The Five Biggest Potential UFC Fights

Jeremy Botter by Correspondent Written on October 01, 2008
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Wanderlei Silva's vicious "hold the throat with one hand while pummeling with the other" knockout of Keith Jardine cemented the former PRIDE legend as a superstar in the UFC. Even while losing to Chuck Liddell in December 2007, Silva gained fame as one of the only fighters since the UFC's rise to mainstream popularity to stand in the pocket and trade punches with Liddell. If Silva beats Quinton "Rampage" Jackson for the third time in as many fights, he becomes an instant title contender for the light heavyweight crown held by Forrest Griffin.

Forrest Griffin is a highly unique fighter. His legendary war for the Ultimate Fighter 1 crown with Stephan Bonnar is credited as being the most important fight in UFC history, the moment that elevated the status of the UFC from subcultural sideshow into the booming darling of pop culture it remains today. Griffin emerged as the victor and claimed his UFC contract as prize. Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, sensing a landmark moment, decided to award Stephan Bonnar a UFC contract as well. Griffin, with his affable and humble personality and everyman appeal, has turned into one of the UFC's biggest stars.

With a win in late 2007 over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, the man considered to be the best light heavyweight in the world, Griffin leaped over top contenders and secured a title fight with Rampage Jackson. Griffin took the light heavyweight belt after a close fight with Jackson and, for the first time in his unlikely career as a fighter, sat alone atop the light heavyweight division.

Despite the differences in their respective backgrounds, Griffin and Silva have very similar styles. Both fighters have made a habit of standing in the pocket and trading blows with little regard to their own safety, and they share an ability to take a high level of punishment.

Styles do make fights, and that motto has never been more true than when applied to Griffin vs. Silva. This would be a wild, exciting fight between two fighters who love to punch and have little concern for their own well-being.

ANDERSON SILVA VS. GEORGES ST. PIERRE

Silva and welterweight phenom Georges St. Pierre are, by most accounts, the two best fighters in the UFC regardless of weight class. Silva has completely dominated the middleweight division and is on the road to dominance over the light heavyweight division as well.

Outside of one fluke punch from Matt Serra, St. Pierre has issued one commanding performance after another against top-level welterweights and hasn't even been challenged since the loss to Serra more than a year ago.

This is the very definition of a superfight; two fighters who have the skills to make other great fighters look like amateurs locking horns with one another to see who the better fighter is.

Neither fighter is a huge pay per view draw by himself. Silva has been making steady progress towards that top tier of earners in the UFC, and St. Pierre brings in huge viewer numbers in Canada, but neither man can claim to have the kind of drawing power on their own that a Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture or Brock Lesnar can. 

Vote Now! - Author Poll

Which fight would you be most interested to see?

  • Anderson Silva vs. Chuck Liddell
  • Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir 2
  • Forrest Griffin vs. Wanderlei Silva
  • Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre
  • Urijah Faber vs. BJ Penn
vote to see results
Results - Author Poll

Which fight would you be most interested to see?

  • Anderson Silva vs. Chuck Liddell

    22.9%
  • Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir 2

    22.9%
  • Forrest Griffin vs. Wanderlei Silva

    4.2%
  • Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre

    41.7%
  • Urijah Faber vs. BJ Penn

    8.3%
  • Total votes: 48
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written on October 01, 2008 Opinion

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