Georges St. Pierre proves again that the cream seems to be rising to the top in MMA. No fighter may be as far ahead of the competition as GSP currently is, dispatching his four biggest challengers under Zuffa contract in his last four fights and making it look relatively easy. While few think there are a lot of stiff challenges awaiting Mr. GSP, the WW is still a tight one. Much like middleweight, the division has a clear cut champion and then a lot of contenders a few steps behind.
- Georges St. Pierre – It is hard to complain about GSP and it is even harder to find faults in him. He is a world-class athlete, ambassador for the sport, and a smart business man when it comes to his career. Not too keen to jump up in weight, GSP knows that being the most dominant WW of all time is his first priority and superfights should not be taken lightly.
- Jon Fitch – Fitch may have been beat up for 25 minutes against GSP but he showed grit in that fight that few fighters can claim. On top of that he appears to have gotten over the loss and continued to improve his game. I have this feeling that Fitch is going to be champion one of these days but I fear GSP might have to move on or slip up before it can really happen.
- Thiago Alvez – Alvez didn’t have as much to offer GSP as many had hoped but he hung in there. This is a really dangerous fighter with tons of potential in the future. Fitch and Alvez will likely have to meet again one day and I think that is a whole new, completely different fight now.
- Mike Swick – Swick has been fairly fortunate with his match-ups and that might continue until he gets a title shot. I don't buy the hype but as long as he keeps winning I can't deny him the spot.
- Josh Koscheck – I can’t decide if I love or hate Kos. He rubs me the wrong way sometimes but his talent and potential are fascinating to me. He also seems to genuinely love the ride he is on, we should all be so lucky. I think head to head I would count him the 4th or 5th best WW in the world, which is why I am willing to overlook spotty year or two and put him in the middle of the pack.
- Dan Hardy – I am not a big Dan Hardy fan and I am not even sure I believe he is a true top 10 fighter but I am at least listening now. He gets counted out of about every fight he is in and he keeps coming up with the wins. He is now one more underdog win away from the ultimate mismatch.
- Jay Hieron – I know his wins are of questionable quality but the guy is riding a solid win streak. There is no way in hell he should be out of the top ten, especially if you remove Shields from the equation. I for one look forward to him getting stiffer competition in the future but a move to the UFC might be the only way to make that happen.
- Paul Daley – Daley made me a believer with his win over Kampmann. The stand-up explosiveness he posses might not really be matched in the division. Another great pick-up for the most powerful company in MMA, Daley should prove a stiff challenge to almost anyone in the division.
- Martin Kampmann – Inconsistency has riddled Kampmann in his UFC run, despite what weight class he has fought at. As soon as people start to recognize him as a serious contender he drops a fight quickly. That said, he is still a well rounded fighter with a lot of room to grow. Kampmann is at a crossroads that could decide weather he is a middle of the road journeyman or a legit contender.
- Carlos Condit – There is something to be said for losing in an entertaining fashion. Condit ran the show in the WEC before being matched up with Kampmann. After a match of the year candidate fight he edged out a decision over Jake Ellenberger to gain some momentum back. Condit now realizes that the UFC is not the WEC and he has to develop more skils if he is going to compete.
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