411's MMA Rankings 3.13.08: Welterweight Division
Posted by Dustin James on 03.13.2008
Come check out 411's Official MMA Rankings. This time around we rank the Welterweight division and oh man, is it a good one! Is it possible that UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra isn't even in the Top 3? What about Jon Fitch? Has his record tying UFC win streak managed to move him up in the rankings? 411's Dustin James gives you all the details inside........
Welcome to the newest edition of 411's Official MMA rankings! As always I will be your host, Dustin James. This time around a lot of you won't like the rankings, oh wait.....that's every time. But that's OK, because we are about to take a little detour into the world of college football that helps me explain things better. Let's say for some reason Fresno State is 11-0, and Texas and USC are both 10-1, but yet they are ranked #1 and #2 and not Fresno State. Why? Because of the competition they have faced and the history that goes with the program. And yes, Fresno State fan is sitting home crying and cursing and saying "IT'S NOT FAIR!". But hey, cry me a river and drown in it.......it's the truth.
The same can be said for MMA fighters. That's just how it is. In sports, the big names are always going to be the favorites.....so sue us if we don't think Matt Serra is a Top 3 Welterweight. What??? Yes, read on...........
411's MMA Ranking Rules
- If a fighter hasn't fought in a year, he can not be ranked. It's not fair to people who are fighting to not be ranked because a fighter is taking a year off. The rule also applies to specific divisions. If a fighter hasn't fought in a weight division in a year he is no longer eligible to be ranked. However, if a fighter schedules a fight he is still eligible for being ranked.
- If you wish to complain about a fighter's ranking in the comments section, then please include an objective reason as to why you don't like the ranking, and remember "if u rite lik thiss" then your opinion doesn't matter.
- 411's MMA Rankings are voted on by the MMA staff of 411mania. So if you are an MMA fighter and hate where you are ranked, beating just me up would be unnecessary. You would have to beat us all up, and when we are all together.....we could probably take Andy Dick.
411's Official MMA Rankings
Welterweight Division
1) Georges St. Pierre (15-2)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Matt Hughes - Win via verbal submission (arm bar) - UFC 79: Nemesis - December 29, 2007
- vs. Josh Koscheck - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007
- vs. Matt Serra - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 69: Shootout - April 7, 2007
- vs. Matt Hughes - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 65: Bad Intentions - November 18, 2006
- vs. BJ Penn - Win via decision (split) - UFC 58: USA vs. Canada - March 4, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Matt Serra - UFC 83: "Serra vs. St. Pierre 2" - April 19, 2008
Comments: Here we are, about a month away from seeing if Georges St. Pierre was upset by Matt Serra, or if Serra is just a better fighter than GSP. Hey, it happens folks. Sometimes great athletes can meet their maker. Is it possible that Matt Serra is GSP's achilles heel? We will see in just a few short weeks. The first time around, I picked GSP to win this fight. As of today, I would pick GSP again.....so only time will tell.
2) Jon Fitch (16-2)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Chris Wilson - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 82: Pride Of A Champion - March 1, 2008
- vs. Diego Sanchez - Win via decision (split) - UFC 76: Knockout - September 22, 2007
- vs. Roan Carneiro - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC Fight Night 10 - June 12, 2007
- vs. Luigi Fioravanti - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - UFC 68: Uprising - March 3, 2007
- vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 64: Unstoppable - October 14, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Jon Fitch became only the 2nd person in UFC history to score 8 straight victories in the UFC. The other person? UFC Hall-of-Famer Royce Gracie. After Fitch's decision victory over Chris Wilson at UFC 82, it was announced that Jon Fitch will be getting a shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship against the winner of GSP/Serra. No surprise there. I think everybody would love to see a GSP/Fitch fight. Either way, Fitch is 8-0 in the UFC and hasn't lost since 2002.....ya, he's good.
3) Matt Hughes (41-6)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Georges St. Pierre - Loss via verbal submission (arm bar) - UFC 79: Nemesis - December 29, 2007
- vs. Chris Lytle - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 68: Uprising - March 3, 2007
- vs. Georges St. Pierre - Loss via TKO (strikes) - UFC 65: Bad Intentions - November 18, 2006
- vs. BJ Penn - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn - September 23, 2006
- vs. Royce Gracie - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie - May 27, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Nothing new in the world of Matt Hughes. This country boy has been silent since GSP humbled him a few months ago at UFC 79.
