mma / Columns
411 MMA Rankings 11.21.17: Light Heavyweight Division – Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, More
411’s MMA Ranking Rules
– Which fighters are eligible for these rankings? They must meet the following qualifications: fight at least once in the past 365 days or if they have not, be officially scheduled for an upcoming fight.
– A fighter serving a disciplinary suspension will not be ranked. They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded. This includes fighters who may disregard their suspension locally to fight overseas.
411’s Official MMA Rankings: Light Heavyweight Division
Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs)
1) Daniel Cormier (19-2)
Birthday: March 20, 1979
Height: 5’9
Weight: 239
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jon Jones – No Contest (originally a loss via TKO) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017
– vs. Anthony Johnson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 210 – April 8, 2017
– vs. Anderson Silva – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
– vs. Alexander Gustafsson – Win via decision (split) – UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson – October 3, 2015
– vs. Anthony Johnson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 187: Cormier vs. Johnson – May 23, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Cormier, the official UFC light heavyweight champion, appears to be nearing an official announcement of his first title defense. Reports say that fight will be against Volkan Oezdemir.
2) Alexander Gustafsson (18-4)
Height: 6’5
Birthday: January 15, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Glover Teixeira – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 28, 2017
– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 3, 2016
– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson – October 3, 2015
– vs. Anthony Johnson – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on FOX: Gustafsson vs. Johnson – January 24, 2015
– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Manuwa – March 8, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
3) Ryan Bader (24-5)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: June 7, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Linton Vassell – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 186 – November 3, 2017
– vs. Phil Davis – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017
– vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016
– vs. Ilir Latifi – Win via KO (knee) – UFC Fight Night – September 3, 2016
– vs. Anthony Johnson – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – January 30, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Bader successfully defended the Bellator championship for the first time with a second round TKO win over Linton Vassal. Up next for the champion may be a title defense against King Mo, though there’s some chance one or both men may be involved in next year’s Bellator heavyweight championship tournament.
4) Volkan “Cousin” Oezdemir (15-1)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: September 19, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jimi Manuwa – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017
– vs. Misha Cirkunov – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – May 28, 2017
– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – February 4, 2017
– vs. Ailhan Vahaev – Win via decision (unanimous) – WFCA 17 – April 9, 2016
– vs. Paco Estevez – Win via TKO (strikes) – SHC 10 – September 20, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Oezdemir was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated battery causing bodily harm in Fort Lauderdale stemming from an altercation that took place in a local bar in August. He was released on bond Sunday and according to his manager, they are confident Oezdemir will be vindicated and his actions determined to be justified under the law.
5) Phil Davis (18-4, 1 No Contest)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: September 25, 1984
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Leo Leite – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 186 – November 3, 2017
– vs. Ryan Bader – Loss via decision (split) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017
– vs. Liam McGeary – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 163 – November 4, 2016
– vs. King Mo Lawal – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 154 – May 14, 2016
– vs. Francis Carmont – Win via KO (strikes) – Bellator: Dynamite 1 – September 19, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
6) “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal (21-6, 1 NC)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: January 11, 1981
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rampage Jackson – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 175 – March 31, 2017
– vs. Mirko Cro Cop – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Rizin – December 29, 2016
– vs. Satoshi Ishii – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 169 – December 16, 2016
– vs. Phil Davis – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 154 – May 14, 2016
– vs. Jiri Prochazka – Win via KO (punch) – Rizin FF – December 31, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Jimi Manuwa (17-3)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: February 18, 1980
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017
– vs. Corey Anderson – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – March 18, 2017
– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC 204 – October 8, 2016
– vs. Anthony Johnson – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 – September 5, 2015
– vs. Jan Blachowicz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Gonzaga vs. Cro Cop 2 – April 11, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (25-10)
Birthday: November 25, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Ovince St. Preux – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. OSP – November 8, 2014
– vs. Dan Henderson – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Hendo 2 – March 23, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) Glover Teixeira (26-6)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: October 28, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Pat Cummins – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – November 7, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Misha Cirkunov – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017
10) Nikita Krylov (23-5)
Birthday: March 7, 1992
Currently Fighting With: Fight Nights Global
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Emanuel Newton – Win via KO (knee) – FNG 77 – October 13, 2017
– vs. Maro Perak – Win via TKO (strikes) – Donbass Combat Sports – August 26, 2017
– vs. Stjepan Bekavac – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – Fight Nights Global 68 – June 2, 2017
– vs. Misha Cirkunov – Loss via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 206 – December 10, 2016
– vs. Ed Herman – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC 201 – July 30, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
11) Rashid Yusupov (8-0)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: May 15, 1992
Currently Fighting With: M-1 Global
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Stephan Puetz – Win via TKO (corner stoppage) – M-1 Challenge 74 – February 18, 2017
– vs. Viktor Nemkov – Win via decision (split) – M-1 Challenge 66 – May 27, 2016
– vs. Martin Zawada – Win via decision (unanimous) – M-1 Challenge 63 – December 4, 2015
– vs. Mitry Medvedev – Win via KO (punch) – M-1 Challenge 57 – May 2, 2015
– vs. Anton Nazarenko – Win submission (armbar) – M-1 Global – June 15, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
12) Linton Vassell (18-6, 1 NC)
Height: 6’4
Birthday: June 3, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ryan Bader – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 186 – November 3, 2017
– vs. Liam McGeary – Win via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Bellator 179 – May 19, 2017
– vs. Francis Carmont – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 165 – November 19, 2016
– vs. Emanuel Newton – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 149 – February 19, 2016
– vs. King Mo Lawal – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 142 – September 19, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
13) Viktor Nemkov (25-6)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: January 26, 1987
Currently Fighting With: M-1 Challenge
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ronny Markes – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – M-1 Challenge 77 – May 19, 2017
– vs. Attila Vegh – Win via decision (unanimous) – M-1 Challenge 71 – October 21, 2016
– vs. Rashid Yusupov – Loss via decision (split) – M-1 Challenge 66 – May 27, 2016
– vs. Stephan Puetz – Win via decision (split) – M-1 Challenge 63 – December 4, 2015
– vs. Maro Perak – Win via decision (unanimous) – M-1 Challenge 60 – August 5, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
14) Misha Cirkunov (13-3)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: February 27, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Volkan Oezdemir – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – May 28, 2017
– vs. Nikita Krylov – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 206 – December 10, 2016
– vs. Ion Cutelaba – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC Fight Night – June 18, 2016
– vs. Alex Nicholson – Win via submission (neck crank) – UFC Fight Night – February 8, 2016
– vs. Daniel Jolly – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – August 23, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Glover Teixeira – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017
15) Gadzhimurad Antigulov (20-4)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: January 1, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Joachim Christensen – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017
– vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016
– vs. Muslim Makhmudov – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – ACB 35 – May 6, 2016
– vs. Jorge Luis Bezerra – Win via TKO (strikes) – ACB 27 – December 20, 2015
– vs. Cassio Barbosa de Oliveira – Win via TKO (strikes) – ACB 20 – June 14, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown