MMA Rankings > UFC Welterweight Rankings

UFC Welterweight Division Rankings

A review and ranking of the UFC's 170-pound Welterweight division - January 2011 Update

Without a doubt one of the strongest weight classes in terms of pound for pound talent in the world of mixed martial arts, the UFC’s 170lb division is teaming with a pool of dynamic wrestler/striker hybrids whose skills are augmented by their extreme athleticism. While current champion Georges St-Pierre is considered to be one of the best fighters in the world today, many names on this list have challenged him in the past and may challenge him in the future. Also be sure to see our MMA Welterweight rankings as we take a look at the top 170 pound fighters in the UFC and other MMA organizations across the globe.

Georges St-Pierre handed Jon Fitch his lone loss in 12 UFC fights at UFC 87 in August 2008, but Fitch told Pro Fighting Fans that he's "a better fighter" than GSP today.

1. Georges St-Pierre – (21-2; 13-2 UFC) – What more can be said about GSP, the longtime UFC welterweight champion and my personal #1 Pound for Pound fighter in the world (even before Fedor’s loss to Werdum). He outwrestles top-notch wrestlers, outstrikes the top strikers, and just finds a way to beat anyone he faces. Jake Shields is up next for GSP, and Dana White has indicated that he’d throw his support behind a Superfight between GSP and Anderson Silva if GSP beats Shields and Silva beats Vitor Belfort.

2. Jon Fitch – (23-3-1; 13-1 UFC) – Fitch has beaten all challengers to the #2 spot in the Welterweight division, but he was absolutely smothered when he challenged GSP for the Welterweight strap@ UFC 87. It has long been rumored that the UFC brass has very little interest in seeing Fitch challenge St-Pierre for the belt again, and I see Fitch’s upcoming fight against BJ Penn as a way of taking one man out of the title picture for a while. I find it remarkable that Fitch has gone to decision in 10 of his 14 UFC bouts, and hasn’t finished an opponent since June of 2007.

3. Jake Shields – (26-4-1; 1-0 UFC) – After battering Dan Henderson in his final fight for Strikeforce, many expected Shields to jump directly into the UFC’s Middleweight title picture. Dana White and Joe Silva had other ideas and put Shields right into the thick of things in the Welterweight division instead. With a convincing win over the legendary Henderson, Shields’ victory over Martin Kampmann was unimpressive and, at times, uninspired. Shields will need to be at the top of his game to beat long-time Welterweight champ GSP in Canada atop the UFC 129 fight card.

4. Josh Koscheck – (15-5; 13-5 UFC) – Koscheck certainly did his job on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter; he made fight fans tune in each week to see what ridiculous things he was going to say to get under the skin of GSP and his fighters. As far as delivering on his lofty promises of beating GSP, Kos fell quite short. The champ battered Koscheck with jabs, causing Koscheck to require reconstructive surgery on his face. A lengthy recovery is required for such a surgery, so Koscheck is expected to be on the shelf until mid-2011.

5. Thiago Alves – (18-7; 10-4 UFC) – Widely known as the most dangerous striker in the division, Alves has been neutralized by his opponent’s wrestling. Alves has been handled by GSP and Jon Fitch en route to unanimous decisions. The Pitbull hasn’t finished an opponent in nearly 3 years, and will look to do so against tough up-and-comer Rick Story in May on the UFC 130 fight card. This may prove to be a tall task, as Story has never been finished in a fight, but then again, Story has yet to fight someone of Alves’ caliber.

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6. Martin Kampmann – (17-4; 8-3 UFC) – Kampmann may have lost a controversial decision to Jake Shields, but he turned many heads with his gutsy performance. Kampmann is world-renowned as a dangerous striker, but he has submission skills as well, making him a dangerous opponent on the feet or on the mat. Kampmann’s one glaring hole in his game is his wrestling, which Jake Shields exploited to a split decision victory. Kampmann will need to shore up his wrestling as the top of the welterweight division all possess world-class wrestling. Kampmann faces Diego Sanchez on Versus on March 3rd.

7. Carlos Condit – (26-5; 3-1 UFC) – The Jackson-trained Condit has rattled off 3 straight wins, including a brain-rattling knockout victory against former title contender Dan Hardy. Condit is going to be pushed in his next matchup against wily veteran Chris Lytle at UFC 127. Lytle hasn’t been stopped since 2007, and has 15 professional bouts to his credit as a boxer. Lytle will be an excellent challenge for Condit, but he could prove to be a great stepping stone for Condit, as well.

8. Jake Ellenberger – (22-5; 2-1 UFC) – Ellenberger was 2 for 2 in 2010, including a brutal doctor stoppage over John Howard. Ellenberger will take on Carlos Eduardo Rocha at the beginning of February on the televised portion of the UFC 126 fight card. Rocha is undefeated and has 8 of his 9 wins by submission. A win against the submission whiz could bump Ellenberger up in the rankings.

9. John Hathaway – (14-1; 4-1 UFC) – Mike Pyle derailed the Hathaway hype-train, ending the Brit’s unbeaten streak in London. Hathaway will take a surprising step backwards in the division when he takes on Kris McCray in Seattle in March. McCray has lost 2 straight in the Octagon and may very well be fighting for his UFC contract, so Hathaway needs to hone his wrestling and takedown defense if he wants to stay in the Top 10.

10. Diego Sanchez – (22-4; 11-4 UFC) – Sanchez has shown time and again that he can defeat the fighters that he ought to beat, but struggles once he gets to the top of the food chain. Sanchez has losses against Koscheck, Fitch, and BJ Penn, as well as John Hathaway. Sanchez will take on Martin Kampmann in March in order to stay relevant in the Welterweight division after a short stint as a Lightweight.

Look for Top Ten UFC Rankings to be updated regularly from here on out, exclusively on ProFighting-fans.com.

By Curt Heinrichs
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer

Published January 2011
Photo used with permission from the UFC

UFC Welterweight Division Rankings

A review and ranking of the UFC's 170-pound Welterweight division - January 2011 Update

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