Fantasy Matchmaking: 15 UFC Title Fights We Would Love to See

It is time to put on the fantasy matchmaker cap and look at some of the exciting potential title fights we may see in the future.

Eight divisions in the organization gives many scenarios for the current champions.

From dominant champions like Anderson Silva and GSP to recently crowned titleholders like Benson Henderson, everyone has an interesting fight ahead of them.

The great thing about the current holders of gold is that they each have unique attributes. Each fighter brings something different in to the Octagon with him: Dominick Cruz's movement, Jon Jones' length and creativity and Junior dos Santos' marvelous boxing.

Styles make fights. The champions' styles leave a lot of options for interesting matchups with other contenders.

Oh, I am sorry, there is no Fedor on this list.

Onward.

No. 15: Michael Bisping vs. Anderson Silva

Let's not kid ourselves in why we would all love to see this fight happen.

One of the premier villains of the UFC against the most dominant champion in sport history. Chael Sonnen's shtick has actually garnered him numerous fans, and that is not something that has happened to the Brit yet.

And he does not mind playing that role.

Silva would be able to play the ultimate hero if he could decimate the contender.

But for all of the hatred that Bisping receives, he delivers inside the Octagon. Without question, one way or another, he would make this fight interesting. The odds would not be in his favor, but do not count him out. It could be a much better fight than many would lead you to believe.

No. 14: Chan Sung Jung vs. Jose Aldo

"The Korean Zombie" put on the best performance of his career in May. He destroyed of one of the featherweight division's most promising prospects, Dustin Poirier.

A fan favorite to many since his WEC debut against Leonard Garcia, the Korean Zombie is ready to take the next step and fight for the title.

Jose Aldo vs. Chan Sung Jung could headline any pay-per-view event the UFC wanted. Two exciting fighters who love to stand, but are not opposed to showing off their ground game. Lock the cage door and watch these two go toe-to-toe.

A fight between those two would surely be highlighted as a potential fight of the year. It is that exciting of a matchup.

No. 13: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jon Jones

The length and maturation of the challenger is what makes this one of the most anticipated bouts of the light heavyweight division.

Jones has taken out everyone in his path, but he has always had a significant size advantage in those bouts. Gustafsson actually has an inch on the champion, standing at 6'5" to Jones' 6'4". However, the champion maintains a notable reach advantage.

Following his loss to Phil Davis, Gustafsson has rebounded to become one of the top contenders in the division. Five wins in a row have showcased his skills and allowed him time to develop in to a threat for any man at 205.

Gustafsson may be one of the final tests for "Bones" at light heavyweight. It would be a shame to leave that fight on the table if the Swede is able to continue winning.

No. 12: Michael McDonald vs. Dominick Cruz

Yes, Urijah Faber and Renan Barao will battle for the UFC Interim Bantamweight Championship, but Cruz is still the current champion. And he is the more interesting fight for McDonald.

Riding an eight-fight win streak and back-to-back knockouts, McDonald is quickly making a name for himself at 135.

With his power and Cruz's movement, it would be an entertaining and interesting fight to watch. One clean shot by McDonald could end the reign of Cruz, but he would have to catch the speedy champion first.

The humble contender is on the brink of challenging for the title. A fight against Cruz, on paper, would be the most challenging and entertaining option for the 21-year-old.

No. 11: Hector Lombard vs. Anderson Silva

For years, fans have wanted Lombard in the UFC to potentially challenge "The Spider." Now, he's finally signed to a contract and on the roster.

Even though his competition has not been as stiff as one would like, Lombard's finishes have excited the fans.

Knockout power and excellent grappling credentials give fans hope that the matchup would be competitive. With the American Top Team product now with the company, the fight is a possibility.

Silva does not have many elite middleweights to go before cleaning out the division. Some would say he already has. Lombard would be another great name to have on his list of conquests before he hands the gloves up.

This is a fight that would surely not go to the judges.

No. 10: Renan Barao vs. Dominick Cruz

Barao has a date with Faber upcoming for the UFC Interim Bantamweight Championship, but it is the actual champion that is the title fight we want.

Unfortunately, Cruz is injured, but in fantasy matchmaker land we can still set this fight up for the future.

On a 28-0-1 streak, it is easy to see why Barao is so highly thought of. The teammate of Jose Aldo is an elite fighter at 135 pounds.

Cruz's speed and technique would pose a great challenge to the Nova União product.

An evenly-matched title fight between the division's two best is something we hope to get towards the end of the year. Although, Faber may have something to say about it this summer in Calgary.

No. 9: Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit

Condit is only the interim champion, but putting that title on the line against Kampmann is what fans want.

In 2009, the two combatants put on an excellent fight, with Kampmann coming out with a razor-thin split decision. Three years later, the fight makes all the sense in the world.

GSP is still sidelined with an injury, and instead of waiting around, Condit could defend the belt against a fighter that holds a win over him. Kampmann, on a three-fight win streak, has made his case for being the next in line by finishing top fighters like Thiago Alves and Jake Ellenberger.

Condit and Kampmann delivered a great fight the first time around and no doubt would again. This time with five rounds of action, not three.

No. 8: Anthony Pettis vs. Benson Henderson

The Showtime Kick.

We all remember that special moment in the final round of their 2010 WEC Championship bout. And until that kick, the fight was too close to call.

Now with both men winning inside the Octagon, it is time to do it again.

With Henderson holding the gold, it would be a great opportunity to get the taste of the famous kick out of his mouth.

Many fights look exciting on paper; we never quite know what we will get when the cage door closes. With Henderson and Pettis, we know. And we want it.

Five more rounds of some of the most exciting action the lightweight division has to offer.

