How did Ben Askren drop 44 spots in the rankings without losing?
On Friday, Ben Askren will defend his ONE Championship welterweight title against Agilan Thangalapani. The challenger is 7-0 and currently ranked #204 at middleweight. During his six-fight ONE career, he has fought fighters with the following records: 0-1, 2-2, 3-6, 3-1, 4-5 and 6-2. This is what a title challenger looks like in a promotion run by people who publicly say things like, “If Conor McGregor was a free agent, ONE Championship would not try to sign him.”
Askren left Bellator in 2013 and signed with ONE the following year. During his Bellator run, he went 9-0, won the promotion’s welterweight title and defended it four times. At the time, many expected the Olympic wrestler to sign with the UFC. He even posted on Twitter, “I am now free to go to the UFC and beat whoever I want.” Instead, fans were treated to a never-ending war of words between Askren and UFC president Dana White.
During his time in ONE, his ranking has fallen from #6 welterweight in 2013 all the way to #50 in the current ranking release. This is partially due to inactivity, but his lack of quality opponents is the main impetus for the drop.
In 2014, Askren made his ONE debut with a first-round submission victory over Bakhtiyar Abbasov. He then returned and bested Nobutatsu Suzuki for the promotion’s welterweight title. The following year, he fought to a no contest with Luis Santos after Askren landed an accidental eye poke. The two were supposed to rematch, but Santos missed weight and ate too much brunch, so the fight never materialized. Last year, Askren defeated Nikolay Aleksakhin.
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Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)
Featured Fighters
| [#242 LW] |  Rustambek Nurzhanov | [#840 LW] |  Daniel Holt | |
| [#2 LW] |  Charles Oliveira | [#1 LW] |  Ilia Topuria | |
| [#18 FW] |  Kyoma Akimoto | [#362 HW] |  Tony Lopez | |
| [#210 FW] |  Marwan Rahiki | [#1 MW] |  Khamzat Chimaev | |
| [#90 HW] |  Jovan Leka | [#32 LHW] |  Ion Cutelaba |
Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night 109: Gustafsson/Teixeira
Light Heavyweight (205)
[#5] Glover Teixeira (26-5-0, +248) vs. [#9] Alexander Gustafsson (17-4-0, -315)
Glover Teixeira is the All-Time #24 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.
Alexander Gustafsson is the All-Time #19 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Glover Teixeira (2-1-0)
2017-02-11: W vs. [#53LHW] Jared Cannonier (9-2-0) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
2016-08-20: L vs. [*] Anthony Johnson (22-6-0) via in 0:13 of round 1
2016-04-16: W vs. [#28MW] Rashad Evans (21-6-1) via KO (Punches) in 1:48 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Alexander Gustafsson (1-2-0)
2016-09-03: W vs. [#36LHW] Jan Blachowicz (19-7-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2015-10-03: L vs. [#1LHW/#1DD/#2P4P] Daniel Cormier (19-1-0) via SD (47-48, 48-47, 49-46)
2015-01-24: L vs. [*] Anthony Johnson (22-6-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:15 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Glover Teixeira 106, Alexander Gustafsson 267
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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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#12] Misha Cirkunov (13-2-0, -397) vs. [#17] Volkan Oezdemir (13-1-0, +313)
Last 3 Fights: Misha Cirkunov (3-0-0)
2016-12-10: W vs. [#20LHW] Nikita Krylov (21-5-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 4:38 of round 1
2016-06-18: W vs. [#100LHW] Ion Cutelaba (12-3-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 1:22 of round 3
2016-02-06: W vs. [#75MW] Alex Nicholson (7-3-0) via Submission (Neck Crank) in 1:28 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Volkan Oezdemir (3-0-0)
2017-02-04: W vs. [#13LHW] Ovince St. Preux (20-10-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2016-04-09: W vs. [#217HW+] Alihan Vahaev (5-2-0) via UD ()
2014-09-20: W vs. [#269LHW] Paco Estevez (7-5-0) via TKO (Punches) in ? of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Misha Cirkunov 169, Volkan Oezdemir 113
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)
[#34] Ben Saunders (21-7-2, -121) vs. [#94] Peter Sobotta (16-5-1, -102)
Last 3 Fights: Ben Saunders (2-1-0)
2017-01-15: W vs. [#82WW] Court McGee (18-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-09-09: W vs. [#135WW] Jacob Volkmann (19-7-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 0:17 of round 1
2016-01-17: L vs. [*] Patrick Cote (23-11-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:14 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Peter Sobotta (2-1-0)
2016-09-03: W vs. [#143WW] Nicolas Dalby (14-2-1) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
2015-11-14: L vs. [*] Kyle Noke (22-10-1) via TKO (Body Kick and Punches) in 2:01 of round 1
2015-06-20: W vs. [#146MW] Steve Kennedy (24-8-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 2:57 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ben Saunders 133, Peter Sobotta 267
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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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 |
Alvarez Vs. Poirier or Knees to a Downed Opponent… Again!
