TUF 24: How They Stack Up
Another season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ reality series looms on the horizon. This will be season 24, not counting the various unnumbered international spin-offs like TUF: Brazil and TUF: Latin America. In my opinion, this show is long past its expiration date and I stopped watching many years ago. However, this season will be a little different than most: coached by top UFC flyweights Joe Benavidez and Henry Cejudo, the cast features 16 flyweights who hold a title in one of various minor MMA leagues throughout the world. The winner will get a shot at the dominant reigning champion Demetrious Johnson, who is currently not only #1 in the world in his weight class, but also #1 on our Division Point Dominance list, #2 Pound for Pound (likely soon to be promoted to #1 with the pending suspension of Jon Jones), as well as the #1 flyweight fighter of all time. The coaches, who both already had their chance at DJ’s gold, will also square off at the conclusion of the season and the winner could likely be the next in line for another go-round at the title. This will be the first season of TUF in many years that I will be watching, even though I still hope that the new UFC ownership axes the incredibly stale series.
So how do the TUF 24 flyweight contenders stack up in the FightMatrix rankings? Keep reading to find out.
Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)
| Friday, October 16th 2026: Professional Fighters League PFL Chicago 2: Carmouche vs. Bishop 2 | |||
 [#6 W125] Liz Carmouche | [#14 W125] Jena Bishop | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 6/27/2026 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#16 W125] Viviane Araujo Last 5: L W W W W | Last Fight Date: 6/27/2026 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#37 W125] Ariane Lipski da Silva Last 5: W W L W W | ||
| Thursday, December 31st 2026: Rizin FF New Years Eve Event | |||
 [#5 FW] Rajabali Shaidullaev |  [#17 FW] Kyoma Akimoto | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 9/10/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#7 FW] A.J. McKee Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 8/11/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#26 FW] Kleber Koike Erbst Last 5: W W W W W | ||
| Saturday, November 14th 2026: Professional Fighters League PFL Returns to Dubai: Nemkov vs. Bilostenniy | |||
 [#6 HW] Vadim Nemkov | [#16 HW] Sergey Bilostenniy | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 12/13/2025 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#20 HW] Renan Ferreira Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 5/02/2026 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#20 HW] Renan Ferreira Last 5: W W L W W | ||
Featured Fighters
| [#1 FLW] |  Joshua Van | [#4 LW] |  Arman Tsarukyan | |
| [#1 WW] | Islam Makhachev | [#172 HW] | Sean Sharaf | |
| [#33 LW] | Akbar Abdullaev | [#5 FW] | Rajabali Shaidullaev | |
| [#9 LW] |  Mauricio Ruffy | [#3 FLW] | Alexandre Pantoja | |
| [#49 LW] | Mikuru Asakura | [#13 FW] | Patricio Freire |
Fight Matrix Program: UFC on FOX 20 – Holm vs. Shevchenko (07-23-2016)
Women Bantamweight (135)
[#4/#7DD/#8P4P] Holly Holm (10-1-0, -305) vs. [#17] Valentina Shevchenko (12-2-0, +242)
Holly Holm is the All-Time #19 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Holly Holm (2-1-0)
2016-03-05: L vs. [#3BW/#6DD/#6P4P] Miesha Tate (18-6-0) via Technical Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 3:30 of round 5
2015-11-14: W vs. [#2BW/#4DD/#4P4P] Ronda Rousey (12-1-0) via KO (Head Kick and Punches) in 0:59 of round 2
2015-07-15: W vs. [#25BW] Marion Reneau (6-3-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-26)
Last 3 Fights: Valentina Shevchenko (2-1-0)
2016-03-05: L vs. [#1BW/#2DD/#2P4P] Amanda Nunes (13-4-0) via UD (29-27, 29-28, 29-27)
2015-12-19: W vs. [#18BW] Sarah Kaufman (17-4-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2015-02-27: W vs. [#74BW] Jan Finney (9-12-0) via UD ()
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Holly Holm 140, Valentina Shevchenko 140
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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Lightweight (155)
[#5] Edson Barboza (17-4-0, -216) vs. [#11] Gilbert Melendez (22-5-0, +175)
Gilbert Melendez is the All-Time #9 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Edson Barboza (2-1-0)
2016-04-23: W vs. [#7LW] Anthony Pettis (18-5-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2015-12-11: L vs. [#6LW] Tony Ferguson (21-3-0) via Submission (Brabo Choke) in 2:54 of round 2
2015-07-25: W vs. [#25LW] Paul Felder (12-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Gilbert Melendez (1-2-0)
2015-06-13: L vs. [#1LW/#2DD/#9P4P] Eddie Alvarez (28-4-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
2014-12-06: L vs. [#7LW] Anthony Pettis (18-5-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 1:53 of round 2
2013-10-19: W vs. [#34LW] Diego Sanchez (26-9-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Edson Barboza 91, Gilbert Melendez 406
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Edson Barboza leads 1-0
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Heavyweight (265)
[#65] Francis Ngannou (7-1-0, -633) vs. [#118] Bojan Mihajlovic (10-3-0, +449)
Last 3 Fights: Francis Ngannou (3-0-0)
2016-04-10: W vs. [#179HW+] Curtis Blaydes (5-1-0) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in 5:00 of round 2
2015-12-19: W vs. [#274HW+] Luis Henrique Barbosa de (8-2-0) via KO (Punch) in 2:53 of round 2
2015-05-28: W vs. [#199HW+] William Baldutti (7-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in ? of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Bojan Mihajlovic (3-0-0)
2015-11-29: W vs. [NA] Muhamad Mahmic (0-4-0) via in of round 1
2014-12-06: W vs. [#547HW+] Marko Igrc (9-7-1) via UD ()
2014-10-25: W vs. [#571HW+] Dragoljub Joksovic (5-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:45 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Francis Ngannou 104, Bojan Mihajlovic 237
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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Biggest Risers in Current MMA Rankings Update (07-17-2016)
Fight Matrix updates the Current MMA Rankings once a week. As the deepest and most inclusive ranking system in the sport, fights all over the globe can have a major impact on the rankings. Let’s take a look at the biggest risers in the divisional rankings. The number in parenthesis is the number of spots that the fighter moved up from the last issued rankings. For the purpose of this article, fighters who were unranked in the previous ranking iteration are excluded unless otherwise noted.
