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411 MMA Rankings 02.12.19: Middleweight Division – Kelvin Gastelum, Israel Adesanya, 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: As unlikely a turn of events as has been seen in recent years took place early on the morning of UFC 234 in Australia. Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker fell ill and was taken to the hospital where doctors discovered a collapsed bowel and a hernia in his intestine. Whittaker’s team in their public statement said he was advised if he insisted on competing later that day, a strike to his midsection could turn fatal. He underwent surgery and reports have the timeframe before he can return to training as four to eight weeks.
While it was an unfortunate turn for the UFC 234 show and all of his local fans, the fact doctors were able to catch serious ailments and perform surgery to fix it is tremendous. Due to mitigating circumstances (Yoel Romero missed weight last June, this weekend’s hospital stay), Whittaker still has yet to defend the middleweight title since he won the belt in the summer of 2017.
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:
– Unknown
Comment: Bellaotr president Scott Coker told media about two weeks ago that Mousasi is expecting to return this spring after an injury forced him to withdraw from a title defense last month. There’s no word relating to a specific title challenger at this point.
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:
– vs. Paulo Henrique Costa – UFC on ESPN – April 27, 2019
4) Kelvin Gastelum (15-3, 1 NC)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: October 24, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Tim Kennedy – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 206 – December 10, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: A bizarre sight in the arena at UFC 234 was Kelvin Gastelum walking around with a UFC title belt, proclaiming himself to be the UFC middleweight champion. He explained that in the wrestling world, if one wrestler makes weight and the opponent fails to compete, the former is declared the winner. Obviously, this is not amateur wrestling, but Gastelum was comfortable flaunting his belt (it’s not clear how he came about receiving that title, whether he purchased it or the UFC handed it to him).
Outside of that, Gastelum was disappointed his long-awaited UFC title fight never came to pass, regardless of the circumstances. Whether he will wait for Whittaker to return to action, perhaps this summer, remains to be seen. He sounded like he would do whatever the UFC asked of him, whether waiting for Whittaker or fighting Israel Adesanya.
5) 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:
– Unknown
6) Luke Rockhold (16-4)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: October 17, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Yoel Romero – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 221 – February 11, 2018
– vs. David Branch – Win via TKO (submission to strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 16, 2017
– vs. Michael Bisping – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 – June 4, 2016
– vs. Chris Weidman – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on FOX: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN6WcnxOTwQ
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) Israel Adesanya (16-0)
Height: 6’4
Birthday: July 22, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Rob Wilkinson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 221 – February 11, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Israel may not have had the career defining performance at UFC 234, but a win is a win. He earned the three-round decision win over Anderson Silva in the night’s main event. Now considered the number one contender, Israel may need to wait for the Whittaker/Gastelum situation to play out before he gets a chance to fight for UFC gold. Will the 29 year old be willing to wait (his birthday is in July), or would he be willing to put his undefeated record on the line one more time before a title fight?
9) 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:
– Unknown
10) 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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0kPYxm7SYY
11) David Branch (22-5)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: September 26, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Louis Taylor – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – WSOF 34 – December 31, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) 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:
– Unknown
13) 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:
– vs. Yoel Romero – UFC on ESPN – April 27, 2019
14) 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:
– Unknown
15) 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:
– Unknown