4) Jake Shields (20-4-1)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Mike Pyle - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - EliteXC: Renegade - November 10, 2007
- vs. Renato Verissimo - Win via TKO (strikes) - EliteXC: Uprising - September 15, 2007
- vs. Ido Pariente - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - K-1 HERO's DYNAMITE!! USA - July 2, 2007
- vs. Ray Steinbeiss - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - BodogFIGHT: Costa Rica - February 18, 2007
- vs. Steve Berger - Win via TKO - FCP - Malice at Cow Palace - September 9, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Drew Fickett - Strikeforce/EliteXC "Shamrock vs. Le" - March 29, 2008
Comments: Shields will be facing what I believe is his toughest opponent since he fought Carlos Condit back in 2006 in Drew Fickett at the upcoming Strikeforce/EliteXC co-promoted "Shamrock vs Le" card. I'd look for Shields to get the victory over Fickett, but watch for Fickett to put on a great fight. He's no slouch by any means. Jake Shields should prove why he's one of the best Welterweights in the world however.
5) Matt Serra (9-4)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Georges St. Pierre - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC 69: Shootout - April 7, 2007
- vs. Chris Lytle - Win via decision (split) - The Ultimate Fighter 4 Finale - November 11, 2006
- vs. Karo Parisyan - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 53: Heavy Hitters - June 4, 2005
- vs. Ivan Menjivar - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 48: Payback - June 19, 2004
- vs. Jeff Curran - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 46: Supernatural - January 31, 2004
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Georges St. Pierre - UFC 83: "Serra vs. St. Pierre 2" - April 19, 2008
Comments: It's almost put-up-or-shut-up time for Matt Serra. In just over a month, the world will get to see if Serra is actually a better fighter than GSP and if he can get two straight victories over the "best" Welterweight fighter in the world. A lot of people love to speak down on Serra, and it's very understandable. But if he can beat GSP for a second straight time, then we need to start talking about a Matt Serra/Jon Fitch fight because it will be coming. A huge reason for Serra's slip here is the fact that it will have been over a year since he fought. It's not fair to the other fighters who are competing and winning. You can bet Serra will be #1 if he can possibly beat GSP twice in a row.
6) Karo Parisyan (18-4)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Ryo Chonan - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 78 - Validation - November 17, 2007
- vs. Josh Burkman - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson - May 26, 2007
- vs. Drew Fickett - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC Fight Night 7 - December 13, 2006
- vs. Diego Sanchez - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC Fight Night 6 - August 17, 2006
- vs. Nick Thompson - Win via submission (strikes) - UFC 59: Reality Check - April 15, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Thiago Alves - UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Lauzon - April 2, 2008
Comments: Karo will be returning to the Octagon at the upcoming PACKED UFC Fight Night in April. If Karo gets a victory over Thiago Alves, I believe that Karo will be in line for a shot at the UFC Welterweight Title after Jon Fitch. Speaking of Jon Fitch, Karo recently had some pretty heated words for Fitch. I'm not going to dwell into details because I hate name-calling games, but I feel that the UFC might need to book a Fitch/Karo fight pretty damn soon.
7) Josh Koscheck (10-2)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Dustin Hazelett - Win via TKO (kick and punches) - UFC 82: Pride Of A Champion - March 1, 2008
- vs. Georges St. Pierre - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 74: Respect - August 25, 2007
- vs. Diego Sanchez - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 69: Shootout - April 7, 2007
- vs. Jeff Joslin - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC Fight Night 7 - December 13, 2006
- vs. Jonathan Goulet - Win via submission (strikes) - UFC Fight Night 6 - August 17, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Koscheck is coming off a very impressive victory over Dustin Hazelett at UFC 82. Kos needed to get back on the winning track after his decision loss to GSP last year. I don't expect Kos to settle down right now, and I'd expect to see him jump into a fight some time in the summer and try to get his name higher on the list of candidates for a shot at the UFC Welterweight Title.
