5 Fights We'd Like to See If the UFC Had a 'Masters Division'

Everyone loves to watch their hero showcase his talents inside the cage. Unfortunately for a lot of MMA fans, their heroes happen to be either old or way past their primes.

Most of what fight fans call "the old guard" are quickly finding themselves out of a job or forced into retirement. We love to see our old favorites but hate to watch how far they've fallen.

Stars like Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and Fedor Emelianenko have captivated audiences for years but are either struggling to stay relevant or officially retired. And it's not like their recent runs were the equivalent of a cowboy riding off into the sunset, either.

However, what if the UFC decided to have a "Masters Division" as a sort of novelty for fans? Instead of having these older big-name fighters be used to build up young stars, have them compete against one another. The bouts wouldn't mean anything as far as rankings but would provide pure excitement for any MMA fan.

These are just a handful of bouts we'd like to see if the UFC created such a division.

Rickson Gracie vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Rickson Gracie and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira are two legendary icons in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie made his mark in BJJ by becoming one of the few red belts in the world and Nogueira made the biggest impact for BJJ through his MMA career.

Gracie is retired but made an impressive run in professional MMA, going 11-0 with all wins coming via submission. Nogueira, meanwhile, became one of the legendary figures in the MMA heavyweight division with his epic battles in Pride and obtaining a UFC championship.

The two have a previous bit of history with Gracie claiming Nogueira has "no guard," which caused a stir with another famous Brazilian, Wanderlei Silva.

Nogueira has said he'd like to continue fighting despite having his arm snapped by Frank Mir at UFC 140 and Gracie has always been critical of numerous big name fighters.

The match would be epic in terms of BJJ and also would produce an amazing display of grappling that will never be matched under the UFC banner.

Don Frye vs. Bas Rutten

Don Frye and Bas Rutten provided one of the most comically entertaining PPVs, announcing duos for Shark Fights. They also could provide for one of the most entertaining pre-fight exchanges of trash-talk in MMA history.

Frye is legendary for his personality and intense fighting ability. He won the UFC Ultimate 96 tournament and became a household name for being one of the toughest men to ever compete in MMA. His mustache isn't too bad, either.

Rutten, like Frye, made a name for himself in the early days of the sport. Rutten became one of the faces of Pancrase and had numerous legendary battles with the likes of Frank Shamrock. The master of the liver punch/kick made numerous highlights with his signature move.

Both men are well past their prime and the actual fight likely wouldn't be all that entertaining, but if the UFC ever needed a quick fix for PPV draws, this would definitely fit the bill.

Ken Shamrock vs. Frank Shamrock

One of the most lengthy rivalries in MMA has also been without a conclusion. Ken and Frank Shamrock have been very vocal at times about the disdain they have for one another.

During his early MMA career Ken had the look of a body builder but also the skills to succeed in the MMA world. Frank, meanwhile, had what many believed to be the better overall game and took steps to improve his skill set by working with guys like Maurice Smith.

Originators of the sport, both Ken and Frank have seen themselves reduced to a shell of their former selves. Frank retired after dropping two straight against Cung Le and Nick Diaz, while Ken continues to fight but has won just two fights out of his last nine.

Both men have had their troubles with the UFC and Dana White, which would put the probability of this match happening about as close to absolute 0 percent as possible. Nevertheless, it would be an entertaining bout and provide some excellent trash-talking.

Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva II

These two men met in 2007 in what many considered to be the Fight of the Year. Chuck Liddell edged Wanderlei Silva via unanimous decision but the bout could've easily went Silva's way.

Both men exchanged exciting flurries and both were rocked at one point in time. Silva actually dropped Liddell but failed to capitalize on his opening, a failure that would end up haunting the Brazilian.

Liddell's career came to a nasty end via four consecutive KO losses and many fans will not want to see him be knocked unconscious again. However, consider Liddell was arguably in the best shape of his life (at least based on appearances) for his bout with Rich Franklin and we all know Liddell will always have a fighting spirit.

Silva, like his rival, has seen his fortunes change since coming to the UFC and has continuously heard questions about his chin. Regardless of his lack of defense, "The Axe Murderer" remains one of the most exciting fighters on the planet.

A rematch might go Liddell's way again, but if it's half as good as their first encounter it would make a solid main card match.

Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko

What many fight fans consider the dream match of the heavyweight division, Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko were the top two heavyweights in the world at one point in time.

Emelianenko dominated his opponents with superior punching combined with a dangerous ground game featuring submissions and strikes.

Couture, meanwhile, defied everyone's expectations by defeating people that were younger, faster and stronger. Combining unreal conditioning with a sound game plan, Couture became one of the most heralded UFC champions during his career.

Both men have seen their careers dwindle down with Couture officially retiring following a KO loss to Lyoto Machida and Emelianenko fighting people who have no business being in the ring/cage with him.

The matchup may have lost some of its lure, but there's no denying a Couture-Emelianenko bout could headline any UFC PPV.