5 Best UFC Matchups to Look Forward to in the Next 6 Months
There are more UFC events, fights and fighters than ever, which has led to a series of watered-down cards that have failed to capture the imaginations of fight fans. But the UFC knows that it needs to step up its game, and it is doing so by stacking the front end of 2015 with must-see fights.
That honeymoon is now over.
Injuries are piling up, and the dawning realization that the UFC has 40-plus cards to fill may turn 2015's hot start into another 2014. We shall see.
For now, here are the five best UFC matchups to look forward to in the next six months.
Matt Brown vs. Johny Hendricks
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Rather than wait for a trilogy-completing fight with Robbie Lawler, Johny Hendricks chose to stay as busy as the champ and take a tough fight in order to get back to within arm's reach of the welterweight belt. He'll face Matt Brown, who was on a seven-fight winning streak of destruction before losing to Lawler at UFC on FOX in July.
A win for Brown won't put him in the title picture against a man he already lost to, but a win for Hendricks could do just that when they meet at UFC 185.
While Hendricks could likely secure an easy win by using his wrestling, there's a good chance Hendricks will once again test his ever-improving stand-up against Brown's bite down on the mouthpiece and move forward style.
Alistair Overeem vs. Roy Nelson
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In what is a necessary fight in a shallow division between two stars, Alistair Overeem vs. Roy Nelson has hints of "freak show" matchmaking, and that's fine.
Nelson's last fight saw him losing to a former K-1 champ in Mark Hunt, and he's only won one out of his last three fights (a brutal knockout over Antonio Nogueira at Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson in April). Nelson has absorbed the most punches in heavyweight history without getting knocked out (until Mark Hunt came knocking) and has only seen his seven UFC victories come by way of fist violence.
Now he's standing across from Overeem—K-1 champion, a man who is 3-3 in the UFC with his most recent win a knockout over Stefan Struve and someone who likely won't be respecting Nelson's power.
It's a perfect recipe for a great fight. Thanks, UFC 185.
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Gabriel Gonzaga II
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Plenty of people groaned when they heard Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic was returning to the UFC. And it wasn't out of apathy or dislike for the legend. Most fans just wanted Cro Cop to hang up his gloves. He has nothing left to prove as a legend in the sport.
His most recent stint ended at UFC 137 when he was TKO'd by Roy Nelson in the third round. Filipovic then floated around the combat sports world and won a K-1 Grand Prix, went 3-1 outside of the Octagon (with two wins over Satoshi Ishii). Now he's back to avenge one of the most brutal losses in MMA history, and in the UFC's first show in Poland, no less.
Gonzaga took some time for himself as well, retiring briefly in 2010 to make an immediate comeback and impact when he decided to return to the UFC. Gonzaga's gone 4-3 with four finishes over the likes of Ben Rothwell, Dave Herman and Shawn Jordan, while falling to the likes of Travis Browne and most recently, Stipe Miocic and Matt Mitrione.
It's one of those rare cases of a fighter on a two-fight skid taking on a fighter with a winning streak in the UFC, but this is special. This is redemption or validation eight years later at UFC Fight Night 64.
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Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor
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The immovable object versus the irresistible force. Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor is everything that makes MMA great. A true contender emerging in a division that's been cleaned out by the champion. This will not be a battle on the ground, this will be a a war on the feet, with both men throwing leather with bad...nay, evil intentions.
Neither of these men like each other; neither of these men respect each other. It's going to be a classic matchup, one that we will likely talk about for years to come.
I'm looking for a user-friendly wormhole to get me to UFC 189 right now.
CM Punk vs. TBA
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What's this? The fight to most look forward to in the next six months is only 50 percent booked? That's right. But the point remains: Whomever CM Punk fights, it will likely be the most publicized fight of the year. It doesn't matter if CM Punk fights someone we know or a scrub, it's going to be fascinating everyone from the most hardcore fight fan to those who have never even seen a fight in the Octagon.
CM Punk is not Brock Lesnar, and that's what makes this interesting. Where Brock had the imposing physical stature and NCAA wrestling pedigree to bring into the cage, CM Punk has years of pro wrestling and some Gracie jiu-jitsu.
What's going to happen?
I don't know. But I do know that I can't wait to see this fight go down.
Honorable Mentions...
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Of course, there are even more fights on the horizon that will have your eyeballs glued to the Octagon. Anthony Pettis will be looking to defend his belt against Rafael do Anjos at UFC 185.
Jon Jones will be taking on Anthony Johnson (hopefully) within six months.
Luke Rockhold will be continuing his ascent up the middleweight ladder as he takes on Lyoto Machida in April.
Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas will likely have a fight that will set fire to all of the barns in the vicinity (please match up Conor McGregor with the winner of that fight, MMA Gods).
There's even Rory MacDonald versus Hector Lombard to look forward to at UFC 186 along with Patrick Côté and Joe Riggs, a fight that will make everybody party like it's 2005.
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