The Most Expected Fights in MMA in 2017
The new year forces to establish new goals, and we hope that 2017 will be overflowing with brilliant fights, unexpected decisions, and enthralling performances. It is well-known to the dedicated fans that Aldo, Nurmagomedov, and Woodley all hunger for a fight with Conor McGregor. But McGregor’s next opponent will not be the only one surprise of the year.
What About the Last Emperor’s Destiny?
The uncertainty in Fedor Emelianenko’s career ended after signing the contract with Bellator. Presumably, Scott Coker has decided to offer the legendary Russian fighter the favorable contract terms that will allow Emelianenko to finish the remainder of his career with the company; this is expected, considering that Emelianenko will soon be forty-one. His first adversary in Bellator, Matt Mitrione, is a very worthy opponent, and the online betting fans are sure to bet here on him. He is well-rounded and a UFC veteran with an overall record of 9-5 in the promotion. While his UFC stint ended on two consecutive losses, he definitely did not look like a whipping boy. Moreover, Mitrione has started quite well in the Bellator, gaining two stoppage victories. We can only guess what Fedor Emelianenko’s physical and psychological form will be like. Is it possible that he will again abandon any semblance of strategy and only rely on his power? This battle will definitely be a big ratings draw for Bellator.
Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)
| Thursday, December 31st 2026: Rizin FF Super Rizin 6: Shiwasu no Owarinagoya Gekokujo Matsuri | |||
 [#1 W105] Natalia Kuziutina |  [#4 W105] Saori Oshima | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 9/10/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#18 W105] Rena Kubota Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 7/18/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#13 W105] Ye Ji Lee Last 5: L W L W W | ||
| Sunday, December 13th 2026: Deep - 135 Impact | |||
| [#3 SW] Sukai China | [#4 SW] Jo Arai | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 5/04/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [#6 SW] Sora Sugiyama Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 9/13/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [#23 SW] Daichi Kitakata Last 5: L L W L W | ||
| Sunday, December 13th 2026: Deep Tokyo Impact 2026 6th Round | |||
| [#6 SW] Sora Sugiyama | [#10 SW] Goal Makino | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 9/20/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [NR] Musashi Musashi Last 5: W W W L W | Last Fight Date: 9/06/2026 [DEEP] Last Opponent: [#42 SW] Toshiya Takashima Last 5: W W W W W | ||
Featured Fighters
| [#18 W125] |  Lucia Szabova | [#1 WW] | Islam Makhachev | |
| [#18 LW] |  Renato Carneiro | [#1 FW] |  Alexander Volkanovski | |
| [#13 LW] | Tom Nolan | [#26 WW] |  Jacobe Smith | |
| [#102 W125] | Tainara Lisboa | [#1 LW] | Justin Gaethje | |
| [#2 LW] |  Ilia Topuria | [#8 HW] | Josh Hokit |
Fight Matrix Program: UFC on FOX 23 – Shevchenko/Pena (01-28-2017)
Women Bantamweight (135)
[#3/#6DD/#9P4P] Valentina Shevchenko (13-2-0, -121) vs. [#7] Julianna Pena (8-2-0, -102)
Valentina Shevchenko is the All-Time #46 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Valentina Shevchenko (2-1-0)
2016-07-23: W vs. [#5BW/#9DD] Holly Holm (10-2-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
2016-03-05: L vs. [#1BW/#1DD/#2P4P] Amanda Nunes (14-4-0) via UD (29-27, 29-28, 29-27)
2015-12-19: W vs. [#23BW] Sarah Kaufman (17-4-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Julianna Pena (3-0-0)
2016-07-09: W vs. [#12BW] Cat Zingano (9-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2015-10-03: W vs. [#20BW] Jessica Eye (11-6-0) via UD (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
2015-04-04: W vs. [#82BW] Milana Dudieva (11-5-0) via TKO (Punches and Elbows) in 3:59 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Valentina Shevchenko 189, Julianna Pena 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)
[#5] Donald Cerrone (32-7-0, -160) vs. [#13] Jorge Masvidal (31-11-0, +134)
Last 3 Fights: Donald Cerrone (3-0-0)
2016-12-10: W vs. [#22WW] Matt Brown (20-16-0) via KO (Head Kick) in 0:34 of round 3
2016-08-20: W vs. [#20WW] Rick Story (19-9-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:02 of round 2
2016-06-18: W vs. [#24WW] Patrick Cote (23-10-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:35 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Jorge Masvidal (2-1-0)
2016-12-03: W vs. [#21WW] Jake Ellenberger (31-12-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:05 of round 1
2016-07-30: W vs. [#51LW] Ross Pearson (19-13-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-05-29: L vs. [#8WW] Lorenz Larkin (18-5-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Donald Cerrone 49, Jorge Masvidal 56
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Donald Cerrone leads 3-2
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Heavyweight (265)
[#10] Andrei Arlovski (25-13-0, +322) vs. [#34] Francis Ngannou (9-1-0, -418)
Andrei Arlovski is the All-Time #14 ranked Heavyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Andrei Arlovski (0-3-0)
