Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Welterweight

1. Georges St. Pierre (22-2)
The welterweight division’s French Canadian king managed only one Octagon appearance in 2011, a five-round decision win over Jake Shields in April. While there’s still no solid timeline for his return, GSP has stated that rehabilitation on his reconstructed ACL is “ahead of schedule,” possibly putting him in line for a late-2012 meeting with interim champ Carlos Condit.

2. Carlos Condit (28-5)
Nearly five years after becoming the final WEC welterweight champ, Condit has captured UFC gold. The “Natural Born Killer” used a perfectly executed game plan on Feb. 4 to steer clear of Nick Diaz and rack up points for a unanimous decision win. The new UFC interim welterweight titleholder is expected to attempt at least one title defense before potentially lining up against true champ and former teammate Georges St. Pierre in the second half of the year.

3. Nick Diaz (26-8, 1 ND)
While fighters are generally removed from the rankings after announcing their retirement, it seems premature to count out the mercurial Diaz just yet. The 28-year-old Californian had his 11-fight winning streak snapped by an elusive Carlos Condit on Feb. 4, leading Diaz to declare himself finished with MMA in his post-fight interview. Trainer and manager Cesar Gracie has since called for a rematch with Condit, citing “incompetent judges.”

4. Johny Hendricks (12-1)
Two-time NCAA wrestling champion Johny Hendricks entered his Dec. 30 bout with Jon Fitch as a live underdog, but who was banking on a 12-second knockout? With his picture-perfect left hook, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy has put himself in position to potentially contend for the UFC welterweight title in 2012.

5. Jon Fitch (23-4-1, 1 NC)
Jon Fitch’s three-plus-year odyssey to get another UFC welterweight title shot was waylaid at UFC 141, as Johny Hendricks needed just one punch and 12 seconds to lay the former Purdue Boilermaker out. It will be a long, slow climb back to Fitch’s former perch as welterweight’s second banana.

6. Josh Koscheck (17-5)
Koscheck survived early pressure from up-and-comer Mike Pierce to squeak out a narrow decision victory Feb. 4 at UFC 143. The perennial welterweight contender recently split from his longtime home at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., but has said he will still refuse to fight training partner Jon Fitch, making Koscheck’s current spot in the UFC’s 170-pound division unclear.

7. Jake Ellenberger (26-5)
Ellenberger looked to be on the fast track to title contention after his 53-second demolition of Jake Shields in September, but the ongoing St. Pierre-Diaz-Condit shuffle has impeded the Nebraskan’s progress. In the meantime, he’ll tangle with perennial contender Diego Sanchez in the main event of the UFC’s Fuel debut on Feb. 15.

8. Jake Shields (26-6-1)
On Sept. 17, Shields was knocked out for the first time in more than 10 years by Jake Ellenberger. Now, Shields will return to Japan, where he initially broke out in the Shooto ranks almost a decade ago, as the Cesar Gracie disciple will take on Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 144.

9. Martin Kampmann (18-5)
After suffering narrow defeats against Jake Shields and Diego Sanchez, “The Hitman” finally got a decision to fall his way on Nov. 19 when he took a split not over tough wrestler Rick Story. Kampmann will again have his hands full on March 3 when he meets fellow striker Thiago Alves at UFC on FX 2 in Sydney.

10. B.J. Penn (16-8-2)
B.J. Penn’s temporary hiatus from MMA following his October loss to Nick Diaz had all but removed “The Prodigy” from the sport’s headlines. However, a Twitter tirade against the aforementioned Diaz has got many itching to see the Hawaiian back inside the cage in 2012.

Other contenders: Ben Askren, Charlie Brenneman, Rory MacDonald, Rick Story, Tyron Woodley.

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