The Beaten Path: 5 Welterweights the UFC Should Sign Now

Another week, another continuation of the self-proclaimed best series on the Internet. That's right, the "Prospects the UFC Should Sign" series is back with a vengeance. We left off with the middleweights, and now, we move on to the welterweight division.

The welterweight division is one of the most stacked and talent-laden divisions in the UFC and all of MMA. The landscape has greatly changed as well, as Robbie Lawler is now the UFC champ and has a bevy of contenders, from Rory MacDonald to former champ Johny Hendricks to Hector Lombard.

The UFC has always been focused on restocking the division on a consistent basis, snagging guys who could have been considered for this series such as Dhiego Lima, Warlley Alves, Sultan Aliev and Alan Jouban.

Even though there has been a changing of the guard, that doesn't mean we shouldn't be replenishing our welterweight talent. So, with that in mind, here are five welterweight prospects that the UFC should sign with the intent of keeping a talent-rich division.

Below are the previous installments of this series.

Heavyweight

Light Heavyweight

Middleweight

Memory Lane

ANDERS WIKLUND/Associated Press

The welterweight division is one of the most stacked divisions in MMA, so it's easy for guys to get lost in the shuffle. However, four of our previous picks in this series did find their way to the UFC.

International stars Gunnar Nelson, Alex Garcia and Cathal Pendred have all come to the company and seen various levels of success, with Nelson being the most high-profile due to headlining status. In addition to them, Kenny Robertson also made the journey back after a one-fight stint that seemed unfair when he was cut.

Then you have a guy in Ryan Ford, who is a star with WSOF now and could have been a good addition to the UFC roster. He, as well as guys like Eduard Vartanyan and Nicolas Dalby, are all still worthy of joining the company.

Here is a complete rundown of previous years' lists.

2012	2013	2014
Gunnar Nelson	Cathal Pendred	Eduard Vartanyan
Kenny Robertson	Ryan Ford	Ryan Ford
Alex Garcia	Jim Wallhead	Gael Grimaud
Chidi Njokuani	Tyler Stinson	Nicolas Dalby
Gregor Gracie	Assan Njie	Ali Arish

Nicolas Dalby

Home Country: Denmark

Team: Rumble Sports

Record: 13-0

Last Fight: Unanimous-Decision win vs. Mohsen Bahari

Danish striker Nicolas Dalby sends chills up and down my spine. That's how violent he is and how good he can be.

Dalby is known as "Sharpshooter" for good reason. He is technical and powerful on the feet, which should not overshadow his incredible striking accuracy.

He throws great combinations and oftentimes lands cleanly, inflicting a great amount of damage. That said, he has yet to be challenged by a great ground fighter, which could expose him in the long run.

However, he is somewhat reminiscent of fellow Dane Martin Kampmann, whose move to America cemented him as a top fighter and all-around mixed martial artist. The same would be beneficial to Dalby, who currently trains at Rumble Sports in Denmark.

With his record and impressive wins thus far in his career, one has to assume a spot in the UFC isn't far off. His combination of excitement and skill make him a worthy candidate for the UFC welterweight division.

Eduard Vartanyan

Home Country: Russia

Team: Fight Club No. 1

Record: 8-1

Last Fight: Knockout win vs. Artem Spichak

Welcome back to this series, Eduard Vartanyan; we missed you since last year's list left off. You are back here for good reason, sir, as you are one of the brightest welterweight prospects in the game.

Now that I've got that off my chest, we can examine why this 23-year-old Russian has "big-time player" written all over him.

Vartanyan, a rabid ground fighter, is another one of these savage Russians who secure takedowns and absolutely dismantle opponents. Since dropping his MMA debut in 2011, he has not seen another blemish on his record, destroying everyone who has stepped in his path.

A list of victims includes oversea regional staples Benjamin Brinsa and Florent Betorangal. He is getting better with each match as well, as seen in his 4-0 run in 2014.

Vartanyan is an animal, which makes for a good, exciting fighter. He continually brings the heat and always makes sure his opponent is as uncomfortable as possible. 

Max Griffin

Home Country: United States

Team: Marinoble's Martial Arts

Record: 10-1

Last Fight: Knockout win vs. Ricky Legere Jr.

A brief stint on The Ultimate Fighter should not gauge Max Griffin as a fighter. Some great fighters have failed to make the house, but still made it in the UFC. Just ask Costas Philippou, Ryan Jimmo and James Krause.

Griffin, who recently moved to 170 from 185 pounds, has been a terror on the West Coast regional scene for years now. This has been especially true since his only loss to Justin Baesman, as he has defeated the likes of Kito Andrews, Fernando Gonzalez, Buddy Wallace and Ricky Legere Jr.

Griffin loves to strike, which makes sense as he thrives at it. He is a heavy-handed assassin, throwing bombs with the aim of stealing the consciousness of his opponent. 

His submission game isn't shabby either. He doesn't display it as much as his hand game, but he will surprise you if you aren't careful with him.

Griffin deserves another chance to prove he belongs with the UFC. A 3-0 campaign in 2014 was a good start to getting back on the UFC's radar.

Danny Roberts

Home Country: England

Team: Next Generation UK

Record: 11-1

Last Fight: Knockout win vs. Jim Wallhead

The British have yet to overwhelm us with their presence in this series thus far, but Danny Roberts is looking to turn that around. That comes with good reason, as Hot Chocolate has proved to be a savage overseas.

Roberts, a monster at 170 pounds, is a physical specimen and brute, especially in the clinch. He rag-dolls guys, utilizing great knees and control to damage opponents.

He is also a powerful striker from distance and top position. He hammers on guys until they can't take it anymore. Just ask Jim Wallhead or Diego Gonzalez, who were brutalized by Roberts in horrific fashion.

He has a good submission arsenal as well, though it is much more entertaining to slam strikes off opponents head and bodies. The UFC makes yearly trips to the U.K. and has reset its foothold in Ireland, which means there are plenty of opportunities to sign Roberts and throw him on a card.

Borys Mankowski

Home Country: Poland

Team: Ankos Zapasy Poznan

Record: 16-5-1

Last Fight: Submission win vs. David Zawada

Poland is a land of untapped potential. A number of great fighters there could benefit the top MMA organizations going forward.

One great fighter from that country is Borys Mankowski, a grappler known for his submission prowess and heavy ground game. He has oftentimes bullied men on the ground to great success.

Known as The Tasmanian Devil, he fights up to his nickname, as he is frantic and relentless. He has been that way since his 2008 debut and hasn't stopped since.

He is a veteran of the prestigious KSW organization in Poland, where he has put together some great wins. This has reversed a skid he had in the middle of his career, which proves that he has gotten better since those hard times.

Given his recent performances and finishing ability, he is definitely a welterweight with great upside. Not only that, but he is 25 years old, so there is probably a lot of gas left in the tank for this beast.