Fight Matrix

Current MMA Rankings Updated (10-12-2014)

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Jason

Stat of the Day: Weak Champions

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Jason

When we exclude Flyweight (a division that the UFC only semi-recently adopted), we are at a period now where the rating of a #2 fighter is equal to or greater than 85% of the rating of the #1 fighter in 3 men’s divisions since Fight Matrix came online. We saw this briefly for a 1-week period back in July 2010, but we are currently in the midst of a period that has essentially lasted since mid-June 2014, excluding a short break from mid-August to mid-September where we had some shuffling.

Welterweight: [#2] Rory MacDonald’s rating is 94.8% of [#1] Johny Hendricks’s
Lightweight: [#2] Rafael dos Anjos’s rating is 86.5% of [#1] Anthony Pettis’s
Bantamweight: [#2] Renan Barao’s rating is 86.5% of [#1] T.J. Dillashaw’s

Depending on the outcome, or non-outcome (another Aldo injury) of Aldo/Mendes, the Edgar/Swanson winner could increase this count to 4. Either way, the 3 above will probably hold in the list for quite a bit.

The real question is… is this good, or bad?

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

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

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

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	[#5 FW]	Rajabali Shaidullaev
[#1 WW]	Islam Makhachev	[#49 LW]	Mikuru Asakura
[#4 LW]	Arman Tsarukyan	[#33 LW]	Akbar Abdullaev
[#9 LW]	Mauricio Ruffy	[#172 HW]	Sean Sharaf
[#3 FLW]	Alexandre Pantoja	[#13 FW]	Patricio Freire

Eccentric Aging - Aging and Caregiver Resources

Current & All-Time MMA Rankings Updated (10-05-2014)

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Jason

Undeserving Matches?

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Ked Becker

The winner of the fight between Rory McDonald and Tarec Saffiedine might get a title shot.

Rory McDonald is the #2 welterweight, so this is almost the biggest fight anyone can get in the division. On the other hand, Tarec Saffiedine has fought only one time this year and one time last year. He didn’t beat anyone significant (Nate Marquardt has been unimpressive at welterweight) and his last 7 fights went to decision, which proves he is not the most exciting of fighters.

Dana White is generally very vocal about how he wants fighters to be exciting (Jon Fitch, Jake Shields) and active (Fabricio Werdum was forced to take a fight though he wanted to wait for the title shot).

And now another such fight was announced: Hector Lombard, who just beat Jake Shields and might very well deserve a title shot himself, against Josh Burkman, who just returns to the UFC after losing a fight outside of it (to Steve Carl).

Wouldn’t it make more sense to pit Hector Lombard against Rory McDonald, a fight I think everybody would like to see and let those upcoming guys prove they deserve those high-profile fights instead of booking fights which seem pretty one-sided?

Fight Matrix Program: UFC Fight Night – MacDonald vs. Saffiedine (10-04-2014)

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Jason

Welterweight (170)
[#2] Rory MacDonald (17-2-0, -502) vs. [#16] Tarec Saffiedine (15-3-0, +374)
Rory MacDonald is the All-Time #15 ranked Welterweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Rory MacDonald (2-1-0)
2014-06-14: W vs. [#4WW] Tyron Woodley (14-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2014-02-22: W vs. [#8WW] Demian Maia (19-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2013-11-16: L vs. [#3WW] Robbie Lawler (24-10-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Last 3 Fights: Tarec Saffiedine (3-0-0)
2014-01-04: W vs. [#53WW] Hyun Gyu Lim (13-4-1) via UD (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
2013-01-12: W vs. [#22MW] Nate Marquardt (33-13-2) via UD (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
2012-08-18: W vs. [#388LW] Roger Bowling (11-5-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Rory MacDonald 112, Tarec Saffiedine 273
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Rory MacDonald leads 1-0
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Bantamweight (135)
[#10] Raphael Assuncao (22-4-0, -287) vs. [#12] Bryan Caraway (19-6-0, +191)
Raphael Assuncao is the All-Time #25 ranked Bantamweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Raphael Assuncao (3-0-0)
2014-02-22: W vs. [#36BW] Pedro Munhoz (11-1-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-10-09: W vs. [#1BW/#9P4P] T.J. Dillashaw (11-2-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2013-06-08: W vs. [#49BW] Vaughan Lee (14-10-1) via Submission (Armbar) in 1:51 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Bryan Caraway (2-1-0)
2014-06-07: W vs. [#51BW] Erik Perez (14-6-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 1:52 of round 2
2013-04-27: W vs. [#120BW] Johnny Bedford (19-12-1) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 4:44 of round 3
2013-03-03: L vs. [#13BW] Takeya Mizugaki (20-8-2) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Raphael Assuncao 224, Bryan Caraway 119
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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Flyweight (125)
[#11] Patrick Holohan (10-0-1) vs. [#128] Chris Kelades (7-1-0)

