Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Welterweight

1. Georges St. Pierre (21-2)
St. Pierre has proven sterling in Montreal, where he has bashed Matt Serra and Josh Koscheck. Next for “Rush” will be an appearance in Toronto on April 30, when he will defend his welterweight crown against Jake Shields in the main event of UFC 129 in front of what figures to be a massive crowd at the Rogers Centre.

2. Jon Fitch (23-3, 1 NC)
After besting Thiago Alves for a second time, Fitch was hopeful he would get another crack at the UFC welterweight crown. That opportunity will go to Jake Shields. Instead of another title shot, Fitch draws former two-division champion B.J. Penn at UFC 127 on Feb. 27 in Sydney, Australia.

3. Thiago Alves (18-7)
Alves did not have much time to savor his win over John Howard at UFC 124 before his name was right back on the UFC docket. “Pitbull” will return in May, when he is scheduled to meet surging welterweight contender Rick Story in a high-stakes bout at 170 pounds.

4. Jake Shields (26-4-1)
Shields made the jump from Strikeforce to the UFC because he felt it was the best way for him to prove his mettle against the world’s best fighters. He will get the ultimate chance to do so on April 30, when he challenges Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight crown at UFC 129 in front of tens of thousands of fans at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

5. Josh Koscheck (15-5)
Koscheck’s crushing Dec. 11 defeat to Georges St. Pierre was not just figurative; it was literal. Following surgery to repair a smashed orbital bone, Koscheck will spend at least six months on the shelf before returning to action, potentially stepping back into the Octagon sometime this summer.

6. Martin Kampmann (17-4)
In October, Kampmann earned props from the MMA world for his split decision loss to Jake Shields in a fight many feel he won. MMA’s foremost Dane has been rewarded with a major bout, as he will meet Diego Sanchez in a welterweight tilt at UFC Live 3 on March 3 in Louisville, Ky.

7. Carlos Condit (26-5)
Condit’s resurgent 2010 campaign has earned him an all-action fight to kick off 2011. At UFC 127 in Sydney, Australia, the “Natural Born Killer” will take on free-swinging veteran Chris Lytle in a fight that promises wild action and bears welterweight contender consequences.

8. Nick Diaz (24-7, 1 ND)
Diaz’s Jan. 29 victory against Evangelista Santos was, as usual, thrilling. While “Cyborg” cut into the legs of Diaz, the Strikeforce welterweight champion blasted back with punches, until his slick armbar ended the fight in round two. His second successful title defense may set up a fight with British banger Paul Daley in the coming months.

9. Dan Hardy (23-8, 1 NC)
After ripping off four straight wins to begin his tenure in the Octagon, Hardy was bested in both of his 2010 outings. “The Outlaw” will look to start off 2011 on a more productive note come March 26, when he welcomes back serious hitter Anthony Johnson at UFC Fight Night 24.

10. Paul Daley (26-9-2)
Daley is scheduled for tune-up action at BAMMA 5 on Feb. 26 in Manchester, England. However, most view the bout as a mere stay-busy venture, as Strikeforce eyes a potential welterweight title clash between “Semtex” and champion Nick Diaz later this year. That fight would likely provide massive fireworks should it go down.

Other contenders: Ben Askren, Jake Ellenberger, John Hathaway, Jay Hieron, Mike Pyle.

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