Leet's Take
LEET: My problems with MMA rankings (April) - The Welterweight Division
Apr 20, 2010 - 3:56:11 PM LEET: My problems with MMA rankings (April) - The Welterweight Division

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By: Laramey Leet, MMATorch Columnist

Recently MMATorch's staff posted their overall rankings for all the weight divisions for the month of April. This is a new addition to my ongoing break down of the rankings. I am breaking down the rankings of each division; this is the welterweight (WW) division. These are strictly my opinions and my thoughts on the division rankings.

We rank the fighters to know who is the best in that particular division. This is not just for conversation; every sport in the world ranks their leaders to know who the best is. Like every sport there is confusion amongst the rankings, which doesn’t leave everyone happy. So do not expect to be. We all have different methods for MMA ranking; dominance, consistency, MMA record, level of opponent, aggressiveness, etc...

This is how MMATorch's staff ranked the welterweight (WW) Division in April of 2010

1. Georges St-Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Thiago Alves
4. Josh Koscheck - tie
4. Nick Diaz - tie
6. Paulo Thiago
7. Paul Daley - tie
7. Dan Hardy - tie
9. Martin Kampmann
10. Carlos Condit

Well there is no doubt that Georges St-Pierre (GSP) is the best in the division. Every time the UFC gives him a challenge he literally crushes them (Maybe that is just because he is laying on them). Seriously, GSP is often criticized for his wrestling ability and some fans give him a hard time. The way I look at it, it’s his opponents that should have judgment passed on them for their lack of wrestling ability and inability to stop a takedown.

People are failing to notice how amazing GSP can pass a guard, get a takedown and just completely overwhelm his opponent. Regardless of what you think he holds a MMA record of 20-2, has not lost in 3 years and has defeated 12 top ten opponents. No one in the WW division has any credentials like that.

In terms of fighting strategy GSP & Fitch share the same style these days, both like to take their opponents down to the canvas and utterly take control. While both share the same fashion, they also share the same criticism. Fitch is ranked in the top ten pound for pound fighters; he will continue to be if he continues his reign amongst the top of the division.

Fitch has gone an amazing 12-1 inside the Octagon, but he has not finished an opponent in almost three years. The only thing I have to add to Fitch being at #2 is that I think Thiago Alves might be able to defeat him. Yeah, I know Fitch beat Alves four years ago, but that was four years ago. They are scheduled to meet again at UFC 115 (if no more injuries occur to both parties), so maybe then the #2 and #3 division leaders will be switched.

I cannot find too much of an argument for the top three. These guys will be found along the top of every ranking on the net. Thiago Alves is a huge 170 lb. fighter and is a deadly striker; if he masters some takedown defense he could very well squeak by Jon Fitch and become the #2 WW. Alves was on a three year winning streak until he fought GSP at UFC 100. After the man overcame brain surgery I do not see too many stopping him.

Josh Koscheck comes in at #4 on MMATorch's list. He is really the most inconsistent fighter on the list. Koscheck is more of a stepping stone fighter than anything in the UFC. He loses to all the great fighters and he beats some up and comers and the occasional old man (Frank Trigg). I really do not see why he is so high on the list. While I can say that he should be on the list, I just don't think he should be so high. He has not really defeated any great fighter. If he is able to use his wrestling to his advantage and get a win over Paul Daley his argument can be made for his ranking.

There is no doubt that Nick Diaz is one of the most hated/loved fighters in all of MMA. His help in the gang assault of Jason Miller Saturday does nothing but prove my point. I know there is plenty talk of the man being in some internet’s site pound for pound list, but honestly the man fights nobodies.

He has not fought a top ten fighter in three years, and even then he got caught on so much marijuana that it was literally off the chart. He is really going to have to step up his competition level. While he is fighting the best that Strikeforce and DREAM are throwing at him; the UFC owns 90% of the top ten lists. That makes it difficult to get a legitimate opponent outside of the Zuffa umbrella. He will continue to fight the lower class fighters until he tries to step inside the Octagon again. That is why he should be lower on the WW rankings.

