With the UFC and Pride FC now brought under one umbrella, everyone has been speculating about the dream match ups that now have the potential to develop. I have made my dream list and we'll see what will happen.
Chuck Liddell 20-3 vs Shogun Rua 16-2
Both these men have been nothing short of dominant in the last few years. Shogun stomped his way through 2005 winning the Middleweight Grand Prix, and then continued with 4 more wins after his freak injury loss to Mark Coleman. Only going to a decision twice in his 18 fights, Shogun is awash in amazing striking and a non-stop action pace. He has notable wins over Ricardo Arona, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and Quinton Jackson.
Chuck Liddell has not gone to a decision since 2002, and has KO'd or TKO'd his last 7 opponents, 5 while defending his Light Heavyweight title. Chuck's stock has risen to the most popular MMA fighter today, and his exciting KO reel cannot be denied. Chuck has notable wins over Randy Couture (twice), Tito Ortiz (twice), and Babalu Sobral (twice).
This fight would be the stand up war everyone was hoping to see with Wanderlei Silva before his 2 consecutive KO losses. Shogun is 10 years younger than Chuck, but age has not slowed the top Light Heavyweight in the world. There is no doubt in my mind this fight would deliver the action and draw everyone wants in a super-fight!
Wanderlei Silva 31-7-1 vs Vitor Belfort 15-8 Rematch
After his last two debilitating losses, Wand needs something big to pump up his career once again. Belfort is trying to resurrect a once promising career, that many thought would lead him to be the best in the world at 205lbs. Vitor already beat Wand in 1998 in only 44 seconds! After that fight, their careers would take different paths with Silva climbing to the top of Pride FC and winning and holding the Middleweight title for 5 years, while Vitor went on to lose his big opportunity fights against Liddell, Couture, Ortiz, and Alistair Overeem twice, in pathetic fights.
The 1st fight has been on highlight reels for years, and the 2nd could be the same. Vitor could use a win over Wand to put himself at a higher level for his comeback, and Silva could avenge his embarrassing loss, with a win over the very famous Belfort. Belfort publicly said Silva has a weak chin and is overrated after Wand's last loss to Dan Henderson. They've barked at each other in the Brazilian press for years, and this grudge match would definitely draw the fans in again.
Mirko Cro Cop 22-5-2 vs Tim Sylvia 20-3
Two of the top striking Heavyweights in the game, both coming off losses. Though unpopular, Tim has amassed a very good record and is a 2-time UFC Heavyweight champ. Cro Cop's legend proceeds him, and he is still a dangerous fighter who has shown the ability to come back stronger after a loss. Sylvia's detractors have labeled him "boring" in the past, but a bout with Cro Cop shouldn't be lackluster with Mirko refusing to allow Tim to bully him and force the action. Its the perfect time for these men to hook it up and let the gloves fly. Winner gets back in the Heavyweight title hunt.
Matt Hughes 41-5 vs Matt Lindland 20-5
I know Hughes next fight is already signed with Matt Serra, and Lindland is signed with Bodog, but its my dream fight. Back in 2005, Lindland was on a roll and claimed the UFC was having trouble finding men who wanted to fight him. After stating that (I believe at UFC 52), Hughes stepped in the Octagon and stated he would come up in weight to 185 and gladly fight Matt (he has since made more claims of wanting to go up to Middleweight). Both men are legendary collegiate wrestlers, with tons of personal pride, and the grit needed to go to the war that would develop here. You can bet that the Team Quest/Miletich Fighting System rivalry would go to a new level with two of the best pound 4 pound fighters in MMA today.
Randy Couture 15-8 vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 29-4-1
Two of the craftiest ground warriors ever to play the game going one on one. Big Nog is the ju jitsu black belt who has submitted Cro Cop and Bob Sapp, while coming closer than anyone to beating Fedor Emelianenko. A super tough chin and the ability to fight long hard fights, Nog would be up to the challenge. And how about the age defying, and now 3 time UFC Heavyweight champ? He's beaten Chuck Liddell, and embarrassed Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort, only to come back at age 43 to win his 5th title. A Greco-Roman wrestling God, isn't afraid to mix it up with anybody, whether with punches, submissions, or the ground and pound that made him famous.
Tell me this PPV wouldn't sell and pack any arena. This could be one of the most technically impressive fights possible today.
Well, there's my top 5 Super-Fights that actually could happen in the foreseeable future. Now if we could get Frank Shamrock vs Dan Henderson, or Norifumi Yamamoto vs Takanori Gomi we could really go nuts. Anywho, lets hope the UFC puts something together and doesn't drag their feet until the time for these fights has passed as they did with Liddell/Silva. Here's ideal matchmaking.
