25 Fights MMA Fans Should Be Looking Forward To at The Start Of 2011

For MMA, 2010 brought increased exposure and several upsets. While media sources, including ESPN, expanded their MMA coverage, B.J. Penn was upset twice in the same year by Frankie Edgar and Fedor Emelianenko tasted legitimate defeat for the first time.

With 2010 nearly in the books, fans and fighters alike are beginning to gear up for what will hopefully be an equally exciting 2011. Let's take a look at 25 fights that all MMA fans should be looking forward to as we head into the new year.

Clay Guida Vs. Takanori Gomi

Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi will open the UFC's first Pay-Per-View of 2011. What an opening it shall be.

While Guida's fights promise non-stop action, Gomi's fights always possess the potential for a knockout. No matter which fighter enforces their will, this fight should produce fireworks.

DId I mention that the winner will be one step closer to becoming a top contender in the lightweight division?

Frankie Edgar Vs. Gray Maynard

Frankie Edgar was an underdog in his first title defense against B.J. Penn, and he is likely to be an underdog yet again in his second. The champion will take on Gray Maynard, who is responsible for the only loss of Edgar's career.

For that reason, Maynard was outspoken about his belief that he was more deserving of receiving a title shot than Edgar. On January 1, Maynard will get the chance to prove it. 

Ronaldo Souza Vs. Robbie Lawler

In his last fight, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza captured the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship in a close decision win over Tim Kennedy.

Souza will now defend his title against Robbie Lawler, who is coming off of a 50 second knockout win over Matt Lindland.

Lawler is a threat to knock out any opponent, but he will have his hands full with Souza.

Nick Diaz Vs. Evangelista Santos

With his win over K.J.Noons in October, Nick Diaz defended his Strikeforce Welterwight Championship for the first time and avenged a loss from earlier in his career.

Now, Diaz's second title defense will come against Evangelista Santos. Considering Santos' mediocre 18-13 record, Diaz should be a heavy favorite heading into the fight.

Nevertheless, fans should make it a priority to watch Diaz fight when they get the chance. He is quickly becoming one of the best welterweights in the world.

Rafael Cavalcante Vs. Dan Henderson

After upsetting Muhammed Lawal to become Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante will now fight Dan Henderson in his first title defense.

After a disappoint loss to Jake Shields in his Strikeforce debut, Henderson quickly knocked out Renato "Babalu" Sobral in his next fight.

Strikeforce anticipated that they were signing a future champion when they brought Henderson in. Now, Henderson will get his chance to prove them right.

Anderson Silva Vs. Vitor Belfort

Fully healed from the rib injury that nearly contributed to his first UFC loss, Anderson Silva will go for his eighth consecutive title defense against Vitor Belfort.

Meanwhile, Belfort has been sidelined for more than a year with an injury of his own. In his last fight, Belfort dominated former UFC Middleweight CHampion Rich Franklin.

Forrest Griffin Vs. Rich Franklin

Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin has been out of action for over a year with an injury. His last win, a split decision over Tito Ortiz, is looking less and less impressive every day, as Ortiz looks closer and closer to retirement.

Griffin is in need of another win over a big name opponent. That chance will come at UFC 126 against Rich Franklin. Franklin knocked out Chuck Liddell in his last fight.

Jake Ellenberger Vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha

Jake Ellenberger had been scheduled to fight Jon Fitch, but B.J. Penn has since been named an opponent for Fitch. Regardless, that match-up showed that the UFC views Ellenberger as a future contender at welterweight.

Ellenberger will now face undefeated submission artist Carlos Eduardo Rocha. Rocha submitted Kris McCray in his UFC debut in impressive fashion.

This fight gives Rocha the opportunity to catapult himself into contender status and Ellenberger the chance to show he can be one of the best at 170 pounds.

Jon Jones Vs. Ryan Bader

Two up-and-coming light heavyweight contenders will meet when Jon Jones takes on Ryan Bader at UFC 126.

The winner of this fight will certainly be on the short-list of fighters to fight for the title against the winner of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Rashad Evans.

Norifumi Yamamoto Vs. Demetrious Johnson

Newly-signed Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto will take on Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson on the undercard at UFC 126.

Combined, these fighters have only gone to a decision in seven of their 31 fights. This fight promises excitement.

Jon Fitch Vs. B.J. Penn

If there were a title for undisputed runner-up to the UFC Welterweight Championship, Jon Fitch would own it. That his what makes this match-up with UFC great B.J. Penn so intriguing.

How can the UFC deny the winner of this fight a title shot?

Carlos Condit Vs. Chris Lytle

After kncocking out Dan Hardy in from of 17,133 English fans, Carlos Condit has become a serious welterweight contender.

With four consecutive wins, Chris Lytle is also looking to become a contender.

Both fighters consistently produce exciting fights. This is one fight you won't want to miss.

