5 Free TV Main Events the UFC Should Make in 2012

With the UFC throwing free fight cards on FOX, FX and Fuel TV this year, the amount of quality fights fans are getting to see on free TV has never been greater.

Already in 2012, we’ve seen huge main events featuring top fighters like Rashad Evans, Jim Miller and Jake Ellenberger, and the quality of fighters is going to stay top notch for the rest of the organization’s tenure on FOX affiliates.

The amount of free shows is going to reach double-digits by the time the year is up, and there are plenty of high-quality matchups the UFC could put on TV to keep growing their exposure and make sure that fans get the class of fights they have already come to expect.

The matchups on this list are all high-caliber fights that would get fans talking, but are also just average enough that the UFC could justify not putting them on PPV, making them perfect for a free TV card.

Michael Bisping vs. Mark Munoz

Prior to UFC on FOX 2, Michael Bisping had made a career out of beating everyone he was expected to and faltering against top competition, specifically in his fights against Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans.

Even though he once again fell to a top-tier opponent in Chael Sonnen in January, Bisping’s performance was a lot better than fans expected and he may have actually been able to escape the loss without damaging his position in the division.

Bisping is still looking to fight his way to a title fight in the near future, and a bout with the man he replaced at UFC on FOX 2, Mark Munoz, would likely bring him close to a crack at the winner of Sonnen and Anderson Silva.

Munoz is one of the top contenders in the 185-pound division, currently riding a four-fight win streak, and he was a win away from a title shot before he was injured prior to the Sonnen fight.

This fight could easily be a No. 1 contender's bout, and both men have earned the right to be considered in the top five of the division.

Clay Guida vs. Sean Sherk

Clay Guida was on his way to shedding his status as a gatekeeper late last year.

Riding a four-fight win streak and with a ton of momentum after taking out top contender Anthony Pettis, Guida was a win away from a shot at Frankie Edgar and the lightweight title.

However, a tough loss to Benson Henderson pushed him back in line, and he’ll need a few more wins if he wants to get back into contention.

A fight with longtime contender and a consistently underrated Sean Sherk would be perfect for both men involved.

Sherk hasn’t seen the inside of the Octagon since a win over Evan Dunham at UFC 119 in late 2010, but he is looking to return soon and a fight with a guy like Guida, who has a big name and is always exciting, will get him motivated again.

Mark Hunt vs. Shane Carwin

This fight is as close to a guaranteed slugfest as possible, and it’s likely that these two will stand and bang until one falls down.

Mark Hunt and Shane Carwin are two of the oldest fighters on the UFC roster, and despite their age have been able to compete with the best the heavyweight division has to offer.

Hunt is quickly climbing the ladder following his first-round destruction of Cheick Kongo at UFC 144, and he’s now won three of his last five fights inside the Octagon.

Carwin, on the other hand, is going to need a big win or two to get his career back on track after suffering back-to-back losses and being forced out of action for the majority of the last two years with injuries.

The winner of this fight will prove they belong in the top ten of the heavyweight division, and likely get enough momentum to try and make one last run at a title before retirement.

Diego Sanchez vs. Thiago Alves

Two of the most exciting welterweights in the world, both coming off losses and needing a big win in order to keep themselves relevant in the UFC?

Sounds like a recipe for success and a barn burner of a fight.

Sanchez has been a part of some of the most entertaining fights in UFC history, and his last bout with Jake Ellenberger certainly did nothing to dispute that.

He’s currently riding a streak of three straight Fight of the Night performances and is a big enough name that he could pop back into the top ten with a win over good competition.

Alves definitely fits that mold, as he’s already competed for a UFC title in his career and holds wins over top guys in Josh Koscheck and Matt Hughes.

A powerful and dangerous technical striker, Alves would have his hands full trying to deal with Sanchez’s insane cardio and iron chin, but Sanchez always seems to take a ton of punishment no matter who he is fighting.

Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin 3

A fight that’s been rumored for months now, Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin have some unfinished business and they both want it settled.

The two have fought twice before, splitting the bouts at one apiece in two very close fights that quite honestly could have gone either way.

Both men feel like they won both fights, and a third bout would finally end the drama and hopefully decide a clear winner in the feud.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Ortiz has publicly stated that his next fight will likely be his last and Forrest is the opponent he would prefer to go out against.

This also could end up being the last hurrah for Griffin, who has seemed to slow down a bit over the last year and may be nearing retirement himself in his next couple fights.

The fact that these two are some of the biggest names in the sport is only going to help the UFC sell this fight as a legitimate main event and could end up breaking records if they put it on FOX.