Biggest Risers in Current MMA Rankings Update (06-12-2016)
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
Jared Vanderaa #143 (35)
At BAMMA USA 20, Vanderaa scored a first-round knockout over Strikeforce and Bellator MMA veteran Mychal Clark. After beginning his professional career last June, the Team Quest product has already built a 4-0 record with all victories coming via stoppage. The entire event can be viewed, behind a paywall, at FloCombat.com.
Light Heavyweight
Armando Sixel #144 (64)
In the most recent rankings update, Sixel moved up 64 spots. In his last fight, he scored a first-round armbar submission over Daniel Brito at Jungle Fight 83. The Brazilian holds a 9-5 record and has picked up a pair of wins since falling to UFC heavyweight Luis Henrique Barbosa de Oliveira in 2014.
Middleweight
Vlad Popovskiy #271 (128)
After receiving credit for his May 27 victory over Maxim Sergeev, Popovskiy moved into the top 300 at middleweight. The 24-year-old Moldovan fighter is 11 and has 10 first-round finishes.
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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 Fight Night 89 – MacDonald vs. Thompson (06-18-2016)
Welterweight (170)
[#2] Stephen Thompson (12-1-0, -116) vs. [#6] Rory MacDonald (18-3-0, -108)
Rory MacDonald is the All-Time #13 ranked Welterweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Stephen Thompson (3-0-0)
2016-02-06: W vs. [#5WW] Johny Hendricks (17-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:31 of round 1
2015-07-12: W vs. [#31WW] Jake Ellenberger (30-11-0) via KO (Spinning Hook Kick) in 4:29 of round 1
2014-09-27: W vs. [#21WW] Patrick Cote (23-9-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Rory MacDonald (2-1-0)
2015-07-11: L vs. [#1WW/#8DD/#5P4P] Robbie Lawler (27-10-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:00 of round 5
2014-10-04: W vs. [#24WW] Tarec Saffiedine (16-5-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:28 of round 3
2014-06-14: W vs. [*] Tyron Woodley (15-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Stephen Thompson 133, Rory MacDonald 343
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)
[#11] Donald Cerrone (29-7-0, -170) vs. [#21] Patrick Cote (23-9-0, +143)
Last 3 Fights: Donald Cerrone (2-1-0)
2016-02-21: W vs. [#67WW] Alex Oliveira (13-4-1) via Submission (Triangle Choke) in 2:33 of round 1
2015-12-19: L vs. [#1LW/#2DD/#3P4P] Rafael dos Anjos (25-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:06 of round 1
2015-05-23: W vs. [#69LW] John Makdessi (13-5-0) via TKO (Head Kick) in 4:44 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Patrick Cote (3-0-0)
2016-01-17: W vs. [#49WW] Ben Saunders (19-7-2) via TKO (Punches) in 1:14 of round 2
2015-08-23: W vs. [#51LW] Joshua Burkman (28-13-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:26 of round 3
2015-04-25: W vs. [#122MW] Joe Riggs (41-17-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Donald Cerrone 118, Patrick Cote 153
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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Light Heavyweight (205)
[#41] Sean OConnell (17-7-0) vs. [#76] Steve Bosse (11-2-0)
Last 3 Fights: Sean OConnell (2-1-0)
2016-01-17: L vs. [#18LHW] Ilir Latifi (12-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:30 of round 1
2015-05-10: W vs. [*] Anthony Perosh (15-10-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:56 of round 1
2015-01-18: W vs. [#132HW+] Matt Van Buren (7-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:11 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Steve Bosse (2-1-0)
2016-03-19: W vs. [*] James Te Huna (16-9-0) via KO (Punch) in 0:52 of round 1
2015-06-27: L vs. [#17MW] Thiago Santos (13-3-0) via KO (Head Kick) in 0:29 of round 1
2013-05-11: W vs. [*] Caleb Grummet (5-7-0) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in 5:00 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Sean OConnell 153, Steve Bosse 91
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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Biggest Risers in Current MMA Rankings Updated (06-05-2016)
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.
Welterweight
Andreas Stahl #145 (278)
Stahl returned to action for the first time since a pair of losses to Gilbert Burns and Santiago Ponzinibbio chased him from the UFC. This past weekend, he scored a third-round knockout over Lewis Long at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 76. The much needed victory bumped him up 278 spots in the rankings. However, he is still currently ranked below his quarterly peak of #125. Stahl’s fight and the rest of the event is available on UFC Fight Pass.
Heavyweight
Zaur Gadzhibabayev #154 (70)
The Azerbaijani heavyweight moved up 70 spots in the rankings after defeating Lazar Todev at M-1 Challenge 67. The victory improved his professional MMA record to 5-1. Gadzhibabayev has won three fights in a row since falling for the first time to Zaurbek Bashaev last year. The entire event is available via YouTube
Light Heavyweight
Luis Henrique da Silva #40 (19)
On the undercard of UFC 199, Da Silva scored an upset over fellow prospect Jonathan Wilson. With the victory, he moves up 19 spots and into the top 50. The 26-year-old Brazilian is now 11-0 with 11 knockout finishes.
