UFC 137 Results: Nick Diaz, BJ Penn and the Top 10 Welterweights in the UFC

On Saturday night, two of the top 10 welterweights in the world were in action in the main event of UFC 137, as former welterweight and lightweight champion BJ Penn faced off against Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz.

This fight would likely determine who gets the next shot at GSP after Carlos Condit, but things got switched up.

After Nick Diaz earned a unanimous decision over BJ Penn, it was announced at the post-fight press conference that it would be Diaz, not Condit, who gets the next shot at GSP.

It wasn't just because of his performance against Penn, but it was what Diaz said when he had the microphone that really earned him the fight, as GSP was furious at being called out.

This fight will be great. But it's time to see where Diaz truly ranks in the welterweight division.

No. 10: Rory MacDonald

Rory MacDonald finally makes his way into the top 10 welterweights in MMA.

This spot could have gone to many other fighters, like Martin Kampmann or Anthony Johnson, but due to how close MacDonald's fight with Carlos Condit was, he gets the nod.

MacDonald is 12-1 in MMA, currently on a two-fight win streak with wins over Nate Diaz and Mike Pyle.

His next fight will be against Brian Ebersole at UFC 140.

No. 9: Diego Sanchez

Diego Sanchez is 2-1 in his return to the welterweight division and has won two in a row, both of which earned Fight of the Night honors.

Sanchez' last two fights have both been unanimous decision victories over Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann, who are both formidable fighters.

Diego was supposed to face Matt Hughes at UFC 135, but an injury forced him to pull out. He is likely out until February of 2012.

No. 8: Jake Shields

Jake Shields is currently on a two-fight losing streak, but he is still one of the best fighters in the world today.

He made his UFC debut at UFC 121, where he earned a split decision victory over Martin Kampmann and earned a shot at the welterweight title.

He lost via unanimous decision to GSP, and then he was knocked out in under a minute by Jake Ellenberger.

Therefore, he drops down from the No. 3 spot and finds himself at No. 8.

No. 7: Jake Ellenberger

Here we have the man who knocked out Jake Shields: Jake Ellenberger.

In addition to his win over Shields, Ellenberger has also defeated Mike Pyle, John Howard and Carlos Eduardo Rocha.

Ellenberger was originally slated to fight Sanchez at UFC 141, but the Diego's hand injury has prevented that matchup from taking place.

Look for a fight with a top contender for Ellenberger.

No. 6: Carlos Condit

Some may be surprised to see Condit this low, but if you really look at the opponents he's beaten, you'll understand why he's here.

He is a top fighter and could definitely have had a great fight with GSP, but for now he remains here.

He was originally going to have the next shot at the welterweight title and GSP, but he agreed to step aside to allow the GSP-Nick Diaz fight to occur.

Condit will fight next at the card on Super Bowl weekend.

No. 5: Josh Koscheck

At UFC 135, Josh Koscheck got back in the win column with a first-round knockout of a legend, Matt Hughes.

Koscheck had been out since his five-round unanimous decision loss to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129.

When GSP was forced out of his fight with Carlos Condit, Koscheck was quick to step up, but he was not given the call and Condit was pulled from the card altogether.

Koscheck clearly just wants to get out there and fight, and you've got to respect that warrior spirit.

No. 4: BJ Penn

On Saturday night, BJ Penn lost a three-round unanimous decision to Nick Diaz and afterwards said he was going to retire.

We can't be totally sure if Penn was serious and if he'll stick to his word or not, but until we have definitive confirmation, Penn will remain in the rankings.

He may be 1-1-1 in his last three at welterweight, but all three of those fights came to some of the top guys in the division.

Penn is, and will continue to be, a top fighter.

No. 3: Jon Fitch

It has finally happened. Jon Fitch is not the No. 2 welterweight in the world.

In Fitch's last fight, he fought to a three-round draw with BJ Penn. Before that, he was on a five-fight winning streak, all of which were unanimous decisions.

Fitch has long been looking for a title shot. Before it was not even a question of who the No. 2 welterweight was, but now finally he doesn't have the top claim to a title shot.

No. 2: Nick Diaz

Nick Diaz has proven it: he is a top welterweight, and one of the best in the world.

On Saturday night, Diaz absolutely beat down Penn and handed him one of the worst losses of his career.

Not only that, but Diaz beat Penn, which Fitch, obviously, could not.

Now we'll have a clear matchup of the No. 1 and No. 2 welterweights, when Nick Diaz faces off against Georges St-Pierre on Super Bowl weekend.

No. 1: Georges St-Pierre

Shocking, right?

Georges St-Pierre is the clear No. 1 welterweight in the world, and if you don't believe me, just ask his six straight title defenses.

GSP is one of the best fighters in the world, and he'll attempt to prove it when he takes on Nick Diaz on Super Bowl weekend.

After that, he will likely face off against the winner of Carlos Condit and whoever he faces, and beyond that, it remains to be seen.