Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo and the 5 Best Upcoming Striker vs. Striker Matchups

With a bout between heavyweight strikers Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo being announced for UFC on Versus 4, fans will be treated to one of many upcoming striker vs. striker match-ups.

Their are many intriguing fights on the horizon, and they will be taking place in the UFC and Strikeforce. These are the ones fans should be looking most forward to when it comes down to two strikers taking on one another.

No. 5 Mirko "Cro Cop" vs. Brendan Schaub

This bout takes place March 19th at UFC 128.

Brendan Schaub is 7-1 in MMA. All of his bouts except one have ended in the very first round by TKO. His last fight versus Gabriel Gonzaga went the distance; the first fight to go all three rounds in both fighters' careers.

Mirko Flipovic is coming off a loss to Frank Mir when he was knocked out in the third round by a knee.This could very well be his last fight in the Octagon if he loses. Expect him to come out trying to make a statement.

Both fighters are hungry to win convincingly, and there's no better way than by knockout. With Cro Cop's vicious kicks and Schaub's early pressure, don't expect this one to last too long.

No. 4 Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo

This bout will take place on June 26 at UFC on Versus 4.

It's rare you get two professional kickboxers inside the same cage for an Mixed Martial Arts bout, but Barry is one of those fighters that makes a striker vs. striker match exciting because he is so good.

Barry is coming off a competitive decision win over the tough Mexican fighter Joey Beltran. Kongo could only manage to get a draw in his last fight versus Travis Browne.

Barry looked possessed in his last fight. He was not his jovial self at the weigh-ins or during the fight. Kongo hasn't looked too good since 2009 when he beat Barry's training partner Antoni Hardonk.

Both fighters' desires to stand and trade should make this an exciting stand-up war.

No. 3 Dan Hardy vs. Anthony Johnson

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NEW YORK - MARCH 24: Dan Hardy of Nottingham, UK speaks at a press conference for UFC 111 at Radio City Music Hall on March 24, 2010 in New York City. Hardy will face Georges St-Pierre of Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the Welterweight title bout. (Photo

This will be the co-main event at the upcoming Fight Night event on March 26th.

Hardy is coming off two back-to-back losses including a knockout at the hands of Carlos Condit.

Johnson hasn't fought since losing to Josh Koscheck at UFC 106 in 2009.

This should be a fun fight while it lasts. If Johnson is able to make the welterweight limit of 170 pounds easily, and it hasn't happened that way yet, this could be a long battle between two fighters who like to stand and knock their opponents out.

Hardy's gameplan should be to take the fight into the later rounds, but his response to getting hit should be to punch right back. Don't blink on this one.

No. 2 Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley

This may be the most exciting striker vs. striker matchup in the upcoming weeks. It will take place April 9th on Strikeforce.

A lot of people don't like either of these fighters. Daley was booted from the UFC when he punched Josh Koscheck after the final bell of their bout.

Diaz' trash-talking and post-fight brawls don't put him on the good side of most MMA fans' favorite fighters. What he does have is the ability to control where this fight takes place, and he won't be afraid to stand and trade punches with Daley.

Someone is most likely going to sleep in this match. The question of whether or not it comes from a strike or a submission will just have to wait to be answered.

No. 1 Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick

At UFC 129 on April 30th, these two exciting strikers will exchange blows for five rounds or less. The winner will emerge as the UFC featherweight champion.

Hominick possesses some of the best boxing skills in the entire sport. His ability to outstrike and outmaneuver his opponents with speed and footwork is amazing to watch.

His opponent is Jose Aldo, who also is an excellent boxer but also has lethal kicks and knees. Just look at his eight previous bouts. Seven of his last eight victories have come by knockout.

This will be the most significant striker vs. striker match coming up, and it will take place in front of 55,000 fans in Toronto, Canada.