Welterweight fighters in MMA consistently deliver thrilling bouts on any fight night. The 170 lbs division is filled with formidable athletes from around the globe. It’s clear that among the many tough competitors at this weight, the United States boasts some of the most skilled welterweights.
In 2025 alone, several noteworthy welterweights hailing from the U.S. have stepped into the legendary Octagon and/or the SmartCage to compete. There’s also a strong likelihood that these American fighters are among the best options to consider for betting, whether or not you’re into cryptocurrency gambling.
In this article, we will countdown the top five notable American welterweights. Let’s dive right in!
Top Five Tough American Welterweights: No. 5 – Sean Brady
Starting at No. 5, we find ourselves in Philadelphia, PA, where UFC No. 2 welterweight contender Sean Brady (18-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) resides. In March, Brady traveled to London for UFC London, where he faced Leon Edwards (22-5, 1 NC MMA; 14-4, 1 NC UFC) in a highly-anticipated matchup.
Brady took the fight to the fourth round of the main event on ESPN+ before locking in a powerful guillotine choke and finishing the fight in the fourth round.
Top Five Tough American Welterweights: No. 4 – Stephen Thompson
At No. 4, we head to Simpsonville, SC, the birthplace of veteran fighter Stephen Thompson (17-8-1 MMA, 12-8-1 UFC). Thompson has participated in 25 professional MMA fights, 21 under the UFC banner. However, he’s faced challenges recently, with a record of 1-4 in his last five bouts, the sole victory coming from a TKO win in December 2022 against Kevin Holland.
Fight fans won’t have to wait long to see Thompson in action again, as he’s set to compete on July 12 in Nashville, TN against 18-fight veteran Gabriel Bonfim (17-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC).
Top Five Tough American Welterweights: No. 3 – Chris Curtis
Next, we have Chris Curtis, a 43-fight veteran and current welterweight fighter, positioned at No. 3 in our countdown. Known as “The Action Man,” Chris Curtis (31-12, 1 NC MMA, 5-4, 1 NC UFC) has secured 18 of his 31 wins via stoppage. He will be returning to the Octagon on July 12 for a welterweight matchup, marking his first fight back in this division since 2020.
Top Five Tough American Welterweights: No. 2 – Neil Magny
For our No. 2 welterweight, we travel to Denver, CO, home of Neil Magny (29-13 MMA, 22-12 UFC). He’s scheduled to fight Gunnar Nelson (19-6-1 MMA, 10-6 UFC) at UFC 318 on July 19—an exciting matchup as Magny holds the UFC record for most welterweight victories, and Nelson approaches his 26th career fight.
Top Five Tough American Welterweights: No. 1 – Thad Jean
Finally, at the top spot, we have Thad Jean from Florida, a rising star in the 2025 PFL World Tournament. Jean (10-0 MMA) has maintained an impressive undefeated record so far. In the quarterfinals, he overcame Mukhamed Berkhamov in the first round and then faced Jason Jackson, winning by split decision at PFL Nashville.
Looking ahead to August 1, Jean is set to compete for the 2025 PFL Welterweight Championship against fellow American Logan Storley (18-3 MMA), a former Bellator champion. A victory over Storley would be monumental for Jean.
