Welterweight 3-17-08

<!-- start -->

Rank

Fighter

Comments

1.

Georges St. Pierre

2.

Matt Serra

If "The Terror" loses to GSP on April 19th and then Matt Hughes in their delayed grudge-match, we’re willing to admit that he might have been a flash in the pan. But Matt Serra was the man who dethroned the most talented fighter in the world, and even if St. Pierre was having a bad night (as he’s claimed), it’s an undeniable achievement. In such an incredibly stacked division, the UFC’s welterweight champ can’t rank lower than #2.

3.

Matt Hughes

4.

Jon Fitch

It looks like Fitch will get his long-awaited title shot after Serra and St. Pierre settle their grudge in Montreal, but at UFC 82, Chris Wilson made him look like he may not quite be ready for it. Still, who else deserves it more — that fight-dodging Karo Parisyan? You don’t rack up a 15-fight win streak unless you’re made of championship material.

5.

Hayato Sakurai

6.

Jake Shields

For all intents and purposes, Shields is EliteXC’s welterweight champion. His current nine-fight win-streak includes victories over big names like Yushin Okami and Carlos Condit, and he’s also put guys like Hayato Sakurai and Akira Kikuchi to bed. Keep watching this dude.

7.

Shinya Aoki

8.

Karo Parisyan

9.

Diego Sanchez

10.

Carlos Condit, Nick Thompson

Unfortunately, this deadlock won’t be broken until one of them faces Top 10 competition, or one of them loses — neither of which are likely scenarios.

<!-- end -->