Heavyweight (265)
[#4] Junior dos Santos (21-6-0, +197) vs. [#7] Curtis Blaydes (12-2-0, -245)
Junior dos Santos is the All-Time #6 ranked Heavyweight and #25 ranked Absolute fighter.
Curtis Blaydes is the All-Time #41 ranked Heavyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Junior dos Santos (2-1-0)
2019-06-29: L vs. [#3HW+] Francis Ngannou (14-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:11 of round 1
2019-03-09: W vs. [#5HW+] Derrick Lewis (22-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:58 of round 2
2018-12-01: W vs. [#44HW+] Tai Tuivasa (10-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:30 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Curtis Blaydes (2-1-0)
2019-09-07: W vs. [#17HW+] Shamil Abdurakhimov (20-6-0) via TKO (Elbow and Punch) in 2:22 of round 2
2019-03-23: W vs. [#16HW+] Justin Willis (8-2-0) via UD (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)
2018-11-24: L vs. [#3HW+] Francis Ngannou (14-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:45 of round 1

Odds Favorite (Implied): Curtis Blaydes – Win%: 67.83
Elo Favorite (Standard): Junior dos Santos (2018.18) [+70.21] – Win%: 57.95
Elo Favorite (Modified): Junior dos Santos (2029.22) [+65.99] – Win%: 57.17
Glicko-1 Favorite (Adj): Junior dos Santos (2019.20) [+66.54] – Win%: 62.07
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Junior dos Santos 210, Curtis Blaydes 140
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Curtis Blaydes leads 2-1
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Welterweight (170)
[#7] Rafael dos Anjos (29-12-0, -260) vs. [#25] Michael Chiesa (16-4-0, +209)
Rafael dos Anjos is the All-Time #24 ranked Welterweight and #31 ranked Absolute fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Rafael dos Anjos (1-2-0)
2019-07-20: L vs. [#5WW] Leon Edwards (18-3-0) via UD (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
2019-05-18: W vs. [#6LW] Kevin Lee (18-5-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 3:47 of round 4
2018-11-30: L vs. [#1WW/#3DD/#6P4P] Kamaru Usman (16-1-0) via UD (49-45, 50-43, 48-47)

Last 3 Fights: Michael Chiesa (2-1-0)
2019-07-06: W vs. [#63WW] Diego Sanchez (29-12-0) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
2018-12-29: W vs. [#75WW] Carlos Condit (30-13-0) via Submission (Kimura) in 0:56 of round 2
2018-07-07: L vs. [#12LW] Anthony Pettis (22-10-0) via Submission (Triangle Armbar) in 0:52 of round 2

Odds Favorite (Implied): Rafael dos Anjos – Win%: 69.05
Elo Favorite (Standard): Rafael dos Anjos (2029.40) [+89.18] – Win%: 60.05
Elo Favorite (Modified): Rafael dos Anjos (1994.37) [+67.74] – Win%: 57.36
Glicko-1 Favorite (Adj): Rafael dos Anjos (2007.12) [+76.27] – Win%: 63.60
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Rafael dos Anjos 189, Michael Chiesa 203
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Rafael dos Anjos leads 2-0
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Featherweight (145)
[#7] Josh Emmett (15-2-0, -103) vs. [#32] Arnold Allen (15-1-0, -120)

Last 3 Fights: Josh Emmett (2-1-0)
2019-07-13: W vs. [#26FW] Mirsad Bektic (13-2-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:25 of round 1
2019-03-30: W vs. [#84LW] Michael Johnson (19-15-0) via KO (Punch) in 4:14 of round 3
2018-02-24: L vs. [#14FW] Jeremy Stephens (28-17-0) via KO (Elbows) in 1:35 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Arnold Allen (3-0-0)
2019-07-06: W vs. [#100FW] Gilbert Melendez (22-8-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2019-03-16: W vs. [#86FW] Jordan Rinaldi (14-7-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-26)
2018-05-27: W vs. [#81FW] Mads Burnell (13-3-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 2:41 of round 3

