GSP's new foe for UFC 137? Fellow Greg Jackson charge Carlos Condit. | Photo: Dave Mandel
Welterweight
The UFC’s welterweight king has a new challenger to his throne. After Nick Diaz failed to appear at a pair of September press conferences, UFC moved Carlos Condit to the top contender spot. GSP and Condit will now face off in the main event of UFC 137 on Oct. 29.
2. Jon Fitch (23-3-1, 1 NC)
Following shoulder surgery, Fitch is ready to return to the Octagon. The perennial welterweight second banana was vocal in his desire to compete in his adopted backyard of San Jose, Calif., but will instead tangle with two-time NCAA wrestling champion Johny Hendricks in Las Vegas on Dec. 30.
3. Jake Shields (26-5-1)
Shields could not top Georges St. Pierre in April, but he is staying active against serious welterweights. In a battle of like-named welterweights, Shields will meet heavy-hitting Nebraskan wrestler Jake Ellenberger on Sept. 17.
4. Josh Koscheck (15-5)
After having his orbital bone smashed in his unsuccessful UFC title bid in December against Georges St. Pierre, Koscheck is ready to return to the Octagon. Like his teammate, Jon Fitch, Koscheck was interested in a bout in San Jose, Calif., but has instead opted to take a short-notice assignment against Matt Hughes, filling in for Diego Sanchez in the co-main event of Sept. 24’s UFC 135.
5. Nick Diaz (25-7, 1 NC)
The welterweight class’ preeminent bad boy was ushered out of his much-anticipated UFC title shot against Georges St. Pierre after skipping a pair of promotional press conferences in September. The Stockton, Calif., representative will still make his Octagon return at UFC 137, however, against former dual-division champ B.J. Penn.
6. Carlos Condit (27-5)
Condit had been moving ever-closer to a UFC title shot with brutal finishes of Dan Hardy and Dong Hyun Kim. Then, suddenly, he was there. When Nick Diaz was yanked from his Oct. 29 championship tilt with Georges St. Pierre, Condit was called upon to meet the dominant Canadian champion, an honor which moved the “Natural Born Killer” to tears, according to UFC boss Dana White.
7. Charlie Brenneman (14-2)
One of the UFC welterweight division's new standouts, "The Spaniard" took a tough fight on short notice with Rick Story and came out on top in June. Next on tap for Brenneman is another tall task, as he meets the physically potent Anthony Johnson at UFC Live on Oct. 1.
8. Rick Story (13-4)
Story might have lost a decision to Charlie Brenneman in June, but the gritty Oregonian is not taking any softballs. "The Horror" Story will step back into the Octagon at UFC 139 on Nov. 19 against skilled Dane Martin Kampmann.
9. B.J. Penn (16-7-2)
Healed from a shoulder injury, “The Prodigy” was all set for a clash with Carlos Condit at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas. When Condit was promoted to main-event status against Georges St. Pierre, Penn was paired with GSP’s former dance partner, Nick Diaz.
10. Johny Hendricks (11-1)
On Aug. 6, Hendricks showed off improved boxing and clinch work to earn a hard-fought split decision win over an equally tough Mike Pierce. The two-time NCAA wrestling champion will have a chance to move even higher up in the 170-pound rankings on Dec. 30 when he meets perennial contender Jon Fitch.
Other contenders: Thiago Alves, Ben Askren, Rory MacDonald, Diego Sanchez, Tyron Woodley.
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