411's MMA Rankings 8.21.08: Welterweight Rankings

Posted by Dustin James on 08.21.2008

UFC 87 is in the books and Georges St. Pierre proved to the world that he is still the best welterweight in MMA. Now the big question is, who is his biggest threat in the welterweight division? 411's Dustin James gives you all the answers and more inside.....

Welcome back to YOUR favorite MMA rankings on the entire Internet. You know how I know that they are your favorite? The fact that I have almost been doing this for almost a year, and I still have a job! That has to mean something. This go-round we are ranking the best welterweights in MMA. The welterweight division could be the most stacked division currently in the UFC. Where does Jon Fitch fall after losing to Georges St. Pierre in a tough battle at UFC 87? Can he stay ahead of guys such as Jake Shields, Thiago Alves, Josh Koscheck, and Carlos Condit? The only way to find out is to keep reading......

Redbelt Review

I received an advanced copy of "Redbelt" on DVD a few weeks back and I finally got around to watching it. Let me just say that it's easily the best MMA movie I have seen yet. It basically bitch slaps "Never Back Down". Chiwetel Ejiofor is awesome in it as always, plus Tim Allen is in it! Redbelt is easily the smartest movie ever made about martial arts and I highly recommend it to any true MMA fan. Redbelt is currently scheduled to hit DVD and Blu-ray on August 26, so do yourself a favor and go out and buy it.

Lee Murray Movie In The Works

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Lee Murray. Let me tell you a little bit about him. He's a former MMA fighter who is now serving time for his role in the £53 million Securitas raid, which happens to be Britain's biggest cash robbery in history (a reported $92.5 million in US dollars was stolen). Murray also happens to be a UFC veteran who fought at UFC 46 back in 2004 and was victorious over Jorge Rivera. His last fight was against Anderson Silva at CR 8, where Silva beat him via unanimous decision. But this isn't the greatest part of Murray's story. Sure, an MMA fighter who takes part in Britain's biggest cash heist in history is a good enough story alone to make a movie out of. However, the part I REALLY want to see in the movie is the part where Murray reportedly knocked Tito Ortiz out in an alleyway in London. What's that you say? Well, let's just let my old buddy Matt Hughes tell you what I'm talking about......

The following comes from Matt Hughes' biography "Made In America". The following incident was told to him by Pat Miletich who saw everything first hand:

The entire alley erupted into a huge brawl. I was just standing there, and there were bodies flying all over the place. I was confused how it all happened, because it happened so fast. I was standing there with my mouth open like ‘what the hell is going on?' I looked over and Chuck Liddell was with his back against the wall, knocking people out that were trying to go after him. Then I looked over and there's Tito directly past me, taking his coat off, going after Lee Murray, and Lee Murray's backing up the alley taking his jacket off. Both their jackets come off, and Tito throws a left hook at Lee Murray and misses, and right as he missed, Lee Murray counters with, like, a five-punch combo, landed right on the chin, and knocked Tito out. OUT. Tito fell face-first down to the ground, and then Lee Murray stomped him on the face a couple of times with his boots. Then Tony Fryklund and I grabbed Lee and pushed Lee and said ‘Get out of here!' And Lee said ‘I'm sorry, I'll see you later,' and took off. And Tony Fryklund helped Tito to his feet.

Wow! Am I the only one who would be angry if this part was left out of the movie? Seriously, put this in the movie and I will be first in line for this sucker. Well, to tell you the truth.....I'm dying to see it anyways.

College Fantasy Football!

With August almost in the rear-view mirror it's about that time. You know what I'm talking about.....COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON! Well for the first time in history CBSSportsline.com is offering college fantasy football! You can draft players like Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Knowshon Moreno, etc etc etc and play against your friends. Well, I have opened up a league for the 411mania.com fans to participate against me. There are only 10 open spots so you have to hurry....

Just go to CBSSportsline.com and register a name for College Fantasy Football. To sign up for the 411mania.com league just go to "Private League", then "Live Draft", then select the live draft date of "August 27" and look for us. The password to join the league is "mania411". So sign up! It will be a blast and if you beat me.....you can have some bragging rights!

Randy Couture In Scorpion King 2

Damn, I have a lot of filler this week! Just so you know, I was also sent an advanced copy of The Scorpion King 2 a few weeks back and all I can say about Randy Couture's appearance in the movie is....wow. It wasn't what I was expecting from "Captain America" himself. The dude is a bad ass in the movie. Seriously, I could go on, but you have to see it for yourself. Is it possible that we have the next Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on our hands?

