MMA Rankings, Records, Statistics

Middleweight (185)
[#7] Michael Bisping (24-5-0, 186.0lb, -206) vs. [#10] Tim Kennedy (17-4-0, 186.0lb, +171)
Michael Bisping is the All-Time #17 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Tim Kennedy is the All-Time #25 ranked Middleweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Michael Bisping (2-1-0)
2013-04-27: W vs. [#21MW] Alan Belcher (18-8-0) via TUD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2013-01-19: L vs. [#3MW/#9DD] Vitor Belfort (24-10-0) via TKO (Head Kick and Punches) in 1:27 of round 2
2012-09-22: W vs. [*] Brian Stann (12-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Last 3 Fights: Tim Kennedy (3-0-0)
2013-11-06: W vs. [#45MW] Rafael Natal (17-5-1) via KO (Punches) in 4:40 of round 1
2013-07-06: W vs. [#23MW] Roger Gracie (6-2-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-01-12: W vs. [#98MW] Trevor Smith (11-5-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 1:36 of round 3

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Michael Bisping 354, Tim Kennedy 161
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Welterweight (170)
[#54] Patrick Cote (19-8-0, 170.0lb, -104) vs. [*] Kyle Noke (20-6-1, 171.0lb, -118)

Last 3 Fights: Patrick Cote (2-1-0)
2013-03-16: W vs. [#206WW] Bobby Voelker (24-11-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2012-11-17: W vs. [#261MW] Alessio Sakara (15-11-0) via DQ (Punches to Back of Head) in 1:26 of round 1
2012-07-07: L vs. [*] Cung Le (9-2-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Last 3 Fights: Kyle Noke (1-2-0)
2012-09-22: W vs. [#92LW] Charlie Brenneman (19-6-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:45 of round 1
2012-03-03: L vs. [#44MW] Andrew Craig (9-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2011-08-14: L vs. [#42MW] Ed Herman (21-10-0) via Submission (Inverted Heel Hook) in 4:15 of round 1

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Patrick Cote 396, Kyle Noke 571
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Patrick Cote leads 1-0
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Middleweight (185)
[#86WW] Sheldon Westcott (8-1-1, 184.0lb, +118) vs. [#79] Elias Theodorou (8-0-0, 185.0lb, -142)

Last 3 Fights: Sheldon Westcott (3-0-0)
2013-04-13: W vs. [NA] Aaron Shymr (3-4-0) via KO (Punch) in 0:13 of round 1
2013-03-23: W vs. [#174WW] Nic Herron-Webb (13-5-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2012-02-11: W vs. [*] Jay Jensen (8-9-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 0:26 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Elias Theodorou (3-0-0)
2013-08-24: W vs. [#241LHW] Travis Clark (7-3-0) via TKO (Retirement) in 5:00 of round 2
2013-05-11: W vs. [#237LHW] Mike Kent (10-4-0) via Submission (Punches) in 1:54 of round 1
2012-11-23: W vs. [*] Ali Mokdad (6-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Sheldon Westcott 368, Elias Theodorou 235
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Continue reading 'Fight Matrix Program: UFC TUF Nations Finale (04-16-2014)'

Posted on April 16, 2014 by jcs

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Posted on April 13, 2014 by jcs

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A while ago I wrote about the uselessness of accusing the fighters of not fighting in an exciting way or not trying to finish fights. I said that the rules encourage safe fighting and that as long as the rules would not change safe fighting will continue to be a significant part of the sport.

The UFC wants to be sanctioned and that’s why they accept the Unified Rules of MMA, with their 10-point must system. I believe the UFC are now big enough and strong enough to be able to influence these rules if they wanted to, but that’s another matter.   The important thing now is that they are bound by these rules and must follow them.

The problem that they now face is how to avoid the slow but steady decline of fighters to point-fighting while adhering to the same set of rules and without influencing the judges.   The way Dana White has chosen to do this is by cutting any fighter who seems to be fighting safely, even when they are considered among the best in the world.

It started with the surprising release of Jon Fitch, followed by that of Yushin Okami, the lack of interest in signing Ben Askren, and now the release of Jake Shields.

The UFC cannot affect the rules but they can control the fighters, and they try to make them fight excitingly by keeping only those who bring the action, and threatening to cut those who don’t.

There is a lot of criticism surrounding this strategy.   It is said that MMA is a sport, while the UFC is becoming a spectacle.   Instead of trying to find who the best fighters in the world are, they are just trying to put on crowd-pleasing fights and make money.

Continue reading 'Cutting The Safe Fighters – Problem Or Solution?'

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Ked Becker

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Heavyweight (255)
[#12] Roy Nelson (19-9-0, 255.5lb, -131) vs. [#13] Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (34-8-1, 238.0lb, +106)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is the All-Time #2 ranked Heavyweight and #5 ranked Absolute fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Roy Nelson (1-2-0)
2013-10-19: L vs. [#7LHW] Daniel Cormier (14-0-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-06-15: L vs. [#8HW+] Stipe Miocic (11-1-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-04-27: W vs. [#19HW+] Cheick Kongo (20-9-2) via KO (Punches) in 2:03 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (1-2-0)
2013-06-08: L vs. [#4HW+] Fabricio Werdum (17-5-1) via Submission (Armbar) in 2:41 of round 2
2012-10-13: W vs. [#101HW+] Dave Herman (21-6-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 4:31 of round 2
2011-12-10: L vs. [#11HW+] Frank Mir (16-9-0) via Technical Submission (Kimura) in 3:38 of round 1