8) Diego Sanchez (18-2)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. David Bielkheden - Win via submission (punches) - UFC 82: Pride Of A Champion - March 1, 2008
- vs. Jon Fitch - Loss via decision (split) - UFC 76: Knockout - September 22, 2007
- vs. Josh Koscheck - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 69: Shootout - April 7, 2007
- vs. Joe Riggs - Win via KO (knee) - UFC Fight Night 7 - December 13, 2006
- vs. Karo Parisyan - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC Fight Night 6 - August 17, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Diego got back on the winning side of things in the UFC recently with a victory over David Bielkheden at UFC 82. Maybe Diego has had second thoughts of dropping weight now and competing in the UFC's Lightweight division? Well, judging by the names on this list......that might not be such a bad idea, Diego.
9) Carlos Condit (22-4)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Carlo Prater - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - WEC 32: Albuquerque - February 13, 2008
- vs. Brock Larson - Win via submission (armbar) - WEC 29 - August 5, 2007
- vs. John Alessio - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - WEC 26 - March 24, 2007
- vs. Kyle Jensen - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - WEC 25 - January 20, 2007
- vs. Tatsunori Tanaka - Win via KO (stomps) - Pancrase - Blow 9 - October 25, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Currently unknown
Comments: Condit is currently one of the hottest fighters in MMA. He is on a 7 fight win streak, he is the WEC Welterweight Champ, and he hasn't lost since 2006. The only downside to Condit is the lack of strong competition he has faced in his current win streak. If Condit can take out a name or two on this list, he should be in the Top 5 easily.
10) Marcus Davis (14-3)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Jess Liaudin - Win via KO (punch) - UFC 80: Rapid Fire - January 19, 2008
- vs. Paul Taylor - Win via submission (arm bar) - UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion - September 8, 2007
- vs. Jason Tan - Win via KO (punch) - UFC 72: Victory - June 16, 2007
- vs. Pete Spratt - Win via submission (achilles lock) - UFC 69: Shootout - April 7, 2007
- vs. Shonie Carter - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC Fight Night 7 - December 13, 2006
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Mike Swick - UFC 85 - June 7, 2008
Comments: Marcus Davis cracks the top 10! Davis is currently on an 11 fight win streak and will be looking to stretch it out when he faces Mike Swick at UFC 85 in June. Watch out for Marcus Davis.
On The Bubble: (On the bubble includes fighter's who aren't ranked yet still are a threat in the division)
Nick Thompson (35-9-1)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Fabricio Monteiro - Win via decision (unanimous) - World Victory Road - Sengoku - March 5, 2008
- vs. John Troyer - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - BodogFight: Thompson vs. Troyer - February 1, 2008
- vs. Mark Weir - Win via TKO - BodogFight: Vancouver - August 24, 2007
- vs. Eddie Alvarez - Win via TKO (strikes) - BodogFight: Clash of the Nations - April 14, 2007
- vs. Dustin Denes - Win via TKO (punches) - BodogFight: Costa Rica - February 18, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
Yoshiyuki Yoshida (9-2)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Dan Hardy - Win via DQ - GCM: Cage Force 5 - December 1, 2007
- vs. Akira Kikuchi - Win via TKO (elbows) - GCM: Cage Force 4 - September 8, 2007
- vs. Matt Cain - Win via TKO (strikes) - GCM: Cage Force EX - May 27, 2007
- vs. Katsuya Inoue - Win via KO (punch) - GCM : Cage Force 2 - March 17, 2007
- vs. Asato Hashimoto - Win via TKO (elbow injury) - GCM: Cage Force 1 - November 25, 2006
overall this is fine, but what if any weight do you give to the guy holding the most coveted belt in all the land? it seems like the ufc champ should be no less than top two or three in the world...you know, he did beat the man after all.
Posted By: romano (Guest) on March 13, 2008 at 12:06 AM
"A huge reason for Serra's slip here is the fact that it will have been over a year since he fought. It's not fair to the other fighters who are competing and winning."
For example, Matt Hughes? Oh- except that Hughes' last WIN was before Serra's. Not to mention, he's now lost twice to someone Serra schooled- fluke or not.
