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411 MMA Rankings 12.19.17: Welterweight Division – Tyron Woodley, Ben Askren, 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 have a fight scheduled.
– 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 They can return when they have served their suspension or in the event it is rescinded.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
Welterweight Division
1) Tyron Woodley (18-3-1)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: April 17, 1982
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Kelvin Gastelum – Win via decision (split) – UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – January 31, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: While not confirmed or even rumored at this point, Woodley’s next title fight should come against Rafael dos Anjos. Darren Till, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Colby Covington each have an impressive win or two, but RDA is a former lightweight champion and 3-0 this year as a welterweight. Plus, he’s the guy that some believe poses the biggest threat to Woodley right now, considering his aggressive style and ability to defend on the ground.
2) Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (15-2-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: February 11, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Johny Hendricks – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson – February 6, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
3) Rafael dos Anjos (28-9)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: October 26, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Tony Ferguson – Loss via decision (unanimous) – TUF Finale – November 5, 2016
– vs. Eddie Alvarez – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 7, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
4) Ben Askren (18-0, 1 NC)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: July 18, 1984
Currently Fighting With: One FC
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:
– Retired
Comment: Askren closed his active fighting career last month with a first round stoppage of Shinya Aoki, improving his career record to 18 wins with no losses. As for what his future, Askren is still involved with ONE Championship in an office capacity and will continue to train with the guys at Roufusport. However, he’s still holding out some hope that he will be able to fight Georges St. Pierre some day in the UFC. He says ONE would allow him such an opportunity, although he still does not see eye to eye with UFC president Dana White.
5) “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:
– Unknown
Comment: Amazingly, Lawler’s loss on Saturday was his first in a non-title fight since 2012 when he lost a decision to Lorenz Larkin in his final Strikeforce bout.
6) Rory MacDonald (19-4)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: July 22, 1989
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Tarec Saffiedine – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine – October 4, 2014
– vs. Tyron Woodley – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 174: Johnson vs. Bagautinov – June 14, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Douglas Lima – Bellator MMA – January 20, 2018
7) Douglas Lima (29-6)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: January 5, 1988
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Andrey Koreshkov – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 140 – July 17, 2015
– vs. Rick Hawn – Win via TKO (corner stoppage) – Bellator 117 – April 18, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Rory MacDonald – Bellator MMA – January 20, 2018
8) Colby Covington (13-1)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: February 22, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Jonathan Meunier – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – June 18, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) 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:
– Unknown
10) Darren Till (16-0-1)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: December 24, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Nicolas Dalby – Draw via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – October 24, 2015
– vs. Wendell de Oliveira – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 30, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: On the sidelines for more than a year and a half, Till has made 2017 the biggest year of his career. Three fights in five months, three wins. About two weeks ago, he scored the upset knockout against Cowboy Cerrone and it’s now impossible to ignore what he’s accomplishing.
11) Santiago Ponzinibbio (26-3)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: September 26, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Court McGee – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox – April 16, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Ponzinibbio followed up his knock out of Gunnar Nelson by handing Mike Perry the first loss of his career.
12) Demian Maia (25-8)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: November 6, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Carlos Condit – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on Fox – August 27, 2016
– vs. Matt Brown – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 198 – May 14, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
13) Paul “Semtex” Daley (40-15-2)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: February 2, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Lorenz Larkin – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 183 – September 23, 2017
– vs. Rory MacDonald – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 179 – May 19, 2017
– vs. Brennan Ward – Win via KO (flying knee) – Bellator 170 – January 21, 2017
– vs. Douglas Lima – Loss via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 158 – July 16, 2016
– vs. Andy Ulrich – Win via KO (punch) – Bellator 148 – January 29, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
14) Andrey “Spartan” Koreshkov (20-2)
Height: 6’0
Birthday: August 23, 1990
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Chidi Njokuani – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 182 – August 25, 2017
– vs. Douglas Lima – Loss via KO (punches) – Bellator 164 – November 10, 2016
– vs. Benson Henderson – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 153 – April 22, 2016
– vs. Douglas Lima – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 140 – July 17, 2015
– vs. Adam McDonough – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 122 – July 25, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) Gunnar Nelson (16-3-1)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: July 28, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 16, 2017
– vs. Alan Jouban – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – March 18, 2017
– vs. Albert Tumenov – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night: REEM vs. Arlovski – May 8, 2016
– vs. Demian Maia – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
– vs. Brandon Thatch – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 189 – July 11, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
