mma / Columns
411’s MMA Rankings 09.12.17: Lightweight Division – Conor McGregor Reigns
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 may return after serving their suspension. This includes fighters who may disregard their suspension locally to fight overseas.
411’s Official MMA Rankings
Lightweight Division (155 lbs)
1) “Notorious” Conor McGregor (21-3)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: July 14, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Eddie Alvarez – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016
– vs. Nate Diaz – Win via decision (split) – UFC 202 – August 20, 2016
– vs. Nate Diaz – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 196 – March 5, 2016
– vs. Jose Aldo – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor – December 12, 2015
– vs. Chad Mendes – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 189: McGregor vs. Mendes – July 11, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: McGregor lost by 10th round stoppage to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last month and talk returns to him as defending UFC lightweight champion. It’s a waiting game at the moment as an interim title fight will take place next month, and any talk about a trilogy with Nate Diaz has not gone far.
2) Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson (22-3)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: February 12, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via decision (unanimous) – TUF Finale – November 5, 2016
– vs. Lando Vanatta – Win via submission (Brabo choke) – UFC Fight Night – July 13, 2016
– vs. Edson Barboza – Win via submission (Brabo choke) – UFC TUF 22 Finale – December 11, 2015
– vs. Josh Thomson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 15, 2015
– vs. Gleison Tibau – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 184: Rousey vs. Zingano – February 28, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Kevin Lee – UFC 216 – October 7, 2017
3) Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: September 20, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Michael Johnson – Win via submission (kimura) – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016
– vs. Darrell Horcher – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans – April 16, 2016
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne – April 19, 2014
– vs. Pat Healy – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 165: Jones vs. Gustafsson – September 21, 2013
– vs. Abel Trujillo – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Bigfoot 2 – May 25, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
4) Edson Barboza (19-4)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: January 21, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Beneil Dariush – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 11, 2017
– vs. Gilbert Melendez – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – July 23, 2016
– vs. Anthony Pettis – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 197 – April 23, 2016
– vs. Tony Ferguson – Loss via submission (D’arce choke) – UFC TUF Finale – December 11, 2015
– vs. Paul Felder – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – July 25, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
5) Justin Gaethje (18-0)
Height: 5’11
Birthday: November 14, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 6 fights:
– vs. Michael Johnson – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC TUF Finale – July 7, 2017
– vs. Luiz Firmino – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – WSOF 34 – December 31, 2016
– vs. Brian Foster – Win via TKO (leg kicks) – WSOF 29 – March 12, 2016
– vs. Luis Palomino – Win via TKO (strikes) – WSOF 23 – September 18, 2015
– vs. Luis Palomino – Win via TKO (strikes) – WSOF 19 – March 28, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Gaethje did not disappoint in his UFC debut two months ago, finishing Michael Johnson in a war of a fight. Still undefeated, he is now coaching opposite Eddie Alvarez in the latest TUF series. The two will fight at the end of the year in something close to a dream fight between two of the most exciting lightweights of this era.
