The Rankings: The Welterweights: Feb 17, 2017

The Rankings are just that – The MMA Manifesto’s rankings of the best fighters in mixed martial arts today.  Check back every Monday and Friday for our rankings of a different weight class.  Next up: The Welterweight Rankings.  

Voting Panel: Jeff Fox, Daniel Vreeland, Ryan MacDonald, and Ricky Leone.

*stipulations: 1) any fighter currently suspended or 2) inactive for at least 12 months (without an upcoming fight scheduled) are excluded from the rankings

*CLICK ON FIGHTER’S NAME FOR DETAILED SCOUTING REPORT

The Welterweight Rankings

1) (Last Ranking – 1)  Tyron Woodley – UFC Welterweight Champion – 40 points (out of a possible 40)

            Record: 16-3-1
            Last Five Fights: 3-1-1
            Record vs Top 10: 2-1-1 (D-Thompson, W-Lawler, L-MacDonald, W-Condit)
            Next Fight: vs #2 Stephen Thompson – UFC 209 – Mar 4th

Thompson put it on him, but T-Wood slipped out of New York with his title still around his waist.  Barely.

2) (2) Stephen Thompson – UFC – 36 points 
            Record: 13-1-1
            Last Five Fights: 4-0-1
            Record vs Top 10: 1-0-1 (D-Woodley, W-MacDonald)
            Next Fight: vs #1 Tyron Woodley – UFC 209 – Mar 4th

Second time’s the charm for Wonderboy in title fights?

3) (3) Robbie Lawler – UFC – 31 points
           Record: 27-11 (1 No Contest)
           Last Five Fights: 4-1
           Record vs Top 10: 3-2 (L-Woodley, W-Condit, W-MacDonald, W-MacDonald, L-Larkin)
           Next Fight: TBA

His impressive and improbable run at the top is finally over.

4) (4) Demian Maia – UFC – 28 points
             Record: 24-6
            Last Five Fights: 5-0
            Record vs Top 10: 1-1 (W-Condit, L-MacDonald)
            Next Fight: TBA

Demian Maia finds himself sitting in welterweight limbo.  But he’s accepting nothing less than a title shot for his next fight.

5) (5) Rory MacDonald – Bellator – 18 points 
            Record: 18-4
            Last Five Fights: 3-2
            Record vs Top 10: 2-4 (L-Thompson, L-Lawler, W-Woodley, W-Maia, L-Lawler, L-Condit)
            Next Fight: vs Paul Daley – Bellator 179 – May 19th

A free agent no more, young Rory has jumped ship to Bellator.

6) (5) Carlos Condit – UFC – 17 points       

  
           Record: 30-10
           Last Five Fights: 2-3
           Record vs Top 10: 1-3 (L-Maia, L-Lawler, L-Woodley, W-MacDonald)
           Next Fight: TBA

After getting dominated by Demian Maia, Condit’s future in the sport is in doubt again.

7) (NR) Jorge Masvidal – UFC – 14 points
                 Record: 32-11
                Last Five Fights: 3-2
                Record vs Top 10: 1-1 (W-Cerrone, L-Larkin)
                Next Fight: TBA

14 years into his pro career, Masvidal appears to be peaking.

8) (8) Lorenz Larkin – Free Agent – 11 points 
             Record: 18-5, 1 NC
             Last Five Fights: 4-1
             Record vs Top 10: 2-0 (W-Masvidal, W-Lawler)
             Next Fight: TBA

The move down to 170-pounds was a wise one for The Monsoon.

9) (5) Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone – UFC – 9 points
            Record: 32-8, 1 NC
            Last Five Fights: 4-1
            Record vs Top 10: 0-1 (L-Masvidal)
            Next Fight: TBA

Cowboy’s hot streak at welterweight finally came to a close.

10) (10) Ben Askren – ONE FC Welterweight Champion – 8 points
                Record: 15-0, 1 NC
                Last Five Fights: 4-0, 1 NC
                Record vs Top 10: 0-0
                Next Fight: vs TBA – Apr 21st

Given his current level of competition, there’s a good chance that Funky Ben could end his career undefeated.

Dropped off: (9) Neil Magny

Bubbling under: Neil Magny, Emil Meek, Douglas Lima, Gunnar Nelson

Rankings:

Heavyweights
Light Heavyweights
Middleweights
Lightweights
Featherweights
Bantamweights
Flyweights
Women’s Bantamweights
Women’s Strawweights
Pound for Pound
Non-UFC Fighters

Check back on Monday for our Lightweight rankings