Welterweight - USA TODAY / SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings

Compiling the rankings of twenty top mixed martial arts web sites, the USA TODAY / SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings present the top 25 fighters in MMA for the seven major weight classes. These world MMA rankings are the most accurate reflection of how the top fighters in MMA across all promotions like UFC, WEC, Affliction and DREAM are viewed by the experts who cover the sport.

Welterweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted February 25, 2010

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Georges St. Pierre	100	UFC	1
2	Jon Fitch	96	UFC	2
3	Thiago Alves	92	UFC	3
4	Josh Koscheck	85	UFC	4
5	Paulo Thiago	80	UFC	9
5	Dan Hardy	80	UFC	5
7	Paul Daley	70	UFC	6
8	Nick Diaz	69	Strikeforce	15
9	Matt Hughes	58	UFC	7
10	Martin Kampmann	55	UFC	10
11	Mike Swick	49	UFC	8
12	Carlos Condit	40	UFC	11
13	Jay Hieron	37	Strikeforce	13
14	Matt Serra	37	UFC	22
15	Jake Shields	36	Strikeforce	14
16	Dan Hornbuckle	33	WVR	16
17	Marius Zaromskis	32	DREAM/Strikeforce	12
18	Akihiro Gono	30	K-1	20
19	Anthony Johnson	30	UFC	31
20	Mike Pierce	29	UFC	27
21	Jake Ellenberger	29	UFC	17
22	Karo Parisyan	28	UFC	18
23	Rory MacDonald	27	UFC	33
24	John Howard	27	UFC	20
25	Frank Trigg	27	UFC	25

Analysis by Kid Nate

#1 Georges St Pierre has had the welterweight division on lock down since he reclaimed his UFC title from #14 Matt Serra at UFC 83 in April 2008. He's only defended the title three times since then, but many feel he is on the verge of having cleaned out the division.

Welterweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted January 28, 2010

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Georges St. Pierre	100	UFC	1
2	Jon Fitch	94	UFC	2
3	Thiago Alves	92	UFC	3
4	Josh Koscheck	87	UFC	4
5	Dan Hardy	82	UFC	5
6	Paul Daley	66	UFC	10
7	Matt Hughes	66	UFC	8
8	Mike Swick	65	UFC	6
9	Paulo Thiago	57	UFC	7
10	Martin Kampmann	50	UFC	12
11	Carlos Condit	43	UFC	9
12	Marius Zaromskis	36	DREAM/Strikeforce	11
13	Jay Hieron	32	Strikeforce	14
14	Jake Shields	32	Strikeforce	13
15	Nick Diaz	24	Strikeforce	20
16	Dan Hornbuckle	23	WVR	17
17	Jake Ellenberger	23	UFC	NR
18	Karo Parisyan	22	???	35
19	Ben Saunders	22	UFC	15
20	John Howard	20	UFC	26
20	Akihiro Gono	20	K-1	NR
22	Matt Serra	20	UFC	24
22	George Sotiropoulos	20	UFC	29
24	Matt Brown	20	UFC	32
25	Frank Trigg	20	UFC	26

Analysis by Kid Nate

We've been waiting and waiting for the return of #1 Georges St Pierre since last July and his return at UFC 111 against #5 Dan Hardy is only a few weeks away now.

Welterweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted December 17, 2009

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Georges St. Pierre	100	UFC	1
2	Jon Fitch	95	UFC	2
3	Thiago Alves	92	UFC	3
4	Josh Koscheck	86	UFC	4
5	Dan Hardy	82	UFC	11
6	Mike Swick	65	UFC	5
7	Paulo Thiago	63	UFC	7
8	Matt Hughes	62	UFC	6
9	Carlos Condit	49	UFC	8
10	Paul Daley	47	UFC	10
11	Marius Zaromskis	38	DREAM/Strikeforce	13
12	Martin Kampmann	35	UFC	12
13	Jake Shields	29	Strikeforce	9
14	Jay Hieron	24	Strikeforce	14
15	Ben Saunders	23	UFC	37
16	Dustin Hazelett	22	UFC	24
17	Dan Hornbuckle	21	WVR	20
18	Hayato Sakurai	20	DREAM	17
19	Mike Pierce	19	UFC	23
20	Nick Diaz	19	Strikeforce	19
21	John Hathaway	18	UFC	35
22	Marcus Davis	16	UFC	20
23	Chris Lytle	16	UFC	20
24	Matt Serra	16	UFC	18
24	Paul Bradley	16	Strikeforce	NR