6) Eddie Alvarez (28-5, 1 NC)
Birthday: November 11, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Dustin Poirier – No Contest (illegal strikes) – UFC 211: Miocic vs. dos Santos – May 13, 2017
– vs. Conor McGregor – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016
– vs. Rafael dos Anjos – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 7, 2016
– vs. Anthony Pettis – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
– vs. Gilbert Melendez – Win via decision (split) – UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum – June 13, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Michael “The Menace” Johnson (17-12)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: June 4, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Justin Gaethje – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC TUF Finale – July 7, 2017
– vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov – Loss via submission (kimura) – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016
– vs. Dustin Poirier – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 17, 2016
– vs. Nate Diaz – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – December 19, 2015
– vs. Beneil Dariush – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – August 8, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Dustin Poirier (21-5, 1 NC)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: January 19, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Eddie Alvarez – No Contest (illegal strikes) – UFC 211: Miocic vs. dos Santos – May 13, 2017
– vs. Jim Miller – Win via decision (split) – UFC 208 – February 11, 2017
– vs. Michael Johnson – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC Fight Night – September 17, 2016
– vs. Bobby Green – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 199 – June 4, 2016
– vs. Joseph Duffy – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 195 – January 2, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Anthony Pettis – UFC Fight Night – November 11, 2017
9) Michael Chiesa (14-3)
Height: 6’1
Birthday: December 7, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kevin Lee – Loss via technical submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – June 25, 2017
– vs. Beneil Dariush – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on Fox – April 16, 2016
– vs. Jim Miller – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – December 10, 2015
– vs. Mitch Clarke – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 4, 2015
– vs. Joe Lauzon – Loss via TKO (doctor stoppage) – UFC Fight Night – September 5, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
10) Kevin Lee (16-2)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: September 4, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Michael Chiesa – Win via technical submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – June 25, 2017
– vs. Francisco Trinaldo – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – March 11, 2017
– vs. Magomed Mustafaev – Win via technical submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016
– vs. Jake Matthews – Win via TKO (strikes) – TUF Finale – July 8, 2016
– vs. Efrain Escudero – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 197 – April 23, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Tony Ferguson – UFC 216 – October 7, 2017
Comment: Lee gets his first UFC main event as he will fight Tony Ferguson for the interim lightweight title. Five consecutive wins (four of them finishes) launched him into the spot.
11) Evan Dunham (18-6)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: December 18, 1981
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Rick Glenn – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 17, 2016
– vs. Joe Lauzon – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC TUF Finale – December 11, 2015
– vs. Ross Pearson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 18, 2015
– vs. Rodrigo Damm – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 182 – January 3, 2015
– vs. Edson Barboza – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – July 16, 2014
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Beneil Dariush – UFC 216 – October 7, 2017
12) Brent Primus (8-0)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: April 12, 1985
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Michael Chandler – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Bellator 180 – June 24, 2017
– vs. Gleristone Santos – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 153 – April 22, 2017
– vs. Derek Anderson – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 141 – August 28, 2015
– vs. Chris Jones – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 111 – March 7, 2014
– vs. Brett Glass – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 109 – November 22, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
13) Beneil Dariush (14-3)
Height: 5’10
Birthday: May 6, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Edson Barboza – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – March 11, 2017
– vs. Rashid Magomedov – Win via decision (unanimous) – TUF Finale – November 5, 2016
– vs. James Vick – Win via KO (punch) – UFC 199 – June 4, 2016
– vs. Michael Chiesa – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on Fox – April 16, 2016
– vs. Michael Johnson – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – August 8, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Evan Dunham – UFC 216 – October 7, 2017
14) Michael Chandler (16-4)
Height: 5’8
Birthday: April 24, 1986
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Brent Primus – Loss via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Bellator 189 – June 24, 2017
– vs. Benson Henderson – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 165 – November 19, 2016
– vs Patricky Freire – Win via KO (punch) – Bellator 157 – June 24, 2016
– vs. David Rickels – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 145 – November 6, 2015
– vs. Derek Campos – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator 138 – June 19, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
15) “Showtime” Anthony Pettis (20-6)
Height: 5’9
Birthday: January 27, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jim Miller – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 213 – July 8, 2017
– vs. Max Holloway – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 206 – December 10, 2016
– vs. Charles Oliveira – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on Fox – August 27, 2016
– vs. Edson Barboza – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 197 – April 23, 2016
– vs. Eddie Alvarez – Loss via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – January 17, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Dustin Poirier – UFC Fight Night – November 11, 2017
Comment: The former champion returned to 155-pounds for the first time since the spring of 2016 with a win over Jim Miller in July. Up next he will headline against Dustin Poirier in November. If Pettis can win this fight, it will mark the first time in nearly three years that he’ll have won consecutive fights.