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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. Edwards’ next defense will come in the form of unfinished business against Belal Muhammad at UFC 304.2. 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, will be settled in the UFC 304 headliner on June 27.4. Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0) | UFC [4]
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 2024.5. Ramazan Kuramagomedov (13-0) Bellator [5]
Kuramagomedov made a statement at Bellator Champions Series Dublin, banking three rounds on the scorecards and then holding on for a unanimous decision triumph over Jason Jackson in the evening’s main event at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland on June 22. By ending Jackson’s eight-fight winning streak, the Dagestani captured welterweight gold at the age of 27. The American Top Team product was able to blend striking and wrestling well enough to keep his opponent off balance for 15 minutes, though his late fade could be a concern in future title defenses.6. Jason Jackson (18-5) | Bellator [6]
It was a case of too little, too late for Jackson at Bellator Champions Series Dublin. After struggling through the first three rounds against Ramazan Kuramagomedov, “The Ass Kicking Machine” resorted to his wrestling over the final 10 minutes. While that allowed him to make the fight much close, his repeated choke attempts were unsuccessful against a defensively sound opponent. In addition to relinquishing the Bellator welterweight stap, Jackson sees an eight-bout winning streak snapped in defeat.7. Jack Della Maddalena (17-2) | UFC [7]
Down two rounds on the scorecards, Della Maddalena showed the appropriate sense of urgency in the third round of his fight against Gilbert Burns at UFC 299, as he rallied for a late technical knockout victory. Maddalena has won seven straight in UFC competition — and 17 in a row overall. After his latest triumph, the Aussie striker called out the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmanov for a title eliminator at 170 pounds.8. Yaroslav Amosov (27-1) | Bellator [8]
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 2023.9. Gilbert Burns (22-7) | UFC [9]
Burns appeared to be on his way to a decision triumph against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 299, but that all changed when “Durinho” ate a knee from his opponent in the third frame. From there, Burns succumbed to ground-and-pound from his Aussie opponent for a technical knockout loss at the 3:43 mark of Round 3. The 37-year-old Brazilian has lost two straight fights for the first time in his professional career.10. Ian Garry (15-0) UFC [10]
While it wasn’t a thrilling performance, Garry displayed a high fight IQ by using his grappling to outpoint Michael Page at UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas. The Irishman known as “The Future” has racked up eight consecutive triumphs within the promotion, though recent outings have done little to raise his profile. Still, if he continues to win, it will be hard to deny Garry his place among the division’s elite.Other Contenders: Colby Covington, Stephen Thompson, Sean Brady, Geoff Neal, Magomed Magomedkerimov.
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