Comparing the UFC's Welterweight and Featherweight Divisions

The UFC's welterweight and featherweight divisions are two of the most promising weight classes in all of MMA.

Both divisions will showcase respective title fights this weekend at UFC 189, as Conor McGregor takes on Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight strap and Robbie Lawler defends his welterweight belt for the first time in a rematch with Canadian superstar Rory MacDonald.

Needless to say, this Saturday will offer one of the best cards of 2015. But after this blockbuster event, which one of these rosters will possess the best bang for its buck?

Look no further. Here is a look inside two of the most competitive divisions in the sport today.

Welterweight Top 5

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C. Robbie Lawler - Ruthless represents the old-school way of fighting and has returned to an elite level at the pinnacle of his career

No. 1 Johny Hendricks - Dressed with top-level power and a relentless wrestling attack, Bigg Rigg is a legitimate favorite to regain the title in 2016.

No. 2 Rory MacDonald - Hailing from Canada's Tristar Gym, where Georges St-Pierre once reigned, young Rory is attempting to forge his own Octagon legacy.

No. 3 Tyron Woodley - The Chosen One has one of the most athletic skill sets in the division today, but an inability to deal with high-ranked competition has derailed his potential.

No. 4 Carlos Condit - There's nobody quite like Condit in the welterweight division, and that's why his return to contention suggests things are about to heat up.

No. 5 Matt Brown - Easily one of the most admired fighters among UFC fans today, The Immortal has entrenched his name as a perennial contender and a natural finisher capable of knocking off anyone.

Featherweight Top 5

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C. Jose Aldo - Injuries have certainly delayed Aldo's inevitable induction into greatness, but the future showdown with McGregor still commands excitement.

No. 1 Chad Mendes - Kudos to Money for stepping in for a missing champion at UFC 189. His strong wrestling presence and evolved power punching make him a dangerous opponent for anyone on this list.

No. 2 Frankie Edgar - The former UFC lightweight champion has been waiting patiently to be rewarded with his second featherweight title shot, but a fast-talking Irishman and a stocky Californian have thwarted his plans.

No. 3 Conor McGregor - With the potential to become the UFC's biggest star since Chuck Liddell, Anderson Silva, Brock Lesnar and St-Pierre, McGregor needs to put his money where his mouth is. Knocking off Mendes this weekend would be the perfect start.

No. 4 Ricardo Lamas - Lost in the sauce and left out to dry, Lamas needs to shake off a recent first-round TKO defeat at the hands of Mendes to regain his once promising potential.

No. 5 Max Holloway - The new kid in town is more than capable of holding his own amongst the top five, but there are bigger names and bigger matchups at this time that will prohibit the Hawaiian from earning his shot at gold.

Welterweight Wild Cards

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Georges St-Pierre - St-Pierre would potentially come back for a monumental fight. What bigger matchup than mentor vs. apprentice opposite training partner MacDonald?

Benson Henderson - Subtracted from the lightweight title scene, Smooth has taken his championship skill set to the 170-pound roster. He has a true chance to test the division's top 10 in 2016.

Gunnar Nelson - Iceland's own Gunnar Nelson is a really good fighter. Unfortunately, his potential has yet to be recognized amongst many UFC fans. Winning his fight opposite Brandon Thatch this weekend would be a good way to change that.

Stephen Thompson - With one of the most difficult striking techniques in the division today, Wonderboy can make a serious run if his health doesn't slow him down.

Featherweight Wild Cards

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Joseph Duffy - As the last man to defeat Conor McGregor, by way of first-round submission mind you, Irish Joe represents yet another potential superstar hailing from Ireland. One who already has history with the division's hottest ticket.

Urijah Faber - Say what you will, The California Kid is still in peak shape as he continues with his role at Team Alpha Male. And with an elite arsenal at his disposal, Faber's return to 145 could resemble the one he put forth back in WEC.

Chan Sung Jung - The Korean Zombie is easily one of my personal favorites and a guy capable of contending atop the 145-pound heap right now. But the 28-year-old will be shelved until late-2016 as he takes time off to fulfill his military duties for South Korea. 

Mirsad Bektic - As the true wild card among this bunch, American Top Team's Bektic is a name to look out for in 2016. His vicious ground-and-pound and overwhelming athleticism are enough to propel him up the featherweight ladder.

Best Finishers

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With outstanding career finishing rates, Condit (93 percent through 30 victories) and McGregor (94 percent through 17 victories) are the top finishers from their respective divisions.

But it isn't just the numbers that support their individual arguments. It is their ability to finish in fashion.

Whether it is McGregor fulfilling his own predictions or Condit's uncanny ability to come from behind, both men represent the very best at implementing the kill shot.

If Notorious can finish Mendes early at UFC 189, then he would have to be considered one of the best finishers in all of MMA today, along with the likes of Ronda Rousey, Donald Cerrone and, dare I say, Yoel Romero.

Verdict

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With such a whirlwind surrounding McGregor and his meteoric rise to prominence, you would think the featherweight division would take the cake in this discussion.

On the contrary, the welterweight division offers more potential with a continuous clash between world-class veterans caught in a title round robin.

With names like Lawler, Hendricks, Condit, Brown and possibly GSP, the 170-pound roster packs much more grit than it's inferior counterpart.

The "bad blood" soap opera surrounding Aldo, McGregor, Mendes and Edgar has certainly commanded attention, but it's a moot point if the champion can't make it to the cage.

For more UFC news and coverage, follow @DHiergesell.