Odds Favorite (Implied): Arnold Allen – Win%: 51.80
Elo Favorite (Standard): Josh Emmett (1954.82) [+113.53] – Win%: 62.68
Elo Favorite (Modified): Josh Emmett (1940.09) [+106.52] – Win%: 61.45
Glicko-1 Favorite (Adj): Josh Emmett (1937.01) [+96.57] – Win%: 67.16
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Josh Emmett 196, Arnold Allen 203
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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Welterweight (170)
[#16] Donald Cerrone (36-13-0, +247) vs. [*] Conor McGregor (21-4-0, -316)
Conor McGregor is the All-Time #43 ranked Absolute fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Donald Cerrone (1-2-0)
2019-09-14: L vs. [#4LW] Justin Gaethje (21-2-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:18 of round 1
2019-06-08: L vs. [#2LW/#5DD/#9P4P] Tony Ferguson (25-3-0) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in 5:00 of round 2
2019-05-04: W vs. [#12LW] Al Iaquinta (15-6-1) via UD (49-45, 49-45, 49-46)

Last 3 Fights: Conor McGregor (2-1-0)
2018-10-06: L vs. [#1LW/#1DD/#4P4P] Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0-0) via Submission (Neck Crank) in 3:03 of round 4
2016-11-12: W vs. [#27WW] Eddie Alvarez (30-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:04 of round 2
2016-08-20: W vs. [#11WW] Nate Diaz (20-12-0) via MD (47-47, 48-47, 48-47)

Odds Favorite (Implied): Conor McGregor – Win%: 72.49
Elo Favorite (Standard): Conor McGregor (2172.99) [+190.54] – Win%: 70.49
Elo Favorite (Modified): Conor McGregor (2111.55) [+152.79] – Win%: 66.12
Glicko-1 Favorite (Adj): Conor McGregor (2112.86) [+120.48] – Win%: 70.54
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Donald Cerrone 126, Conor McGregor 469
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Conor McGregor leads 3-2
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Women Bantamweight (135)
[#3] Holly Holm (12-5-0, -137) vs. [#5] Raquel Pennington (10-7-0, +112)
Holly Holm is the All-Time #17 ranked Women’s fighter.
Raquel Pennington is the All-Time #47 ranked Women’s fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Holly Holm (1-2-0)
2019-07-06: L vs. [#1BW/#1DD/#1P4P] Amanda Nunes (19-4-0) via TKO (Head Kick and Punches) in 4:10 of round 1
2018-06-09: W vs. [#6FW] Megan Anderson (9-4-0) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
2017-12-30: L vs. [#1FW/#5DD/#4P4P] Cristiane Justino (21-2-0) via UD (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)

Last 3 Fights: Raquel Pennington (1-2-0)
2019-07-20: W vs. [#6BW] Irene Aldana (12-5-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
2018-11-10: L vs. [#2BW/#8DD] Germaine de Randamie (9-4-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2018-05-12: L vs. [#1BW/#1DD/#1P4P] Amanda Nunes (19-4-0) via TKO (Elbows and Punches) in 2:36 of round 5

Odds Favorite (Implied): Holly Holm – Win%: 55.06
Elo Favorite (Standard): Raquel Pennington (1583.55) [+56.64] – Win%: 56.43
Elo Favorite (Modified): Raquel Pennington (1542.93) [+10.96] – Win%: 51.20
Glicko-1 Favorite (Adj): Holly Holm (1561.35) [+30.00] – Win%: 55.62
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Holly Holm 196, Raquel Pennington 182
Previous Match-up Record: Holly Holm leads 1-0-0
Wins Against Common Opposition: Raquel Pennington leads 2-1
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Heavyweight (265)
[#18] Alexey Oleynik (59-13-1, +110) vs. [#58] Maurice Greene (8-3-0, -135)

