Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Welterweight

1. Georges St. Pierre (22-2)
The UFC’s welterweight king has a new challenger to his throne. After Nick Diaz failed to appear at a pair of September press conferences, UFC moved Carlos Condit to the top contender spot. GSP and Condit will now face off in the main event of UFC 137 on Oct. 29.

2. Jon Fitch (23-3-1, 1 NC)
Following shoulder surgery, Fitch is ready to return to the Octagon. The perennial welterweight second banana was vocal in his desire to compete in his adopted backyard of San Jose, Calif., but will instead tangle with two-time NCAA wrestling champion Johny Hendricks in Las Vegas on Dec. 30.

3. Josh Koscheck (16-5)
Koscheck appeared ready to return to the Octagon at 185 pounds, but a chance to fight former welterweight king Matt Hughes on kept the American Kickboxing Academy product at 170. The short-notice risk paid off, as Koscheck turned out Hughes’ lights in the opening round of their Sept. 24 encounter.

4. Jake Ellenberger (26-5)
Ellenberger blasted his way into the ranks of the 170-pound elite on Sept. 17 by handing Jake Shields his first knockout loss in more than 10 years. With five straight victories in the Octagon -- four by way of stoppage -- the 26-year-old Nebraskan could be one win away from a shot at the winner of Georges St. Pierre-Carlos Condit.

5. Jake Shields (26-6-1)
Five months after having his 15-fight win streak snapped by Georges St. Pierre, Shields had another impressive run broken by Jake Ellenberger. In the main event of UFC Fight Night 25 on Sept. 17, Shields was knocked out for the first time in more than 10 years by a knee and follow-up punches from the powerful Nebraskan.

6. Nick Diaz (25-7, 1 NC)
The welterweight class’ preeminent bad boy was ushered out of his much-anticipated UFC title shot against Georges St. Pierre after skipping a pair of promotional press conferences in September. The Stockton, Calif., representative will still make his Octagon return at UFC 137, however, against former dual-division champ B.J. Penn.

7. Carlos Condit (27-5)
Condit had been moving ever-closer to a UFC title shot with brutal finishes of Dan Hardy and Dong Hyun Kim. Then, suddenly, he was there. When Nick Diaz was yanked from his Oct. 29 championship tilt with Georges St. Pierre, Condit was called upon to meet the dominant Canadian champion, an honor which moved the “Natural Born Killer” to tears, according to UFC boss Dana White.

8. Rick Story (13-4)
Story might have lost a decision to Charlie Brenneman in June, but the gritty Oregonian is not taking any softballs. "The Horror" Story will step back into the Octagon at UFC 139 on Nov. 19 against skilled Dane Martin Kampmann.

9. B.J. Penn (16-7-2)
Healed from a shoulder injury, “The Prodigy” was all set for a clash with Carlos Condit at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas. When Condit was promoted to main-event status against Georges St. Pierre, Penn was paired with GSP’s former dance partner, Nick Diaz.

10. Johny Hendricks (11-1)
On Aug. 6, Hendricks showed off improved boxing and clinch work to earn a hard-fought split decision win over an equally tough Mike Pierce. The two-time NCAA wrestling champion will have a chance to move even higher up in the 170-pound rankings on Dec. 30 when he meets perennial contender Jon Fitch.

Other contenders: Ben Askren, Charlie Brenneman, Anthony Johnson, Rory MacDonald, Tyron Woodley.

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