The UFC welterweight rankings often include some of the most talented fighters of all time. From the legendary days of Georges St-Pierre reigning supreme as the king of Canada to the era of “The Nigerian Nightmare” Kamura Usman, the division is always filled with some of the promotion’s most important athletes.
With that in mind, here are the official Sportsnaut rankings for the top 10 170-pound fighters right now in the UFC.
1. Jack Della Maddalena (17-2)
Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena quickly became the next big star from down under. The Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner went 7-0 inside the Octagon and under a surprise title shot when Rakhmonov was injured despite many doubters. Maddalena proved he is the total package, and a dangerous one at that, when he defeated Muhammad at UFC 315. Australia has another UFC champion.
2. Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0)
Shavkat Rakhmonov has proven over and over again that he is a future title contender at welterweight. And he solidified that fact at UFC 310 with a hard-fought win over fellow rising star Ian Garry. While he wasn’t his best version, he battled through a serious knee injury to stay unbeaten at 18-0.
Now, he moves on to a title fight with Belal Muhammad in 2025 and a chance to become the greatest athlete in Kazakhstan’s history.
3. Belal Muhammad (24-3)
You can no longer doubt the talents of Belal Muhammad. He has beaten high-level fighters like Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, Gilbert Burns, and Leon Edwards to become a UFC champion. His rise to the top is one of the best stories in the UFC. However, his time at the top of the mountain was short-lived.
Despite being a solid favorite at UFC 315, he saw his title reign end at the hands of Jack Della Maddalena. Considering how he is viewed by the UFC, he may need to win one or two fights to get another crack at the belt he once held.
4. Sean Brady (17-1)
Sean Brady has been very impressive during his nine-fight run in the UFC. Over that time, his lone loss is against current champion Belal Muhammad. At UFC Vegas 97, he scored a huge win when he earned a decisive decision victory over former title contender Gilbert Burns. It earned him a chance at former division king Leon Edwards in March. He delivered one of the best performances of his career on that night and scored a submission victory.
The Philly native could be in line for a title fight later this year.
Related: UFC tonight – Watch times, fight card, and latest betting odds for this week’s UFC card
5. Ian Machado Garry (16-1)
There has been no faster-rising star at 170 pounds over the last couple of years than Irish fighter Ian Machado Garry. The Irishman won his first eight inside the Octagon and looked better each time. However, he met his young superstar match at UFC 310 in Shakvat Rakhmonov. While he was not dominated by the top contender, he showed he still has work to do if he hopes to compete for gold.
In April, he showed further growth in his game as he used a well-rounded attack to defeat the very dangerous Brazilian Carlos Prates. It helps “The Future” hold on to his top-five spot and stay in the title hunt.
6. Leon Edwards (22-5)
Leon Edwards forever stamped his place in UFC and UK MMA history when he was able to topple division legend Kamaru Usman in 2022. His victories in the rematch and then against Colby Covington placed him among the greatest UK fighters of all time. However, all good things come to an end.
At UFC 304, his long win streak was ended by rival Belal Muhammad. He then followed that up by again being dominated by a strong grappler when he was submitted in front of his countrymen at UFC London. The former champ is now at the back of the title contention line and will have to win at least two fights to get back into the championship conversation.
7. Kamaru Usman (21-4)
For six straight years, Kamaru Usman set a legendary standard of excellence as he created a resume that will guarantee him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame. He will go down as one of the greatest welterweight fighters of all time and one of the best pound-for-pound competitors of his era. However, all good things come to an end.
Yet, despite a three-fight losing skid, the 38-year-old showed at UFC Atlanta that he is far from done. Scoring a very dominant decision win over one of the fastest rising stars in the division. While he may not fight for gold again, Usman remains an elite talent at 170 pounds.
8. Joaquin Buckley (21-7)
Joaquin Buckley has hit several bumps in the road during his UFC career. However, much of that was at middleweight. But since he made the move to 170 pounds last year, “New Mansa” went on a tear and won six straight. Three of those victories came against greats of this era, Vicente Luque, Stephen Thompson, and Colby Covington.
He got his biggest test yet when he faced division legend Kamaru Usman at UFC Atlanta. However, while he is one of the most dangerous strikers in the weight-class, the former champ exposed his major grappling deficiencies in a one-sided decision loss.
Related: How are UFC fights scored? Get everything you need to know about how to win in the Octagon
9. Michael Morales (18-0)
Ecuador’s Michael Morales is quickly becoming one of the division’s scariest fighters. After a dominant run on the regional scene, he reeled off five straight inside the Octagon, including three finishes. However, he massively grew his profile at UFC Vegas 106 when he ran through former title challenger Gilbert Burns in less than a round. The young star is becoming a big problem for those in the UFC welterweight rankings.
Related: UFC Deaths – Taking a look into the ugly and violent side of cage fighting
10. Carlos Prates (22-7)
Carlos Prates has been outstanding inside the Octagon. While he lost to fellow rising star Ian Machado Garry in April, he fought well and impressed fans. At UFC 319, he was able to bounce back from the setback with a devastating KO win over veteran Geoff Neal. He is now 5-1 in the UFC with all of them being knockouts.
