10 Fights We Are Looking Forward to This Summer

The UFC saved their major blockbusters for the summer.

With the biggest rematch in UFC history taking place on quite possibly the most stacked card in the history of the company on July 7, the fans are in for quite a spectacle.

UFC 148 is headlined by the rematch of Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva, followed by rubber matches between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber and Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz.

Though the summer doesn't officially begin until June 20, the summer action begins on May 26 for this article's purposes. What better way to kick off the summer other than the heavyweight championship?

With that in mind, these are the fights that fans will be drooling over this summer.

10. Evan Dunham vs. Edson Barboza

When: May 26 at UFC 146

There are numerous fights to get excited about this summer such as Clay Guida vs. Gray Maynard and Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann, but Evan Dunham vs. Edson Barboza has potential to top both of those bouts.

Barboza is riding high from his spinning wheel kick knockout against Terry Etim at UFC 142, and Dunham is getting back on track since getting beat by Melvin Guillard with a two-fight winning streak.

This sets up an intense showdown between two of the most exciting fighters in the lightweight division. Of all of the great fighters at 155, Barboza might be the most technically sound. Add in the fact that Dunham is never in a boring fight, and this fight has all of the capabilities to be a fight of the year candidate.

It might not be as high-profiled as Guida vs. Maynard or Ellenberger vs. Kampmann, but true MMA fans know that a fight between Dunham and Barboza is can't miss television.

9. Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall 2

When: June 8 on UFC on FX 3

Who's down for round four?

The first fight between Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall in March was a fast-paced bout that had its fair share of thrills.

Johnson took early control of the fight and edged McCall for the first two rounds before getting dominated and nearly finished by McCall in the third round. The initial decision gave Johnson the victory, but then UFC president Dana White announced that the scorecards were read incorrectly and the fight was actually a draw.

Thus the flyweight tournament has hit a bump in the road, and Joseph Benavidez will have to await the winner of the rematch between Johnson and McCall before the first flyweight champion can be crowned.

Besides the drama surrounding it, this fight should be another crowd-pleaser because of their styles and familiarity with one another.

8. Sam Stout vs. Spencer Fisher 3

When: June 22 on UFC on FX 2

The rubber match between Spencer Fisher and Sam Stout is five years in the making, and it's about time these two settled the score.

When Fisher and Stout get in the ring with one another, magic happens, and they've entertained the fans with two intense barn-burners.

Stout won the first fight by decision at UFC 58 and Fisher won the rematch by decision at UFC's Fight Night 10, but both fights were closely-contested.

If you're looking for a back-and-forth brawl that will leave you satisfied, keep your eyes peeled for this fight.

7. Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le

When: July 7 at UFC 148

Anytime Cung Le fights, you can count me to watch.

When he steps in the Octagon to take on UFC veteran Rich Franklin this summer, fireworks will follow.

Franklin is the type of guy who will stand and trade punches with anyone he faces, and you already know that Le is going to want to keep it standing and kick his way to victory.

Their styles match up well, and with both of these fighters exhibiting the warrior mentality, this should be a slugfest.

6. Junior Dos Santos vs. Frank Mir

When: May 26 at UFC 146

Okay, maybe this fight isn't as appetizing as Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem, but Frank Mir is still a threat for dos Santos' title.

Mir quietly snuck his way back into title contention, and after Overeem tested positive for the testosterone of 14 men, Mir will now step in to take on dos Santos.

What makes this fight so fun is the fact that both guys will be intent to get the fight to where they have an advantage. Mir will be looking to take the fight to the ground, where he will try and submit dos Santos, while dos Santos will try and keep the fight standing to knock out Mir.

Mir vs. dos Santos isn't Overeem vs. dos Santos, but it's still a fight worth getting excited for.

5. Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz 3

When: July 7 at UFC 148

Though both fighters are considered to be past their prime, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to the rubber match between Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz.

Their first two fights were very entertaining, and though this fight doesn't have a whole lot at stake regarding the light heavyweight title picture, it's still a fight of importance.

This is a fight that both fighters firmly believe they can win, and when that happens, great fights occur. This is old school UFC right here, and it's a fight that every hardcore fan needs to see.

Can Ortiz take Griffin down and rain down elbows like he did in the UFC's humble beginnings, or will Griffin use his footwork and unrelenting pressure to pick Ortiz apart?

These are the questions that make this fight intriguing for any hardcore fan of the sport.

4. Vitor Belfot vs. Wanderlei Silva 2

When: June 23 at UFC 147

No one generates excitement for a fight quite like Wanderlei Silva.

Silva is one of the most beloved MMA fighters of all time because of his willingness to brawl with opponents. Add in the fact that he's facing a former opponent in Vitor Belfort, and this fight's magnitude is multiplied.

This rematch is 14 years in the making, and the last time these two stood across from one another inside the Octagon, Silva felt first-hand how quick and explosive Belfort was.

Belfort and Silva are two guys who paved the way for the younger fighters in the sport, and one last showdown between these two legends of the sport is something I can't wait to bare witness to.

3. Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber 3

When: July 7 at UFC 148

The second fight between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber was sensational.

Cruz used his movement to keep Faber on his toes, and he mixed in some beautiful combinations as well. Faber caught Cruz a few times and dropped him, but he failed to hurt him badly enough to finish him.

The fight went back and forth, as both men set a crazy pace in the main event of UFC 132. Cruz was awarded the decision, and the rubber match between both of these fighters is highly anticipated.

After buildup from a lengthy season of The Ultimate Fighter, the hype generated for this fight will be at a full-tilt. The best part about this fight is knowing that the fight will be just as good, if not better, than the pre-fight build.

2. Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson

When: possibly July 21 at UFC 149

The fight has yet to officially be scheduled, but a summer clash between Jon Jones and Dan Henderson at UFC 149 is likely.

If this fight were to occur in the summer, it would be another high-profiled fight for Jones. He would be fighting a legend in Dan Henderson, and really, he'd be fighting the last major threat for his light heavyweight championship.

There's still challengers such as Alexander Gustafsson awaiting the champion, but he doesn't look ready for Jones. In fact, no one does.

With that said, you can never count Henderson out of a fight with the power he possesses. In front of a potentially big crowd in Calgary, Jones vs. Henderson would simply be epic.

1. Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen

When: July 7 at UFC 148

I can think of no bigger fight than Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen II in the history of MMA.

The history surrounding this fight is so beautifully woven, one might believe it were a fairy tell. Sonnen is the only man in the UFC to come close to beating Silva, and after talking trash about Silva's country, this fight is already beyond personal.

Silva and Sonnen is the definition of bad blood, and this fight will not only settle their feud but it will answer many questions about the first fight.

Were Silva's ribs truly injured, or is Sonnen's style of fighting Silva's kryptonite? The rematch will give every MMA fan something that's been lacking since the end of their fight at UFC 117—closure.