By MATT MOLGAARD
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer

By now it’s no secret that Georges “Rush” St. Pierre has proven king of the welterweight mountain. From Jon Fitch to BJ Penn, and damn near every legitimate welterweight contender to speak of, St. Pierre has disposed of the division’s upper echelon. However, times are changing, and new threats are emerging.

While I’m inclined to include a rematch in this list, make no mistake, there is fresh blood in the division that may be able to cause St. Pierre to stumble.

It takes a certain skill set and demeanor to oppose the champion, and I believe we’re seeing an influx of the perfect competitors to shake things up in St. Pierre’s perfectly successful world.

5. Jon Fitch:

Fitch is the only man to make this list to have already shared cage time with the dominant champion. While Fitch was thoroughly outclassed, he refused to succumb to the champion’s onslaught, and sought to win the fight, even the face of utter destruction. Fitch is, in my personal opinion, still improving. He’s also one of the extremely few welterweights that can match GSP’s cardiovascular level.

A different game plan will no doubt be required if Fitch hopes to find more success than he managed at UFC 87, but Jon is an intelligent fighter, and I find it unlikely that he’ll attempt the same failing game plan twice. Major adjustments need be made, but Fitch is the owner of determination and grit; two things that may leave GSP a bit befuddled.

4. Carlos Condit:

Condit sure doesn’t appear the menace to dethrone St. Pierre, but looks can be awfully deceiving. Condit’s greatest weapon is his ruthlessness inside the cage. You can control Carlos, you can pound on Carlos, but if Carlos has the opportunity to unleash a barrage of strikes, believe he’s aiming for the jugular, and he’s got enough power to render just about any man at 170 pounds unconscious.

The interesting element of this potential clash however, lies within the grappling sure to unfold. Condit’s wrestling is far from his strong point, and he’s been known to be susceptible to elite wrestlers. That said, he’s got an extremely dangerous guard and extremely slick sweeps. If a submission window opens, “The Natural Born Killer” will leap through.

3. Anthony Johnson:

There’s no denying that “Rumble” is still rough around the edges. There’s refinement to be made still, but there’s promise that very few athletes possess; this man could develop into St. Pierre’s physical equal, as outlandish as that sounds.

Johnson’s striking is particularly lethal; he’s fast, powerful, and extremely rangy for a welterweight. He’s proven time and again that he’s more than capable of rendering opponents unconscious with fist or foot. He’s also the owner of an impressive wrestling pedigree. Though much more effective on the offense, he’s developing defensive wrestling skills constantly.

In a year, “Rumble” may be the one to equal GSP’s brilliance.