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411 MMA Rankings 04.23.19: Middleweight Division – Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, More
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Middleweight Division (185 pounds)
1) Robert Whittaker (20-4)
Height: 6′
Birthday: December 20, 1990
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Yoel Romero – Win via decision (split) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Yoel Romero – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017
– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 26, 2016
– vs. Rafael Natal – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 197: Jones vs. St. Preux – April 23, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Whittaker, the UFC middleweight champion, is confident he will be able to finish new interim champion Israel Adesanya when the two fight later in 2019. Something else to keep an eye on is any idea of Whittaker moving up to light heavyweight if he feels there’s fewer challenges for him at middleweight. He has already talked about the idea of a fight with Jon Jones after the eventual Adesanya fight; could he be looking past his next opponent for potential riches in the future?
2) Gegard Mousasi (45-6-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: August 1, 1985
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rory MacDonald – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 206 – September 29, 2018
– vs. Rafael Carvalho – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 200 – May 25, 2018
– vs. Alexander Shlemenko – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 185 – October 20, 2017
– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 210 – April 6, 2017
– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. – Bellator – June 22, 2019
Comment: Mousasi is set for his first fight of the year in London against undefeated submission specialist Rafael Lovato Jr. Mousasi’s 2018 was huge with wins over middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho and welterweight champion Rory MacDonald. He is approaching only his 34th birthday this summer and he’ll look for his 46th pro MMA win before that day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYAZJbLKNZk
3) Yoel Romero (13-3)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: April 30, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Luke Rockhold – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 221 – February 11, 2018
– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via KO (flying knee) – UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor – November 12, 2016
– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via decision (split) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Romero had been scheduled to fight Jacare Souza this week in Florida but last month, he had to withdraw due to illness.
4) Israel Adesanya (17-0)
Height: 6’4
Birthday: July 22, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 236 – April 13, 2019
– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 234 – February 9, 2019
– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Brad Tavares – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC TUF Finale – July 6, 2018
– vs. Marvin Vettori – Win via decision (split) – UFC on Fox – April 14, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: The new UFC interim middleweight champion, Israel is now the second-ever Nigerian born champion in the organization (following in Kamaru Usman’s footsteps from March). He is also the second undefeated champion right now (with Khabib Nurmagomedov, although three if you wish to count Jon Jones). His next fight appears as though it will be a fight to determine the undisputed middleweight champion with Robert Whittaker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FmirafVKbU
5) Kelvin Gastelum (15-4, 1 NC)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: October 24, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Israel Adesanya – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 236 – April 13, 2019
– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via decision (split) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Michael Bisping – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – November 25, 2017
– vs. Chris Weidman – Loss via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC on Fox – July 22, 2017
– vs. Vitor Belfort – No Contest (original win by Gastelum overturned due to marijuana) – UFC Fight Night – March 11, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Gastelum’s first shot at a UFC title produced the best fight of 2019 (so far) in a losing effort. His performance was critiqued by some for his perceived reliance on wrestling in spots where he had Adesanya dazed and stumbling. Adesanya was ruled the winner by judges who scored three of the five rounds in his favor.
6) Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (26-6, 1 No Contest)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: December 7, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via KO (head kick and punches) – UFC on Fox – January 27, 2018
– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017
– vs. Tim Boetsch – Win via submission (kimura) – UFC 208 – February 11, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jack Hermansson – UFC on ESPN – April 27, 2019
Comment: Jacare will continue to try and add to his case for a title fight this weekend in Florida. He will fight Hermansson on about three weeks notice following Yoel Romero’s illness. Hermansson was able to get his name out there thanks to his submission win over Dave Branch earlier this year.
7) Chris Weidman (14-4)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: June 17, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jacare Souza – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC on Fox – July 22, 2017
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 210 – April 6, 2017
– vs. Yoel Romero – Loss via KO (flying knee) – UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor – November 12, 2016
– vs. Luke Rockhold – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Lyoto Machida (25-8)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: May 30, 1978
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rafael Carvalho – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 213 – December 15, 2018
– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via KO (front kick) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Eryk Anders – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – February 3, 2018
– vs. Derek Brunson – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017
– vs. Yoel Romero – Loss via KO (elbows) – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero – June 27, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Chael Sonnen – Bellator MMA – July 14, 2019
9) Jack Hermansson (19-4)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: June 10, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. David Branch – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on ESPN – March 30, 2019
– vs. Gerald Meerschaert – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – December 15, 2018
– vs. Thales Leites – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Thiago Santos – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017
– vs. Bradley Scott – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – August 5, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jacare Souza – UFC Fight Night – April 27, 2019
10) Derek Brunson (18-7)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: January 4, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Israel Adesanya – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Jacare Souza – Loss via KO (head kick and punches) – UFC on Fox – January 27, 2018
– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017
– vs. Daniel Kelly – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – June 10, 2017
– vs. Anderson Silva – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 208 – February 11, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Elias Theodorou – UFC Fight Night – May 4, 2019
11) Paulo Henrique Costa (12-0)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: April 21, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 226 – July 7, 2018
– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017
– vs. Oluwale Bamgbose – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 212 – June 3, 2017
– vs. Garreth McLellan – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 11, 2017
– vs. Adriano Balby – Win via KO (punch) – Jungle Fight 90 – September 3, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) Jared Cannonier (11-4)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: March 3, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. David Branch – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Dominick Reyes – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018
– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017
– vs. Nick Roehrick – Win via TKO (elbows) – UFC TUF Finale – July 7, 2017
– vs. Glover Teixeira – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 208 – February 11, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Anderson Silva – UFC 237 – May 11, 2019
13) Antonio Carlos Jr. (10-2)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: March 16, 1990
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Tim Boetsch – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on Fox – April 14, 2018
– vs. Jack Marshman – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017
– vs. Eric Spicely – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 212 – June 3, 2017
– vs. Marvin Vettori – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 207 – December 30, 2016
– vs. Leonardo Guimaraes – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – September 17, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Ian Heinrich – UFC Fight Night – May 18, 2019
14) Rafael Carvalho (15-3)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: July 27, 1986
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Lyoto Machida – Loss via decision (split) – Bellator 213 – December 15, 2018
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 200 – May 25, 2018
– vs. Alessio Sakara – Win via KO (elbow) – Bellator 189 – December 9, 2017
– vs. Melvin Manhood – Win via KO (head kick) – Bellator 176 – April 8, 2017
– vs. Melvin Manhoef – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 155 – May 20, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) David Branch (22-6)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: September 26, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jack Hermansson – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on ESPN – March 30, 2019
– vs. Jared Cannonier – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 230 – November 3, 2018
– vs. Thiago Santos – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – April 21, 2018
– vs. Luke Rockhold – Loss via TKO (submission to strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 16, 2017
– vs. Krzysztof Jotko – Win via decision (split) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
