His UFC 94 bout with B.J. Penn now official, the welterweight division’s ruler -- having vanquished the only two men to defeat him -- will have a golden opportunity to answer perhaps the last nagging question surrounding him. He will attempt to earn a second but more clear and emphatic victory over Penn when they meet on Jan. 31.
2. Thiago Alves (16-3)
If there were any doubts as to who deserves the next crack at the UFC welterweight title after the St. Pierre-Penn rematch, Alves erased them with his sensational showing against Josh Koscheck at UFC 90 on Oct. 25. With an exciting and well-earned decision, the Brazilian has, in part, atoned for his weight-related indiscretions of the past and more than earned his crack at the UFC’s welterweight crown.
3. Jon Fitch (17-3, 1 NC)
Fitch will take on wily veteran Akihiro Gono at UFC 94 on Jan. 31 in a match that was originally scheduled for last March. The only downside? The card is so stacked that the bout has been relegated to the preliminaries.
4. Josh Koscheck (12-3)
After his sizzling knockout of Yoshiyuki Yoshida in December, Koscheck will get back into action at UFC 95 on Feb. 21 in London. There, he will meet undefeated Brazilian Paulo Thiago, as “Kos” stays incredibly active in the dynamic 170-pound division.
5. Diego Sanchez (19-2)
Although Sanchez previously announced that his future was as a welterweight, the “Nightmare” will take his act to the lightweight division. He will have the chance to inject himself into the midst of the 155-pound division when he meets Joe Stevenson in his lightweight debut at UFC 95 in London on Feb. 21.
6. Jake Shields (22-4-1)
EliteXC’s welterweight champion was keen on finally heading to the UFC, but the legal wrangling within the promotion’s still-gasping parent company, ProElite, has stalled Shields’ immediate jump into the Octagon.
7. Matt Hughes (42-7)
Already in the twilight of his career, Hughes was exploited by another young, up-and-coming welterweight in Alves at UFC 85. Although some have called for the longtime welterweight king to retire, a grudge match with Matt Serra is likely next up for Hughes, who continues to recuperate from a knee injury.
8. Matt Serra (9-5)
The slipper dropped for Serra, who was destroyed in his rematch with St. Pierre in April. However, he might not be done in big bouts, as the potential for a clash with Hughes seems high in the near future.
9. Karo Parisyan (18-5)
After a freak, last-minute injury killed his anticipated Sept. 6 bout with Yoshida at UFC 88, Parisyan will get a chance to take on another tough fellow judoka. He will meet rugged South Korean star Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 94 on Jan. 31.
10. Carlos Condit (23-4)
While challengers are running thin for the talented Condit within the confines of World Extreme Cagefighting, “The Natural Born Killer” will likely defend his title in March, possibly against former victim Brock Larson.