Oh My God! It happened again! Only a few short weeks after Mousasi kneed Weidman into a baffling and controversial TKO win by apparently legal knees, after the bout was stopped because the referee thought the knees were illegal (what?), and after Miragliotta took all the heat for his apparent mistake, and all the discussion surrounding the use of instant replays and referee polling, it happened again. This time with the consensus one of the best referees in the business, Herb Dean. There was nothing different between the two incidents. Nothing. Except that this time it was worse. Much much worse.
Let’s take it from the top. First of all, we should remember that the new unified rules of MMA have not been adopted everywhere, which is a big part of the reason this confusion is taking place. In New York, where Weidman and Mousasi fought, the new rules had been adopted, which means that a fighter is only considered ‘downed opponent’ when both his hands (and feet) are on the ground. In Texas, where Alvarez and Poirier have just fought, the new rules had not been adopted, which means that one hand on the ground is enough to consider a fighter “downed”, and therefore illegal for his head to kneed at.
Fight Matrix Program – Invicta FC 23: Porto/Niedzwiedz (05-20-2017)
Women Flyweight (125)
[#4] Vanessa Porto (18-7-0) vs. [#6] Agnieszka Niedzwiedz (9-0-0)
Last 3 Fights: Vanessa Porto (2-1-0)
2016-03-11: L vs. [#1FLY/#7P4P] Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) via UD (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
2015-04-24: W vs. [#2FLY] Roxanne Modafferi (20-13-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2014-03-30: W vs. [NA] Ana Maria (5-5-0) via UD ()
Last 3 Fights: Agnieszka Niedzwiedz (3-0-0)
2016-12-17: W vs. [#73SW] Samara Santos Cunha (10-3-1) via TKO (Punches) in 3:10 of round 3
2016-07-29: W vs. [#123FLY] Christine Stanley (5-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2014-06-08: W vs. [#34FW] Julija Stoliarenko (1-2-2) via TKO (Punches) in 2:51 of round 3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Vanessa Porto 435, Agnieszka Niedzwiedz 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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Women Flyweight (125)
[#2] Roxanne Modafferi (20-13-0) vs. [#3] Sarah DAlelio (11-6-0)
Roxanne Modafferi is the All-Time #17 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Roxanne Modafferi (2-1-0)
2017-04-01: W vs. [#34FLY] Priscila de Souza (12-7-0) via in of round 2
2016-09-23: L vs. [#1FLY/#7P4P] Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) via SD (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)
2016-03-11: W vs. [#28SW] DeAnna Bennett (8-3-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Sarah DAlelio (3-0-0)
2016-11-19: W vs. [#127FLY] Jaimelene Nievera (4-3-0) via in of round 3
2016-07-23: W vs. [#46FLY] Jenny Liou (6-5-0) via UD ()
2016-03-11: W vs. [#10FLY] Andrea Lee (6-2-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 4:21 of round 3
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Roxanne Modafferi 49, Sarah DAlelio 182
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
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Women Atomweight (105)
[#3] Herica Tiburcio (10-4-0) vs. [#6] Tessa Simpson (5-1-0)
Herica Tiburcio is the All-Time #49 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Herica Tiburcio (1-2-0)
2016-11-18: W vs. [#8AW] Simona Soukupova (6-5-1) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-03-11: L vs. [#4AW] Jinh Yu Frey (5-2-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2015-07-09: L vs. [#1AW/#7DD] Ayaka Hamasaki (14-2-0) via SD (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)
Last 3 Fights: Tessa Simpson (3-0-0)
2016-07-29: W vs. [#8AW] Simona Soukupova (6-5-1) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
2016-03-18: W vs. [#20AW] Satomi Takano (10-8-0) via Submission (Mounted Triangle Keylock) in 2:01 of round 3
2013-09-13: W vs. [#31AW] Paulina Granados (4-2-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Herica Tiburcio 183, Tessa Simpson 295
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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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 211: Miocic/Dos Santos 2 (05-13-2017)
Heavyweight Championship (265)
[#1/#3DD/#4P4P] Stipe Miocic (16-2-0, -134) vs. [#5] Junior dos Santos (18-4-0, +110)
Stipe Miocic is the All-Time #11 ranked Heavyweight fighter.