Paulo Thiago has worked really hard to get on the list and has an amazing record of 13-1. His only defeat is by the hands of Jon Fitch at UFC 100. I think that at the moment Thiago is in the running for a title shot. He has been fighting some top tier guys and makes his case to be higher on the rankings. If he is able to take out Martin Kampmann at UFC 115, he might be the next opponent for GSP. Or how nice would it be to have one #1 contender fight with the winner of Kampmann vs Thiago taking on the winner Fitch vs Alves? Or would you like to see the winner of Koscheck vs Daley thrown into the mix as well? Choices... choices... choices...

The first British fighter on the list is Paul Daley. Daley has been crippling his competition in the Octagon. The man is for real and has a deadly left. Let’s hope that he can make weight this time when he faces Josh Koscheck at UFC 113.

In his last four fights he has not let his opponent go longer than three minutes with him in the first round before destroying them. I like Daley around this spot on the list; until he fights and beats a legit wrestler that is. The only reason I say that is so we can make sure he has some type of takedown defense in case he has to fight GSP one day.

Right behind Daley lays GSP’s latest opponent Dan Hardy. While I think Dan Hardy might have some overrated power in his hands there is no questioning his dedication to MMA and his heart. The man literally almost had his arm broken twice and never even got close to tapping. He is on the path to becoming a great WW and maybe even one day a champion.

I know he won over many fans in his latest fight against GSP. I have no idea who the UFC will match him up with next, though. He might fight the loser of Koscheck vs Daley; since all of the other top tier fighters are already bound to fight someone. I would really like to see how he would fair out against Ben Saunders personally. Saunders might not be on the top ten, but how exciting of a fight would these two make. Hardy needs to simply continue to do what he is doing, he is on the right path.

At #9 on the list we have Martin Kampmann. Kampmann is a newer WW and has gone 3-1 since dropping from middleweight. Apparently many people have been so impressed with him and that is why you find him on the list. His only defeat at WW was by a staggering left from Paul Daley (kind of a controversial TKO since Kampmann was still standing, but regardless he was going to go to sleep sooner or later) If Kampmann is able to pull off a win over Paulo Thiago at UFC 115 it might move him further up the rankings, but I doubt it!

Last on the list we have Carlos Condit. I really do not see much reason to put Condit on the list. He is really not fighting any tough competition in the UFC. While he did fight Kampmann, that has been his only high class fight. In my opinion he needs a couple more wins to become a legit WW.

Now for some guys we missed. My first guy has got to be Jake Shields. MMATorch has rules to rankings and so there is no confusion in weight categories we do not rank fighters that compete in different weight classes other than the one they hold their belt in. I am going to have to bend the rule on this one.

Shields dominated a 185 lb. legend in Dan Henderson Saturday night. Shields is a WW fighter, but due to no competition and not wanting to fight his fellow training partner Nick Diaz, Shields moved to middleweight. Simply put if the man can dominate in that weight class just imagine what he can do to the guys his own size. While I do not think Shields would give too much threat to GSP it would definitely be a great technical fight. I hope Shields joins the UFC after defeating Henderson so we can rest from the speculation and actually see how he would fair out against some great fighters. I am sure he will drop to his normal weight and fight once again at WW

Now that I have broken down the fighters in the top ten rankings, let me give you mine as they stand today.

1. Georges St-Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Thiago Alves
4. Paulo Thiago
5. Dan Hardy
6. Jake Shields
7. Paul Daley
8. Josh Koscheck
9. Nick Diaz
10. Martin Kampmann

That is what I think of the WW division. Let me know what you think of MMATorch’s rankings and my personal rankings? What changes would you make to the division rankings? You can either email me at LarLLeet@yahoo.com or leave a comment on MMATorch.com's reader comment area. Thanks for all the feedback.