Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Gegard Mousasi might be the most underappreciated middleweight in mixed martial arts today.

The 36-year-old Netherlands native made short work of the previously undefeated Austin Vanderford at Bellator 275, winning via technical knockout 1:25 into the opening round of their 185-pound title bout 3Arena in Dublin on Friday. Currently in the midst of his second reign as Bellator middleweight champ, Mousasi has won 12 of his last 13 professional bouts dating back to February 2016. With his latest triumph, “The Dreamcatcher” moves up to No. 8 in Sherdog’s divisional rankings — and there’s a case for him to be even higher given his resume.

Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev wasn’t the only lightweight who authored a dominant performance at UFC Fight Night 205. While the No. 5 Makhachev’s first-round stoppage of Bobby Green doesn’t affect the rankings because it came at a 160-pound catchweight, that isn’t true for Arman Tsarukyan, who thrashed fellow prospect Joel Alvarez in a main card bout. Tsarukyan’s fifth consecutive triumph allows him to rise from 14th to 12th in Sherdog’s divisional rankings, and it feels like he will be moving higher in the months to come. Perhaps one day he and Makhachev can have a rematch with much more at stake.

Elsewhere, KSW kingpin Philip De Fries has come a long way since his forgettable UFC tenure, and Saturday he defended his crown for the sixth time — the longest streak for a heavyweight champion in any organization. With a total of nine consecutive wins, de Fries is worthy of a No. 15-ranking in a perpetually shallow weight class. One Championship two-division title holder Reinier de Ridder also makes a move, joining the light heavyweight bubble after thrashing Kiamrian Abbasov in his latest title defense. Finally, in housekeeping news, Kaitlin Young exits the women’s featherweight poll after reaching her inactivity threshhold, and she is replaced on the bubble by Sinead Kavanagh, who overcame injury to best Leah McCourt in an all-Ireland matchup for her third win in four outings at Bellator 275.

Note: Previous rankings listed in brackets.

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