Heavyweight
Michal Andryszak #76 (48)
Andryszak finds himself with his highest ranking ever after defeating UFC veteran Tim Hague at ACB 41. “Longer” sports a 17-6 record and has won three-fights in a row since falling to Salimgirey Rasulov last year. The entire ACB 41 event is available for free on YouTube.
Light Heavyweight
Cassio Lisboa #143 (20)
Light Heavyweight always seems to be the most stagnant division. This week’s biggest mover is a 3-0 fighter from Brazil. In his last outing, Lisboa scored a third-round toe-hold-submission victory over Hugo Lezama Inurreta at Xtreme Kombat 32.
Middleweight
Nills van Noord #168 (111)
In his last fight, Van Noord scored a submission victory over Janis Novicks last May. The Bob Schrijber protege has gone undefeated in five bouts since falling to Lee Chadwick in 2014. Van Noord is 15-6-2 since making his MMA debut in 2007.
Welterweight
Luiz Cado Simon #214 (218)
Simon moved up 218 spots in the rankings after receiving credit for his victory over Rodrigo Cavalheiro Correia last month. His previous high ranking was #302 in 2014. Early in his career, Simon faced off against current Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho but he failed to make the final bell and was knocked out.
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Fight Matrix Program: Bellator 158 (07-16-2016)
Welterweight (170)
[#34] Douglas Lima (26-6-0, 170.8lb) vs. [#47] Paul Daley (38-13-2, 170.8lb)
Last 3 Fights: Douglas Lima (2-1-0)
2015-07-17: L vs. [#8WW] Andrey Koreshkov (19-1-0) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 48-47)
2014-04-18: W vs. [*] Rick Hawn (21-4-0) via TKO (Corner Stoppage) in 3:19 of round 2
2013-09-20: W vs. [#49WW] Ben Saunders (19-7-2) via KO (Head Kick) in 4:33 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Paul Daley (3-0-0)
2016-01-29: W vs. [#242WW] Andy Uhrich (11-6-0) via in of round 1
2015-07-17: W vs. [#356MW] Dennis Olson (14-11-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:12 of round 2
2015-02-27: W vs. [#62WW] Andre Santos (38-10-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Douglas Lima 365, Paul Daley 169
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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Heavyweight (256)
[#25] Matt Mitrione (10-5-0, 256.5lb) vs. [#35] Oli Thompson (17-8-0, 234.8lb)
Last 3 Fights: Matt Mitrione (1-2-0)
2016-06-24: W vs. [#95HW+] Carl Seumanutafa (10-7-0) via KO (Punch) in 3:22 of round 1
2016-01-17: L vs. [#9HW+] Travis Browne (18-4-1) via TKO (Punches) in 4:09 of round 3
2015-06-06: L vs. [#10HW+] Ben Rothwell (36-10-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 1:54 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Oli Thompson (3-0-0)
2015-12-31: W vs. [#92HW+] Fernando Rodrigues Jr. (9-2-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:08 of round 1
2015-10-31: W vs. [#113HW+] Michal Wlodarek (7-1-0) via DQ (Knee to Head of Grounded Fighter) in 1:42 of round 3
2015-08-29: W vs. [#100HW+] Chris Barnett (14-3-0) via UD ()
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Matt Mitrione 22, Oli Thompson 198
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Matt Mitrione leads 2-0
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Welterweight (170)
[#84] Michael Page (10-0-0, 169.8lb) vs. [#98] Evangelista Santos (21-17-0, 170.0lb)
Last 3 Fights: Michael Page (3-0-0)
2016-04-22: W vs. [#688WW] Jeremie Holloway (7-2-0) via Submission (Achilles Lock) in 2:15 of round 1
2015-10-23: W vs. [#473WW] Charlie Ontiveros (8-4-0) via TKO (Elbows) in 3:20 of round 1
2015-07-17: W vs. [#409WW] Rudy Bears (16-14-0) via KO (Punch) in 1:05 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Evangelista Santos (2-1-0)
2016-05-14: L vs. [#59WW] Saad Awad (19-7-0) via TKO (Punches and Elbows) in 4:31 of round 1
2016-04-22: W vs. [#81WW] Brennan Ward (13-4-0) via Submission (Heel Hook) in 0:30 of round 1
2016-01-22: W vs. [#457MW] Artenas Young (10-11-0) via UD ()
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Michael Page 85, Evangelista Santos 63
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: McDonald/Lineker (07-13-2016)
Bantamweight (136)
[#9] John Lineker (27-7-0, 136.0lb, -165) vs. [#21] Michael McDonald (17-3-0, 135.0lb, +139)
Last 3 Fights: John Lineker (3-0-0)
