9 Intriguing UFC Rematches and How They Can Happen

Take a look at the photo above. Does it look like these guys are ready to kill each other?

One day after this photo was taken, back in June of 2009, Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida were putting on an eventual Fight of the Year performance before 2,217 thankful fans that resulted in both men coming out on top, no matter what the final decision was.

This list will look back at that fight and eight others that would be intriguing to see in the octagon one more time.

And, here we go.

Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir

This fight would be the rematch of the rematch of what was perhaps the most action-filled 90 seconds in UFC history.

Lesnar made his UFC debut in February of 2008 against the former champion Mir, who was considered by many the underdog heading into the fight.

In the early moments, Lesnar dropped Mir and swarmed on him but was stood up by referee Steve Mazzagatti who said Lesnar was illegally punching the back of Mir's head. Lesnar once again put Mir on his back but was caught after leaving his leg in Mir's guard and was forced to tap out.

Mir went on to coach "The Ultimate Fighter" and defeat fellow coach Minotauro Nogueira for the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship. Lesnar defeated Heath Herring and then Randy Couture to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship, setting up an Undisputed Championship match between the two at UFC 100. Lesnar knocked Mir out in the Round 2 with some big ground-and-pound punches.

How the fight can happen:

Lesnar is currently out of action while recovering from his second bout with diverticulitis. Mir would make a very logical return opponent, as he has remained with Lesnar in the top five heavyweights in the world.

Forrest Griffin vs. Rampage Jackson

Forrest Griffin was the goofy-looking, former law enforcement officer who won "The Ultimate Fighter: Season 1" and then worked his way to becoming the No. 1 Contender for the Light Heavyweight Championship after upsetting Shogun Rua at UFC 76 in late 2007.

Coming into UFC 86, Rampage Jackson had won six straight fights, including title fight victories over Chuck Liddell and Dan Henderson. Many saw Rampage as a dominant favorite to retain the title.

Forrest (again) shocked everybody, using leg kicks to slow Rampage down en route to winning the title via unanimous decision.

How the fight can happen:

This one might take some time. Forrest is coming off of a KO loss to Shogun Rua at UFC 134, and Rampage is scheduled to face Jon Jones later this month at UFC 135 for the Light Heavyweight Championship. Forrest needs to win his next fight and have Rampage lose to Jones to get back up into Top 10 discussion with Rampage.

Nick Diaz vs. Diego Sanchez

As crazy as the "TUF 9" finale fight between Sanchez and Guida was, there are people who think this fight might have been crazier.

The bad blood between these two began with e-mails exchanged between the two leading up to the fight. Diaz said that all "TUF" participants were being given an easier path to the top of the UFC. Finally, Diaz threw a shoe at Sanchez in the locker room before the fight.

During the bout, Diaz complained that Sanchez had greased his body to make it harder to be taken down. Sanchez went on to win the fight by unanimous decision.

How the fight can happen:

Sanchez recently pulled out of his fight with Matt Hughes at UFC 135 due to a broken hand. Diaz, the most recent Strikeforce champion, will vacate his belt before facing UFC Champion Georges St-Pierre on October 29th in the Main Event of UFC 137. Should Nick lose the fight to St-Pierre, Sanchez could make for a possible opponent when he returns.

Dan Henderson vs. Anderson Silva

While all of the attention has been on a Silva-GSP super fight, this is a different super fight not getting the love it should be getting.

At UFC 82, then-Pride Champion Henderson and UFC Champion Silva squared off in a title unification match. People thought that the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics wrestler Henderson would have the advantage on the ground, but Silva worked his way to a rear naked choke victory in the final 10 seconds of Round 2.

Since that fight, Henderson, all 41 years of his, has gone on a rampage, knocking out top fighters Michael Bisping, Renato Sobral, Rafael Cavalcante, and Fedor Emelianenko, as he has become the Strikeforce light heavyweight champion.

How the fight can happen:

Henderson has entertained the idea of dropping back down to 185 lbs for another fight with Silva. At the same time, though not as widely considered, Silva has the capability to go up to 205 lbs and fight Henderson in a light heavyweight clash. Silva is 2-0 in his UFC career at light heavyweight, both Round 1 knockouts.

Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva

This one is almost too obvious to put on here, but NOT putting it would seem weird.

Every UFC fan knows by now what Chael Sonnen did to Anderson Silva last August—dissed him until the cows came home for months leading up to the fight, actually backed it up by pounding his way to a new UFC record for strikes landed in a fight for 23 minutes, and wound up getting caught in a triangle choke and tapped out.

Sonnen spent the last year failing drug tests and being convicted of money laundering and is finally fighting again, against Brian Stann in a title eliminator on October 8th.

How the fight can happen:

It's pretty straight-forward: if Sonnen beats Brian Stann at UFC 136, he will face Silva in a rematch for the Middleweight Championship.

Carlos Condit vs. Rory MacDonald

These two put on a fight to remember at UFC 115, one whose ending left fans asking for more.

The then-10-0 MacDonald used a mixture of striking and takedowns to gain the upper hand for the better of the first two rounds. 

Condit came back with a furious Round 3, finishing MacDonald with a mere seven seconds left in the fight.

It was later revealed after analysis of the judges' scorecards that had MacDonald survived, he would have picked up a split-decision victory.

How the fight can happen:

Condit is currently scheduled to face B.J. Penn at UFC 137 in a Welterweight Title Eliminator. Should Condit lose the fight and if MacDonald, who is currently awaiting his next opponent after defeating Mike Pyle at UFC 133, is still without an opponent at that time, a rematch would make a lot of sense to see which man deserves to remain in the Top 10.

Forrest Griffin vs. Shogun Rua

Yeah, I know these guys had their rematch two weeks ago, but all Shogun did by winning was even the score at 1-1. Ties are meant to be broken in any sport, even the UFC.

Griffin won the first fight by submission in the final minute at UFC 76, back when Rua was considered to be the top light heavyweight in the world.

Nearly four years later, Rua took less than two minutes to knock out Griffin, his first loss in two years.

How the fight can happen:

It's going to be a while. Rematches aren't a common thing when fights end the way their fight did at UFC 134. Rua is now one fight or so away from a title shot, and Griffin is three or four fights away. Griffin would have to win two or three of his next three or four. Rua would have to lose his next fight, keeping him from becoming a No. 1 contender, then win his next fight and then lose the fight after that.

It seems complicated, but these two deserve to truly see who is better.

Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin

Two fights. Two split decisions, 1-1 for each fighter. Could these men have put on two closer fights?

At UFC 59, Griffin, a year removed from winning Season One of "The Ultimate Fighter," took on Ortiz, the former three-year light heavyweight champion. Griffin won over the fans by putting on a stellar performance, but he lost a controversial split decision.

Three-and-a-half years later, Ortiz returned from a year-and-a-half long absence to take on Griffin after his original opponent Mark Coleman pulled out due to injury. Griffin showed improved striking and ground skills during the fight, winning by split decision.

How the fight can happen:

Ortiz is 36 years old and 1-5-1 in his last seven fights. A fight with Griffin could provide a great way for him to go out. He could go out on a high note and win the series with Griffin.

Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida

Finally, we come to this article's title slide photo fight.

Fight of the Night. Fight of the Year. Not bad for a fight that aired for free on SpikeTV.

Sanchez spent Round 1 turning Guida into a human punching bag, flooring him with a head kick and knocking his mouthpiece out. Guida managed to survive and turn the fight towards his favor over the final two rounds.

In the end, Sanchez won a razor-thin split-decision, earning him a Lightweight Championship match.

How the fight can happen:

For the time being, Sanchez has moved back up to 170 pounds but has not completely ruled out a drop back down to 155. Guida recovered from the loss to Sanchez, putting himself at the top of the lightweight ladder by winning his last four fights.

Sanchez recently pulled out of his fight at UFC 135 against Matt Hughes. Currently, Ben Henderson is rumored to be a possible opponent for Guida, but a match between Sanchez and Guida could make for a match just as crazy as their fight two years ago.