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Roy Nelson 174, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 307
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira leads 4-3
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Featherweight (146)
[#10] Clay Guida (30-14-0, 146.0lb, -130) vs. [#19] Tatsuya Kawajiri (33-7-2, 146.0lb, +106)

Last 3 Fights: Clay Guida (1-2-0)
2013-08-31: L vs. [#2FW/#10P4P] Chad Mendes (16-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:30 of round 3
2013-01-26: W vs. [#24FW] Hatsu Hioki (27-7-2) via SD (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
2012-06-22: L vs. [#19LW] Gray Maynard (11-3-1) via SD (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)

Last 3 Fights: Tatsuya Kawajiri (3-0-0)
2014-01-04: W vs. [#130FW] Sean Soriano (8-1-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 0:50 of round 2
2012-12-31: W vs. [#103FW] Michihiro Omigawa (13-14-1) via UD ()
2012-03-31: W vs. [#129FW] Donald Sanchez (29-14-0) via Submission (Triangle Choke) in 3:27 of round 1

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Clay Guida 223, Tatsuya Kawajiri 97
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Clay Guida leads 2-1
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Welterweight (171)
[#30] John Howard (22-8-0, 171.0lb, +298) vs. [#32] Ryan LaFlare (10-0-0, 171.0lb, -374)

Last 3 Fights: John Howard (3-0-0)
2013-12-28: W vs. [#41WW] Siyar Bahadurzada (21-6-1) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-08-17: W vs. [#29MW] Uriah Hall (8-4-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
2013-06-07: W vs. [#1658WW] Chris Woodall (1-3-0) via KO (Punches) in 2:14 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Ryan LaFlare (3-0-0)
2013-12-14: W vs. [#42WW] Court McGee (16-4-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2013-11-09: W vs. [#173WW] Santiago Ponzinibbio (18-2-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-04-06: W vs. [#144WW] Ben Alloway (13-5-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Days Since Last Pro Fight: John Howard 104, Ryan LaFlare 118
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Continue reading 'Fight Matrix Program: UFC Fight Night – Nogueira/Nelson (04-11-2014)'

Posted on April 10, 2014 by jcs

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Notable Info

• Refinement of veteran profiling adjustment due to results of objective analysis.

Posted on April 9, 2014 by jcs

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Notable Info

• The latest rankings include the initial iteration of “veteran profiling”, which will help prevent continual overrating of experienced fighters.  Although code is in place to prevent this from a general perspective, some experienced late-career fighters creep back up the rankings with incremental point bursts without ever fighting top competition again only to perpetually drop the ball against lower rated competition.
  The belief is that if they did fight top competition, they would lose and have their progress reversed or at least halted more often.  This is evidenced by multiple losses to lower-rated competition, which have been treated consistently across the board… this will no longer be the case, though this initial version is very mild in its effects.

Posted on April 6, 2014 by jcs

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Posted on March 31, 2014 by jcs

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Watching the fight I was surprised by Carl’s strategy: not only did he let Palhares get the takedown relatively easily, after that he had full guard and yet decided to go for a Triangle choke against one of the best BJJ artists in the game.  It’s not like he got lucky and Palhares fell into a Triangle position and Carl tried to capitalize on it.  He tried to manufacture it out of thin air.

I have to admire him for his courage and risk taking, but this was very foolish against a guy like Palhares.

Palhares, of course, quickly turned the situation into another spectacular heel hook, showing once again his amazing submission skills.

Palhares again seemed to hold a little too long, though nothing that would jeopardize his future in WSOF.  But the fact that even after he was released from the UFC for this behavior he still seems not to be able to entirely not do it, shows, in my opinion, that’s it’s a bit out of his control.  He is so focused on the moment that he is just oblivious to what happens around him.   When most submission artists feel their opponents’ tap they continue to hold the position but release the pressure, waiting for the call by the referee, thus allowing themselves to continue to squeeze in case the referee doesn’t stop the fight, and the opponent tries to continue to fight, which is not such a big risk since the cameras usually catch the tap (Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen 1).

But not Palhares.   Not only does he continue to squeeze after the tap, it even takes him some time to notice the referee is pulling his hand away.  It’s not done maliciously, but that doesn’t make it any less dangerous.

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Ked Becker

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Nick Newell, the one-armed man, was just named the next fighter to fight for the WSOF lightweight title.   So I checked the Lightweight Rankings filtered to WSOF and found, not surprisingly, that Newell is ranked #12 in WSOF, which means there are quite a few fighters more deserving of a title shot than him.

It’s an obvious publicity trick by WSOF, trying to get attention through Newell’s uniqueness, and not his fighting record.  I’m just disappointed with the MMA media which didn’t see fit to call this, and for the most part just reported the news as if it was just another MMA title fight.

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Ked Becker

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Notable Info (Intermediate Release)

• Fixed bug which affected some newly ranked women to be incorrectly interpreted as men for rating calculation purposes.  Due to division differences, this caused some newly ranked women to be rated higher than they should’ve been for their debut ranking.  This always resolved itself on the second run, but now it is no longer an issue.
• Very minor tweak with regards to handling of super-elite fighters with a habit of fighting sporadically while keeping a strong opposition profile.

Posted on March 27, 2014 by jcs

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