2016-05-14: W vs. [#34BW] Rob Font (12-2-0) via UD (30-26, 29-28, 30-27)
2015-09-05: W vs. [#39BW] Francisco Rivera (11-6-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 2:08 of round 1
2015-01-31: W vs. [*] Ian McCall (13-5-1) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Michael McDonald (2-1-0)
2016-01-02: W vs. [#46BW] Masanori Kanehara (25-13-5) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 2:09 of round 2
2013-12-14: L vs. [#3BW] Urijah Faber (33-9-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 3:22 of round 2
2013-08-17: W vs. [#38BW] Brad Pickett (25-11-0) via Submission (Triangle Choke) in 3:43 of round 2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: John Lineker 60, Michael McDonald 193
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)
[#6] Tony Ferguson (20-3-0, 155.0lb, -698) vs. [#232] Landon Vannata (8-0-0, 155.5lb, +490)
Last 3 Fights: Tony Ferguson (3-0-0)
2015-12-11: W vs. [#5LW] Edson Barboza (17-4-0) via Submission (Brabo Choke) in 2:54 of round 2
2015-07-15: W vs. [#20LW] Josh Thomson (22-8-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
2015-02-28: W vs. [#33LW] Gleison Tibau (32-11-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 2:37 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Landon Vannata (3-0-0)
2016-04-30: W vs. [#764LW] Ramico Blackmon (8-4-0) via in of round 1
2015-11-06: W vs. [#585LW] Chad Curry (7-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:29 of round 1
2014-12-06: W vs. [NA] Santana-Sol Martinez (5-17-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 1:11 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Tony Ferguson 215, Landon Vannata 74
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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Middleweight (186)
[#35] Josh Samman (12-3-0, 186.0lb, -223) vs. [#48LHW] Tim Boetsch (18-10-0, 186.0lb, +182)
Last 3 Fights: Josh Samman (2-1-0)
2015-12-19: L vs. [#34MW] Tamdan McCrory (14-4-0) via Submission (Triangle Choke) in 4:10 of round 3
2015-07-12: W vs. [#56MW] Caio Magalhaes (9-2-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 2:52 of round 1
2014-12-06: W vs. [#102MW] Eddie Gordon (7-4-0) via KO (Head Kick) in 3:08 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Tim Boetsch (0-3-0)
2016-01-17: L vs. [#18LHW] Ed Herman (23-11-0) via KO (Knee) in 1:39 of round 2
2015-06-06: L vs. [#11MW] Dan Henderson (32-14-0) via KO (Punches) in 0:28 of round 1
2015-01-31: L vs. [#15MW] Thales Leites (25-6-0) via Technical Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 3:45 of round 2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Josh Samman 207, Tim Boetsch 178
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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Biggest Risers in Current MMA Rankings Update (07-10-2016)
Fight Matrix updates the Current MMA Rankings once a week. As the deepest and most inclusive ranking system in the sport, fights all over the globe can have a major impact on the rankings. Let’s take a look at the biggest risers in the divisional rankings. The number in parenthesis is the number of spots that the fighter moved up from the last issued rankings. For the purpose of this article, fighters who were unranked in the previous ranking iteration are excluded.
Heavyweight
Brock Lesnar #6
Technically Lesnar does not qualify for this list since he was not ranked going into last week. However, he returned from an extended layoff and scored a victory over Mark Hunt at UFC 200. The win earned him the 6th spot in the heavyweight rankings. Lesnar was last ranked #7 in 2013. Besides Lesnar, there was no major movement in the heavyweight division.
Light Heavyweight
Darren Stewart #82 (24)
Stewart scored a third-round knockout over Boubacar Balde at Cage Warriors FC 77 this past weekend. With the victory, Stewart improved his career record to 7-0 and moved up 24 spots in the light heavyweight rankings. The fight and the entire event is available on UFC Fight Pass.
Middleweight
Tim Williams #82 (50)
Since dropping a pair of bouts against UFC fighter Anthony Smith last year, Williams has picked up three wins in a row. In his last outing, he scored an upset over Nah-Shon Burrell at CFFC 59. He also holds victories over UFC veterans Andre Gusmao and Ron Stallings.
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