The UFC welterweight division at 170 pounds is one of the most competitive in the sport. Leon Edwards holds the belt after his stunning knockout of Kamaru Usman, and the contender picture features a blend of elite wrestlers, precision strikers, and dangerous submission threats.
UFC Welterweight Champion
Leon Edwards (c) — Record: 22-3. Rocky’s rise to the championship was completed with one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history. The Jamaican-born British fighter has since defended the belt and proven himself to be a complete mixed martial artist — patient, technical, and dangerous in every phase.
Top 10 Welterweight Contenders
#1 — Belal Muhammad
The Remember the Name fighter has grinded his way to the top of the welterweight ladder with relentless pressure, elite wrestling, and a high-volume attack that wears opponents down. Muhammad’s consistency and activity make him the mandatory challenger, and his style matchup against Edwards is genuinely intriguing.
#2 — Kamaru Usman
The Nigerian Nightmare remains one of the most accomplished welterweights in UFC history. With five successful title defenses and a resume that includes victories over virtually every top contender of his era, Usman’s path back to the belt runs through a rematch with Edwards. His wrestling-centric dominance is still the blueprint at 170.
#3 — Colby Covington
Chaos brings elite wrestling from the American Kickboxing Academy system and a cardio engine that never quits. Whether you love him or hate him, Covington’s ability to control pace, dictate where fights happen, and implement a smothering pressure game makes him a legitimate threat to anyone at 170.
#4 — Gilbert Burns
Durinho is among the most technically sound welterweights in the division. His Brazilian jiu-jitsu is world class, and he’s added a dangerous boxing game that makes him a threat on the feet as well. Burns has been fighting near the top of the division for years and refuses to fade.
#5 — Vicente Luque
The Silent Assassin lives up to his nickname with a finishing instinct that few fighters at any weight class can match. Luque’s aggressive jiu-jitsu and heavy striking create constant danger for opponents, and his willingness to accept hard fights keeps him in the contender conversation.
#6 — Sean Brady
Brady has been quietly building one of the better resumes in the welterweight division. His wrestling and ground-and-pound approach grind opponents down systematically, and his undefeated record outside of one loss to Muhammad speaks to consistent execution at a high level.
#7 — Ian Garry
The Future is putting together the pieces of a potential championship run. The Irish striker combines long reach, precise boxing, and the movement skills to make opponents miss. Still developing as a complete mixed martial artist, but the ceiling is extremely high.
#8 — Geoff Neal
Handz of Steel carries legitimate knockout power in both hands, making him a constant threat to anyone at 170. Neal’s willingness to throw heavy leather in every exchange and his chin make him one of the most dangerous fighters to be matched against anywhere in the division.
#9 — Jack Della Maddalena
The Australian knockout artist has made a significant impression since arriving in the UFC. His clean, precise punching with knockout power in either hand and composure under pressure mark him as a future title contender if he continues developing at his current rate.
#10 — Shavkat Rakhmonov
Nomad has been perfect in his UFC tenure. The Kazakh fighter combines devastating grappling with powerful striking and an almost supernatural finishing ability — he has yet to go to a decision in the octagon. A top-five matchup will define just how high his ceiling really is.
Division Outlook
The title picture at welterweight centers on the Edwards vs. Muhammad matchup. Muhammad has done everything asked of him to earn a shot, and Edwards will need to be at his best to retain against a fighter built to exploit any weakness. Usman lurks as the potential rematch opponent should Edwards get through Muhammad.
The deeper contender pool is fascinating — Rakhmonov’s unbeaten record and finishing ability make him a wildcard who could jump the line with a marquee victory, and Garry vs. Covington would produce fireworks and a major ranking jump for the winner.
Main Card Media Take
Welterweight has depth, intrigue, and legitimate finishers throughout the top ten. Edwards has proven himself as a champion who can adapt, and the challengers coming for his belt are genuine threats. This division delivers compelling main events consistently.
Rankings updated April 2026. Follow @MainCard_Media for live updates and fight night coverage.
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