Last 3 Fights: Alexey Oleynik (1-2-0)
2019-07-20: L vs. [#14HW+] Walt Harris (13-7-0) via KO (Knee and Punches) in 0:12 of round 1
2019-04-20: L vs. [#9HW+] Alistair Overeem (45-18-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:45 of round 1
2018-09-15: W vs. [#19HW+] Mark Hunt (13-14-1) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 4:26 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Maurice Greene (2-1-0)
2019-10-26: L vs. [#36HW+] Sergei Pavlovich (14-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:11 of round 1
2019-06-29: W vs. [#72HW+] Junior Albini (14-6-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:38 of round 1
2019-03-09: W vs. [#94HW+] Jeff Hughes (10-3-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Odds Favorite (Implied): Maurice Greene – Win%: 54.67
Elo Favorite (Standard): Alexey Oleynik (1634.72) [+94.73] – Win%: 60.65
Elo Favorite (Modified): Alexey Oleynik (1693.73) [+155.53] – Win%: 66.39
Glicko-1 Favorite (Adj): Alexey Oleynik (1680.24) [+164.59] – Win%: 78.08
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Alexey Oleynik 182, Maurice Greene 84
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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The long awaited annual World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Royal Rumble is finally here with us! This year’s edition of the January-held event promises entertaining matches with famous professional wrestlers cum crowd favorites such as The Fiend©, Daniel Bryan, Becky Lynch© and Asuka taking to the stage.

With the holiday season firmly behind us, the Wrestle Kingdom has shut its borders and wrestling fanatics can now anticipate the most intriguing PPV put forth by WWE this year. The Royal Rumble 2020 show acts as the first step on the exciting journey to WrestleMania but might just be a little more entertaining. The Royal Rumble competition, since its institution in 1988, has been a major part of WWE’s calendar, revolving around its rather widely-unpredictable thirty man-match.

Taking a page out of ESPN’s book (Ranking the best boxers by age), here are the highest rated active fighters by current age (using Glicko, FM Division Dominance, FM “P4P” points)

We don’t have every single birth date, so if there is an obvious miss, let us know.

As a recap, most “Fighter of the Year” awards on other sites are really “Breakout Fighter of the Year” awards in that fighters who win, were usually not top fighters in the beginning of the year, but became so by the end of the year.

A fighter like this can and has won our FotY awards, but our award is more about maintaining a high standing during the award year by performing well a sufficient number of times and against a sufficient quality of opponents.  It is more comparable to a season MVP in major team sports, not a playoffs/surprise MVP.

Co-Winners: Amanda Nunes, Valentina Shevchenko

The Top 2 from 2018, share the title for 2019 as their achievements were virtually identical.

3rd Place: Weili Zhang

With two dominant wins in the UFC, the new Strawweight champion rounds out the Top 3.

After taking a couple of weeks off, UFC will be kicking off 2020 with a return of their biggest star of the decade taking on the most decorated veteran and record holder who has never held a title. UFC 246: McGregor vs Cerrone will be one of those events that doesn’t have a star-studded undercard, and is marketed on the strength of the main event alone.

Conor McGregor will be facing Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at welterweight; and while this is not a particularly meaningful fight from the divisional title perspective and not exactly a ‘Super-Fight’ either, it is an interesting bout which should be competitive and fun for as long as it lasts.  Here, I will be taking a look at the careers of both fighters, the numerous acclaims and records they hold in the UFC, and the stylistic matchup. And if you are into UFC betting, putting some cash on whoever you think will take home the W might make watching this fight even more exciting.

Since we now post Glicko-based ratings, a 100% mathematically pure, albeit very limited system, I thought I’d use those ratings for more than just ranking.  You may have noticed in a recent award post, I mentioned the biggest upset of the year based on Glicko rating point difference, which was Asakura KO(1) Horiguchi.

That upset still had some basic requirements, you can check the MMA Awards page for more details.  Simply put, the loser has to be active and relevant on the world scale.

I thought it’d be interesting to see what the absolute biggest upset was in 2019, regardless of relevance.

I was shocked to see a 852.34 point difference where a fighter named Anthony Formoso (7-0) lost by submission, to a fighter named Chris “The Killer Skater” Sandt (1-16).  Yes, an undefeated fighter lost to a 1-16 opponent.  An 852.34 point difference roughly equates to a 0.1% chance of an upset.

Using this method, this is actually the third biggest upset of all-time, with the biggest being King Mo beating Travis Wiuff (+913.22) in his debut back in 2008, and the runner-up being Mark Hunt’s 2005 split decision victory over Cro Cop (+911.67).  Though, in these contests, King Mo and Mark Hunt both had a past high-level combat sports related pedigree.  The same applies in the fourth biggest upset — Joe Schilling KO(2) Melvin Manhoef.