Under the Microscope: Analyzing Welterweight Greats

Carlos Condit remains one of MMA’s premier finishers. | Photo: Sherdog.com

Carlos Condit

* Welterweight Record: 17-6 (.739)
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .746
* Longest Winning Streak: 8
* Record in Major Welterweight Title Fights: 5-1
* Finish Percentage: 88.2
* Finished Percentage: 33
* Notable Victories: Martin Kampmann, Nick Diaz, Dong Hyun Kim, Dan Hardy, Rory MacDonald
* Career Accomplishments: Former WEC welterweight champion, with three title defenses; former UFC interim welterweight champion; six-time UFC and WEC “Performance of the Night” bonus winner

CASE FOR: The “Natural Born Killer” has been a divisional fan favorite since his reign as WEC champion, and he has made good on that claim by blowing through the competition for the majority of his career. Condit has all the pieces it takes to claim the G.O.A.T. throne: the championship hardware, the litany of elite names on his docket and a ridiculous finishing rate to match it. All of this on top of an epic highlight reel and stellar career consistency: His status as an upper-tier welterweight spans for almost an entire decade. He also possesses the elusive intangible of being a tough yet intelligent fighter; he has never truly been finished in a Zuffa-promoted fight, and he has a penchant for milking his performances to the last drip of his potential through superior game planning. It is a rare combination, to say the least. All angles considered, it is hard to deny Condit a spot next to -- or even above -- the rest of his all-time peers.

CASE AGAINST: Like so many others on this list, Condit spent the majority of his career playing prince to George St. Pierre’s king. Though he certainly gave “Rush” a competitive fight, he was the clear loser when the final bell rang, solidifying his status as second-best. After suffering a torn ACL in his last fight with Tyron Woodley, his future in the sport has never been more uncertain. Upon his return, he will face not only questions about his ability to keep up with the new breed of welterweight warriors but also the impending closure of his window as a legitimate title contender. He has the existing credentials and the raw materials to make a run for the G.O.A.T. mantle, but as it stands right now, it does not look feasible.

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