2016-09-03: L vs. [#7HW+] Josh Barnett (35-8-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 2:53 of round 3
2016-05-08: L vs. [#4HW+] Alistair Overeem (41-15-0) via TKO (Front Kick and Punches) in 1:12 of round 2
2016-01-02: L vs. [#1HW+/#3DD/#3P4P] Stipe Miocic (16-2-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:54 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Francis Ngannou (3-0-0)
2016-12-09: W vs. [#61HW+] Anthony Hamilton (15-6-0) via Submission (Kimura) in 1:57 of round 1
2016-07-23: W vs. [#196LHW] Bojan Mihajlovic (10-5-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:34 of round 1
2016-04-10: W vs. [#87HW+] Curtis Blaydes (6-1-0) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in 5:00 of round 2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Andrei Arlovski 147, Francis Ngannou 50
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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InvictaFC Bout Ends in Controversy
With the widely increasing influence and popularity of the UFC, professional fighting has become more widespread than ever. Aiming to replicate the success of the UFC, nowadays, numerous organizations promote Mixed Martial Arts (MMA for short) fights. One less well-known example of an MMA fight promotion company is the Invicta Fighting Championship. Unlike the UFC which features both male and female fights, the IFC only features female fights and since its establishment in 2012 has” been dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis”. However, just like the UFC, the IFC holds events that feature matches for title’s based on the fighter’s weight class. Invicta was brought to the mainstream thanks to a recent controversial match between Amy Montenegro and Celine Haga held in Invicta FC 21.
Fight Matrix Program – Bellator 170: Sonnen/Ortiz (01-21-2017)
Light Heavyweight (205)
[*] Tito Ortiz (19-12-1, +141) vs. [*] Chael Sonnen (28-14-1, -169)
Tito Ortiz is the All-Time #5 ranked Light Heavyweight and #26 ranked Absolute fighter.
Chael Sonnen is the All-Time #40 ranked Light Heavyweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Tito Ortiz (2-1-0)
2015-09-19: L vs. [#10LHW] Liam McGeary (11-1-0) via Submission (Inverted Triangle Choke) in 4:41 of round 1
2014-11-15: W vs. [*] Stephan Bonnar (15-9-0) via SD (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)
2014-05-17: W vs. [#17MW] Alexander Shlemenko (54-9-0) via Technical Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 2:27 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Chael Sonnen (1-2-0)
2013-11-16: L vs. [#16LHW] Rashad Evans (21-5-1) via TKO (Punches) in 4:05 of round 1
2013-08-17: W vs. [#8LHW] Mauricio Rua (24-10-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 4:47 of round 1
2013-04-27: L vs. [#1LHW/#2DD/#1P4P] Jon Jones (22-1-0) via TKO (Elbows and Punches) in 4:33 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Tito Ortiz 490, Chael Sonnen 1162
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Tito Ortiz leads 1-0
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Welterweight (170)
[#58] Brennan Ward (14-4-0) vs. [#73] Paul Daley (38-14-2)
Paul Daley is the All-Time #47 ranked Welterweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Brennan Ward (2-1-0)
2016-11-04: W vs. [#108WW] Saad Awad (19-9-0) via KO (Punch) in 1:26 of round 1
2016-04-22: L vs. [#132WW] Evangelista Santos (21-18-0) via Submission (Heel Hook) in 0:30 of round 1
2015-12-31: W vs. [#112WW] Ken Hasegawa (14-1-1) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 1:52 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Paul Daley (2-1-0)
2016-07-16: L vs. [#12WW] Douglas Lima (28-6-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2016-01-29: W vs. [#302WW] Andy Uhrich (11-6-0) via in of round 1
2015-07-17: W vs. [#386MW] Dennis Olson (14-11-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:12 of round 2
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Brennan Ward 78, Paul Daley 189
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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Middleweight (185)
[#66] Hisaki Kato (7-2-0) vs. [*] Ralek Gracie (3-0-0)
Last 3 Fights: Hisaki Kato (2-1-0)
2016-10-21: W vs. [#189MW] A.J. Matthews (8-6-0) via in of round 1
2016-04-17: W vs. [#601WW] Yuta Watanabe (19-8-4) via TKO (Punches) in 1:04 of round 1
2015-11-20: L vs. [#44MW] Melvin Manhoef (30-13-1) via KO (Punch) in 3:43 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Ralek Gracie (3-0-0)
2010-05-29: W vs. [#1059WW] Kazushi Sakuraba (26-17-1) via UD ()
2008-06-15: W vs. [*] Alavutdin Gadjiev (18-13-1) via Submission (Armbar) in 3:02 of round 1
2007-07-16: W vs. [*] Katsuyori Shibata (4-11-1) via Submission (Armbar) in 3:05 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Hisaki Kato 92, Ralek Gracie 2429
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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Tim Kennedy Ranking History
On Tuesday, Tim Kennedy announced his retirement from MMA with a lengthy Facebook post. Kennedy first entered the Fight Matrix rankings in 2003 as the #42 middleweight. The following chart shows his Quarterly Generated Historical Ranking for his career.