By the by, why no mention of a Fedor fight? Because there is still nobody who has proved themselves worthy of giving him a run in a fight. Deal with it.
Chuck Liddell 20-3 vs Shogun Rua 16-2
Both these men have been nothing short of dominant in the last few years. Shogun stomped his way through 2005 winning the Middleweight Grand Prix, and then continued with 4 more wins after his freak injury loss to Mark Coleman. Only going to a decision twice in his 18 fights, Shogun is awash in amazing striking and a non-stop action pace. He has notable wins over Ricardo Arona, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and Quinton Jackson.
Chuck Liddell has not gone to a decision since 2002, and has KO'd or TKO'd his last 7 opponents, 5 while defending his Light Heavyweight title. Chuck's stock has risen to the most popular MMA fighter today, and his exciting KO reel cannot be denied. Chuck has notable wins over Randy Couture (twice), Tito Ortiz (twice), and Babalu Sobral (twice).
This fight would be the stand up war everyone was hoping to see with Wanderlei Silva before his 2 consecutive KO losses. Shogun is 10 years younger than Chuck, but age has not slowed the top Light Heavyweight in the world. There is no doubt in my mind this fight would deliver the action and draw everyone wants in a super-fight!
Wanderlei Silva 31-7-1 vs Vitor Belfort 15-8 Rematch
After his last two debilitating losses, Wand needs something big to pump up his career once again. Belfort is trying to resurrect a once promising career, that many thought would lead him to be the best in the world at 205lbs. Vitor already beat Wand in 1998 in only 44 seconds! After that fight, their careers would take different paths with Silva climbing to the top of Pride FC and winning and holding the Middleweight title for 5 years, while Vitor went on to lose his big opportunity fights against Liddell, Couture, Ortiz, and Alistair Overeem twice, in pathetic fights.
The 1st fight has been on highlight reels for years, and the 2nd could be the same. Vitor could use a win over Wand to put himself at a higher level for his comeback, and Silva could avenge his embarrassing loss, with a win over the very famous Belfort. Belfort publicly said Silva has a weak chin and is overrated after Wand's last loss to Dan Henderson. They've barked at each other in the Brazilian press for years, and this grudge match would definitely draw the fans in again.
Mirko Cro Cop 22-5-2 vs Tim Sylvia 20-3
Two of the top striking Heavyweights in the game, both coming off losses. Though unpopular, Tim has amassed a very good record and is a 2-time UFC Heavyweight champ. Cro Cop's legend proceeds him, and he is still a dangerous fighter who has shown the ability to come back stronger after a loss. Sylvia's detractors have labeled him "boring" in the past, but a bout with Cro Cop shouldn't be lackluster with Mirko refusing to allow Tim to bully him and force the action. Its the perfect time for these men to hook it up and let the gloves fly. Winner gets back in the Heavyweight title hunt.
Matt Hughes 41-5 vs Matt Lindland 20-5
I know Hughes next fight is already signed with Matt Serra, and Lindland is signed with Bodog, but its my dream fight. Back in 2005, Lindland was on a roll and claimed the UFC was having trouble finding men who wanted to fight him. After stating that (I believe at UFC 52), Hughes stepped in the Octagon and stated he would come up in weight to 185 and gladly fight Matt (he has since made more claims of wanting to go up to Middleweight). Both men are legendary collegiate wrestlers, with tons of personal pride, and the grit needed to go to the war that would develop here. You can bet that the Team Quest/Miletich Fighting System rivalry would go to a new level with two of the best pound 4 pound fighters in MMA today.
Randy Couture 15-8 vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 29-4-1
Two of the craftiest ground warriors ever to play the game going one on one. Big Nog is the ju jitsu black belt who has submitted Cro Cop and Bob Sapp, while coming closer than anyone to beating Fedor Emelianenko. A super tough chin and the ability to fight long hard fights, Nog would be up to the challenge. And how about the age defying, and now 3 time UFC Heavyweight champ? He's beaten Chuck Liddell, and embarrassed Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort, only to come back at age 43 to win his 5th title. A Greco-Roman wrestling God, isn't afraid to mix it up with anybody, whether with punches, submissions, or the ground and pound that made him famous.
Tell me this PPV wouldn't sell and pack any arena. This could be one of the most technically impressive fights possible today.
Well, there's my top 5 Super-Fights that actually could happen in the foreseeable future. Now if we could get Frank Shamrock vs Dan Henderson, or Norifumi Yamamoto vs Takanori Gomi we could really go nuts. Anywho, lets hope the UFC puts something together and doesn't drag their feet until the time for these fights has passed as they did with Liddell/Silva. Here's ideal matchmaking.
By the by, why no mention of a Fedor fight? Because there is still nobody who has proved themselves worthy of giving him a run in a fight. Deal with it.
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