UFC: Five Divisions, Five Dream Fights

While I enjoy a title fight just as much as the next guy, I have always found myself more drawn to fights created out of hunger, pride, or grudge.

I have spent quite some time over the past few days mulling over what I feel are the best possible non-title fights that the UFC can produce for each division. I took into account such important factors as title implications, level of excitement, and a fighter's popularity amongst fans. Following these guidelines I have come up with what I feel are the best possible non-title fights that can be contested in all five weight classes.

Lightweight(155 lbs.)- Mac Danzig (18-4-1) vs. Nate Diaz (9-2)

Honestly, a few weeks ago, I would have said Kenny Florian vs. Roger Huerta, two of the most exciting fighters in an already dynamic division, but it would appear that Joe Silva beat me to the punch on that one and penciled in the two for UFC 87 on August 9.

My choice, however, is just as intriguing. While both of these young fighters are quite some time away from challenging for the title, I would not be at all surprised if either Danzig or Diaz were adorned with the lightweight gold in the future.

Despite glaring differences in appearance and speech, Diaz slurs as if drinking since noon and Danzig enunciates each word with zen-like focus, the two are similar on multiple levels. Both are TUF winners, Diaz the winner of season five, Danzig six, well versed in jiu-jitsu, favoring chokes above all, and fight out of California, Danzig from L.A. and Diaz from Stockton. But there is one key similarity that made me dub this potential bout a dream fight.

While on the MMA proving ground/reality show/psychological experiment known as UFC's The Ultimate Fighter I noticed that both are, aside from irritable and short-fused, convinced that they are the next big thing and will fight anyone who says otherwise. Throw some gloves on the two and we have ourselves a classic western showdown where one of the two might even state, "This Octagon ain't big enough for the two of us."

Welterweight(170 lbs.)- Thiago Alves (15-3) vs. Diego Sanchez (19-2)

This was admittedly a tough one to call. Alves, to me, was a no-brainer coming off consecutive TKOs of Karo Parisyan and future hall of famer, Matt Hughes. But when considering an opponent it was up in the air between long-time rivals Diego Sanchez and Josh Koscheck. Both own losses to the participants in August's Welterweight championship, Sanchez to Fitch and Koscheck to St. Pierre, and I may have been inclined to pick "Kos", but at the TUF 7 finale Sanchez reminded us why he is known as the "Nightmare".

The Sanchez we saw at the finale was focused, calm, and precise; and should this fight ever take place, that's the Sanchez who needs to touch gloves with the "Pitbull". Not the Sanchez who gets jittery and anxious in marquee match-ups and loses decisions he could have won were he not swinging for the fences.

This match is highly interesting because it would pit a knockout artist against a ground tactician who has convinced himself, and is convincing many others, that he can turn the lights out just as effectively. The question is if Sanchez would try and stand with Alves or would he keep things safe on the ground where he has five wins and Thiago can only claim two losses.

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