Last 3 Fights: Patrick Holohan (3-0-0)
2014-07-19: W vs. [#16FLY] Josh Sampo (11-4-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 3:06 of round 1
2012-07-21: W vs. [#166FLY] Artemij Sitenkov (15-12-0) via Submission (Triangle Choke) in 2:50 of round 1
2012-04-28: W vs. [#127BW] Damien Rooney (10-3-1) via KO (Punch and Head Kick) in 1:01 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Chris Kelades (2-1-0)
2014-07-26: W vs. [#134FLY] Adrian Woolley (8-4-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
2014-05-09: L vs. [#64FLY] Malcolm Gordon (5-0-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
2014-01-25: W vs. [NA] Rick Doyle (0-3-0) via Submission (Gogoplata) in 2:44 of round 1

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Patrick Holohan 77, Chris Kelades 70
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 – Nelson vs. Story (10-04-2014)

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Jason

Welterweight (170)
[#19] Gunnar Nelson (13-0-1, -329) vs. [#31] Rick Story (17-8-0, +260)

Last 3 Fights: Gunnar Nelson (3-0-0)
2014-07-19: W vs. [#81WW] Zak Cummings (17-4-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 4:48 of round 2
2014-03-08: W vs. [#137WW] Omari Akhmedov (12-1-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 4:36 of round 1
2013-02-16: W vs. [#126WW] Jorge Santiago (25-12-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Last 3 Fights: Rick Story (2-1-0)
2014-07-16: W vs. [#169WW] Leonardo Mafra Texeira (11-2-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 2:12 of round 2
2014-03-15: L vs. [#17WW] Kelvin Gastelum (9-0-0) via SD (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)
2013-11-16: W vs. [#39WW] Brian Ebersole (51-16-1) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Gunnar Nelson 77, Rick Story 80
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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Featherweight (145)
[#17] Max Holloway (10-3-0, -602) vs. [#34] Akira Corassani (12-4-0, +436)

Last 3 Fights: Max Holloway (3-0-0)
2014-08-23: W vs. [#37FW] Clay Collard (13-5-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:47 of round 3
2014-04-26: W vs. [#109FW] Andre Fili (13-2-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 3:39 of round 3
2014-01-04: W vs. [#144FW] Will Chope (20-7-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:27 of round 2

Last 3 Fights: Akira Corassani (2-1-0)
2014-04-16: L vs. [#16FW] Dustin Poirier (16-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:42 of round 2
2013-11-30: W vs. [#53FW] Maximo Blanco (11-6-1) via DQ (Knee to Head of Grounded Fighter) in 0:25 of round 1
2013-04-06: W vs. [#30FW] Robbie Peralta (18-5-0) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Max Holloway 42, Akira Corassani 171
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)
[#45] Alexander Yakovlev (21-5-1, +176) vs. [#49] Nicholas Musoke (12-3-0, -216)

Last 3 Fights: Alexander Yakovlev (2-1-0)
2014-05-31: L vs. [#8WW] Demian Maia (19-6-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-11-08: W vs. [#65WW] Paul Daley (35-13-2) via UD ()
2013-09-08: W vs. [#311MW] Reinaldo da Silva (7-7-0) via UD ()

Last 3 Fights: Nicholas Musoke (2-1-0)
2014-06-28: L vs. [#17WW] Kelvin Gastelum (9-0-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2014-02-15: W vs. [#104WW] Viscardi Andrade (17-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2013-10-26: W vs. [#264MW] Alessio Sakara (15-11-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 3:07 of round 1

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Alexander Yakovlev 126, Nicholas Musoke 98
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 (09-28-2014)

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Jason

Notable Info

Donald Cerrone took our lineal Lightweight championship last night with his win over Eddie Alvarez.
The Men’s Strawweight lineal championship as we recognize it, changed hands over the weekend with Yoshitaka Naito’s defeat of Shinya Murofushi. Rambaa Somdet has not fought within the confines of this lineal division since October 2011 and it appears he’s done with the division, if not the sport.
Although TUF fights are being counted, it has been our policy not to shift divisions for fighters competing in TUF as historically, many fighters have competed outside of their typical division and pro non-exhibition fights take precedence. This explains why Penne & Ellis remain in the 105 division, as this is the division in which they competed prior to TUF. However, due to the importance of this TUF as it pertains to the 115 landscape, we may re-visit this decision in the coming weeks. We welcome feedback.

Fight Matrix Program: UFC 178 (09-27-2014)

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Jason

Flyweight Championship (125)
[#1/#4DD/#5P4P] Demetrious Johnson (20-2-1, -1361) vs. [#14] Chris Cariaso (17-6-0, +805)
Demetrious Johnson is the All-Time #4 ranked Flyweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Demetrious Johnson (3-0-0)
2014-06-14: W vs. [#9FLY] Ali Bagautinov (13-3-0) via UD (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
2013-12-14: W vs. [#2FLY] Joseph Benavidez (20-4-0) via KO (Punches) in 2:08 of round 1
2013-07-27: W vs. [#10FLY] John Moraga (15-3-0) via Submission (Armbar) in 3:43 of round 5

Last 3 Fights: Chris Cariaso (3-0-0)
2014-05-10: W vs. [#17FLY] Louis Smolka (7-1-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
2014-02-01: W vs. [#111FLY] Danny Martinez (17-6-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2013-10-09: W vs. [#91FLY] Iliarde Santos (27-9-1) via TKO (Punches) in 4:31 of round 2

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Demetrious Johnson 105, Chris Cariaso 140
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Demetrious Johnson leads 1-0
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Lightweight (155)
[#6] Donald Cerrone (24-6-0, -105) vs. [#7] Eddie Alvarez (25-3-0, -116)
Eddie Alvarez is the All-Time #9 ranked Lightweight fighter.

