Georges St. Pierre (left) will face a worthy challenger in Jake Shields. | Stephen Fernandez / Splash News
Welterweight
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, 1 NC)
The former Purdue Boilermaker threw everything he had at B.J. Penn in the main event of UFC 127, and despite a purely dominant final round, it was not enough to stop the Hawaiian. After 15 minutes, the bout was ruled a majority draw; it was Fitch’s first stalemate in 28 professional bouts and his ninth consecutive fight to reach the judges’ scorecards. With champion GSP occupied up for the foreseeable future, it seems inevitable that Fitch and Penn will meet again to settle the score.
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. B.J. Penn (16-7-2)
With two straight appearances at 170 pounds and at least one more likely forthcoming, former dual-division UFC champ Penn enters the welterweight rankings. Although he faded late in his Feb. 27 draw with Fitch, “The Prodigy” proved himself capable of hanging with one of the biggest and strongest 170 pounders around. Immediately afterward, Penn expressed interest in a return bout with Fitch.
7. 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.
8. Carlos Condit (26-5)
After reigniting his career with a sizzling knockout of Dan Hardy in October, the “Natural Born Killer” was set to collide with fellow banger Chris Lytle. However, Condit was forced from the UFC 127 matchup after suffering a knee injury in training. The Greg Jackson-trained fighter is currently rehabbing the knee; no timeframe has been set for his return.
9. 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.
10. 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.
Other contenders: Paul Daley, Ben Askren, Jake Ellenberger, Jay Hieron, Mike Pyle.
B.J. Penn's entry into the welterweight top 10 bumps Paul Daley to the contenders list. John Hathaway exits bubble list with Daley's presence.
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