Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Middleweight

1. Khamzat Chimaev (15-0) | UFC [1]

Chimaev delivered a dominant performance in the UFC 319 headliner, as he grounded and controlled Dricus Du Plessis for the better part of five rounds in a unanimous decision triumph. While a finish would have been the perfect punctuation, no one in the UFC has been able to manhandle Du Plessis in the way that Chimaev did. “Borz” could face the Nassourdine Imavov-Caio Borralho winner for his first title defense, though he has also expressed interest in making title runs at either 205 pounds or 170 pounds.

2. Dricus Du Plessis (23-3) UFC [2]

Dricus Du Plessis created a lot believers with an awkward-yet-effective style during his championship reign, but much of that good work was undone in a lopsided unanimous decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 319 headliner. The South African rarely mounted a threat in the 25-minute affair, as he was repeatedly taken down with ease and trapped in crucifix positions on multiple occasions. That ends an 11-bout winning streak for Du Plessis, and given the nature of the defeat, an immediate rematch seems highly unlikely.

3. Nassourdine Imavov (17-4, 1 NC) | UFC [3]

Imavov delivered in front of the home folks, taking a clear-cut unanimous decision over Caio Borralho in the UFC Paris headliner on Sept. 6. “The Sniper” extended his winning streak to five, a run that also includes triumphs over the likes of Israel Adesanya, Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier and Roman Dolidze. At the moment, Imavov appears to be the leader in the clubhouse for the next middleweight title shot against Khamzat Chimaev.

4. Sean Strickland (29-7) | UFC [4]

Strickland promised violence at UFC 312, but he couldn’t improve upon the performance he offered against Dricus Du Plessis in their first meeting, as he dropped a clear-cut unanimous verdict in the evening’s headliner at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. The outspoken Xtreme Couture product was fast-tracked to a rematch with Du Plessis, but on the heels of second defeat to his South African rival, Strickland figures to be out of title conversations for the foreseeable future.

5. Israel Adesanya (24-5) | UFC [5]

Adesanya suffered his third consecutive defeat at UFC Saudi Arabia, falling to Nassourdine Imavov via second-round stoppage in the evening’s headliner at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While “The Last Stylebender” fought relatively well in the opening stanza, his chin couldn’t hold up under duress against an opponent on the rise. Adesanya turned 36 in July, and it’s fair to wonder if his prime years may be behind him.

6. Reinier de Ridder (21-2) | UFC [6]

It was rarely pretty, but de Ridder was able to outlast former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker to take a unanimous decision triumph in the UFC Abu Dhabi headliner on July 26. “The Dutch Knight” survived a third-round knockout to grind his way to his fourth consecutive triumph in UFC competition. Thanks to his most significant victory to date, the ex-ONE Championship two-division titlist is now set up as a legitimate title contender in the Las Vegas-based promotion. First, he’ll have to get past Anthony Hernandez at UFC Vancouver.

7. Robert Whittaker (26-9) | UFC [7]

Whittaker may end up regretting failing to secure a finish in the third round following a massive knockdown of Reinier de Ridder in the UFC Abu Dhabi headliner. Outside of that, the middleweight contest was a competitive, sometimes grinding affair that de Ridder won via split decision. Whittaker was plenty competitive against the former ONE Championship two-division title holder, but it doesn’t change the fact that “The Reaper” has lost back-to-back outings for the first time since 2013-14.

8. Anthony Hernandez (15-2, 1 NC) | UFC [9]

Hernandez completely overwhelmed Roman Dolidze in the UFC Vegas 109 headliner, winning via fourth-round submission in a dominant performance at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Aug. 9. “Fluffy” has won eight consecutive Octagon appearances, adding Dolidze to a list of victims that also includes the likes of Brendan Allen, Michel Pereira and Roman Kopylov. Hernandez called for a title shot after his latest triumph, but he may need one more signature victory to reach that goal. He’ll get that chance against Reinier de Ridder in the UFC Vancouver headliner.

9. Caio Borralho (17-2, 1 NC) | UFC [8]

Borralho suffered his first loss in more than a decade in the UFC Paris headliner, as he dropped a five-round verdict to Nassourdine Imavov in a potential middleweight title eliminator. After winning his first seven Octagon appearances, The Fighting Nerds leader was unable to outduel his French foe on the feet, nor was he able to implement his trademark grappling. It’ll be back to the drawing board for “The Natural,” who figures to be in line for another ranked opponent in his next outing.

10. Michael Page (24-3) | UFC [10]

Page banked two rounds with precision striking, then spent the third stanza on his back in a unanimous decision triumph against Jared Cannonier at UFC 319 on Aug. 16 in Chicago. The Englishman’s strengths and weaknesses were on full display in his latest triumph, but it was no small feat to best an opponent with championship experience and six consecutive main events under his belt. Page has won three of four UFC outings and figures to be in line for another high-profile matchup when he is ready to return.

Other Contenders: Jared Cannonier, Roman Dolidze, Brendan Allen, Costello van Steenis, Johnny Eblen.

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