All-Time Rankings Data – Most Qualified Appearances at a Specific Rank Position
More of a “fun” post, rather than a scientific one…
The All-Time MMA Rankings use a simplified version of the current rankings as supporting data. Monthly snapshots where a fighter must have registered a recent quality performance in the division serve as the primary data point. Here is a look at which fighters most occupied each position in the Top 10.
| Rank | Most Appearances | Runner-Up | 3rd Place |
| 1 | Anderson Silva | Fedor Emelianenko | Jose Aldo Mamoru Yamaguchi |
| 2 | Joseph Benavidez | Frankie Edgar | Urijah Faber |
| 3 | Urijah Faber | Gilbert Melendez | Takanori Gomi |
| 4 | John Dodson | Dan Henderson | Lyoto Machida Yasuhiro Urushitani |
| 5 | Junior dos Santos | Dan Henderson | Dokonjonosuke Mishima Alexander Gustafsson |
| 6 | Dan Henderson | Eddie Alvarez | Patricio Freire |
| 7 | Frank Mir | Andrei Arlovski | Dan Henderson |
| 8 | Dan Henderson | Demian Maia | Ricardo Lamas Vitor Belfort |
| 9 | Nate Marquardt Gegard Mousasi |
Alex Oliveira Renato Sobral Alistair Overeem |
Tim Sylvia Daiji Takahashi |
| 10 | Anderson Silva | Antonio Rogerio Nogueira | Roxanne Modafferi Mamed Khalidov |
Fight Matrix Program – Bellator 179: MacDonald/Daley (05-19-2017)
Welterweight (170)
[#14] Rory MacDonald (18-4-0) vs. [#39] Paul Daley (39-14-2)
Rory MacDonald is the All-Time #12 ranked Welterweight fighter.
Paul Daley is the All-Time #49 ranked Welterweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Rory MacDonald (1-2-0)
2016-06-18: L vs. [#2WW] Stephen Thompson (13-2-1) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 48-47)
2015-07-11: L vs. [#4WW] Robbie Lawler (27-11-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:00 of round 5
2014-10-04: W vs. [#26WW] Tarec Saffiedine (16-6-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:28 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Paul Daley (2-1-0)
2017-01-21: W vs. [#88WW] Brennan Ward (14-5-0) via KO (Flying Knee) in 2:27 of round 1
2016-07-16: L vs. [#13WW] Douglas Lima (28-6-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2016-01-29: W vs. [*] Andy Uhrich (11-6-0) via in of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Rory MacDonald 335, Paul Daley 118
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Rory MacDonald leads 1-0
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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#9] Liam McGeary (12-1-0) vs. [#11] Linton Vassell (17-5-0)
Liam McGeary is the All-Time #38 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Liam McGeary (2-1-0)
2017-02-24: W vs. [#120HW+] Brett McDermott (8-5-0) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in 1:06 of round 2
2016-11-04: L vs. [#3LHW] Phil Davis (17-3-0) via UD (50-45, 50-44, 50-43)
2015-09-19: W vs. [*] Tito Ortiz (20-12-1) via Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke) in 4:41 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Linton Vassell (2-1-0)
2016-11-19: W vs. [#30LHW] Francis Carmont (25-12-0) via UD (30-25, 30-26, 30-26)
2016-02-19: W vs. [#34LHW] Emanuel Newton (26-12-1) via UD (29-27, 30-26, 29-27)
2015-09-19: L vs. [#13HW+] Muhammed Lawal (21-6-0) via UD ()
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Liam McGeary 84, Linton Vassell 181
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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Heavyweight (265)
[#15] Cheick Kongo (26-10-2) vs. [#57] Augusto Sakai (9-0-1)
Cheick Kongo is the All-Time #48 ranked Heavyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Cheick Kongo (3-0-0)
2017-02-18: W vs. [#54HW+] Oli Thompson (17-10-0) via UD (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)
2016-09-16: W vs. [#24HW+] Tony Johnson (10-3-0) via MD (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)
2016-02-26: W vs. [#99HW+] Vinicius Kappke de Queiro (8-4-0) via SD (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Augusto Sakai (2-0-1)
2016-05-20: D vs. [#123HW+] Dan Charles (10-5-1) via Draw (Majority) in 5:00 of round 3
2015-11-06: W vs. [*] Alex Huddleston (6-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2015-06-26: W vs. [#107HW+] Daniel Gallemore (7-3-0) via TKO (Retirement) in 5:00 of round 2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Cheick Kongo 90, Augusto Sakai 364
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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Current & All-Time MMA Rankings Updated (05-14-2017)
Notable Info
- Women’s Bantamweight rankings expanded to Top 35 (from 30).
Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night 108: Swanson/Lobov (04-22-2017)
Featherweight (145)
[#6] Cub Swanson (24-7-0, -647) vs. [#58] Artem Lobov (13-12-1, +451)
Cub Swanson is the All-Time #13 ranked Featherweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Cub Swanson (3-0-0)
2016-12-10: W vs. [#22FW] Doo Ho Choi (14-2-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2016-08-06: W vs. [#35FW] Tatsuya Kawajiri (36-11-2) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2016-04-16: W vs. [#43FW] Hacran Dias (23-5-1) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Artem Lobov (2-1-0)
2016-11-19: W vs. [#83FW] Teruto Ishihara (9-3-2) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2016-08-20: W vs. [#669FW] Chris Avila (5-4-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2016-02-06: L vs. [#306LW] Alex White (11-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Cub Swanson 133, Artem Lobov 154
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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Lightweight (155)
[#21] Diego Sanchez (27-9-0, +302) vs. [*] Al Iaquinta (13-3-1, -390)
Diego Sanchez is the All-Time #47 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Diego Sanchez (2-1-0)
2016-11-05: W vs. [#30LW] Marcin Held (22-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-07-09: L vs. [#23LW] Joe Lauzon (27-12-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:26 of round 1
2016-03-05: W vs. [#18LW] Jim Miller (28-9-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Al Iaquinta (3-0-0)
2015-04-04: W vs. [#5WW] Jorge Masvidal (32-11-0) via SD (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
2015-01-31: W vs. [#23LW] Joe Lauzon (27-12-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:34 of round 2
2014-11-07: W vs. [#52LW] Ross Pearson (19-13-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:39 of round 2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Diego Sanchez 168, Al Iaquinta 749
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Al Iaquinta leads 2-1
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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#18] Ovince St. Preux (19-10-0) vs. [#40] Marcos Rogerio de Lima (15-4-1)
Ovince St. Preux is the All-Time #47 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Ovince St. Preux (0-3-0)
2017-02-04: L vs. [#17LHW] Volkan Oezdemir (13-1-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2016-10-08: L vs. [#6LHW] Jimi Manuwa (17-2-0) via KO (Punches) in 2:38 of round 2
2016-04-23: L vs. [#2LHW/#2DD/#3P4P] Jon Jones (22-1-0) via UD (50-44, 50-45, 50-45)
Last 3 Fights: Marcos Rogerio de Lima (2-1-0)
2017-01-28: W vs. [#66LHW] Jeremy Kimball (13-6-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:27 of round 1
2016-11-19: L vs. [#26LHW] Gadzhimurad Antigulov (19-4-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 1:07 of round 1
2016-04-23: W vs. [#145LHW] Clint Hester (11-6-0) via in 4:35 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ovince St. Preux 77, Marcos Rogerio de Lima 84
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Ovince St. Preux leads 1-0
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Comparing the 10 Title Defenses of Demetrious Johnson and Anderson Silva
With a victory over Wilson Reis in the main event last Saturday, Demetrious Johnson tied Anderson Silva’s record for most consecutive UFC title defenses. Many pundits have been quick to decry the accomplishment due to the current state of the flyweight division. The UFC did not crown their first flyweight champion until 2012, and the division has been in the developing stages ever since. With that being said, Johnson has been nothing short of dominant. How do the two strings of title defenses compare?
In terms of ranking points alone, Silva faced a much tougher road than Johnson. As you can see in the following chart, Silva’s opponents almost always had more ranking points. However, that does not tell the entire story. Fighters competing in more developed divisions will obviously have more points. Ranking points are the result of the Fight Matrix statistical model. The more points a fighter has, the higher the fighter is ranked. You can find more information here.
When determining the per-bout level of opposition a fan might ask himself/herself, “how big of an upset would this be?” Using this criteria might give a clearer picture of the level of competition faced by both fighters. Fight Matrix hands out two different “Upset of Year” awards, most noteworthy and most lopsided. Most noteworthy is simply “the largest difference (X minus Y) between raw rating points,” while most lopsided is “the largest proportional difference (X divided by Y) between raw rating points.” Keep Reading