Welterweight Rankings - Outside the UFC

A review and ranking of the top MMA Welterweight fighters not under contract with the UFC - July 2009

Pro Fighting Fans MMA staff writer Nick Russell takes a look at the Top 10 MMA Welterweights outside of the UFC.

1. Jake Shields (23-4-1) – Has won twelve straight dating back to December 2004 when he lost to Akira Kikuchi at Shooto event. Has stopped eight straight opponents, the last four coming by way of submission. The thirty-year-old Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fighter has never been submitted and only finished once in his decade-long career.
2. Hayato Sakurai (35-8-2) – “Mach” has won three in a row and eight of his last nine overall. Thirty-three year old Tokyo, Japan native has tough career victories over Jens Pulver, Shinya Aoki, and Frank Trigg among others. In the last year-and-a-half has fought for Shooto, DREAM, and K-1 Dynamite.
3. Jay Hieron (17-4) – Hasn’t tasted defeat in his last five contests. Xtreme Couture product has knocked out three of his last four opponents. Former UFC and IFL fighter now fights for Affliction.
4. Nick Diaz (20-7) – Is five for his last five with five stoppages while fighting for Strikeforce, DREAM, and Elite XC. The Stockton, California resident knows how to finish his opponents, 17 of his 20 wins are via stoppage. Rumored to fight rival Joe Riggs in August.
5. Nick Thompson (38-11-1) – Despite a loss to Tim Kennedy last month, he has defeated fourteen of his last sixteen opponents. Has entered fifty fights in a little more than six years of competition. Once fought fifteen times in one year (2005). He has thirty-two stoppages out of thirty-eight wins.
6. Joe Riggs (30-10) – Has had hand raised in three of his last four fights, defeating Phil Baroni, Luke Stewart and Matt Dempsey. Has only had to go to the scorecards three times in thirty fights. Next test will be against a very confident Nick Diaz in August.
7. Lyman Good (10-0) - The Bellator FC Welterweight Champion has knocked out his last three opponents. Good will need to step up in competition to be considered a top-five welterweight. The Tiger Schulmann product is considered to be an up-and-comer.
8. Paul Daley (21-8-2) – Has won three of last four, knocking out all three opponents. Daley is currently trying to get back to one of the major organizations. The English fighter has only been knocked out once in over thirty fights.
9. Akihiro Gono (29-14-7) – Although he has lost his last two fights is still a dangerous welterweight. Was released from the UFC after a 1-2 campaign. He is one of only two fighters to defeat Gegard Mousasi.
10. Andre Galvao (3-0) – Is on the rise, winning his first three bouts including his most recent win against John Alessio in the opening round of the DREAM welterweight GP. Has submitted all three of his opponents with arm bars. The Team Nogueira fighter will continue with DREAM in the Welterweight GP this summer.

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By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer

More Non-UFC MMA Fighter Rankings:

• Top Heavyweights not in the UFC
• Top Light Heavyweights not in the UFC
• Top Middleweights not in the UFC
• Top Lightweights not in the UFC