170lbs of Gold: Five greatest Welterweights in UFC history
Posted on October 30, 2012, 07:46 PM by Anton Gurevich
In three weeks' time, Georges St. Pierre will return to the cage again, with sights on solidifying his spot as the greatest Welterweight in UFC history, and one of the top Pound-for-Pound fighters in the sport today. St. Pierre's path of destruction is a long list of top UFC 170-pounders, making the French-Canadian one of the most dominant champions in UFC history.
Welterweight is arguably one of the most stacked weight classes in the UFC. St. Pierre's run of six consecutive title defenses made it a one man's kingdom.
Here are the top 5 Welterweights in Ultimate Fighting Championship history, from BJ Penn to Georges St. Pierre:
1. Georges St. Pierre
Reigning UFC Welterweight champion. The man, the myth, the legend - Georges "Rush" St. Pierre. Carlos Condit will be a serious threat to break the hearts of millions MMA fans around the world, but still, GSP is a clear favorite to win this fight. Condit lives up to his name as a "Natural Born Killer" with an impressive highlight reel of KO/TKO finishes. St. Pierre is often criticized by fans and the media for not showing the killer instinct he had in fights with Matt Hughes and Matt Serra, but on a night like this, 18 months after his last fight, anything can happen. With six consecutive title defenses, and 2 victories over the #2 in this list, GSP is without a doubt the greatest Welterweight in UFC history.
2. Matt Hughes
I think it's safe to say that Matt Hughes passed the torch to GSP back at 79. GSP has more consecutive title defenses than Matt Hughes, but the UFC Hall of Fame member is leading with a total of seven title defenses. If St. Pierre is victorious against Carlos Condit, he will only tie Hughes' incredible record. Hughes himself stated in a recent interview with MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani that he considers Georges St. Pierre to be the greatest Welterweight in UFC history, simply because the French-Canadian beat him twice.
3. Pat Miletich
Miletich is a true pioneer of this sport. The Croatian Sensation was the first ever UFC Welterweight champion, with four consecutive title defenses. Pat Miletich a new type of fighting inside the Octagon, with elite grappling skills and effective striking. This knowledge eventually contributed to Miletich's status as one of the top coaches in the game. That was an era of fighters like Bas Rutten, Ken and Frank Shamrock, Tito Ortiz, and other legends that helped to build the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
4. Jon Fitch
Jon Fitch is simply unlucky for being in the same division with Georges St. Pierre. He never won the UFC Welterweight title, but his record speaks for itself. Eight consecutive victories between 2005 and 2008, and another five (one no contest) between 2009 and 2011. The only fighters to ever beat Jon Fitch in the UFC are GSP and Johny Hendricks, who will fight at UFC 154 against Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann. Fitch got himself back on track against Erick Silva, but only time will tell if he still has what it takes to make another run for a shot at the title.
5. BJ Penn
Just like Pat Miletich, BJ Penn is one of the originals. Stripped off his title following the move to K-1, Penn wasn't able to maintain consistency in the division, similar to Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre. There are many other fighters who could be at #5 - Diego Sanchez, Josh Koscheck, Martin Kampmann, and many others. The truth is, BJ Penn's Octagon presence, and the fact that he was moving up from Lightweight to fight those wars with GSP (well, sans UFC 94), Matt Hughes and Nick Diaz, just prove that he's definitely one of the greatest fighters to ever compete at this weight class.
Comments
did you forget jon fitch and bj penn fought???
and that bj penn actually held the welterweight tittle??
so please answer me why is he below fitch??
170 pounds of gold hu?
fitch is worthy of being in that spot. plus i thought fitch won that fight
Because Fitch lost a garbage decision to him? He has about ten times the win at 170 BJ does? He punched BJ in the face close to 100 times in a 5 minute period?
Any of those would do.
Penn said after the Fitch fight he tought he lost the fight. If this fight went to five rounds Fitch was beating Penn even more
Yep.
Before I clicked the link to this list, I said the Croatian sensation better be on it, or I riot good job Anton. It think Sakurab should be on this list, he did have a fight in the UFC so does that qualify him to make the list?
Wasn't at 170 Dave (HW). I actually think he never had a 170 lb fight in his career. He definitely could have fought there, but never did (as PRIDE really had no 170 lb division to speak of).
I knew he fought at HW in the ufc, he was around 170ish for a good chunk of his caree. even though they didnt have that division in pride.
BJ held the belt and fitch did not...end of story.
Dave Menne held the 185 lb belt, and Yushin Okami did not. End of story?
Not only did he hold the belt but he killed the #2 on the list TWICE. He also is the only guy to arguably beat GSP in a decision (harder than finishing him).
The Fitch fight but them at a stalemate but it was ONLY the cardio which evened it out, if it was decided purely on fighting ability then Penn would be the victor.
IMO, Penn at #3
Oh, its only cardio you're right. Cardio has nothing to do with fighting ability in MMA. You're on a roll lately young buck.
Menne = P4P all time GOAT
thealex: Anybody looking at the fight objectively thought it was at least a draw. Bj won the first. Second could go either way (and stats point to Fitch), and the third was a 10-8. for Fitch. Put em in against each other in a 5 round fight, and BJ gets stopped in the 4th.
Evan is right !!
yea i had the fightt 29 27 fitch
Wasn't that also BJ's first fight back at WW after getting dismantled twice by a smaller dude? I know it is hard to factor in the mental aspect and it may not have even played a part but you have to think that a second fight might be more in BJ's favor. He seriously needs to start doing some heavy interval training though.