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Fight Matrix Program: UFC 199 (06-04-2016)
Middleweight (185)
[#1/#1DD/#4P4P] Luke Rockhold (15-2-0, -993) vs. [#8] Michael Bisping (28-7-0, +656)
Luke Rockhold is the All-Time #3 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Michael Bisping is the All-Time #19 ranked Middleweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Luke Rockhold (3-0-0)
2015-12-12: W vs. [#2MW/#5DD/#10P4P] Chris Weidman (13-1-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:12 of round 4
2015-04-18: W vs. [#7MW] Lyoto Machida (22-7-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 2:31 of round 2
2014-11-07: W vs. [#8MW] Michael Bisping (28-7-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 0:57 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Michael Bisping (3-0-0)
2016-02-27: W vs. [#16MW] Anderson Silva (33-7-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
2015-07-18: W vs. [#15MW] Thales Leites (25-6-0) via SD (49-46, 48-47, 47-48)
2015-04-25: W vs. [#26MW] C.B. Dollaway (15-8-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Luke Rockhold 175, Michael Bisping 98
Previous Match-up Record: Luke Rockhold leads 1-0-0
Wins Against Common Opposition: Luke Rockhold leads 1-0
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Bantamweight Championship (135)
[#1/#8P4P] Dominick Cruz (21-1-0, -616) vs. [#3] Urijah Faber (33-8-0, +437)
Dominick Cruz is the All-Time #1 ranked Bantamweight fighter.
Urijah Faber is the All-Time #5 ranked Bantamweight and #10 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Dominick Cruz (3-0-0)
2016-01-17: W vs. [#2BW/#9P4P] T.J. Dillashaw (12-3-0) via SD (46-49, 48-47, 49-46)
2014-09-27: W vs. [#22BW] Takeya Mizugaki (21-9-2) via KO (Punches) in 1:01 of round 1
2011-10-01: W vs. [#1FLY/#3DD/#2P4P] Demetrious Johnson (24-2-1) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
Last 3 Fights: Urijah Faber (2-1-0)
2015-12-12: W vs. [#16BW] Frankie Saenz (11-3-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
2015-05-16: L vs. [#1FW/#7DD] Frankie Edgar (20-4-1) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
2014-12-06: W vs. [#40BW] Francisco Rivera (11-6-0) via Submission (Bulldog Choke) in 1:34 of round 2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Dominick Cruz 139, Urijah Faber 175
Previous Match-up Record: Even: 1-1-0
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 4 win(s) against common opposition.
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Featherweight (145)
[#4] Max Holloway (15-3-0) vs. [#9] Ricardo Lamas (16-4-0)
Max Holloway is the All-Time #24 ranked Featherweight fighter.
Ricardo Lamas is the All-Time #12 ranked Featherweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Max Holloway (3-0-0)
2015-12-12: W vs. [#10FW] Jeremy Stephens (25-12-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
2015-08-23: W vs. [#8FW] Charles Oliveira (21-5-0) via TKO (Esophagus Injury) in 1:39 of round 1
2015-04-18: W vs. [#13FW] Cub Swanson (22-7-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 3:58 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Ricardo Lamas (2-1-0)
2015-11-21: W vs. [#27LW] Diego Sanchez (26-8-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2015-04-04: L vs. [#7FW] Chad Mendes (17-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:45 of round 1
2014-11-15: W vs. [#18FW] Dennis Bermudez (15-5-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 3:18 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Max Holloway 175, Ricardo Lamas 196
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Ricardo Lamas leads 2-1
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Keep Reading
Biggest Risers in Current MMA Rankings Update (05-30-2016)
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
Marcin Rozalski #115 (80)
With a victory over strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski in the co-main event of KSW 35, Rozalski moves up 80 spots in the rankings. After winning his first three fights under the KSW banner, Rozalski had dropped back-to-back fights to Peter Graham and James McSweeney before triumphing over Pudzianowski.
Light Heavyweight
Sergey Kalinin #165 (63)
Kalinin jumped up 63 spots after besting Pavel Katrunov at Eurasian Fight Nights 48. With the win, Kalinin improved his career record to 3-2. The bout and the entire event is available on UFC Fight Pass.
Middleweight
Khalid Murtazaliev #161 (160)
Murtazaliev is another fighter moving up in the rankings following a victory at EFN 48. The Russian fighter scored a first-round knockout over Edilson Franca at the event and bumped up 160 spots.
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Current MMA Rankings Updated (05-30-2016)
Notable Info
- Men’s Strawweight expanded to Top 20 from 15.
- Women’s Strawweight expanded to Top 40 from 35.