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411 MMA Rankings 02.19.19: Welterweight Division – Tyron Woodley, Robbie Lawler, More
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Welterweight Division
1) Tyron Woodley (19-3-1)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: April 17, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Darren Till – Win via submission (D’Arce choke) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018
– vs. Demian Maia – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017
– vs. Stephen Thompson – Win via decision (split) – UFC 209: Woodley vs. Thompson 2 – March 4, 2017
– vs. Stephen Thompson – Draw via decision – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016
– vs. Robbie Lawler – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 201: Lawler vs. Woodley – July 30, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Kamaru Usman – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019
Comment: Is Woodley an underrated UFC champion? Among reigning champions, he leads them all with four successful title defenses entering his upcoming fight in two weeks against Kamaru Unman. If he’s able to beat Unman, he’ll be more than half way to the number of defenses Georges St. Pierre had in his second run with the belt (9).
2) Colby Covington (14-1)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: February 22, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Demian Maia – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017
– vs. Dong Hyun Kim – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 17, 2017
– vs. Bryan Barberena – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 17, 2016
– vs. Max Griffin – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 202 – August 20, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
3) Ben Askren (18-0, 1 NC)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: July 18, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Shinya Aoki – Win via TKO (strikes) – ONE Championship: Immortal Pursuit – November 24, 2017
– vs. Zebaztian Kadestam – Win via TKO (strikes) – One Championship – September 2, 2017
– vs. Agilan Thani – Win via submission (Arm-Triangle choke) – One FC – May 26, 2017
– vs. Nikolay Aleksakhin – Win via decision (unanimous) – One FC 41 – April 15, 2016
– vs. Luis Santos – No Contest (eye poke) – ONE FC: Valor of Champions – April 27, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Robbie Lawler – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019
Comment: Askren’s octagon debut is almost here as he’ll meet Robbie Lawler at UFC 235 next month. It will mark Askren’s first fight back in the United States since his final Bellator bout in 2013. It’s an interesting match-up as he’ll take on former champion Lawler, himself popular for his propensity for slugfests and wars. Ben Askren is one of the best wrestlers in MMA and has never struggled to take an opponent down (with perhaps the one possible exception being Jay Hieron when they fought in 2011). Many people are picking against him in this fight simply because he’s a newcomer to the UFC and fighting a fan favorite. Beyond this fight and Askren’s UFC debut coming to fruition, a win would make for an interesting dialogue as for his next fight. There is no consideration for a possible Askren fight with Woodley since the two are longtime friends and training partners. A win for Askren and other potential fights would have to include Covington, Darren Till, Stephen Thompson and maybe even Santiago Ponzinibbio. But first, he’ll have to extend his undefeated record against a guy who was 16-4 (1 NC) in MMA before Askren even turned to MMA.
4) Rory MacDonald (20-5)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: July 22, 1989
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Gegard Mousasi – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Bellator MMA – September 29, 2018
– vs. Douglas Lima – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 192 – January 20, 2018
– vs. Paul Daley – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 179 – May 19, 2017
– vs. Stephen Thompson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 18, 2016
– vs. Robbie Lawler – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor – July 11, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jon Fitch – Bellator Wetlerweight Grand Prix – Bellator 220 – April 27, 2019
Comment: The interesting caveat of Bellator’s 170-pound grand prix is that for champion Rory MacDonald to win the tournament, he’ll need to defend his championship three times within about 12 months. His first round match is quickly coming up where he’ll fight Jon Fitch in five-rounds with the winner moving on to fight Neiman Gracie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tothFsph0UE
5) Kamaru Usman (14-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: May 11, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 30, 2018
– vs. Demian Maia – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018
– vs. Emil Weber Meek – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – January 14, 2018
– vs. Sergio Moraes – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – September 16, 2017
– vs. Sean Strickland – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 210 – April 8, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Tyron Woodley – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019
Comment: Usman could become the first ever Nigerian-born UFC champion when he challenges Tyron Woodley at UFC 235. A three-time NCAA Division-II All-American, he won a national wrestling title as a senior. In 2015, he was chosen as one of the fighters on season 21 of The Ultimate Fighter, after amassing a 5-1 record in various regional promotions. By the summer, he had won the tournament and earned the UFC contract. He has not stopped winning in the octagon ever since, going 9-0 in the octagon. His last two wins included a five-round unanimous decision win over Demian Maia and a five-round unanimous decision win over former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos.
If he can beat Woodley, Usman would become the fifth ever TUF winner to go on and become a UFC champion.
