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Welterweight
1. Leon Edwards (22-3, 1 NC) | UFC [1]
“Rocky” put on a vintage performance, for better or worse, at UFC 296. For all the sound and fury promised by the public build-up between Edwards and challenger Colby Covington, the actual fight was a straightforward affair, lacking any of the eye-popping drama of Edwards’ pair of fights against Kamaru Usman. Instead, the champ forced Covington into the sort of mid-paced kickboxing match that characterized Edwards’ long rise to the top of the division, on his way to winning the first four rounds on all judges’ scorecards. While Edwards’ second title defense is unlikely to have earned him many new fans, it was a dominant showing against a veteran challenger. Whether Edwards’ next defense comes in the form of unfinished business against Belal Muhammad or a meeting with a streaking contender like Shavkat Rakhmonov, his place as one of the top fighters in the sport is secure for the moment.2. Kamaru Usman (20-4) | UFC [2]
Despite taking the fight on less than two weeks’ notice, Usman had a strong showing in his middleweight debut against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, ultimately falling via majority decision in the evening’s co-main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Despite his best efforts, “The Nigerian Nightmare” couldn’t overcome a strong start from his opponent, and he lost his third consecutive Octagon appearance. Usman’s next move figures to be intriguing: Will he remain at 185 pounds or return to welterweight, where he enjoyed a lengthy reign as champion.3. Belal Muhammad (23-3, 1 NC) | UFC [3]
Muhammad made a statement on May 6, winning a lopsided decision over former title challenger Gilbert Burns in the five-round co-main event of UFC 288 in Newark, New Jersey. For a time, “Remember the Name” became a bitterly appropriate handle for the 34-year-old Roufusport standout, as he compiled a 10-fight unbeaten streak before earning a title shot. Of course, that title now resides with the only man who owns a longer unbeaten streak in the division, Muhammad's onetime opponent Leon Edwards. The unfinished business of their March 2021 meeting, which ended in a no contest due to an inadvertent eye poke by Edwards just 18 seconds into Round 2, won’t be settled until after Edwards faces Colby Covington at UFC 296.4. Gilbert Burns (22-6) | UFC [4]
Burns stepped up on short notice to take on Belal Muhammad in the co-main event of UFC 288 and came up short across five rounds. Worsening matters, “Durinho” appeared to be suffering from some sort of injury to his left arm that impaired his performance in the later rounds. Burns' cheerful willingness to take on the contenders that nobody wants to fight, including Khamzat Chimaev and now Muhammad, is admirable, but his own path back to another title shot is cloudier than ever. Next, he’ll take on rising talent Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 299.5. Jason Jackson (17-4) | Bellator [5]
“The Ass Kicking Machine” lived up to his moniker in the Bellator 301 headliner, as he ended Yaroslav Amosov’s 27-fight professional winning streak with a third-round technical knockout victory at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The newly crowned Bellator welterweight champion made it look surprisingly easy as he denied his opponent’s takedown attempts while punishing Amosov with his boxing during exchanges. The 33-year-old Kill Cliff representative has won seven consecutive fights, a run that includes notable victories over the likes of Amosov, Douglas Lima, Paul Daley, Neiman Gracie and Benson Henderson. Next, he’ll meet defending PFL welterweight champ Magomed Magomedkerimov at a cross-promotional event on Feb. 24 in Saudia Arabia.6. Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0) | UFC [6]
Rakhmonov put on yet another dominant performance at UFC 296, smothering and suffocating Stephen Thompson for most of two rounds before closing things out with a rear-naked choke late in the second. The throttling of “Wonderboy” marks the 18th finish in as many outings for the man from Kazakhstan, and while the soft-spoken killer has been slow to demand a title shot, he pointed out his résumé in the wake of his most recent win, and UFC matchmakers may end up granting his wish in 2024.7. Yaroslav Amosov (27-1) | Bellator [7]
Heading into the Bellator 301 main event, Amosov looked like one of the California-based promotion’s most dominant champions. That all changed against Jason Jackson, as the Ukraine native struggled to implement his wrestling and was outgunned on the feet in a third-round TKO defeat. At just 30 years old, “Dynamo” should have plenty of time to bounce back from what was one of the more surprising results of 2023.8. Colby Covington (17-4) | UFC [8]
Covington was as brash as ever heading into UFC 296, complete with George Washington cosplay and way-over-the-line quips about Leon Edwards’ murdered father, but his performance in the cage was surprisingly muted. The elite wrestler and cardio machine whose “Chaos” nickname once reflected his fight style as much as his public persona seemed hesitant to pull the trigger, and instead let himself be lulled into the kind of measured striking match at which the champ is nearly unbeatable. Whether the tepid performance was due to the long layoff, advancing age or something else, Covington is now 0-3 in undisputed title fights, and has beaten only Jorge Masvidal in the last three years. While he remains a lightning rod for fan attention, his days as a top contender may be coming to an end.9. Stephen Thompson (17-7-1) | UFC [9]
Even as he has approached and then passed his 40th birthday, “Wonderboy” continues to outclass other elite strikers at welterweight. However, his UFC 296 opponent Shavkat Rakhmonov, as a huge, well-rounded fighter nearly a decade his junior, seemed like a nightmare matchup. That perception was borne out, as the nightmare matchup became a nightmare fight for Thompson, ending in a second-round submission loss. While the affable South Carolinian lacks a realistic road back to the title picture, he appears capable of winning, and entertaining, for a while longer, depending on matchmaking.10. Sean Brady (16-1) | UFC [10]
Brady made sure Kelvin Gastelum had a rough return to 170 pounds, winning via third-round submission in a featured clash at UFC Austin on Dec. 2. After dominating the majority of the fight through takedowns and control, the Renzo Gracie Philly product elicited a tap with a kimura in the third stanza. Brady was hoping to keep his momentum going against Vicente Luque in the UFC Atlantic City headliner but was ultimately forced to withdraw from the vent due to injury.Other Contenders: Ian Garry, Geoff Neal, Vicente Luque, Magomed Magomedkerimov, Jack Della Maddalena.
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