No. 7: Daniel Cormier vs. Junior dos Santos

Having the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion come over to the UFC and contend for the UFC Heavyweight Championship would be fantastic.

Daniel Cormier brought over world-class wrestling and has since added the other pieces to his game. The mixed martial artist has shot up the heavyweight rankings and would be a fantastic opponent for Junior dos Santos.

Dos Santos has not been tested by an elite wrestler as of yet. That may change with a rematch against Cain Velasquez looming, but Cormier is another step beyond that. The title tilt would be sure to make for a great fight.

If the Strikeforce champion could get the fight to the ground, we would finally get a look at Dos Santos' ground game. On the other side of the coin, Cormier has yet to face a dynamic athletic striker such as the UFC champion.

We are potentially only two fights away from having this scrap booked.

No. 6: Hatsu Hioki vs. Jose Aldo

When Hatsu Hioki signed to the UFC, fans immediately wanted the fight against Aldo. Unfortunately, he had a lackluster performance against George Roop that momentarily slowed down that talk.

At UFC 144 in his homeland, those talks were reignited. Hioki looked fantastic in his unanimous decision win over Bart Palaszewski.

Hioki brings in a top-tier resume and an interesting style against Aldo. Training with the likes of GSP and others at Tri-Star has certainly helped Hioki's game continue to evolve as he marches up the 145 ladder.

If the fight hits the floor, fans could be in for a special treat. Both men have fantastic ground games, and that is where Hioki wants the fight to take place.

As Aldo continued to run through the featherweight division, fans questioned who was left. Hioki answers that question.

No. 5: Gilbert Melendez vs. Benson Henderson

Why does Gilbert Melendez have to be stuck in the doldrums of Strikeforce?

This is the lightweight title fight fans want. The long-time top-five lightweight and Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez vs. the UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.

Melendez had trouble in his previous outing against his nemesis Josh Thomson, but do not let that discourage you from his chances against the UFC elite. Melendez is one of the very best, if not the very best, lightweight in the world.

And there is only one way to find out.

Henderson is a whole new ballgame for the Strikeforce champion. The UFC champion has special attributes that Melendez has never competed against. Melendez has never faced an athlete like Henderson before.

The most exciting thing about this fight is that we will finally put to bed who is the best in the world. Lightweight is the final division we have that question about. Henderson vs. Melendez settles it, and settles it in spectacular fashion.

No. 4: Alistair Overeem vs. Junior dos Santos

Stylistically, and from an entertainment perspective, this is the heavyweight clash fans want.

The K-1 World Champion against Junior dos Santos' precise boxing.

If styles make fights, then this will be a hell of a fight.

The trials and tribulations of Overeem give this fight an interesting story leading in to the fight: testing at elevated levels; his battle with the NSAC; Dana White washing his hands of Overeem; and the attempts to clear his name.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the cage stands a squeaky clean, fun-loving champion—one who encourages stiffer testing. A man who, in his prime-time appearances, is more about giving back to the children of his community.

Good vs. Evil.

Dos Santos vs. Overeem.

No. 3: Jussier Da Silva vs. Joseph Benavidez or Demetrious Johnson

Jussier Da Silva, better known as "Formiga," is not signed to the UFC yet. But he should be next in line for a shot at the title.

While fans want a rematch against Ian McCall, that fight does not make a lot of sense. If McCall wins, you potentially run in to a trilogy fight against Johnson already. Besides, Formiga is ready for a title shot now.

The 13-1 Nova União fighter gives either Benavidez or Johnson a tough opponent in their first flyweight defense.

Formiga is on a four-fight win streak, and he has finished the last three by submission.

If the UFC wants to continue to showcase the flyweights, then signing Formiga is a must. Sign him and put him against the winner of the title fight. He is an instant title contender and one of the best in the world at 125 pounds.

No. 2: Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo

I am not proposing a superfight. I am joining the UFC president in wanting Frankie to move down to featherweight full-time.

It is hard to argue his success at 155, but the fight against Aldo is the fight we all want to see—in part, because we have yet to see Aldo pushed to the brink. He has wrecked the 145-pound division.

Edgar, one of the pound-for-pound best, making the move down to challenge Aldo makes for the best scenario. Not only do we get to see that fight, but it continues to expand the featherweight division.

The fight itself would be off the charts.

Would Frankie still have the speed advantage he does at lightweight? Probably not. And that is another exciting development if he fights Aldo for the featherweight crown. How will he react to having another fighter be just as fast as he is?

A move down by Edgar serves the UFC and its fans well. And no one is going to complain with another amazing fight between two of the best pound-for-pound fighters.

Aldo vs. Edgar is the fight to make at featherweight.

No. 1: Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz

Do not lie to yourself, you want to watch this fight.

The polarizing welterweight has lit a fire under GSP that no one prior has been able to do. We have seen it at UFC events and on UFC Primetime. Unfortunately, Diaz lost to Condit and GSP got hurt.

And yet, we still want that fight.

Diaz is a polarizing figure. Half of the fight fans want him to fight GSP and be destroyed; the other half want him to dethrone the champion and take the title back to Stockton. Regardless of their reason, all of the fans want to watch it.

Stylistically, the fight is an exciting matchup. Can Diaz stay on his feet? Would he be able to submit GSP?

GSP is a master tactician. He knew he could defeat Shields by keeping it on the feet, so why risk taking it down? Diaz, however, comes at him with a good submission attack and very good boxing. Where would GSP decide to fight Nick? That's an intriguing question.

No matter where GSP chooses to have this fight take place, Diaz has the skills to end the fight.

As a fight fan, who would not want to watch this fight? When Diaz returns from his suspension, the fight should happen. For the fans.