Analysis by Kid Nate

On thing that hasn't changed since the 2008 end of year rankings is the exalted status of #1 Georges St Pierre (was #1) at the top of the welterweight division.

Welterweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted November 20, 2009

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Georges St. Pierre	100	UFC	1
2	Jon Fitch	95	UFC	2
3	Thiago Alves	92	UFC	3
4	Josh Koscheck	83	UFC	4
5	Mike Swick	78	UFC	5
6	Matt Hughes	75	UFC	6
7	Paulo Thiago	54	UFC	9
8	Carlos Condit	50	UFC	8
9	Jake Shields	45	Strikeforce	7
10	Paul Daley	42	UFC	11
11	Dan Hardy	41	UFC	13
12	Martin Kampmann	40	UFC	10
13	Marius Zaromskis	34	DREAM/Strikeforce	12
14	Jay Hieron	28	Strikeforce	15
15	Karo Parisyan	27	UFC	16
16	Anthony Johnson	23	UFC	22
17	Hayato Sakurai	22	DREAM	19
18	Matt Serra	22	UFC	17
19	Nick Diaz	22	Strikeforce	14
20	Dan Hornbuckle	21	WVR	18
20	Chris Lytle	21	UFC	24
20	Marcus Davis	21	UFC	21
23	Mike Pierce	20	UFC	25
24	Dustin Hazelett	20	UFC	20
25	Brad Blackburn	20	UFC	NR

Analysis by Kid Nate

#1 Georges St Pierre's tyranny over the Welterweight division has been on hold since he tore an abductor muscle in his victory over #3 Thiago Alves at UFC 100 in July. Word is he'll be able to return in March where he'll face #11 Dan Hardy

Welterweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted October 29, 2009

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Georges St. Pierre	100	UFC	1
2	Jon Fitch	94	UFC	2
3	Thiago Alves	92	UFC	3
4	Josh Koscheck	81	UFC	4
5	Mike Swick	76	UFC	7
6	Matt Hughes	75	UFC	4
7	Jake Shields	72	Strikeforce	6
8	Carlos Condit	60	UFC	8
9	Paulo Thiago	47	UFC	10
10	Martin Kampmann	44	UFC	11
11	Paul Daley	36	UFC	9
12	Marius Zaromskis	35	DREAM/Strikeforce	15
13	Dan Hardy	34	UFC	12
14	Nick Diaz	27	Strikeforce	18
15	Jay Hieron	27	Strikeforce	16
16	Karo Parisyan	27	UFC	13
17	Matt Serra	22	UFC	26
18	Dan Hornbuckle	22	WVR	14
19	Hayato Sakurai	21	DREAM	16
20	Dustin Hazelett	21	UFC	22
21	Marcus Davis	20	UFC	19
22	Anthony Johnson	20	UFC	29
22	Brock Larson	20	UFC	25
24	Chris Lytle	19	UFC	21
25	Mike Pierce	18	UFC	19

Analysis by Kid Nate

The MMA world waits to hear when #1 Georges St Pierre will be recovered from the groin injury suffered in his UFC 100 title defense. We're also waiting to see if an even semi-credible challenger will emerge.

Welterweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted October 1, 2009

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Georges St. Pierre	100	UFC	1
2	Jon Fitch	93	UFC	2
3	Thiago Alves	93	UFC	3
4	Matt Hughes	81	UFC	4
4	Josh Koscheck	81	UFC	7
6	Jake Shields	73	Strikeforce	5
7	Mike Swick	71	UFC	8
8	Carlos Condit	56	UFC	9
9	Paul Daley	45	UFC	NR
10	Paulo Thiago	43	UFC	10
11	Martin Kampmann	40	UFC	6
12	Dan Hardy	36	UFC	11
13	Karo Parisyan	27	UFC	12
14	Dan Hornbuckle	26	WVR	33
15	Marius Zaromskis	26	Bellator/DREAM	13
16	Jay Hieron	23	Strikeforce	15
16	Hayato Sakurai	23	DREAM	18
18	Nick Diaz	22	Strikeforce	16
19	Marcus Davis	22	UFC	20
19	Mike Pierce	22	UFC	NR
21	Chris Lytle	21	UFC	21
22	Dustin Hazelett	21	UFC	17
23	Brad Blackburn	19	UFC	24
23	Mike Pyle	19	UFC	38
25	Brock Larson	18	UFC	14

Analysis by Kid Nate

If you want to see utter dominance in MMA, take a look at the UFC welterweight division. Nineteen out of the top twenty-five fighters in the division. Nine out of the top ten. Twelve of the top fifteen.

Welterweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted August 28, 2009

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Georges St. Pierre	100	UFC	1
2	Jon Fitch	94	UFC	2
3	Thiago Alves	93	UFC	3
4	Matt Hughes	78	UFC	4
5	Jake Shields	78	Strikeforce	5
6	Martin Kampmann	75	UFC	7
7	Josh Koscheck	73	UFC	8
8	Mike Swick	67	UFC	6
9	Carlos Condit	64	UFC	9
10	Paulo Thiago	45	UFC	10
11	Dan Hardy	37	UFC	11
12	Karo Parisyan	28	UFC	12
13	Marius Zaromskis	27	Bellator/DREAM	17
14	Brock Larson	26	UFC	14
15	Jay Hieron	25	Strikeforce	16
16	Nick Diaz	22	Strikeforce	15
17	Dustin Hazelett	22	UFC	18
18	Hayato Sakurai	21	DREAM	12
19	Nick Thompson	21	Free Agent	21
20	Marcus Davis	21	UFC	19
21	Chris Lytle	20	UFC	20
22	Matt Serra	19	UFC	22
23	Dong Hyun Kim	18	UFC	26
24	Brad Blackburn	18	UFC	24
25	John Howard	16	UFC	30
25	Frank Trigg	16	UFC	27

Analysis by Kid Nate

With UFC Champion #1 Georges St Pierre out of action until next year, the biggest welterweight match on the horizon is #6 Martin Kampmann vs #8 Mike Swick in a number one contender's match at UFC 103. As good as both fighters are, neither is expected to pose much of a threat to the mighty GSP.

Welterweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted July 30, 2009

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Georges St. Pierre	100	UFC	1
2	Jon Fitch	94	UFC	3
3	Thiago Alves	92	UFC	2
4	Matt Hughes	77	UFC	5
5	Jake Shields	76	Strikeforce	4
6	Mike Swick	74	UFC	7
7	Martin Kampmann	73	UFC	6
8	Josh Koscheck	72	UFC	8
9	Carlos Condit	56	UFC	9
10	Paulo Thiago	45	UFC	10
11	Dan Hardy	41	UFC	12
12	Hayato Sakurai	31	DREAM	11
12	Karo Parisyan	31	UFC	13
14	Brock Larson	30	UFC	15
15	Nick Diaz	27	Strikeforce	18
16	Jay Hieron	25	Strikeforce	16
17	Marius Zaromskis	23	DREAM/Bellator	NR
18	Dustin Hazelett	22	UFC	17
19	Marcus Davis	22	UFC	20
20	Chris Lytle	21	UFC	22
21	Nick Thompson	20	Strikeforce	14
22	Matt Serra	20	UFC	18
23	Yoshiyuki Yoshida	19	UFC	33
24	Brad Blackburn	19	UFC	27
25	Anthony Johnson	18	UFC	23

Analysis by Kid Nate

MMA is a most fickle mistress. No sooner had #1 Georges St Pierre won a commanding decision victory over #3 (then #2) Thiago Alves then he faced a barrage of questions about when he would move up to face #1 middleweight Anderson Silva.

Welterweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted June 25, 2009

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Georges St. Pierre	100	UFC	1
2	Thiago Alves	94	UFC	2
3	Jon Fitch	91	UFC	3
4	Jake Shields	89	Strikeforce	4
5	Matt Hughes	74	UFC	5
6	Martin Kampmann	72	UFC	7
7	Mike Swick	69	UFC	9
8	Josh Koscheck	69	UFC	6
9	Carlos Condit	55	UFC	8
10	Paulo Thiago	47	UFC	11
11	Hayato Sakurai	39	DREAM	12
12	Dan Hardy	32	UFC	20
13	Karo Parisyan	30	UFC	10
14	Nick Thompson	29	Strikeforce	13
15	Brock Larson	29	UFC	15
16	Jay Hieron	23	Affliction	19
17	Dustin Hazelett	22	UFC	18
18	Matt Serra	18	UFC	14
18	Nick Diaz	18	Strikeforce	17
20	Marcus Davis	17	UFC	16
21	Shinya Aoki	16	DREAM	25
22	Chris Lytle	15	UFC	23
23	Anthony Johnson	15	UFC	22
23	Frank Trigg	15	UFC	26
25	Lyman Good	14	Bellator	NR

Analysis by Kid Nate

We're getting very close to what will easily be the most important welterweight fight of the year: #1 Georges St. Pierre vs #2 Thiago Alves at UFC 100 on July 11th. Its easy to forget just how much is at stake in that fight. A GSP win will make a strong argument that he has effectively cleaned out the division.

Welterweight MMA

Consensus Rankings posted May 28, 2009

Rank	Fighter	%	Promotion	Last Rank
1	Georges St. Pierre	100	UFC	1
2	Thiago Alves	94	UFC	2
3	Jon Fitch	93	UFC	3
4	Jake Shields	87	Strikeforce	4
5	Matt Hughes	76	UFC	5
6	Josh Koscheck	73	UFC	6
7	Martin Kampmann	64	UFC	8
8	Carlos Condit	63	UFC	7
9	Mike Swick	51	UFC	9
10	Karo Parisyan	42	UFC	10
11	Paulo Thiago	38	UFC	12
12	Hayato Sakurai	34	DREAM	14
13	Nick Thompson	31	Strikeforce	13
14	Matt Serra	28	UFC	11
15	Brock Larson	27	UFC	18
16	Marcus Davis	26	UFC	15
17	Nick Diaz	24	Strikeforce	20
18	Dustin Hazelett	23	UFC	17
19	Jay Hieron	22	Affliction	16
20	Dan Hardy	21	UFC	19
21	Diego Sanchez	20	UFC	21
22	Anthony Johnson	17	UFC	22
23	Chris Lytle	15	UFC	23
24	Brad Blackburn	15	UFC	24
25	Shinya Aoki	14	DREAM	26

Analysis by Kid Nate

We're less than sixty days out from the biggest Welterweight fight of the year -- UFC 100's championship tilt between #1 Georges St Pierre and #2 Thiago Alves. That card is so stacked I haven't really thought about just how compelling a match up that really is.

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About the Rankings

compiled by Kid Nate and Richard Wade of Bloody Elbow

Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the online MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA websites to produce our consensus rankings. Show more »

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Consensus Rankings posted February 25, 2010

Consensus Rankings posted January 28, 2010

Consensus Rankings posted December 17, 2009

Consensus Rankings posted November 20, 2009

Consensus Rankings posted October 29, 2009

Consensus Rankings posted October 1, 2009

Consensus Rankings posted August 28, 2009

Consensus Rankings posted July 30, 2009

Consensus Rankings posted June 25, 2009

Consensus Rankings posted May 28, 2009

About the Rankings

compiled by Kid Nate and Richard Wade of Bloody Elbow

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