Junior dos Santos is the All-Time #5 ranked Heavyweight and #23 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Stipe Miocic (3-0-0)
2016-09-10: W vs. [#3HW+] Alistair Overeem (42-15-0) via KO (Punches) in 4:27 of round 1
2016-05-14: W vs. [#2HW+] Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1) via KO (Punch) in 2:47 of round 1
2016-01-02: W vs. [#16HW+] Andrei Arlovski (25-14-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:54 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Junior dos Santos (2-1-0)
2016-04-10: W vs. [#10HW+] Ben Rothwell (36-10-0) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
2015-12-19: L vs. [#3HW+] Alistair Overeem (42-15-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:43 of round 2
2014-12-13: W vs. [#1HW+/#3DD/#4P4P] Stipe Miocic (16-2-0) via UD (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Stipe Miocic 245, Junior dos Santos 398
Previous Match-up Record: Junior dos Santos leads 1-0-0
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 5 win(s) against common opposition.
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Women Strawweight Championship (115)
[#1/#2DD/#1P4P] Joanna Jedrzejczyk (13-0-0, -171) vs. [#2/#5DD/#6P4P] Jessica Andrade (16-5-0, +144)
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is the All-Time #6 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Joanna Jedrzejczyk (3-0-0)
2016-11-12: W vs. [#6SW] Karolina Kowalkiewicz (10-1-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
2016-07-08: W vs. [#4SW/#9P4P] Claudia Gadelha (14-2-0) via UD (48-45, 48-46, 48-46)
2015-11-14: W vs. [#29SW] Valerie Letourneau (8-6-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 50-45)
Last 3 Fights: Jessica Andrade (3-0-0)
2017-02-04: W vs. [#7SW] Angela Hill (6-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2016-09-10: W vs. [#13SW] Joanne Calderwood (11-2-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 4:38 of round 1
2016-06-04: W vs. [#38SW] Jessica Penne (12-5-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:56 of round 2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Joanna Jedrzejczyk 182, Jessica Andrade 98
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 2 win(s) against common opposition.
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Welterweight (170)
[#3] Demian Maia (24-6-0, +100) vs. [#5] Jorge Masvidal (32-11-0, -124)
Demian Maia is the All-Time #18 ranked Welterweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Demian Maia (3-0-0)
2016-08-27: W vs. [#9WW] Carlos Condit (30-10-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 1:52 of round 1
2016-05-14: W vs. [#29WW] Matt Brown (20-16-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 4:31 of round 3
2015-12-12: W vs. [#15WW] Gunnar Nelson (16-2-1) via UD (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)
Last 3 Fights: Jorge Masvidal (3-0-0)
2017-01-28: W vs. [#6WW] Donald Cerrone (32-8-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:00 of round 2
2016-12-03: W vs. [#28WW] Jake Ellenberger (31-13-0) via in 4:05 of round 1
2016-07-30: W vs. [#54LW] Ross Pearson (19-13-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Demian Maia 259, Jorge Masvidal 105
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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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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