411's MMA Rankings 12.26.08: The Welterweight Rankings
Posted by Dustin James on 12.26.2008
It's time for the staff here at 411mania.com to rank the best welterweights in MMA! Can anyone take the top spot from Georges St. Pierre? Is it possible that Thiago Alves, Josh Koscheck, or Jake Shields have overcome GSP's dominance at the top of the welterweight ladder? Join 411's Dustin James as he gives you all the answers and more inside the latest edition of 411's MMA Rankings.......
Welcome back to the best set of MMA rankings currently running on the internet. As always, I'm Dustin James and I will be your guide through this wonderful little journey. Sorry for the delayed rankings, but that's what happens when you have been stuck up on a mountain for 10 days and counting. Seriously, it's getting ridiculous. Guess what I got to do in order to have a Christmas dinner? If you guessed "Carry a turkey uphill for a mile" then you deserve some kind of reward because that's EXACTLY WHAT I DID! Have you ever had to carry a turkey uphill for a mile? If not, I don't recommend it. Unless you happen to be a professional MMA fighter, because then your cardio would be worlds apart from the other fighters. Either way, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and I hope you all enjoy the hell out of UFC 92 this weekend.......I know I will!
Of course, that's not the reason you came here. You came here to see who 411 has ranked as the top 15 welterweights in MMA. Who are the biggest contenders to Georges St. Pierre's throne? Is it Jon Fitch? Is it Thiago Alves? Could it be Josh Koscheck? The only way to find out is to keep reading........
Last year at this time:
1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Matt Serra
3. Matt Hughes
4. Jon Fitch
5. Karo Parisyan
6. Josh Koscheck
7. Diego Sanchez
8. Jake Shields
9. Shinya Aoki
10. Carlos Condit
Yoshiyuki Yoshida and Marcus Davis were "On the bubble".
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 can spread out and run away so you wouldn't even be able to catch us all anyhow.
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 - UFC 94 "St. Pierre vs. Penn" - January 31, 2009
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. Akihiro Gono - UFC 94 "St Pierre vs. Penn" - January 31, 2009
3) Thiago Alves (16-3)
Birthday: October 3, 1983
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Josh Koscheck - Win via decision (unanimous) - UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote - October 25, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
4) Jake Shields (22-4-1)
Height: 5'11
Birthday: January 9, 1979
Currently Fighting With: Free Agent (under contract with EliteXC)
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Paul Daley - Win via submission (armbar) - EliteXC "Heat" - October 4, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
5) Josh Koscheck (12-3)
Height: 5'10
Birthday: November 30, 1977
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida - Win via KO (punch) - UFC: Fight For The Troops - December 10, 2008
- vs. Thiago Alves - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote - October 25, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
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:
- Currently unknown
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:
- Currently unknown
8) Mike Swick (13-2)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: June 19, 1979
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Jonathan Goulet - Win via TKO (punches) - UFC: Fight For The Troops - December 10, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
9) 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:
- Currently unknown
10) Marcus Davis (15-4)
Height: 5'8
Birthday: August 24, 1973
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Paul Kelly - Win via submission (guillotine choke) - UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben - October 18, 2008
- vs. Mike Swick - Loss via decision (unanimous) - UFC 85: Bedlam - June 7, 2008
- 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
Next scheduled appearance:
- vs. Chris Lytle - UFC 93 "Henderson vs. Franklin" - January 17, 2009
11) Dustin Hazelett (12-4)
Height: 6'1
Birthday: April 29, 1986
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Tamdan McCrory - Win via submission (reverse armbar) - UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar - November 15, 2008
- vs. Josh Burkman - Win via submission (armbar) - UFC: Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale - June 21, 2008
- vs. Josh Koscheck - Loss via TKO (head kick and punches) - UFC 82: Pride Of A Champion - March 1, 2008
- vs. Jonathan Goulet - Win via submission (armbar) - UFC: Fight Night 11 - September 19, 2007
- vs. Steven Lynch - Win via submission (anaconda choke) - UFC 72: Victory - June 16, 2007
Next scheduled appearance:
- Currently unknown
12) 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:
- Currently unknown
13) 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 appearance:
- vs. Dong Hyun Kim - UFC 94 "St. Pierre vs. Penn" - January 31, 2009
14) 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
15) Nick Diaz (18-7)
Height: 6'0
Birthday: August 2, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Free Agent
Last 5 fights:
- vs. Thomas Denny - Win via TKO (punches) - EliteXC: Unfinished Business - July 26, 2008
- vs. Muhsin Corbbrey - Win via TKO (punches) - EliteXC: Return Of The King - June 14, 2008
- vs. Katsuya Inoue - Win via TKO (corner stoppage) - DREAM 3 - May 11, 2008
- vs. KJ Noons - Loss via TKO (cuts) - EliteXC: Renegade - November 10, 2007
- vs. Mike Aina - Win via decision (split) - EliteXC: Uprising - September 15, 2007
Matt Hughes???? He has lost 3 out the last 5 fights and is still ranked that high...come on guys, I expect better!!
Posted By: worm (Guest) on December 25, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Haha Matt Serra has fought once a year for the last 5 (soon to be six) years.
Posted By: kev0 (Guest) on December 26, 2008 at 12:49 AM
I really like Hughes but i gotta agree.
his only win in the last 2 years is over Lytle
Posted By: S Dot (Guest) on December 26, 2008 at 01:18 AM
Agreed that Hughes should be ranked lower than that. No surprise GSP is at the top. And I'm glad Jon Fitch is regarded as the 2nd best welterweight out there.
Posted By: Tubby (Guest) on December 26, 2008 at 01:43 AM
wait, I see a pattern...If you beat Chris Lytle, you earn a high spot in the rankings...Serra, Hughes maybe they should fight each other with the winner getting GSP!!! What a joke, sad top 15 list this time!!!
Posted By: worm (Guest) on December 26, 2008 at 03:38 AM
Matt Hughes might be 2-3 in last 5 fights but those losses are to GSP and Alves give me a break Hughes is still a top 10 ww if he losses his next one then drop him. Your not gonna Wandela Silva out of the LHW and he is 2-3 in his last 5
Posted By: Guest#2510 (Guest) on December 26, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Hughes? I have always been rooting for him, but his (& Serra's) placement on this list makes us all question the logic of 411.
Posted By: Shane (Guest) on December 26, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Funny how 99% of MMA-media outlets put Matt Serra #1 after he beat GSP and still have him "Top 10", yet 411 MMA isn't guilty of either offense and people STILL complain.
Posted By: punchdrunk (Registered) on December 26, 2008 at 01:44 PM
his last decisive victory was 2.5 years ago, and he beat Lytle by decision...he is aging and not the fighter he once was. Anyone of the guys below him, could beat Matt Hughes...well except Serra, but why he is there, I will never know!!
Posted By: worm (Guest) on December 26, 2008 at 07:06 PM
guest 2510- good point, he lost to GSP and Alves.You know what that proved, he can't hang with the best, yet people keep clinging to his past glory. He would get killed next time he fights anyone of the top 5.
Posted By: WORM (Guest) on December 26, 2008 at 07:09 PM
