mma / Columns
411 MMA Rankings 04.03.18: Middleweight Division – Robert Whittaker, Yoel Romero, More
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Middleweight Division (185 pounds)
1) Robert Whittaker (19-4)
Height: 6′
Birthday: December 20, 1990
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm – November 14, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Yoel Romero – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
2) Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: August 1, 1985
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 204 – October 8, 2016
– vs. Thiago Santos – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Rafael Carvalho – Bellator 200 – May 25, 2018
3) Yoel Romero (13-2)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: April 30, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Lyoto Machida – Win via KO (elbows) – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Romero – June 27, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Robert Whittaker – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
4) Michael Bisping (30-9)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: February 28, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – November 25, 2017
– vs. Georges St. Pierre – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017
– vs. Dan Henderson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 204: Bisping vs. Henderson 2 – October 8, 2016
– vs. Luke Rockhold – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 – June 4, 2016
– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping – February 27, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Bisping has said he is open to fighting his retirement bout on May 27 when the UFC returns to Liverpool. Based on the former champion’s podcast, he is already speaking with the UFC about potential opponents.
5) 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
Comment: Rockhold wants a chance to avenge his loss to Michael Bisping but it seems Bisping has little interest in giving him that chance. Luke also has his sights set on leaving the middleweight division and the weight cut behind him to pursue light heavyweight fights (remember, teammate Daniel Cormier is contending for heavyweight gold this summer).
6) Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (25-5, 1 No Contest)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: December 7, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic – May 14, 2016
– vs. Yoel Romero – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
7) Chris Weidman (14-3)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: June 17, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Vitor Belfort – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 187: Cormier vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Kelvin Gastelum (14-3, 1 NC)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: October 24, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jacare Souza – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
9) Derek Brunson (18-6)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: January 4, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 26, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
10) Rafael Carvalho (15-1)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: July 27, 1986
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Brandon Halsey – Win via KO (body kick) – Bellator 144 – October 23, 2015
– vs. Joe Schilling – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 136 – April 10, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Bellator 200 – May 25, 2018
11) David Branch (21-4)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: September 26, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Vinny Magalhaes – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 33 – October 7, 2016
– vs. Clifford Starks – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 30 – April 2, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Thiago Santos – UFC Fight Night – April 21, 2018
12) Thiago Santos (17-5)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: January 7, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Anthony Smith – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 3, 2018
– vs. Jack Hermansson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017
– vs. Gerald Meerschaert – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
– vs. Jack Marshman – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – February 19, 2017
– vs. Eric Spicely – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – September 24, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. David Branch – UFC Fight Night – April 21, 2018
13) Mamed Khalidov (34-5-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: July 17, 1980
Currently Fighting With: KSW
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Tomasz Narkun – Loss via submission (triangle choke) – KSW 42 – March 3, 2018
– vs. Borys Mankowski – Win via decision (unanimous) – KSW 39 – May 27, 2017
– vs. Luke Barnatt – Win via KO (punches) – ACB 54 – March 11, 2017
– vs. Azuz Karoglu – Win via decision (split) – KSW 35 – May 27, 2016
– vs. Michal Materla – Win via KO (flying knee) – KSW 33 – November 28, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Khalidov suffered his first loss in 8 years (16 fights) last month when he was choked out by light heavyweight champion Tomasz Narkun in the third round. While Khalidov was able to hurt him in the first round with a series of combinations, Narkun persisted and submitted the top Polish fighter after taking him down in round three. The fight between champions was held at a 203-pound catchweight, the win improving Narkun’s record to 15-2.
14) Uriah Hall (13-8)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: July 31, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Krzysztof Jotko – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 16, 2017
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016
– vs. Derek Brunson – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – September 17, 2016
– vs. Robert Whittaker – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm – November 14, 2015
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 27, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Ramazan Emeev (18-3)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: May 20, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Sam Alvey – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 21, 2017
– vs. Anatoly Tokov – Win via decision (split) – M-1 Challenge 73 – December 9, 2016
– vs. Maiquel Falcao – Win via submission (anaconda choke) – M-1 Challenge 65 – April 8, 2016
– vs. Luigi Fioravanti – Win via TKO (corner stoppage) – M-1 Challenge 63 – December 4, 2015
– vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – M-1 Challenge 56 – April 10, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Alberto Mina – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
