ – June 1, 2019

– vs. Jon Jones – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



5) Jan Blachowicz (24-8)

Birthday: February 24, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Luke Rockhold – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019

– vs. Thiago Santos – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2019

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Blachowicz was overshadowed moments after he knocked out Luke Rockhold by Jorge Masvidal, but his knockout kicked off the main card highlight reel. Rockhold was aiming to work his way towards a fight with Jon Jones but could not make it out of his first fight in the division. It was a violent end to the action as Jan picked up his first KO/TKO win in nearly five years.



6) 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



7) Dominick Reyes (11-0)

Height: 6’4

Birthday: December 26, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – Win via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN+ – March 16, 2019

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



8) Tomasz Narkun (16-3)

Height: 6’3

Birthday: December 3, 1989

Currently Fighting With: KSW

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Philip De Fries – Loss via decision (unanimous) – KSW 47 – March 23, 2019

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. TBA – KSW 50 – September 14, 2019



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



10) 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:

– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – UFC Fight Night – August 3, 2019



11) 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



12) Glover Teixeira (27-6)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: October 28, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Misha Cirkunov – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017

– vs. Alexander Gustafsson – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 28, 2017

– vs. Jared Cannonier – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 208 – February 11, 2017

– vs. Anthony Johnson – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 202 – August 20, 2016

– vs. Rashad Evans – Win via KO (punches) – UFC on Fox – April 16, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

vs. Ilir Latifi – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018



13) Johnny Walker (17-3)

Height: 6’6

Birthday: March 30, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Misha Cirkunov – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019

– vs. Justin Ledet – Win via TKO (spinning backlist) – UFC Fight Night – February 2, 2019

– vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. – Win via KO (elbow) – UFC Fight Night – November 17, 2018

– vs. Henrique da Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – Contender Series Brazil – August 11, 2018

– vs. Check Kone – Win via TKO (strikes) – European Beatdown 3 – March 17, 2018

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




14) Phil Davis (20-5, 1 No Contest)

Height: 6’2

Birthday: September 25, 1984

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Liam McGeary – Win via TKO (injury) – Bellator 220 – April 27, 2019

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




15) Aleksandar Rakic (12-1)

Birthday: February 6, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC Fight Night – June 1, 2019

– vs. Devin Clark – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018

– vs. Justin Ledet – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 22, 2018

– vs. Francimar Barroso – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 2, 2017

– vs. Sergio Souza – Win via TKO (strikes) – AFC 5 – March 4, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown