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411 MMA Rankings 10.24.17: Middleweight Division – Michael Bisping, Robert Whittaker, More
411’s MMA Rankings Guidelines
– 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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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
Middleweight Division (185 pounds)
1) Michael Bisping (29-7)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: February 28, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Thales Leites – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites – July 18, 2015
– vs. C.B. Dollaway – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 186 – April 25, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Georges St. Pierre – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017
Comment: Will this be the final edition featuring Bisping in the #1 position? If it is not, that means he beats GSP at MSG in two weeks. Back in 2006 when UFC fans were introduced to Michael Bisping on The Ultimate Fighter, if someone told you in a decade, he would have wins over Anderson Silva AND Georges St. Pierre, that would have been ridiculous.
2) 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:
– Unknown
Comment: Whittaker is waiting in the wings for a deserving opportunity to fight for the middleweight championship. Unfortunately, he is forced to the background while Michael Bisping chases the biggest payday of his career. GSP has said if he wins, his first defense would likely be against Whittaker. However, there are already rumblings of a potential fight with lightweight champion Conor McGregor (who has not competed in MMA since December).
3) 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:
– Unknown
Comment: Mousasi was victorious in his Bellator debut Friday night which saw him pick up his sixth consecutive win in a decision against Alexander Shlemenko.
4) Luke Rockhold (16-3)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: October 17, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Michael Bisping – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold – November 8, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
5) Yoel Romero (12-2)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: April 30, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Tim Kennedy – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 178: Cerrone vs. Alvarez – September 27, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
6) Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (24-5, 1 No Contest)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: December 7, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Chris Camozzi – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC on FOX: Machida vs. Rockhold – April 18, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
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) Anderson Silva (34-8, 1 NC)
Height: 6’2
Birthday: April 14, 1975
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Derek Brunson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 208 – February 11, 2017
– vs. Daniel Cormier – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 200 – July 9, 2016
– vs. Michael Bisping – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping – February 27, 2016
– vs. Nick Diaz – No Contest (Originally a decision win, overturned because of a failed drug test) – UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – January 31, 2015
– vs. Chris Weidman – Loss via TKO (injury) – UFC 168: Weidman vs. Silva 2 – December 28, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – UFC Fight Night – November 25, 2017
9) Mamed Khalidov (34-4-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: July 17, 1980
Currently Fighting With: KSW
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Brett Cooper – Win via decision (unanimous) – KSW 29 – December 6, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
10) Derek Brunson (17-5)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: January 4, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Uriah Hall – Win via TKO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – September 17, 2016
– vs. Roan Carneiro – Win via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – February 21, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Lyoto Machida – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017
Comment: Brunson gets to welcome Lyoto Machida back to the octagon this weekend in Brazil. Machida has not fought in over two years (he was knocked out by Romero in June 2015)
11) Rafael Carvalho (14-1)
Height: 6’3
Birthday: July 27, 1986
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Brian Rogers – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 125 – September 19, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Alessio Sakara – Bellator 189 – December 9, 2017
12) 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:
– vs. Vitor Belfort – UFC – January 14, 2018
Comment: On Instagram, Vitor Belfort posted last week that he has signed to fight Hall in January. Uriah ended his losing streak with an upset win over Krzysztof Jotko last month. Meanwhile, Belfort earned a decision win against Nate Marquardt in June, his first win in nearly two years.
13) 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:
– Unknown
Comment: Branch’s 11 fight win streak came to an end last month when he could no longer continue in the second round as a result of strikes. He has never lost back-to-back fights so it will be key to continue that pattern when he returns to action next year.
14) Alexander Shlemenko (56-10, 1 NC)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: May 20, 1984
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA & M-1 Challenge
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 185 – October 20, 2017
– vs. Brandon Halsey – Win via TKO (strikes) – M-1 Challenge 79 – June 1, 2017
– vs. Paul Bradley – Win via decision (unanimous) – M-1 Challenge 75 – March 3, 2017
– vs. Kendall Grove – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 162 – October 21, 2016
– vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – M-1 Challenge 68 – June 16, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Kelvin Gastelum (13-3, 1 NC)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: October 24, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Chris Weidmna – 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
– vs. Neil Magny – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – November 21, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Anderson Silva – UFC Fight Night – November 25, 2017
