MMA Matchmaker: 10 Fights for 2010

Fight fans talk about the dream matchups they'd like to see whenever they're given the opportunity. We breakdown mythical battles, sizing up the skills of the two combatants and diagnosing the fight as if it were happening before our very eyes.

Often times, we pick pairings that could not conceivably happen; organizational allegiances, differences in weight classes and any number of circumstances and situations make some of these fights impossible.

While hoped-for battles like Brock Lesnar versus Fedor Emelianenko, and Anderson Silva versus Lyoto Machida are on the verge of taking place in the coming calendar year, here are ten more fights that if they could take place, every fight fan would be interested in seeing.

10. Alistair Overeem vs. Anyone

Strikeforce's heavyweight champion has yet to defend his belt, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been fighting. The Dutch fighter has spent 2009 competing in K-1 events, recently defeating kickboxing legend Peter Aerts to advance in the World Grand Prix 16.

But it's been nearly a year now since he took part in an MMA event and it would be nice to see "The Demolition Man" defend his belt for once. Ideally, that defense would come against Fedor, but at this point, beggars can't be choosers. Just getting Overeem inside the cage would be an accomplishment.

9. Ronald "Jacare" Souza vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller III

Technically, Jacare could argue there is no need for a trilogy fight. After all, Mayhem has yet to defeat the Brazilian Abu Dhabi Superfight winner, as their second fight ended in a No Contest after Miller soccer kicked a downed Souza.

However, these two talk more trash about each other than anyone outside of Rampage and Rashad. And you know that should Miller come away with the Strikeforce Middleweight title around his waist, Jacare will be at the front of the line for his first defense.

If that scenario actually transpires, bump this one up to the top-five fights for 2010.

8. Miguel Torres vs. Brian Bowles II

You know the WEC is eventually going to make this happen, provided Bowles gets passed Dominick Cruz in his first defense and Torres can earn a win in his return to the cage.

Much like there was a need for Mike Brown and Urijah Faber to lock horns for a second time, the same theory applies here. Bowles stopped the long-standing champion and deserves the accolades being bestowed upon him.

But Torres deserves a chance for redemption, just as Faber did.

7. Mike Brown vs. Urijah Faber III

Normally, trilogy fights that occur when one guy is already up 2-0 don't make sense. But this is one of those cases where an exception needs to be made.

Despite twice defeating "The California Kid," many still give Mike Brown's title reign the "Yeah But Treatment":

Person A: Brown beat him clean the first time.
Person B: Yeah but Faber was trying a spinning back elbow and just got caught.

Person A: Faber got beat in all five rounds the second time.
Person B: Yeah, but Faber broke his hand early and wasn't 100 percent.

Beating Faber a third consecutive time will silence what few critics remain, not that Mike Brown really needs to.

6. Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir III

Speaking of silencing the critics...

The two have traded victories, so a rubber match makes sense on that point alone.

Add in the fact that these two just plain don't like each other and Lesnar has more critics than the ocean has fish, and you have a PPV spectacular. Tell me that wouldn't look great atop the marquee at the 2010 year-end show in Las Vegas.

5. Eddie Alvarez vs. Joachim Hansen II

While this one may be a complete unknown to some fight fans, the Bellator lightweight champ and the Norwegian known as "Hellboy" need to square off again in a big way.

For starters, their first fight was near the top of everyone's Fight of the Year lists for 2008 and with good reason; they beat the hell out of each other for 15 minutes with Alvarez winning a unanimous decision and advancing in the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix.

But then came the twist: Alvarez was injured in his semi-final win over Tatsuya Kawajiri, so Hansen earned the right to act as his replacement by defeating Kultar Gill. Guess who ended up winning the finals?

Hansen laid a beating on Shinya Aoki, claiming the tournament and the DREAM Lightweight title. While Aoki is getting the first crack at Hansen and his title, Alvarez certainly deserves an opportunity as well.

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