Now, on with the good stuff..........

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 beat up everybody on "High School: The Musical".


411's Official MMA Rankings

Welterweight Division


1) Georges St. Pierre (17-2)

Height: 5'10

Birthday: May 19, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Jon Fitch - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 87: Seek And Destroy - August 9, 2008

- vs. Matt Serra - Win via TKO (knees to body) - UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre II - April 19, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. BJ Penn - Sometime in late 2008/Early 2009

Comments: Well it's over and we officially know who the best welterweight in the World is. Was there ever any doubt? Sure Jon Fitch was a formidable opponent and was able to stay with GSP for five rounds, but c'mon....it's GSP! The guy seems to be unstoppable right now. Next up for GSP is none other than the UFC lightweight champion (and also one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the World) BJ Penn! The two previously fought at UFC 58 back in 2006, where GSP won via split decision, no doubt thanks to Penn's suspect cardio. The next fight between the two could have a different result. Penn's cardio is vastly improved and it seems that Penn himself is unstoppable right now. I'm hoping this fight will happen at the New Year's Eve show in December, however GSP has said he wants to take the rest of the year off and perhaps schedule the fight for Super Bowl weekend. Either way, the UFC's welterweight and lightweight divisions will be at a stand-still until these fights happen. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? You tell me.....

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2) Jon Fitch (17-3)

Height: 6'0

Birthday: February 24, 1978

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Georges St. Pierre - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 87: Seek And Destroy - August 9, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

Comments: What a tough break it was for Fitch. He was able to take everything GSP had, but just couldn't pull off the victory. With that in mind there is no reason he should slip in the rankings. He is still the 2nd fighter in UFC history to win his first 8 fights in the UFC (the other being UFC hall-of-famer Royce Gracie) and will no doubt get a chance to fight the winner of GSP/Penn if Fitch can manage another victory or two. He will take some time off to heal those horrible facial wounds, but mark my words.....you will see Fitch fight again in the Octagon before the year is over. Perhaps against somebody like Josh Koscheck?

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3) Jake Shields (21-4-1)

Height: 5'11

Birthday: January 9, 1979

Currently Fighting With: EliteXC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Nick Thompson - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - EliteXC: Unfinished Business - July 26, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

Comments: Jake Shields impressed the entire MMA community when he was able to finish off another top ranked welterweight in Nick Thompson in very impressive fashion at EliteXC's "Unfinished Business" last month. Shields is easily one of the best welterweight's in MMA, but is that enough for him? A HUGE rumor going around right now is that Shields is interested in fighting on Affliction's "Day Of Reckoning" card on October 11 perhaps even as a substitute for the injured Vitor Belfort against Matt Lindland!! That's one fight that would make this writer drool all over his keyboard. I'm a huge Jake Shields fan as well as a MASSIVE Matt Lindland fan. BOOK IT AFFLICTION!

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4) Thiago Alves (15-3)

Birthday: October 3, 1983

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Matt Hughes - Win via TKO (knee and punches) - UFC 85: Bedlam - June 7, 2008

- vs. Karo Parisyan - Win via TKO (knee and punches) - UFC: Fight Night 13 - April 2, 2008

- vs. Chris Lytle - Win via TKO (doctor stoppage due to cut) - UFC 78: Validation - November 17, 2007

- vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka - Win via TKO - UFC: Fight Night 11 - September 19, 2007

- vs. Tony DeSouza - Win via KO (knee) - UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz II - December 30, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Diego Sanchez - UFC 90 "Silva vs. Cote" - October 25, 2008

Comments: Can Thiago Alves stay on this current hot streak he has going on right now in the UFC? If Alves can defeat Diego Sanchez at UFC 90 in October than there is no reason he shouldn't be named #1 contender and face the winner of GSP/Penn. That would make it 3 victories for Alves in 2008, all against Karo Parisyan, Matt Hughes, and Diego Sanchez. Three fighters currently on this list. It would be an amazing feat and one that the UFC would have to reward him for.

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5) Josh Koscheck (11-2)

Height: 5'10

Birthday: November 30, 1977

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Chris Lytle - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin - July 5, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

Comments: Things are quiet on the Koscheck front, however I can see him stepping back into the Octagon before the year's over. Perhaps at UFC 91 (currently rumored for Portland, Oregon...my home town!), or even the New Year's Eve show in December. Koscheck is right there on the cusp of earning a shot at the UFC welterweight title and one more victory over a huge name could put him closer in line.

