How do you Stack UFC's Welterweight Division Today?

1 GSP
2 Condit
3 Diaz
4 Hendricks
5 Ellenberger
6 Koscheck
7 Fitch
8 Kampmann
9 Shields
10 McDonald
11 Pierce
12 Alves
13 Sanchez
14 Pyle
15 Kim
16 Story
17 Brenneman
18 Neer
19 Hathaway
20 Mills

has Paulo Thiago fallen that far? Who would have thought he could be ranked behind Josh Neer?

OU wrote:

has Paulo Thiago fallen that far? Who would have thought he could be ranked behind Josh Neer?

Yes, he has hit a ceiling going on 5 or 6 fights ago in my book and the improvement, no there.

wow, WW is deeper then I thought. Have to really think about if guys like Mike Pyle and Paulo Thiago should be in the top 20.

this is tough, really tough
1.GSP
2.Condit
3.Diaz
4.Ellenberger
5.Hendricks
6.Fitch
7.Kamp
8.Shields
9.Kos
10.McDonald
11.Sanchez
12.Alves
13.Kim
14.Story
15.P.Thiago
16.Pierce
17.Pyle
18.Average Joe
19.Ebersole
20.Hallman

1a. Hughes
1b. GSP
2. Condit
3. Kos
4. Diaz
5. Ellenberger
6. Hendricks
7. Fitch
8. Shields
9. Kampmann
10. MacDonald

lol, I took Penn and Hughes off my list but they could still fight and are both top 20 to me still at WW.

I could of taken Diaz off also since he makes too much money in MMA to be an MMA fighter, but I didn't.

1. GSP
2. Condit
3. Ellenberger
4. Diaz
5. Hendricks

1.GSP

1 nick diaz


Everyone else is scared to fight him.

01. Georges St. Pierre
02. Carlos Condit
03. Nick Diaz
04. Jake Ellenberger
05. Johny Hendricks
06. Jon Fitch
07. Josh Koscheck
08. Jake Shields
09. BJ Penn
10. Diego Sanchez

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/2/10/2788592/ufc-on-fuel-jake-ellenberger-nick-diaz-diego-sanchez-welterweight-contenders

Jake Ellenberger

Going into February, Ellenberger (26-5, 5-1 UFC) was the division's hottest challenger outside of Diaz. After dropping a tight split decision to Condit in his September 2009 debut, the 26-year-old finished four of his next five opponents by T/KO including Jake Shields in just 53 seconds last September. Even if Diaz hadn't been suspended, an argument could be made that another win would put him in title contention. Now it's undeniable he'd be the No. 1 contender.

While Condit hasn't been warm on a rematch with Ellenberger, he might not have a choice. It's unrealistic that the new champ is going to wait 10 months to fight Diaz when there's money and reputation to be made with a summer title defense. There's been some residual damage from the style in which he beat Diaz, a reason why the talk of a rematch this week made a lot of sense. Sitting on the sidelines for GSP doesn't make sense. Condit has to compete again before a title unification bout can happen.

Johny Hendricks

Following a surprising 13-second knockout of Jon Fitch in December, the Oklahoma State wrestling champion finds himself in another surprising position: title contention if Ellenberger loses. Hendricks (12-1, 7-1 UFC) has flown under some radars but since his August 2009 debut, he's only lost once in eight Octagon battles. The Fitch KO capped a big year and the Diaz situation may open up a much bigger door for him in 2012.

Jon Fitch

The poster boy for the eternal winning vs. entertainment argument, the Hendricks loss greatly hurts him if Ellenberger loses. We all know the deal: Fitch (23-4-1-1, 13-2-1 UFC) isn't a box office draw and constantly has had to defend himself for his fighting style. After his loss to GSP in his only title shot, Fitch won five in a row before going to a draw to B.J. Penn. With the defeat to Hendricks, the UFC has their out in not giving the AKA product another title opportunity, thus avoiding a potential champion that's perceived as bland. Fair? No, but it's reality.

Diego Sanchez

So what of Ellenberger's opponent this Wednesday? Would a win put Sanchez (23-4, 12-4 UFC) in Dana White's mix? It's an outside possibility as it would be his third win in a row after consecutive losses to Penn (lightweight fight) and John Hathaway. While some saw his unanimous decision win over Martin Kampmann as a gift, he also has name value and at 30 years old, White may be tempted to pull a surprise and give him a chance with an impressive win over Ellenberger.

Josh Koscheck

The outsider of the group, Koscheck (17-5, 15-5 UFC) does have consecutive wins over Matt Hughes and Mike Pierce, but the latter wasn't convincing and the fight public isn't clamoring for another Koscheck title opportunity after his eye was busted up by GSP in December 2010. Stranger things have happened, but it would take a lot for Koscheck to be considered a viable opponent for Condit this summer.

When it comes to getting a title shot, Ellenberger simply needs to follow the mantra of the late Al Davis: just win, baby.

I am now of the opinion that Diaz has hit his ceiling. Condit showed ppl how to defeat him and there are harder hitting ppl in the division than NBK. Nick, while tough and having incredible cardio has shown a major hole in his game, which is his inability to change-up his gameplan. But for now I rate it:

1. GSP
2. Condit
3. Hendricks
4. Diaz
5. Ellenberger
6. Kos
7.Fitch
8. Kampmann
9. Shields
10. McDonald

Andrew the Raider King wrote:

I am now of the opinion that Diaz has hit his ceiling. Condit showed ppl how to defeat him and there are harder hitting ppl in the division than NBK. Nick, while tough and having incredible cardio has shown a major hole in his game, which is his inability to change-up his gameplan. But for now I rate it:

1. GSP
2. Condit
3. Hendricks
4. Diaz
5. Ellenberger
6. Kos
7.Fitch
8. Kampmann
9. Shields
10. McDonald

Diaz is still a top guy and title contender in my mind, but his old questions are still there and new questions have arisen after UFC 143.

He still has not faced a high level WW with legit NCAA Wrestling credentials in a long time.

His out of Cage antics have never stopped being controversial and have stuck around longer then they should of or would be tolerated for someone else.

Diaz himself might not of hit the ceiling, his time becoming a better fighter with Ceacar Gracie's camp though.... that could be another story.

They need to have a mary go round of camp switching. Put BJ at Ceaser Gracie's, put Nick at Jacksons and GSP to Blackhouse.