Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Welterweight

1. Georges St. Pierre (22-2)
It was not pretty, but the world’s preeminent welterweight once again got the job done on April 30. Before a crowd of more than 55,000 in Toronto, “Rush” jabbed, crossed and kicked his way to his fifth five-round unanimous decision in six fights, this time besting former Strikeforce middleweight titlist Jake Shields. After the win, talk turned immediately to the long-rumored GSP-Anderson Silva super fight, something St. Pierre said is “a lot to consider.” Meanwhile, fans and pundits alike are clamoring for a matchup with Strikeforce 170-pound champ Nick Diaz.

2. Jon Fitch (23-3-1, 1 NC)
Fitch would have had the chance to erase the first stalemate of his career in a rematch of his February draw with B.J. Penn. However, the rangy wrestler suffered a training injury in late March that was severe enough to force him from the July date. What matchup awaits him upon his return remains to be seen.

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 (26-5-1)
Shields’ five-year, 15-fight win streak came to an end on April 30, when he suffered the same fate as many UFC welterweight title contenders before him: a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Georges St. Pierre. While the Cesar Gracie product landed at times, St. Pierre’s striking prowess was too much for Shields to handle over the course of 25 minutes.

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. Nick Diaz (25-7, 1 NC)
After his April 9 blasting of top contender Paul Daley, Strikeforce’s welterweight champion was left without a clear-cut top contender. As such, the Stockton, Calif., native has turned his eye toward the boxing ring -- possibly a bout with two-time IBF titleholder Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy -- and manager Cesar Gracie says talks with Zuffa regarding Diaz’s leap to the sweet science are progressing.

7. B.J. Penn (16-7-2)
Penn fought to a draw for just the second time in his career on Feb. 27, when he took tough welterweight stalwart Jon Fitch the distance at UFC 127. The pair would have danced again at July’s UFC 132, but Fitch was forced from the rematch with an injury. Penn also withdrew shortly thereafter due to shoulder problems.

8. Carlos Condit (26-5)
The “Natural Born Killer” will return from an eight-month layoff against undefeated “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim at June’s UFC 131. The Greg Jackson product has lost just once in his last dozen outings and currently rides a three-fight win streak, including a brutal October knockout of Dan Hardy.

9. Paul Daley (27-10-2)
Daley nearly came out on top in the biggest fight of his career, dropping Nick Diaz early in their April 9 Strikeforce welterweight title fight. However, “Semtex” was unable to finish and had his four-fight win streak halted by Diaz body blows and ground-and-pound late in the first.

10. Diego Sanchez (23-4)
The 29-year-old is 2-1 since returning to the welterweight division one year ago. Sanchez claimed a narrow unanimous decision over Martin Kampmann in March, and UFC brass subsequently announced that “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1 winner will face former 170-pound kingpin Matt Hughes at a fall event. No date or venue was announced.

Other contenders: Ben Askren, Jake Ellenberger, Martin Kampmann, Dong Hyun Kim, Mike Pyle.

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