First one back was the Hughes KO Choke, but I see where you're going.
It would have definitely been nice to see BJ take the conditioning part of MMA more seriously at some point. Who knows? Maybe he surprised us against Rory. I know I'll be going apeshit for him.
touche, that is right. Mentally he should have been soaring after that Hughes fight.
Penn won the first two rounds and gassed the third **** your stats dryhumping doesnt win rounds he never had gold,you cant put a guy whos never been champ above a champ no matter what the record is I think Randy Couture is in top ten of all time list his record=crap.Last two on list backwards.Penn4 Fitch 5.The End..
Those stats you hate say that Fitch punched BJ 143 times in the third round. He folded BJ up like a lawnchair and beat the holy hell out of him. Penn later said it "felt like he'd been hit by a truck". Dryhumping indeed.
But besides that, do you seriously mean to tell me that you think Matt Serra is a better fighter than Jon Fitch? He had the belt too.
As much as I hate it, dry humping actually does win rounds...
That's just not right... 1. GSP, 2. Matt Hughes, 3.BJ Penn, 4. Jon Fitch, 5.Pat Miletich
Jon Fitch is top 5 most boring fighters, not top 5 greatest...
@highkick12
Are you saying that his last fight was boring too??
I am sure you watch wrong sport.... Jon Fitch vs Erick Silva was a sick fight
So that 1 fight defines his whole career?? i dont think so.. fitch HAS BEEN a CRAP fighter throughout his entire career and is just now starting to turn things around. (which does not guarantee he wont dry hump the next 10 fights). BJ has been in WARS and won MANY, held the BELT (not to mention he moved up to get that belt) Their fight was a clear Draw BJ won the first and second. Just cause Fitch punched BJ a thousand times in the third does not mean he "won". He lost the first two rounds its as simple as that and thats only cause BJ gassed.... There is no way Fitch tops BJ on this list, it's nonsense...
Do a few 'boring' fights where his opponent refuses to do anything but cling on and stifle the match reflect it either?
OH has FITCH been a CRAP fighter THROughout his CAREER?
Bj has been in wars, and lost more than Fitch. He held the belt, and never defended it. Same as Matt Serra (who has a win over the first person on this list and a close split decision with the second). There fight was only a draw if you give BJ the second round, and that is an extremely close call.
BJ is 2-4-1 in his UFC career at WW. Fitch is 13-2-1. BJ has two wins over Matt Hughes. Jon has wins over Alves, Diego, Pierce, and Silva who are all extremley fighters today.
The fact is, BJ being on a list of the best "welterweights" in UFC history is probably a mistake.
Yes BJ lost more than Fitch... but even most of the fights he lost TRUMP any Fitch fight... and again BJ is a natural LW he moved UP and took the belt, that by itself is impressive. Not to mention BJ beat Matt Hughes in his PRIME to take that belt! When Matt was the baddest MOFO at WW.
your only as good as your last fight apparently look at Condit most lethal fighter out there, and all he gets now is being called the runner/chicken/marathon man
@azzkika
Good point.
Dude please.. if there was any hesitation from any of Fitch his opponents tot engage it was cause they were anticipating his T.D. attempts to put them on their back and dry hump the living shit out of them....
This is just a list of someone's top 5. It is hard to compare yesteryears WWs with those of today as the game has moved on so much.
For someone who says Fitch has been a crap fioghter throughout his career they should get planning permission and rent out that empty space between their ears.
no hate just facts... the ONLY person Bj Penn beat at 170 in ufc history is Matt Hughes. His record at WW is 2-4-1
I think he beat Duane Ludwig at WW.
The top two are indisputable.
If Saku fought at his natural class of WW then he would be on this list
I am not sure BJ should be on this list at all. He has done some very impressive things but not too much at WW. He has had some very close decision losses at that wt against some very good guys but few wins. All time greats, probably. He was very impressive in his loss to Machida and has wins in three wt classes. Not too shabby. If he had stuck to one or two wt classes and worked his way up in WW he would no doubt be one of the biggest living legends in the world.
I agree. BJ is something of an enigma. I think the author puts him on because he beat Hughes more than once and Hughes is on this list.
One thing about BJ for sure is he would probably fight anyone given the chance, even JDS. His showing against Machida was astounding when you consider just how good Machida is. I don't think he should make the top 5 list as I can think of more than WWs who would beat him at WW in his prime but with that said he was a natural LW and I think of them WWs he would beat most of them if they fought at LW in his prime.
Penn's record on the surface looks not half as good as it should for the simple reason the guy kept going up fighting top tier guys who were bigger than him and then had the misfortune of being around when the p4p #1 came along named Edgar. If you look closely at his resume, even today there is probably no fighter who can match it for quality as he fought the best of the best often giving up physical disadvantages. People dribble and flame about Silva but he doesn't go up and fight the Jones or JDS's of the MMA world unlike BJ and Penns record on balance is definately top 5 of all UFC fighters thus far IMO despite the losses. Had he stayed at LW he would still be the man to beat aside from Edgar.
So while he probably doesn't deserve a spot on this list, he is definately worthy on the list of top 5 fighters in UFC history.
Agreed
Penns on the list cause hes one of the best regardless of weight division he comes out to fight no dryhumping pointjabbing game plan he goes for it he beat Hughes in his prime lost a close decision with GSP and hes the only other fighter besides GSP to not get dryhumed in into decision victory by Fitch witch he won in my opinion 2 rounds to 1.He deserves a spot on this list because hes a main event fighter all his loses are to champs even Diaz was champ were he came from.