Significant dates:
Defeated Michael Bisping on April 16, 2014
Defeated Robbie Lawler on July 30, 2011
Strikeforce debut on June 19, 2009
IFL debut on Feb. 23, 2007
Fight Matrix Program – UFC Fight Night 103: Rodriguez/Penn (01-14-2017)
Featherweight (145)
[#35] Yair Rodriguez (9-1-0, -477) vs. [*] B.J. Penn (16-10-2, +357)
B.J. Penn is the All-Time #7 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Yair Rodriguez (3-0-0)
2016-08-06: W vs. [#79FW] Alex Caceres (12-9-0) via SD (46-49, 48-47, 48-47)
2016-04-23: W vs. [#29FW] Andre Fili (16-4-0) via KO (Head Kick) in 2:15 of round 2
2015-10-03: W vs. [#105FW] Dan Hooker (13-7-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Last 3 Fights: B.J. Penn (0-3-0)
2014-07-06: L vs. [#3FW] Frankie Edgar (21-5-1) via TKO (Punches) in 4:16 of round 3
2012-12-08: L vs. [#11WW] Rory MacDonald (18-4-0) via UD (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)
2011-10-29: L vs. [*] Nick Diaz (26-9-0) via UD (29-28, 29-27, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Yair Rodriguez 162, B.J. Penn 924
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)
[#23] Marcin Held (22-5-0, +113) vs. [#25] Joe Lauzon (26-12-0, -137)
Last 3 Fights: Marcin Held (1-2-0)
2016-11-05: L vs. [#20LW] Diego Sanchez (27-9-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-05-20: W vs. [#46LW] Dave Jansen (20-4-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
2015-11-06: L vs. [#12LW] Will Brooks (18-2-0) via UD (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
Last 3 Fights: Joe Lauzon (1-2-0)
2016-08-27: L vs. [#17LW] Jim Miller (28-8-0) via SD (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
2016-07-09: W vs. [#20LW] Diego Sanchez (27-9-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:26 of round 1
2015-12-11: L vs. [#15LW] Evan Dunham (18-6-0) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Marcin Held 71, Joe Lauzon 141
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Joe Lauzon leads 1-0
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Welterweight (170)
[#41] Ben Saunders (20-7-2, -115) vs. [#87] Court McGee (18-5-0, -108)
Last 3 Fights: Ben Saunders (2-1-0)
2016-09-09: W vs. [#123WW] Jacob Volkmann (19-7-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 0:17 of round 1
2016-01-17: L vs. [#24WW] Patrick Cote (23-10-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:14 of round 2
2015-07-25: W vs. [#53WW] Kenny Robertson (15-5-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Court McGee (2-1-0)
2016-08-06: W vs. [#132WW] Dominique Steele (14-8-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2016-04-16: L vs. [#32WW] Santiago Ponzinibbio (23-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:15 of round 1
2015-12-12: W vs. [#123MW] Marcio Alexandre Jr. (14-3-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ben Saunders 128, Court McGee 162
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 MMA Rankings Updated (01-08-2017)
Notable Info
- Logic change to more appropriately handle elite fighters coming back from extended and/or multiple neighboring periods of inactivity.
- Community adjustment made for Japanese Men’s population. For more info, see this post.