6) Santiago Ponzinibbio (27-3)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: September 26, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Neil Magny – Win via KO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – November 17, 2018
– vs. Mike Perry – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017
– vs. Gunnar Nelson – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 16, 2017
– vs. Nordine Taleb – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 19, 2017
– vs. Zak Cummings – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – August 6, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow9z9oRvZd4
7) Douglas Lima (30-7)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: January 5, 1988
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Andrey Koreshkov – Win via technical submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 206 – September 29, 2018
– vs. Rory MacDonald – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator MMA – January 20, 2018
– vs. Lorenz Larkin – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017
– vs. Andrey Koreshkov – Win via KO (punches) – Bellator 164 – November 10, 2016
– vs. Paul Daley – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 158 – July 16, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Michael Page – Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix – May 11, 2019
Comment: The long awaited fight between Michael “Venom” Page and Paul “Semtex” Daley happened Saturday in England and it did not live up to the years of hype. It turned into a five-round grappling match between two lethal strikers and Page remained undefeated as he picked up the unanimous decision win. Next up will be a fight with former champion Douglas Lima in the spring, which on paper would lead you to believe Lima will be earning a spot in the grand prix finals.
8) Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (14-3-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: February 11, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Darren Till – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 27, 2018
– vs. Jorge Masvidal – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 209: Woodley vs. Thompson 2 – March 4, 2017
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Draw via decision – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016
– vs. Rory MacDonald – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 18, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Anthony Pettis – UFC Fight Night – March 23, 2019
9) Rafael dos Anjos (28-11)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: October 26, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kamaru Usman – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 30, 2018
– vs. Colby Covington – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
– vs. Robbie Lawler – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017
– vs. Neil Magny – Win via submission (arm triangle choke) – UFC 215 – September 9, 2017
– vs. Tarec Saffiedine – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 17, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: For no surprising reason, RDA has been talking up a fight with Conor McGregor. Read through the lines and you can see why as the former lightweight champion is 0-2 since 2018. He has wasted his big win over Robbie Lawler and a three fight win streak. He has said he’s only interested in “big” fights and that would be because he’s not challenging for any championship anytime soon. Most likely, McGregor has no interest in fighting RDA (instead, the potential fight with Donald Cerrone appears more likely) in 2019. Unfortunately for dos Anjos, when he last competed at lightweight, he lost to Eddie Alvarez and Tony Ferguson. Even dropping down to 155 is not going to offer much of a refresh on his career just yet. If he’s intent on remaining at welterweight, a fight that may make sense is with the loser between Darren Till/Jorge Masvidal as that fighter will also be on a two-fight losing streak.
10) “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (28-12, 1 NC)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: March 20, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 16, 2017
– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via KO (punch) – UFC 201: Lawler vs. Woodley – July 30, 2016
– vs. Carlos Condit – Win via decision (split) – UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit – January 2, 2016
– vs. Rory MacDonald – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor – July 11, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Ben Askren – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019
Comment: A torn ACL suffered in his loss to dos Anjos cost him all of 2018 but former champion Robbie Lawler is just 11 days from returning to action. He’s now nearly three years removed from when he last held the UFC championship, but he has the opportunity to launch himself back into title contention in his return fight against Ben Askren.
Before UFC 235, I’m looking forward to rewatching the legendary fight between Lawler and Rory MacDonald from UFC 189. I suggest you do the same!
11) Darren Till (17-1-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: December 24, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via submission (D’Arce choke) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018
– vs. Stephen Thompson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 27, 2018
– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 21, 2017
– vs. Bojan Velickovic – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 2, 2017
– vs. Jessin Ayari – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 28, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jorge Masvidal – UFC Fight Night – March 16, 2019
12) Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal (32-13)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: November 12, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Stephen Thompson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017
– vs. Demian Maia – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017
– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – January 28, 2017
– vs. Jake Ellenberger – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC TUF Finale – December 3, 2016
– vs. Ross Pearson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 201 – July 30, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Darren Till – UFC Fight Night – March 16, 2019
13) Jon Fitch (31-7-1, 1 NC)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: February 24, 1978
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Paul Daley – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 199 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Brian Foster – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – PFL – June 30, 2017
– vs. Jake Shields – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 34 – December 31, 2016
– vs. Joao Zeferino – Win via decision (unanimous) – WSOF 30 – April 2, 2016
– vs. Yushin Okami – Win via decision (unanimous) WSOF 24 – October 17, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Rory MacDonald – Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix – Bellator 220 – April 27, 2019
Comment: Fitch and MacDonald will conclude the first round of the welterweight tournament in April with the latter defending his Bellator welterweight championship for the first time among the field.
14) Demian Maia (26-9)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: November 6, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Lyman Good – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – February 2, 2019
– vs. Kamaru Usman – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018
– vs. Colby Covington – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 28, 2017
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017
– vs. Jorge Masvidal – Win via decision (split) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Leon Edwards (16-3)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: August 25, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Donald Cerrone – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 23, 2018
– vs. Peter Sobotta – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 17, 2018
– vs. Bryan Barbarena – Win via decision (unanimous) – September 2, 2017
– vs. Vicente Luque – Win via decision (unanimous) – March 18, 2017
– vs. Albert Tumenov – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – October 8, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Gunnar Nelson – UFC Fight Night – March 16, 2019
