MMA: Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler, Melvin Manhoef vs. Scott Smith Would Rock

After letting the stink pretty from last night's Strikeforce event seep into the deeper recesses of my MMA mind, two potential matchups arrested my development.

Let’s start with the rematch that has to happen at some point in time.

Nick Diaz and Robbie Lawler first got it on at UFC 47: Its On! The two engaged in fisticuffs at 170 pounds in a brawl that paralleled what we saw in last night’s main event.

And like last night, both combatants rocked each other, with Diaz ultimitely prevailing. Diaz tagged Lawler with a right counter cross that dropped “Ruthless” akin to the manner in which Shane Carwin dropped Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 96.

Official time/manner of death: Diaz by KO at the 1:31 mark of the second round. It was the fight that cracked Lawler's career in the UFC.

Lawler and Diaz took different paths after that fight, but both exited the octagon stage left, only to be reunited under the Strikeforce banner.

There was actually talk of a rematch between the two back in October, but the fight never panned out. After last night’s performances, though, it would seem that now is as good a time as any right?

Diaz made a strong statement after his win last night: "I'm a well rounded fighter. That's the difference between me and the rest of the fighters in the world.... It's going to take a lot of hard work and dedication [to beat me]. I'm ahead of the game."

Diaz certainly looks ahead of the welterweight game. For some reason, the Strikeforce President thinks a potential fight between Diaz and Hayoto Sakurai works.

While MMA fans may have short attention spans, their MMA memories are like that of an elephant.

No one has forgotten that Sakurai was head kicked out of commission by Marius Žaromskis—the man Diaz just knocked off—back at the DREAM 10 as part of the Welterweight Grand Prix tournament.

Simply put, Diaz vs. Sakurai just won’t cut it. But for some reason “Diaz vs. Heiron” just doesn’t fit into Strikeforce’s plans.

To add to that Diaz told AOL Fanhouse he didn't believe Jay Hieron, who defeated Joe Riggs at Strikeforce: Miami, was a worthy No. 1 contender and that the only fight that really excites him right now is one against UFC 170-pound champion Georges St-Pierre.

As for Lawler, it’s hard to figure out where he wants to fit withing the Middleweight ranks right now.

Lawler was choked out by Jake Shields back in June in a catch weight affair. Now it looks as if Shields, currently the middleweight champ, will take on the incoming Dan Henderson.

For Lawler, the fight that makes the most sense from a divisional perspective is with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, a fight that Lawler appeared to turn down, which set up Ronaldo Souza vs. Matt Lindland on the CBS fight card in November.

If Lawler doesn’t want to tussle with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stud, perhaps a fight with Jason “Mayhem” Miller, who is coming off his five round decision loss to Jake Shields. Lawler vs. Miller would be a rematch; Miller submitted Lawler three years ago to take over the duties of ICON Sport Middleweight champion.

Other then that, Lawler would just be taking fights at Middleweight for the sake of fighting. Strikeforce could always attempt to market Lawler vs. Smith III, or drop him into scraps that would definitely stay standing.

Opponents that round out the Strikeforce Top 10 are: Cung Le, Frank Shamrock, Benji Radach, and Joey Villasenor (another rematch, Lawler won the first).

In an attempt to come full circle: Wouldn’t Diaz vs. Lawler II at catch weight be the most fun?

In regard to a potential Scott Smith vs. Melvin Manhoef fight, no need to wax poetic.

That fight would simply rock.