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411 MMA Rankings 06.25.19: Middleweight Division – Robert Whittaker, Yoel Romero, 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
2) 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 241 – August 17, 2019
3) 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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXYh-NQUimI
4) 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
5) Jack Hermansson (20-4)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: June 10, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jacare Souza – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – April 27, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
6) Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (26-7, 1 No Contest)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: December 7, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jack Hermansson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – April 27, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Lyoto Machida (26-8)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: May 30, 1978
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Chael Sonnen – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator MMA – July 14, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Derek Brunson (19-7)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: January 4, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Elias Theodorou – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 4, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Ian Heinisch – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019
9) Gegard Mousasi (45-7-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: August 1, 1985
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator – June 22, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Mousasi loses his middleweight title following the worst performance of his run in Bellator. It’s just the third time he has lost a decision in his 54-fight MMA career.
10) 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 241 – August 17, 2019
Comment: With past attempts to have Romero and Costa fight nixed (including a USADA violation against Costa which saw him serve a six month suspension), the pair are now expected to fight at UFC 241 in August. Since Israel Adesanya is out of the prospect stage of his career, the title of best middleweight prospect in the UFC is held solely by Costa. He’s 12-0 with 12 finishes and gets a massive step up in competition in the form of Yoel Romero (a top contender who took Robert Whittaker to a decision twice). A win over Romero, and Costa jumps immediately into the title picture as a potential contender for either Whittaker or Adesanya by early 2020.
11) Jared Cannonier (12-4)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: March 3, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via TKO (leg kick) – UFC 237 – May 11, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Since moving down to middleweight, Cannonier has stopped both David Branch and Anderson Silva since November. He is reportedly having a difficult time finding an opponent in the near future, though he’s hoping he can match up with Kelvin Gastelum in Mexico City in September.
12) Ian “Hurricane” Heinisch (13-1)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: August 5, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Antonio Carlos Jr. – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 18, 2019
– vs. Cezar Ferreira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 17, 2018
– vs. Justin Sumter – Win via KO (elbows) – DW Contender Series – July 31, 2018
– vs. Gabriel Checco – Win via KO (strikes) – LFA 39 – May 4, 2018
– vs. Daniel Madrid – Win via KO (punch) – LFA 31 – January 19, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Derek Brunson – UFC 241 – August 17, 2019
13) Rafael Lovato Jr. (10-0)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: June 25, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator – June 22, 2019
– vs. John Salter – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 205 – September 21, 2018
– vs. Gerald Harris – Win via submission (armbar) – Bellator 198 – April 28, 2018
– vs. Chris Honeycutt – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 189 – December 1, 2017
– vs. Mike Rhodes – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 181 – July 14, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Days ahead of his 36th birthday, Lovato secured his first MMA championship, besting Gegard Mousasi via unanimous decision.
14) Antonio Carlos Jr. (10-3)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: March 16, 1990
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ian Heinrich – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 18, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAWnjNHaDtI
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:
– vs. Andrew Sanchez – UFC on ESPN+ – September 14, 2019
Comment: Branch was the WSOF middleweight and light heavyweight champion when he returned to the UFC two years ago. Since then, he’s gone 2-3 and was finished in each of those losses. His last win came by KO against Thiago Santos, who himself has since moved up to light heavyweight and challenges Jon Jones next month. For Branch, it’s close to a must-win at the end of the summer when he fights Andrew Sanchez (TUF23 winner) who is riding a two-fight win streak.
