Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Welterweight
Jan 4, 2008
WELTERWEIGHT (170-155)
1. Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) (15-2-0)
While the spectre of his shocking loss to Matt Serra (Pictures) looms, the French-Canadian regains the top spot in the Sherdog.com rankings. In the wake of his loss to Serra, GSP has gone out and showed why he was touted as the next P4P king of the sport in running roughshod over top-10 opponents in Josh Koscheck (Pictures) and Matt Hughes (Pictures). Beating top-flight competition is the backbone of this sport, and St. Pierre has compiled more top-10 wins than maybe any fighter in the past three years. However, all his demons won't be fully exorcised until he defeats Serra to regain the rightful UFC welterweight title.
2. Matt
Serra (Pictures) (9-4-0)
Serra's chance at an epic year was erased when he was forced to pull out of his slated Dec. 29 title defense against Matt Hughes (Pictures). Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) stepped in, destroyed Hughes, and on the strength of his last two bouts, regained the top spot in these rankings. However, Serra still owns the UFC welterweight title, and as soon as he's ready to go, he'll have the chance to prove lightning can strike twice.
3. Matt Hughes (Pictures) (41-6-0)
The sport's most celebrated welterweight is nearing the end, and was completely destroyed by Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) in their rubber match on Dec. 29. With only a couple fights maximum left, it will be interesting to see what Zuffa proposes for the former champ before his retirement.
With his impressive decision victory over Diego Sanchez (Pictures) on Sept. 22, Fitch moved to 7-0 in the UFC. The impressive wrestler turned mixed martial artist showed an array of skills, including an amazing ability to avoid submissions. Fitch has come out of the shadows the right way, winning tough fights that helped him grow as a fighter -- and as a known commodity among MMA fans.
5. Josh Koscheck (Pictures) (9-2-0)
A last-second loss to Drew Fickett (Pictures) is no longer the only blemish on the powerful wrestler's ledger. Koscheck was dominated during his 15-minute clash with former UFC champion Georges St. Pierre (Pictures). Perhaps most surprising: He was outwrestled and forced to fight from the bottom for most of the fight. Training with Jon Fitch (Pictures) at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., should only help Koscheck's progression.
6. Diego Sanchez (Pictures) (17-2-0)
Undefeated before losing by decision to Koscheck in one of his worst efforts as a pro, Sanchez redeemed himself even in losing to Jon Fitch (Pictures) on Sept. 22. "The Ultimate Fighter 1" star aggressively attacked Fitch with submissions, but he failed to find one due to his foe's incredible defense. Sanchez recently left his childhood home of Albuquerque, N.M., and longtime trainer Greg Jackson to be with his child in San Diego, Calif. The move to work with Rob Garcia regularly didn't appear to hurt Sanchez, who might consider a move down to lightweight following his second loss in a row.
7. Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (18-4-0)
Parisyan was once promised a title shot before the UFC's 170-pound title picture went haywire. However, he has done his job as a prizefighter, continuously facing quality opposition and, apart from his classic with Diego Sanchez (Pictures), winning. The high amplitude-minded Armenian continued his march towards a title shot by outlasting former DEEP champion and PRIDE veteran Ryo Chonan (Pictures) at UFC 78.
8. Jake Shields (Pictures) (20-4-1)
With free agency looming, Shields inked a long-term deal with ProElite and then went out and quickly dispatched of a quality opponent in Mike Pyle (Pictures). The next stop for Shields would seemingly be an EliteXC title match. The real question, however, is whom Gary Shaw and company can find to face Shields that will offer him any sort of challenge.
9. Shinya Aoki (Pictures) (12-2-0)
His tougher-than-expected Dec. 31 bout against South Korean silver medal judoka Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures) took place at 154 pounds, where Aoki figures to spend more of his time. However, Aoki's resume as a welterweight is still sterling, and he figures to return to the division to defend his Shooto world title at 168 pounds early in 2008.
10. Carlos Condit (Pictures) (21-4-0)
The exciting up-and-coming Condit will get the star treatment as he puts his WEC title on the line on Feb. 13. Condit gets the chance to avenge the first loss of his career against Carlo Prater (Pictures), in front of a partisan crowd in his native New Mexico where their first bout took place in Sept. 2004. Best of all, it's on cable TV.
1. Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) (15-2-0)
While the spectre of his shocking loss to Matt Serra (Pictures) looms, the French-Canadian regains the top spot in the Sherdog.com rankings. In the wake of his loss to Serra, GSP has gone out and showed why he was touted as the next P4P king of the sport in running roughshod over top-10 opponents in Josh Koscheck (Pictures) and Matt Hughes (Pictures). Beating top-flight competition is the backbone of this sport, and St. Pierre has compiled more top-10 wins than maybe any fighter in the past three years. However, all his demons won't be fully exorcised until he defeats Serra to regain the rightful UFC welterweight title.
Advertisement
Serra's chance at an epic year was erased when he was forced to pull out of his slated Dec. 29 title defense against Matt Hughes (Pictures). Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) stepped in, destroyed Hughes, and on the strength of his last two bouts, regained the top spot in these rankings. However, Serra still owns the UFC welterweight title, and as soon as he's ready to go, he'll have the chance to prove lightning can strike twice.
3. Matt Hughes (Pictures) (41-6-0)
The sport's most celebrated welterweight is nearing the end, and was completely destroyed by Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) in their rubber match on Dec. 29. With only a couple fights maximum left, it will be interesting to see what Zuffa proposes for the former champ before his retirement.
4. Jon
Fitch (Pictures) (15-2-0, 1 NC)
With his impressive decision victory over Diego Sanchez (Pictures) on Sept. 22, Fitch moved to 7-0 in the UFC. The impressive wrestler turned mixed martial artist showed an array of skills, including an amazing ability to avoid submissions. Fitch has come out of the shadows the right way, winning tough fights that helped him grow as a fighter -- and as a known commodity among MMA fans.
5. Josh Koscheck (Pictures) (9-2-0)
A last-second loss to Drew Fickett (Pictures) is no longer the only blemish on the powerful wrestler's ledger. Koscheck was dominated during his 15-minute clash with former UFC champion Georges St. Pierre (Pictures). Perhaps most surprising: He was outwrestled and forced to fight from the bottom for most of the fight. Training with Jon Fitch (Pictures) at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., should only help Koscheck's progression.
6. Diego Sanchez (Pictures) (17-2-0)
Undefeated before losing by decision to Koscheck in one of his worst efforts as a pro, Sanchez redeemed himself even in losing to Jon Fitch (Pictures) on Sept. 22. "The Ultimate Fighter 1" star aggressively attacked Fitch with submissions, but he failed to find one due to his foe's incredible defense. Sanchez recently left his childhood home of Albuquerque, N.M., and longtime trainer Greg Jackson to be with his child in San Diego, Calif. The move to work with Rob Garcia regularly didn't appear to hurt Sanchez, who might consider a move down to lightweight following his second loss in a row.
7. Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (18-4-0)
Parisyan was once promised a title shot before the UFC's 170-pound title picture went haywire. However, he has done his job as a prizefighter, continuously facing quality opposition and, apart from his classic with Diego Sanchez (Pictures), winning. The high amplitude-minded Armenian continued his march towards a title shot by outlasting former DEEP champion and PRIDE veteran Ryo Chonan (Pictures) at UFC 78.
8. Jake Shields (Pictures) (20-4-1)
With free agency looming, Shields inked a long-term deal with ProElite and then went out and quickly dispatched of a quality opponent in Mike Pyle (Pictures). The next stop for Shields would seemingly be an EliteXC title match. The real question, however, is whom Gary Shaw and company can find to face Shields that will offer him any sort of challenge.
9. Shinya Aoki (Pictures) (12-2-0)
His tougher-than-expected Dec. 31 bout against South Korean silver medal judoka Bu Kyung Jung (Pictures) took place at 154 pounds, where Aoki figures to spend more of his time. However, Aoki's resume as a welterweight is still sterling, and he figures to return to the division to defend his Shooto world title at 168 pounds early in 2008.
10. Carlos Condit (Pictures) (21-4-0)
The exciting up-and-coming Condit will get the star treatment as he puts his WEC title on the line on Feb. 13. Condit gets the chance to avenge the first loss of his career against Carlo Prater (Pictures), in front of a partisan crowd in his native New Mexico where their first bout took place in Sept. 2004. Best of all, it's on cable TV.
Related Articles
