MMA Fighter Rankings: Welterweight

On the first Wednesday of every month, theScore's MMA editors compile a list of the top 10 fighters in each of the major weight classes.

Rankings
Heavyweight | Light Heavyweight
Middleweight | Welterweight
Lightweight | Featherweight
Bantamweight | Flyweight
Women: Bantamweight | Strawweight

Welterweight

• Robbie Lawler is set to defend his welterweight crown for the first time against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 in July. Lawler and MacDonald first met during Lawler's initial march to the title, when "Ruthless" emerged victorious via split decision.
• Carlos Condit made a triumphant return to the Octagon in May, crushing fellow former title challenger Thiago Alves via second round TKO. Condit horrifically broke Alves' nose during the bout, forcing doctors to mercifully put an end to the beating between the second and third frames.
• In what should be a delightful smorgasbord of ultraviolence, Matt Brown will look to halt a two-fight losing streak against Tim Means at UFC 189. The impossibly rugged Brown will likely never win the title in his career, but a win over Means would keep him in the conversation.
• World Series of Fighting 170-pound kingpin Rousimar Palhares faces his toughest test on August 1 when he takes on former Strikeforce champion Jake Shields. Shields is 2-0 since joining WSOF in 2014, notching consecutive submission victories over Ryan Ford and Brian Foster.