Posted By: cyks (Registered) on March 13, 2008 at 02:07 AM
Serra has beat one "Top 10" Welterweight in his career, and he scraped by Lytle and others on TUF. To rank him in the top three simply because he landed a lucky punch would be ridiculous (Sherdog ridiculous even).
Posted By: highone (Registered) on March 13, 2008 at 02:18 AM
I think that Serra's position is well earned here. It's interesting that he could jump back to #1 because a win over GSP would do that. Yet if he loses he clearly needs to be shunted down to the bottom of the top 10 if not lower. Lots of pressure on Serra now...good luck in MONTREAL son. Heh heh.
Posted By: Raj (Guest) on March 13, 2008 at 05:42 AM
Nice and simple, Matt Serra has finished once fight sense 2004. He is NOT top 10, let alone top 5.
Posted By: Methoes (Guest) on March 13, 2008 at 09:56 AM
I guess this ranking looks fine. These are horribly subjective, which of course creates a lot of controversy. Serra ranked as #1 if he upsets GSP? I guess I could see the argument, but what if he loses to Hughes after beating GSP? Then who would be #1? It’s all subjective.
Posted By: Kuch (Guest) on March 13, 2008 at 09:57 AM
of course it's all subjective, that's what makes it interesting to create a ranking. I really like this list, except I would probably push Condit a little higher. While he may not have faced quite the caliber of opponent that many above him have, ya gotta remember that he FINISHED all of these guys as well. To me that says something.
Posted By: guest guest (Guest) on March 13, 2008 at 12:29 PM
I do not believe Fitch deserves number 2. The only fighter he has beaten in the top 10 is Diego. He is a good fighter but his fight against Wilson left alot to be desired. Also Royce Gracie didn't go 8 straight wins in the UFC - he threw the towel in just as bell sounded in his fight after beating Kimo.
Posted By: Craig (Guest) on March 13, 2008 at 01:20 PM
We shall see what happens when Davis, and IF Shields, Condit and Thompson get better competition.
For example, I am not sure those guys are necessarily as good as guys like Burkman, Alves and Lytle who have faced higher competition - Swick will be a tough test for Davis.
Posted By: Jamie (Guest) on March 13, 2008 at 01:28 PM
ok, this is to the commenters...who the hell cares how many people they have finished? ernie shavers had the highest knockout percentage for a heavyweight in the history of boxing...does that make him any better? no, it's ridiculous...please someone answer this, are these rankings for the greatest skill set, the best overall career, or the top ten as of today? if we are talking who are the top ten contenders in the welterweights, then the list should look like this:
Consensus Champ (in this weightclass i can't see anyone but the ufc titlist getting this distinction at the moment) Matt Serra
1. GSP
2. John Fitch
and slots three through ten are up for grabs...notice, i'm not calling Serra the best skill set, career having guy on the planet...just that he holds the title that makes you champ...he's the guy with the target...fedor has the target at heavyweight, rampage at 205, silva at 185, i suppose gomi at 155 though i feel that his loss to diaz really tarnished him, personally i'd say that the winner of penn/sherk gets to be tops at that weight class...but notice, after the champ i listed the two top contenders to that title...the interim champ and the next number one contender...this makes it a little less subjective and relies more heavily on recent win/loss and standing within the division...now, if you're ranking the people who you believe have the best skill set, then please state that so i don't have to argue with you anymore.
Posted By: romano (Guest) on March 13, 2008 at 06:13 PM
romano, you are what people call a tool, because everytime i see one of your ridiculous comments, i feel i must throw what you type back in your face.... serra has not fought in almost a year, gsp has beaten 2 top 10 welterweights, fitch is on a massive win streak and matt hughes was the best welterweight for years, and has only lost to gsp recently, and has fought within 1 year.... that puts serra out of the top 3 in the world as you would like, and serra has only beaten gsp.... the only top 10 worthy guy he has beat in his career... he got a bullshit title shot, and got lucky. now he did beat gsp, ill give him that, but that should only put him at myabe 9 or 10. there ya go, so please stop leaving your stupid comments on these boards... no one cares what you think
Posted By: hendo (Guest) on March 14, 2008 at 03:55 PM