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6) Carlos Condit (23-4)

Height: 6'1

Birthday: April 26, 1984

Currently Fighting With: WEC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Hiromitsu Miura - Win via TKO (punches) - WEC 35 - August 3, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

Comments: What's next for Condit after his victory over Miura at WEC 35 earlier this month? With all the talk of the UFC wanting to bring some of the WEC guys over to the company, Condit HAS to be on the top of that list. However, with the state of the UFC's welterweight division currently (GSP taking time off, all the possible title contenders) would Condit be better off staying in the WEC until the UFC's welterweight division thins out (if that ever happens). Interesting times ahead for Condit.

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7) Matt Hughes (42-7)

Height: 5'9

Birthday: October 13, 1973

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Thiago Alves - Loss via TKO (knee and punches) - UFC 85: Bedlam - June 7, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

Comments: Rumor is that the Matt Hughes/Matt Serra fight will FINALLY go down either in January 2009 or February of 2009. Personally I see it headlining the January event, because if GSP/Penn doesn't headline the New Year's Eve show then it will definitely headline the Super Bowl weekend show.

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8) Diego Sanchez (19-2)

Height: 5'10

Birthday: December 31, 1981

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Luigi Fioravanti - Win via TKO (strikes) - UFC: Ultimate Fighter Finale - June 21, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Thiago Alves - UFC 90 "Silva vs. Cote" - October 25, 2008

Comments: Will Diego Sanchez be the man to stop the "train" currently known as Thiago Alves? What happens if he does? Does Diego become the #1 contender? This damn UFC welterweight division is STACKED.

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9) Karo Parisyan (18-5)

Height: 5'10

Birthday: August 28, 1982

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Thiago Alves - Loss via TKO (knees and punches) - UFC: Fight Night 13 - April 2, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appeareance:

- vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida - UFC 88 "Liddell vs. Evans" - September 6, 2008

Comments: Karo will be stepping back into the Octagon next month when he faces Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 88. Contrary to what you may think, this is not an easy fight for Karo. Yoshida has a nice win streak going on and is a very dangerous opponent. You heard it here first...don't be surprised if Karo loses next month. The big question is, how many Judo throws can Karo pull off here?

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10) Matt Serra (9-5)

Height: 5'6

Birthday: June 2, 1974

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Georges St. Pierre - Loss via TKO (knees to body) - UFC 83: Serra vs. St Pierre II - April 19, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

Comments: See: Hughes, Matt

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On The Bubble: (On the bubble includes fighter's who aren't ranked yet still are a threat in the division)




Nick Thompson (36-10-1)

Height: 6'1

Birthday: June 23, 1981

Currently Fighting With: World Victory Road, EliteXC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Jake Shields - Loss via submission (guillotine choke) - EliteXC: Unfinished Business - July 26, 2008

- vs. Michael Costa - Win via submission (kimura) - World Victory Road: Sengoku 2 - June 8, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Currently unknown

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Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2)

Height: 5'11

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Jon Koppenhaver - Win via technical submission (anaconda choke) - UFC 84: Ill Will - May 24, 2008

- 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

Next scheduled appearance:

- vs. Karo Parisyan - UFC 88: "Liddell vs. Evans" - September 6, 2008

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Mike Swick (12-2)

Height: 6'1

Birthday: June 19, 1979

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Marcus Davis - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 85: Bedlam - June 7, 2008

- vs. Josh Burkman - Win via decision (majority) - UFC: Fight Night 12 - January 23, 2008

- vs. Yushin Okami - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 69: Shootout - April 7, 2007

- vs. David Loiseau - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn - September 23, 2006

- vs. Joe Riggs - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie - May 27, 2006

Next scheduled appearance:

-Currently unknown

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Brock Larson (24-2)

Height: 5'11

Birthday: August 23, 1977

Currently Fighting With: WEC

Last 5 fights:

- vs. Carlo Prater - Win via TKO (punches) - WEC 35 - August 3, 2008

- vs. John Alessio - DQ (knee to downed fighter) - WEC 33: Back To Vegas - March 26, 2008

- vs. Troy Allison - Win via submission (rear naked choke) - November 29, 2007

- vs. Carlos Condit - Loss via submission (arm bar) - WEC 29: Las Vegas - August 5, 2007

- vs. Kevin Knabjan - Win via TKO (strikes) - WEC 28: WrekCage - June 3, 2007

Next scheduled appearance:

- Currently unknown