Despite debate over the improper use of Vaseline by St. Pierre’s corner, "Rush" destroyed B.J. Penn in their Jan. 31 superfight at UFC 94. The bout reiterated St. Pierre's case to be considered the top pound-for-pound fighter in the game, and he'll have another chance against a brilliant opponent to bolster his case when he meets Thiago Alves later this year.
2. Thiago Alves (16-3)
His brilliant 2008 breakout has earned him a shot against Georges St. Pierre later this year. However, if his in-cage meeting with St. Pierre at UFC 94 told us anything, it's that the "Pitbull" won't be the crowd favorite against the budding Canadian superstar.
3. Jon Fitch (18-3, 1 NC)
After getting over the shock of his opponent's gender-bending entrance theatrics, Fitch dominated always-tough veteran Akihiro Gono on Jan. 31. The win ran his UFC record to 9-1 and showed off the increasing depth to his game.
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. Karo Parisyan (19-5)
It wasn't pretty, nor was it necessarily popular, but Parisyan took a split decision over previously unbeaten South Korean Dong Hyun Kim on Jan. 31. While his performance didn’t blow anyone's socks off, it at least kept "The Heat" at a simmer in the welterweight division.
8. Carlos Condit (23-4)
Condit was originally slated for an unappealing March rematch with former first-round victim Brock Larson, but now the WEC welterweight champ will finally make the long-awaited jump to the UFC instead. "The Natural Born Killer" will debut on the April 1 UFC Fight Night card in Nashville, Tenn., where he'll take on Martin Kampmann.
9. Matt Hughes (42-7)
The former welterweight ruler continues to recover from a knee injury. His long-delayed grudge match with fellow former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra will finally take place at UFC 98 on May 23.
10. Matt Serra (9-5)
Last April's rematch with St. Pierre was cruel to the former UFC 170-pound champion. However, "The Terror" will get another chance to prove he is more than a one-hit welter wonder when he finally meets up with Matt Hughes at UFC 98 on May 23.