Michael Bisping Vs. Jorge Rivera

Michael Bisping and Jorge Rivera have each had the success in the UFC. However, neither fighter has quite been able to break into the elite middleweights in the promotion.

The winner of this fight will be one fight closer to finally becoming a top contender. For the loser, it'll be back to the drawing board yet again.

Martin Kampmann Vs. Diego Sanchez

Despite a loss in his last fight, Martin Kampmann showed why he is a legitmate threat to any welterweight. Many believed that Kampmann actually deserved to win his last fight, which was judged a split decision loss in favor of Jake Shields.

After losing to John Hathaway in his return to the welterweight division, Diego Sanchez registered an impressive win over Paulo Thiago in his last fight.

THe winner of this fight could be a win or two away from a title shot.

Tim Sylvia Vs. Pedro Rizzo

In February, two ex-UFC fighters, Tim Sylvia and Pedro Rizzo will fight for the Powerhouse World Promotions Heavyweight Championship.

Dana White has already said that the winner of the fight will not be immediately invited back into the UFC, but it's hard to believe they wouldn't be on the promotion's radar, especially considering the lack of depth in the UFC's heavyweight division.

Frank Mir Vs. Brendan Schaub

Despite knocking out an MMA legend, Mirko Filipovic, in his last fight, Frank Mir has been treated as if he lost.

Brendan Schaub, who defeated former top contender Gabriel Gonzaga in his last fight, will be looking to become a top contender himself with what would be an upset victory over Mir. A win for Schaub would show that The Ultimate Fighter series is still capable of producing legitimate contenders.

Mauricio Rua Vs. Rashad Evans

In his first shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua lost a controversial decision to Lyoto Machida.

In his only fight in 2010, Rua avenged that loss by knocking out Machida in the first round.

Now, Rua will defend his title for the first time against former champion Rashad Evans.

In his last fight, Evans used his wrestling to defeat Quinton "Rampage" Jackson by decision.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Vs. Tito Ortiz

Tito Ortiz has not won in more than four years. That makes his next fight with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira one of the more meaningful of his career. With a loss, it would be hard to conceive the UFC hanging on to Ortiz any longer.

34-year-old Nogueira has been in a slump of his own. The MMA veteran has looked less than impressive since joining the UFC in late-2009. A loss in this fight could put Nogueira in a similar position to the one Ortiz is facing right now.

Anthony Pettis Vs. Frankie Edgar/Gray Maynard

With his ridiculous knockdown of Ben Henderson at WEC 53, Anthony Pettis earned the WEC Lightweight Championship and a shot at the UFC Lightweight Championship.

Pettis will fight the winner of the aforementioned fight between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard to unify the two titles.

Georges St. Pierre Vs. Jake Shields

After defending his UFC Welterweight Championship for the sixth consecutive time against Josh Koscheck, Georges St. Pierre's next challenger is already lined up.

Despite a less-than-steller UFC debut, Shields became the top contender at welterweight with his win over Martin Kampmann.

All signs indicate that this fight will take place at UFC 129 in Toronto, an event expected to be one of the biggest in MMA history.

Yushin Okami Vs. Anderson Silva/Vitor Belfort

Yushin Okami earned a title shot with his victory over Nate Marquardt at UFC 122.

Albeit by disqualification, Yushin Okami was the last person to defeat Anderson Silva. At some point in 2011, Silva will get the chance to show why he is the better fighter and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA history.

That is...if Silva can get past Belfort.

Herschel Walker Vs. Scott Carson

Herschel Walker's involvement in MMA shows how much the sport has grown over recent years. While his fights might not interest long-time MMA fans all that much, they will certainly draw attention from mainstream media.

Walker is a talented athlete, so don't count him out of making some noise in MMA before he decides to call it quits either.

Walker's next fight will come against Scott Carson at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg in January.

Cain Velasquez Vs. Junior Dos Santos

I'm not real sure why we aren't talking about this fight happening very early in 2011. Both Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos came out of their most recent fights mostly unscathed.

Still, this fight should be a great one when it does happen.

The fight will mark Velasquez's first title defense after he ran through former champion Brock Lesnar.

Chael Sonnen Vs. Wanderlei Silva

At this point, the fight between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva is nothing but a verbal battle.

The UFC has not confirmed that this fight is even in the works, but how can this fight not take place once Sonnen's suspension is over and Silva is fully recovered from his injury.

This fight is going to happen one way or another, even if it has to happen outside of the Octagon.

Don't believe me?

Just check out Sonnen's twitter account here.

Anderson Silva Vs. Georges St. Pierre

UFC fans have been asking for this fight for quite awhile, but St. Pierre has a title fight with Shields lined up and Silva has title fights against Belfort and Okami still in front of him.

At 35-years-old Silva isn't getting any younger.

These two champions are the clear-cut number one and two pound-for-pound fighters in the world right now. This fight is a golden opportunity to draw a ton of interest to the UFC from the mainstream.

Dana White needs to make this fight happen before I write this article again next year.