Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Welterweight
Jun 19, 2008
1. Georges St. Pierre
(Pictures) (16-2-0)
With the Matt Serra (Pictures) drama behind him, St. Pierre's attention now turns to reigning in the fashion expected from him when he first captured the UFC title in November 2006. First on deck for GSP is a fantastic title scrap with Jon Fitch (Pictures), headlining the UFC's Aug. 9 foray in Minnesota.
2. Jon Fitch (Pictures) (16-2-0, 1 NC)
Now a gaudy 8-0 in the UFC, Fitch's Aug. 9 title shot against St. Pierre has been well-earned. However, the former Purdue wrestling captain will need to take his game to the next level to unseat GSP in their anticipated welterweight showdown.
3. Josh
Koscheck (Pictures) (10-2-0)
With a new contact in tow, Koscheck will climb back into the Octagon in July. This time around, he will meet the ever-game Chris Lytle (Pictures) on the Jackson-Griffin undercard. With the fall of Matt Hughes (Pictures), Koscheck climbs from fourth to third.
4. Diego Sanchez (Pictures) (18-2-0)
After his destruction of Sweden's David Bielkheden (Pictures) at UFC 82 in March, Sanchez is set to get back into the saddle on June 21. Sanchez will take on tough slugger Luigi Fioravanti (Pictures) at the TUF 7 finale. With Hughes' defeat, Sanchez creeps from fifth to fourth.
Alves delivered the goods in the biggest fight of his career, putting Hughes down with a brutal flying knee in their June 7 encounter in London. However, not all has been positive for Alves, who despite the dynamic win, entered the bout four pounds overweight after an injured ankle allegedly hampered his training. Despite some weight indiscretions, Alves climbs from eighth to fifth in the Sherdog.com rankings.
6. Matt Hughes (Pictures) (42-7-0)
Already in the twilight of his career, Hughes was turned into a highlight reel at the hands of another young, up-and-coming welterweight in Alves. Although some have called for the longtime welterweight king to retire, a grudge match with Serra is likely next up for Hughes. With the defeat, Hughes slips from third to sixth in the rankings.
7. Jake Shields (Pictures) (20-4-1)
After back-and-forth injuries postponed his slated bout with Drew Fickett (Pictures) twice, the bout has now been cancelled entirely. Shields will likely get his shot at the inaugural EliteXC crown July 26 on the promotion's second primetime offering on CBS. With the rise of Alves, Shields slips one spot, from sixth to seventh.
8. Matt Serra (Pictures) (9-5)
The slipper dropped for Serra, who was destroyed in his April rematch with St. Pierre at UFC 83. However, Serra might not be done in big bouts, as the potential for a clash with Hughes seems high in the near future. With Alves' ascent, Serra slips from seventh to eighth.
9. Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (18-5-0)
Parisyan, who was set to challenge for the UFC welterweight title in Nov. 2005, had his title hopes take another hit when he was stopped by Alves in their April 2 bout at UFC Fight Night 13.
10. Carlos Condit (Pictures) (22-4-0)
In February, Condit avenged one of his losses to the tough Carlo Prater (Pictures) in front of his hometown crowd in Albuquerque. Now, the WEC's welterweight king will make his third title defense on Aug. 3 when he meets Hiromitsu Miura (Pictures) in Las Vegas.
With the Matt Serra (Pictures) drama behind him, St. Pierre's attention now turns to reigning in the fashion expected from him when he first captured the UFC title in November 2006. First on deck for GSP is a fantastic title scrap with Jon Fitch (Pictures), headlining the UFC's Aug. 9 foray in Minnesota.
2. Jon Fitch (Pictures) (16-2-0, 1 NC)
Now a gaudy 8-0 in the UFC, Fitch's Aug. 9 title shot against St. Pierre has been well-earned. However, the former Purdue wrestling captain will need to take his game to the next level to unseat GSP in their anticipated welterweight showdown.
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With a new contact in tow, Koscheck will climb back into the Octagon in July. This time around, he will meet the ever-game Chris Lytle (Pictures) on the Jackson-Griffin undercard. With the fall of Matt Hughes (Pictures), Koscheck climbs from fourth to third.
4. Diego Sanchez (Pictures) (18-2-0)
After his destruction of Sweden's David Bielkheden (Pictures) at UFC 82 in March, Sanchez is set to get back into the saddle on June 21. Sanchez will take on tough slugger Luigi Fioravanti (Pictures) at the TUF 7 finale. With Hughes' defeat, Sanchez creeps from fifth to fourth.
5. Thiago
Alves (Pictures) (15-3-0)
Alves delivered the goods in the biggest fight of his career, putting Hughes down with a brutal flying knee in their June 7 encounter in London. However, not all has been positive for Alves, who despite the dynamic win, entered the bout four pounds overweight after an injured ankle allegedly hampered his training. Despite some weight indiscretions, Alves climbs from eighth to fifth in the Sherdog.com rankings.
6. Matt Hughes (Pictures) (42-7-0)
Already in the twilight of his career, Hughes was turned into a highlight reel at the hands of another young, up-and-coming welterweight in Alves. Although some have called for the longtime welterweight king to retire, a grudge match with Serra is likely next up for Hughes. With the defeat, Hughes slips from third to sixth in the rankings.
7. Jake Shields (Pictures) (20-4-1)
After back-and-forth injuries postponed his slated bout with Drew Fickett (Pictures) twice, the bout has now been cancelled entirely. Shields will likely get his shot at the inaugural EliteXC crown July 26 on the promotion's second primetime offering on CBS. With the rise of Alves, Shields slips one spot, from sixth to seventh.
8. Matt Serra (Pictures) (9-5)
The slipper dropped for Serra, who was destroyed in his April rematch with St. Pierre at UFC 83. However, Serra might not be done in big bouts, as the potential for a clash with Hughes seems high in the near future. With Alves' ascent, Serra slips from seventh to eighth.
9. Karo Parisyan (Pictures) (18-5-0)
Parisyan, who was set to challenge for the UFC welterweight title in Nov. 2005, had his title hopes take another hit when he was stopped by Alves in their April 2 bout at UFC Fight Night 13.
10. Carlos Condit (Pictures) (22-4-0)
In February, Condit avenged one of his losses to the tough Carlo Prater (Pictures) in front of his hometown crowd in Albuquerque. Now, the WEC's welterweight king will make his third title defense on Aug. 3 when he meets Hiromitsu Miura (Pictures) in Las Vegas.
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