MMA 2011: 10 Best Fights That Were Booked but Didn't Happen

The original matchup that started the big headache at UFC 137 was Nick Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight title. 

Diaz was pulled from the fight after missing two press conferences for the event.

In an ironic twist of fate, St-Pierre ended up being the one off the card thanks to an injury while Diaz defeated BJ Penn in the main event.

Although Diaz called St-Pierre out after the bout, he is scheduled to take on Carlos Condit at UFC 143 for an interim title. 

Jose Aldo vs. Josh Grispi

At UFC 125, Jose Aldo was supposed to defend the UFC featherweight title for the first time against Josh Grispi. 

Both Grispi and Aldo were known as finishers and would have come into the bout with one loss apiece. 

A little over a month before the bout, though, Aldo had to step out of the bout after suffering a neck injury. 

Grispi could have waited to face Aldo, but he instead faced Dustin Poirier in a losing effort at UFC 125. 

Thiago Silva vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

At UFC 130, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was scheduled to take on Thiago Silva. 

Because Jackson and Silva liked going for knockouts, this could have been an exciting fight. 

But Silva was pulled from the card after having problems with the pre-fight UFC 125 drug test. 

Jackson went on to fight Matt Hamill in the main event of UFC 130, while Silva would end up being suspended for the rest of the year thanks to the drug test. 

Shane Carwin vs. Roy Nelson

Another bout that was supposed to happen at UFC 125 was former UFC interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin vs. The Ultimate Fighter season 10 winner Roy Nelson. 

Carwin and Nelson were coming off losses and looked to get back on track with a win. 

Carwin had to drop out of what could have been an exciting slugfest because of neck surgery. 

Nelson ended up being pulled from the card altogether. 

Rashad Evans vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

In the picture to the left, Jon Jones is standing in the spot that Rashad Evans was supposed to be in. 

After their fight was put on hold in 2010, Rashad Evans was supposed to meet Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128 for the UFC light heavyweight title. 

A knee injury forced Evans out of the bout, and Jon Jones fought in his place. 

Jones would defeat Rua by TKO and set off a feud with former friend and teammate Evans. 

Junior Dos Santos vs. Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos coached against each other on season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter. 

The two were set to meet each other at UFC 131 to determine the No. 1 contender for Cain Velasquez' heavyweight title. 

Lesnar had to pull out of the fight after coming down with another case of diverticulitis.

Shane Carwin stepped in his place, but went on to lose to dos Santos.

Carlos Condit vs. BJ Penn

UFC 137 had the tagline "Expect the Unexpected" for good reason. 

BJ Penn and Carlos Condit were originally supposed to meet in the co-main event of the night. 

What was sure to be an exciting fight ended up being changed thanks to Nick Diaz being pulled from the main event with Georges St-Pierre. 

Penn went on to face Diaz in the main event. After losing the bout, Penn announced his retirement from MMA. 

Georges St-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit

After all of the mess that went down with Nick Diaz, Georges St-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit was finally set. 

Yet roughly a week and a half before the title fight, St-Pierre was the one being pulled from the fight. 

St-Pierre was forced off the card with an injury and Carlos Condit decided to sit out and wait for him to return. 

St-Pierre's injury will leave him out for much of 2012, while Condit will now face Diaz for an interim title. 

Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz

The original matchup that started the big headache at UFC 137 was Nick Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight title. 

Diaz was pulled from the fight after missing two press conferences for the event.

In an ironic twist of fate, St-Pierre ended up being the one off the card thanks to an injury while Diaz defeated BJ Penn in the main event.

Although Diaz called St-Pierre out after the bout, he is scheduled to take on Carlos Condit at UFC 143 for an interim title. 

Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans

Jon Jones was supposed to face Rashad Evans not once, but twice in 2011. 

The first time was scheduled to be at UFC 133, but a hand injury forced Jones out of the bout. 

The second time, Jones and Evans were targeted to meet at UFC 140. But this time Evans caught the injury bug and was taken out of the bout. 

Evans missed out on his title opportunities thanks to injuries in 2011, while Jones won the title and defended it twice. 

If Evans can get past Phil Davis at UFC on FOX 2, then he will be once again scheduled to take on his biggest enemy, Jones. 

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II

Although this fight may not have been officially booked, it's hard to leave it off the list. 

Following their classic championship bout in 2010, Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen were rumored to meet again anywhere from UFC 125 to UFC 127.

This of course would not happen. 

Sonnen was later suspended for having elevated levels of testosterone in his body and for being involved in a money laundering case. 

Sonnen returned in October, defeating Brian Stann and calling out Anderson Silva after the bout. 

If he can defeat Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2, Sonnen should be next in line for Silva.