Last 3 Fights: Donald Cerrone (3-0-0)
2014-07-16: W vs. [#23LW] Jim Miller (24-5-0) via KO (Head Kick and Punches) in 3:31 of round 2
2014-04-19: W vs. [#25LW] Edson Barboza (14-2-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 3:15 of round 1
2014-01-25: W vs. [#51LW] Adriano Martins (26-7-0) via KO (Head Kick) in 4:40 of round 1

Last 3 Fights: Eddie Alvarez (3-0-0)
2013-11-02: W vs. [#11LW] Michael Chandler (12-2-0) via SD (47-48, 48-47, 47-48)
2012-10-12: W vs. [#31LW] Patricky Freire (13-5-0) via KO (Head Kick and Punches) in 4:54 of round 1
2012-04-20: W vs. [#19LW] Shinya Aoki (36-6-0) via TKO (Punches) in 2:14 of round 1

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Donald Cerrone 73, Eddie Alvarez 329
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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Featherweight (145)
[#10] Dustin Poirier (16-3-0, +217) vs. [#16] Conor McGregor (15-2-0, -272)

Last 3 Fights: Dustin Poirier (3-0-0)
2014-04-16: W vs. [#35FW] Akira Corassani (12-4-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:42 of round 2
2013-12-28: W vs. [#48FW] Diego Brandao (18-10-0) via KO (Punches) in 4:54 of round 1
2013-08-31: W vs. [#107LW] Erik Koch (14-4-0) via UD (29-27, 29-28, 29-27)

Last 3 Fights: Conor McGregor (3-0-0)
2014-07-19: W vs. [#48FW] Diego Brandao (18-10-0) via TKO (Punches) in 4:05 of round 1
2013-08-17: W vs. [#17FW] Max Holloway (10-3-0) via UD (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
2013-04-06: W vs. [#90BW] Marcus Brimage (6-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 1:07 of round 1

Days Since Last Pro Fight: Dustin Poirier 164, Conor McGregor 70
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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Current MMA Rankings (09-21-2014)

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Jason

Gleison Tibau’s unlikely UFC career

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Oleg

Last weekend, in the co-main event of the UFC Fight Night 51 in Brazil, lightweight competitor Gleison Tibau scored a split decision victory over [#41] Piotr Hallman. This was not a highly anticipated or hyped fight; a contest between two middle-of-the-road lightweights both ranked outside of Top 25 in their division (the win propelled Tibau from #27 up to #22, while Hallman’s ranking was not affected). What was most notable about this fight is that it marked Tibau’s 23rd UFC bout, and his 15th win in the Octagon. This puts Tibau in a tie for the fourth place for both most wins and most bouts in the UFC history.

To put things in perspective, the record for most wins in UFC is currently held by Georges St. Pierre (19), followed by Matt Hughes (18). The third place is shared by Anderson Silva, Chuck Liddell, and Randy Couture, all with 16 wins a piece. Gleison is tied for #4 with Tito Ortiz, Josh Koscheck, and Michael Bisping. In the most bouts category, Tito Ortiz (27) holds the lead, followed by Matt Hughes (25) and Randy Couture (24). Tibau shares the fourth place with Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn, Frank Mir, and Josh Koscheck.

Take another look at these names. All except for Koscheck, Bisping, and Tibau are former UFC champions and legends of the sport. In fact, they have a combined record of 61-26-1 in UFC title fights! Even Josh Koscheck has had a shot at UFC gold, and Michael Bisping had several “top contender” bouts, though he fell short each time. Tibau on the other hand has never had a title shot or even a #1 contender bout. He was never ranked in the Top 10 of any weight class, coming closest at #12 after his 3-fight win streak in 2011. I certainly would have never expected the kid who got plastered by Nick Diaz in his UFC debut (as a welterweight), to ever be mentioned in the same sentence with the all-time greats, in any context.

What’s more is that at 31, Gleison is not showing any signs of slowing down. After dropping down to lightweight in his second UFC bout, he has been steadily chugging along for eight years, fighting on average 2.75 times a year, and winning around 68% of these fights – or 1.875 fights a year. If he continues at this rate for another two years, by the end of 2016 he should be tied for the top spot in both the total number of UFC fights and total wins, or may even hold the record in both categories. The only active fighters who may give him a run for the total number of fights are Frank Mir and Josh Koscheck – both on extended losing streaks and the verge of retirement. In the wins column, there is Michael Bisping – but at 35 he too is four years older than Tibau, and is likely past his peak judging by his recent fights. There is a very real possibility that Tibau may soon hold both records. He is also at #7 for the most total fight time in the UFC. The only currently active fighters on the roster with more minutes clocked in the Octagon are Frankie Edgar and Diego Sanchez.