Welterweight
1. Tyron Woodley (17-3-1)
Woodley began his training camp for a third UFC welterweight title defense before he even had an opponent, but UFC 211 has cleared up things nicely. With Demian Maia earning a split decision over Jorge Masvidal on May 13, the jiu-jitsu ace has firmed up his place as the next 170-pound title contender, and “The Chosen One” figures to defend his crown against Maia in the late summer or early fall.2. Robbie Lawler (27-11, 1 NC)
After a surprise return to 170 pounds and a late-career run that redefined his legacy, Lawler’s welterweight reign of terror ended at UFC 201 in July, when Tyron Woodley lamped him in Atlanta. However, that does not mean every “Ruthless”-related streak has to come to an end. After all, Lawler has still co-authored the last three “Fight of the Year” winners. Even if it is only three rounds, he has a chance to make it four in a row when he makes his return at UFC 213 on July 8, facing fellow mega-action fighter Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in a potential thriller.3. Demian Maia (25-6)
Since Maia dropped a decision to Rory MacDonald in February 2014, the grappling wizard has been nearly unstoppable. The 39-year-old Maia has ripped off seven straight wins in the ultra-talented welterweight division and has been increasingly impressive with each outing. Many thought Maia was overdue for a 170-pound title shot prior to his UFC 211 bout with Jorge Masvidal, and with his split nod over “Gamebred,” the Brazilian made it incontrovertible. No date has been set, but Maia will be the next title challenger for Tyron Woodley later this year.4. Stephen Thompson (13-2-1)
A sensational winning streak earned him two UFC title shots, but Thompson could not wrest the UFC welterweight strap from champion Tyron Woodley. While “Wonderboy” managed a draw in their first bout, Woodley prevailed via majority decision in their March rematch at UFC 209. Thompson opted to head home to South Carolina for knee surgery after the loss, but the flashy karateka should be back in the Octagon by year's end.5. Douglas Lima (29-6)
Even after he regained the Bellator welterweight crown in devastating fashion from the man who took it from him, Russia's Andrey Koreshkov, criticisms persisted that Lima “had not faced anybody” yet. Those criticisms, at least temporarily, have been put to bed: At Bellator 180, Lima outstruck slick, savvy striker and new Bellator free agent acquisition Lorenz Larkin over 25 minutes, not just to retain his 170-pound title but to affirm the notion he is truly one of MMA's welterweight elite.6. Rory MacDonald (19-4)
It had been 11 months since MacDonald's disastrous last bout in the UFC against Stephen Thompson, as “The Red King” made his long-awaited Bellator debut in London on May 19 and blew dangerous veteran Paul Daley out of the water. It was a much-needed win for MacDonald who had not had his hand raised in two and a half years. He will likely next challenge Douglas Lima for the company's 170-pound title.7. Lorenz Larkin (18-6, 1 NC)
Cresting high off top-10 wins over Neil Magny and Jorge Masvidal in the UFC, Larkin parlayed his back-to-back breakout victories into a tidy Bellator MMA contract and a welterweight title shot in his promotional debut, which just so happened to be on the company's second-ever pay-per-view event. “The Monsoon” was unable to make it three consecutive wins over divisional aces, however, as champ Douglas Lima used his well-rounded MMA game to stymie Larkin and win a unanimous decision over five rounds.8. Jorge Masvidal (32-12)
Masvidal's back-to-back blowouts of Jake Ellenberger and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone had him in the running for a shot at the UFC welterweight title, and a win over Demian Maia at UFC 211 would have sealed it. Instead, Masvidal spent a little too much time with the Brazilian controlling his back and lost a split decision. Nonetheless, Masvidal's style and charisma have quickly made him a fan favorite at 170 pounds, making it hard to believe the UFC will go too long without booking him again.9. Neil Magny (19-5)
Magny's win over former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks in December seemed like it would thrust him into the thick of things in the UFC welterweight title picture. Instead, Magny ended up on the shelf due to undisclosed injuries in early 2017 that precluded him from facing Jorge Masvidal or any other contenders and left him to continue his rehab while waiting for another major booking.10. Donald Cerrone (32-8, 1 NC)
Cerrone surprised onlookers in 2016 by cutting a swath through the 170-pound division and grabbing four stoppage wins in less than 10 months. However, Jorge Masvidal brought “Cowboy” back to Earth in January, battering the Jackson-Wink MMA product and stopping him in six minutes. Never one to opt for a tune-up bout or a soft opponent, Cerrone is getting right back into the swing of things and showing off the kind of enthusiastic recklessness that has made him a fan favorite and an outstanding fighter in two great weight classes. “Cowboy” will meet former UFC welterweight champ Robbie Lawler in a potential “Fight of the Year” candidate at UFC 213 on July 8 in Las Vegas.Other Contenders: Colby Covington, Dong Hyun Kim, Andrey Koreshkov, Gunnar Nelson, Kamaru Usman.
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