15 Fights Every MMA Fan Would Love To See in 2011
Keeping within the confines of realistic weight categories and the inherent difficulties orchestrating cross promotions, these are the fights that I would most like to see in 2011.
Matchmaking is a tough art. Some people prefer the adage great matchmaking makes great fights in lieu of styles makes fights. Also fighters make fights too. In my opinion, the stars on this list have all proven they possess superlative skill and the potential to produce great fights. This list also tries to make new matchups that are not often discussed in order to be insightful and worth reading. Hopefully, there are some fresh bouts here that intrigue you.
15. Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
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The list cannot simply be a list of champions against champions. That proves no art.
Here are two fighters that just need the right matchup to make and connect them to mainstream fans. One of the greatest fights in MMA history is Nick Diaz versus Takanori Gomi in Pride. It is a must see for anyone who has not seen it and for those who have, they can see why this fight, with Nick's brother, makes a great storyline.
Nate also worked the corner for that fight too. Both are coming off losses after showing spectacular entertainment value. Nate destroyed Marcus Davis prior to losing to Kim, and Gomi blew up Tyson Griffin before losing to Clay Guida. I believe in both of these fighters, and this narrative invites great drama and action for fans of fighters who can do it all anywhere in a fight.
14. Dan Henderson vs. Cung Le
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I am surprised that this showdown has not been discussed very much.
Cung Le is the former Strikeforce champion at 185 pounds, and Henderson was the 185 Pride champion. These are two super exciting fighters that wow crowds with intense energy inside the Strikeforce ring!
Le brings a panache flair with movie-like strikes, and Henderson carries with him an incredible list of classic fights. Henderson also brings world class wrestling, a dynamite right hand and devastating ground-and-pound to combat the flash of Le's San Shou ability.
This is an encounter I feel would be very exciting.
13. Demian Maia vs. Nate Marquardt 2
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This is one that I have rarely heard people mention.
In their first bout, Demian was knocked out 20 seconds in. He made the exact same strike—leg kick—three times in a row and each time dropped his hands lower giving away a counter right to Nate.
Demian deserves a rematch. One small technical error stole an opportunity for a great fight. I would love to see these two talented guys go at it. Also credit Nate, who has a reputation for being a dirty fighter, because he let up on Maia and did not try to injure him while he was out. Great class Nate! Nate is very well-rounded and powerful and fought for the title once and had two bouts for a title shot. He lost one to Sonnen and the other to Okami. This places him within the top of the contenders list.
Demian has improved tremendously in his striking—even out striking champion Anderson Silva over the last two rounds of their title fight on my card, so let's give Demian a chance to redeem himself. Nate also competes at a high level in jiu jitsu, so I am sure having an opportunity to test himself against the best grappler in MMA would be an honour he would gladly accept.
To be honest, there are no real challenges left for Silva at 185, so the fights need to come from the contenders against themselves. These two have proven that they belong at the top of the heap at 185, so why not see a battle between two of the best?
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12. Thiago Alves vs. Anthony Johnson
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These two stars have superlative striking skills with explosive speed and power.
Johnson just needs to be matched up with opponents who will not use grappling skills against him. His panicked face when Koscheck went for his neck showed he has limited submission skills despite being a top class wrestler. Alves has no submission wins—except one by tapout due to strikes against tv star Jason Chambers—which is basically a knockout. This will put the fight right where both want it—on the feet.
11. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Fabricio Werdum 2
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With each passing day, the world cares less and less about Fedor.
In August of 2005, he fought Cro Cop for a decision win. Since then, he has compiled a list of wins against a who's who of nobodies and has-beens. His next scheduled fight is in February against Antonio Silva. Anyone care?
Verdum scored a beautiful triangle/armbar sub over Fedor, so let's see the rematch. Was it a fluke? Is Fedor still meaningful? No other question has worn out thumbs of keyboard warriors like this one. Now, it's time for the Last Emperor to finally do some fighting. I love the concept of a tournament when there is a deep field. Here we have three fighters: Fabricio, Fedor and Overeem, so forget the tournament which is inherently plagued with problems and simply have a rematch.
10. Forrest Griffin vs. Wanderlei Silva
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Are these the two most beloved fighters of all time?
Name a boring fight ever between either one of these guys? Yes, Silva is now at 185, but he lives for the fans and would make the fight happen. The excitement in an arena for this bout would be uber-electric! Neither has one-shot KO power these days (The axe-murderer—one KO in last seven fights—is now more of a repeated thrusts type of assassin) and love to exchange. This equates to a three-round slug fest with two competent grapplers—should it go to the mat. This would be for the People's Championship and would not disappoint.
9. Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida
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Dynamic striking at its finest. Technical strikes and creative attacks at their best.
Naturally, Lyoto has disappointed fans before, but Jones has always over-delievered, so I think Jones can compensate for Machida's reluctance to engage. Furthermore, Machida has been sent a message by the judges—and the fans—that his proclivity for backpedalling and circling away do not win anymore.
Coming off a gift decision, a title loss via first-round knockout and another subsequent decision loss, if The Dragon does not start pushing the pace now—he never will. I predict this fight will bring the best out of Machida, and Jones will shine in his toughest fight to date—no more "B" fighters for the "next thing."
8. Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley
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Daley has no takedown defense and no skills that can compare to Nick's grappling expertise.
Yet, Diaz is the rare kind of fighter that fights to fight. In the past, he has allowed the fight to remain standing to entertain the people. K.J. Noons and Robbie Lawlor were supposedly better strikers than him, but Nick let it play out on the feet. Obviously, he held a massive advantage over both with his training from Cesar Gracie—he is now a black belt.
This one would be a classic brawl with non-stop action. Daley has produced amazing knockouts over great strikers, and Diaz is on the verge of becoming the best non-UFC fighter on the circuit. A fight like this could only serve the sport, fans and both fighters well. This could be the Bad Boy Championship.
7. Jon Jones vs. Shogun Rua
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In my opinion, GSP, Silva and Fedor all deserve to be continuously mentioned among the pound-for-pound kings, but please do not forget about Rua.
He was the Pride champ and is again the champ this time in the UFC. He has had three major knee operations and is still the title holder. Long before GSP and Silva were discussed, he was one of the P4P champs, so I think he deserves far more respect in the rankings.
Jon Jones is being mentioned ahead of him in many circles, so let's see how it plays out. I love Jones and Rua. Let the players play.This would really test the hype of Jones against the documented legacy of perhaps the sports greatest 205 legend. Rua's knees will only worsen with time, fans will only be cheated with the continued babying of Jones, so this needs to be played out in 2011.
This could be for the King of the Pride title as old lion battles new lion!
6. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Allistair Overeem
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Why has Fedor yet to fight for the Strikeforce title? Why has Allistair only defended his title once since November 2007? Where are Arlovski, Tim Silva, and Rogers now? Why were they headlined over your current champ? (This is rhetorical.)
Overeem won the title from Paul Buentello and defended it against Brett Rogers; neither man would I want to fight but also two men from whom I would never buy an instructional dvd on MMA skills. It is criminally farcical that these two have not fought nor are signed to fight. Both are incredibly talented, exciting strikers and accomplished grapplers—Allistair in European ADCC and Fedor in sambo.
This is a marquee fight that should have happened a long time ago! To be honest, I have little confidence in Strikeforce's ability to pull off this tournament. Showtime's Super Six proved how difficult running a tournament is, and Strikeforce has demonstrated a lousy—and perplexing—ability to make big fights happen anyways.
5. Shane Carwin vs. Junior Dos Santos
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The power between these two punchers would be epic.
Despite what Joe Rogan tells you, Carwin has not won all of his fights with first-round knockouts, but he does pack a hell of a whallop! Dos Santos is relentless and brings a pace with daunting pressure that makes for great fights. Carwin will not need to hunt the Brazilian down, and I would bet one of the two would sleep.
Which one? JDS's 12-1 record with eight knockouts (out of first round twice only) or Carwin's 12-1 record with seven knockouts. This would be for the title of Knockout King.
4. Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis
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Who does have the best kicks? These two stars are young, talented, inventive, and bring action packed fights every time they battle!
Aldo has wowed fans and destroyed opponents with his devastating Thai kicks, and Pettis just brought MMA to a new level of respectability with his kick. This would be at 155. This is better than any other fight at 145 or 155. Aldo will eventually move up to 155 anyways, so let's do this riding Pettis' momentum!
This would be for the title of King of the Kicks!
3. Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos
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This fight had not yet been finalized even before Cain got hurt. This needs to be done and will be super exciting. Cain has better wrestling while JDS has better jiu jitsu. Who has the better striking? Who will emerge as the UFC heavyweight champion? We will see!
2. G.S.P. vs. Anderson Silva
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How come this is not No. 1? Are you really going to ask that?
These two always perform at their peak and never under deliver? Sorry, but when Paulo Thiago knocked out Koscheck, he was not throwing a jab. Carlos Condit took out Hardy in one when GSP didn't do it in five. Silva has no compunction with making a title fight a chance to throw a tantrum. So, based on that—it is hard to make these two chaps the No. 1 duel in the land even though their fight would qualify them for the subjective, fictitious and contentious pound-for-pound master.
By the way, GSP weighed 187.5 pounds just four hours after making weight at 170 in his most recent fight at UFC 124, so he actually fights at light heavyweight already. Other than intentionally following the flawed model of boxing where the best don't fight the best, I have no idea why this has yet to happen. Odds are higher or lower that this happens before Mayweather-Pacquiao?
No. 1 Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva
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In my opinion, these two guys should fight at 205. Regardless if one does not have the experience or like the weight change—fighters fight and these two would make the greatest blockbuster battle in MMA history.
Spinning elbows and crazy kicks from the two best fighters in the world. Whoooaaaa! Brandon Vera has lost six of his last nine fights. Jake O'Brien was released after Jones beat him and Matyushenko? Seriously? That sums up whom Jones has been tested against.
For the Spider, Okami can do something else and make the fights people want to see. Dana controls what clothes fighters can wear, what music they can play, but he doesn't dictate who fights whom? By the end of 2011, this will be the best fight available, and we need to see it!
This would be for the title of Greatest Fighter Ever.
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