Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Welterweight

1. Tyron Woodley (18-3-1)

Woodley already has three successful title defenses under his belt and recently said he “would bet the house” that his fourth would come against Nate Diaz this summer. However, just as he did when Woodley referenced a bout with Diaz in December, UFC President Dana White shot down that notion, claiming the champion “couldn’t be more full of s---.” The winner of the forthcoming Rafael dos Anjos-Colby Covington interim title fight figures to be next in line once “The Chosen One” is completely healed from shoulder surgery.

2. Rafael dos Anjos (28-9)

After losing the UFC lightweight title to Eddie Alvarez and dropping a five-round decision to Tony Ferguson, dos Anjos did not merely snap a two-fight losing skid. No, in the span of six months, dos Anjos has gone 3-0 as a revitalized welterweight, and on Dec. 16, he dominated former UFC titleholder Robbie Lawler for 25 minutes. With undisputed champion Tyron Woodley out until August due to shoulder surgery, the Brazilian will lock horns with Colby Covington for the interim welterweight crown at UFC 225 on June 9.

3. Robbie Lawler (28-12)

Lawler’s surprising late-career resurgence was both spiriting and thrilling, but that era seems to have come to an end. The 35-year-old on Dec. 16 was dominated from start to finish by former lightweight king Rafael dos Anjos, and to make matters worse, he suffered a torn ACL in the unanimous decision defeat. While the “Ruthless” one can still crack, his days as a pound-for-pound standout appear to be done.

4. Stephen Thompson (14-2-1)

Despite two near misses against Tyron Woodley in title bouts, “Wonderboy” remains one of the welterweight division’s top contenders. After losing a majority verdict to Woodley in their second meeting, Thompson bounced back to outpoint Jorge Masvidal at UFC 217. Next, he will face rising talent Darren Till in the UFC Fight Night 130 headliner on May 27 in Liverpool, England.

5. Rory MacDonald (20-4)

Not all of Bellator MMA’s recent free agent acquisitions have panned out, but MacDonald’s tenure with the promotion seems to be off to a decent start. After his May submission of Paul Daley, MacDonald outlasted Douglas Lima and overcame a gnarly hematoma on his shin at Bellator 192 on Jan. 20, earning a unanimous decision and the Bellator welterweight crown.

6. Douglas Lima (29-7)

Lima in June looked like a million bucks against one recent Bellator signing, dominating Lorenz Larkin for 25 minutes. Things did not go nearly as well at Bellator 192 on Jan. 20, as Lima’s leg kicks were not enough to stop the wrestling of Rory MacDonald, who wore out the Brazilian and took his welterweight title with a unanimous decision.

7. Colby Covington (13-1)

While his out-of-the cage act may already be growing tiresome, Covington’s work inside the Octagon is hard to overlook. The American Top Team representative has racked up an 8-1 record in the UFC that includes notable 2017 triumphs over Dong Hyun Kim and Demian Maia. That has earned the man known as “Chaos” an interim welterweight title showdown with Rafael dos Anjos. Perhaps even better for Covington, the bout was moved from UFC 224 in Rio de Janeiro -- where the American has alienated an entire nation -- to UFC 225 in Chicago.

8. Demian Maia (25-8)

Going on 40 years old, Maia looked every bit his age in the UFC Fight Night 119 co-headliner, as he spent most of his three rounds against Colby Covington getting his face battered and bloodied on the feet in front of his hometown crowd in Sao Paulo, Brazil. After earning a UFC title shot with his outstanding three-year, seven-fight winning streak, Maia has now lost back-to-back bouts.

9. Santiago Ponzinibbio (26-3)

The welterweight division is as hot as it has ever been, so it can be hard for any given contender to make a mark. With his Dec. 16 victory over Mike Perry, Argentina’s Ponzinibbio picked up a sixth straight win inside the Octagon and earned his spot among the welterweight elite the old-fashioned way. “Gente Boa” will look to continue his ascent when he squares off against Kamaru Usman in the promotion’s first-ever visit to Chile on May 19.

10. Kamaru Usman (12-1)

Usman ragdolled Norway’s Emil Weber Meek for 15 minutes and earned a unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 124. The win was “The Nigerian Nightmare’s” 11th in a row and moved him to 7-0 in the UFC. Despite his incessant claims that nobody in the division is willing to fight him, Usman will get a marquee matchup with Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC Fight Night 129 on May 19.

Other Contenders: Paul Daley, Leon Edwards, Neil Magny , Jorge Masvidal, Darren Till.

Continue Reading » Lightweight