10 Intriguing Strikeforce vs. UFC Matchups

Muhammed Lawal, for now, is still employed with Strikeforce, but he, like every mixed martial artist in the world, is looking toward the big leagues.

"I want to go where everybody’s going to and it seems everybody is going to the UFC," King Mo said after knocking out previously-undefeated Roger Gracie at Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov.

Normally, a win over an opponent of Gracie's caliber at the level Lawal is already at would put him in line for a Light Heavyweight title fight with current champion Dan Henderson, but Lawal has his sights set on the UFC.

Maybe, hopefully, they’d have a UFC vs.Strikeforce event," he said, "...and then make it all just be UFC, how about that?”

While a whole event may be tough to fill out, here are some matchups that could make for very exciting fights if such an event ever takes place.

And here we go.

Tyroon Woodley vs. Georges St-Pierre

Georges "Rush" St-Pierre has been nothing short of flawless over the past four years, winning his last nine fights. His career record now stands at 22-2. The big advantage GSP has held over almost every one of his opponents in the UFC has been his superior, Olympic-level wrestling game.

With Woodley, that wouldn't necessarily be the case.

In his nine professional fights, Woodley has shown an impressive display of wrestling, power and submission skills, winning all nine fights, including a unanimous decision victory in July over former top UFC contender Paul Daley.

With former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz signed by the UFC, it is only a matter of time before Woodley becomes the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and moves that much closer to a showdown with GSP.

Chael Sonnen vs. Luke Rockhold

For everybody who thinks Luke Rockhold can compete with Anderson Silva just because he's now champion, stop dreaming. If you have been under a rock for the last six years, just look back at all of his wins. The man has beaten wrestlers, BJJ fighters, guys who can throw a punch, guys who can take a punch. Silva would destroy him.

This fight has a lot of intrigue to it.

Sonnen is the second best middleweight in the world because of his superior wrestling ability. He's also the second best middleweight in the world due to his horrible submission defense, something a wrestler like him should be better at. Of Sonnen's 11 career losses, eight have come by way of submission.

Rockhold, the new Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, has recorded six of his eight career victories by submission.

Anderson Silva is the best 185 pounder in the world, but this would be an intriguing fight to see who would possess the best chance of defeating him.

Cain Velasquez vs. Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier, in two fights, has gone from relative unknown former NCAA All-American to being one win away from becoming the new Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion.

A broken hand suffered in his KO win over Antonio "Big Foot" Silva may delay that from happening, but the man has become a force to be reckoned with.

Cormier and Velasquez have a lot in common: They are both NCAA All-Americans, they are both 9-0 and they both train at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose.

Once Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos fight, the winner of that faces the winner of Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem and Daniel Cormier faces Josh Barnett for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship. If they are both able to come out unscathed, it's only a matter of time before a champion vs. champion matchup comes to fruition.

Chad Griggs vs. Shane Carwin

This might be a bit of a stretch, but I think it could make for an amazing 48 seconds. Between the two of them, they have 20 first round stoppages.

In fact, throughout the careers of both fighters, 21 of their 26 fights have ended within one round, win or loss.

It's hard to say who would win this fight and how they would win exactly, but there's a VERY good chance it wouldn't last long.

Muhammad Lawal vs. Rampage Jackson

What about the inspiration for this article? What about King Mo? What about a fight with his long lost twin brother? (Don't tell me you don't see SOME resemblance there.)

Both men are former champions and each man won their title by knocking out the reigning champion at the time.

Lawal got back on the winning track against Roger Gracie last weekend and Rampage is currently awaiting his September 24 Light Heavyweight Championship match with Jon Jones.

A Jackson loss could provide an interesting opportunity for Lawal to jump to the UFC exclusively and take on Rampage.

Tim Kennedy vs. Brian Stann

Picture this if you will:

In the Main Event of a future "Fight for the Troops" event,

In one corner, a former United States Marine and Silver Star winner.

In the other corner, a former member of the Army and Bronze Star winner.

You think the fans (and soldiers) in attendance wouldn't go absolutely NUTS for these two?

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Dan Henderson

This fight might have 'one-sided affair for Henderson' written all over it, but keep this in mind: an 18-3 Henderson was beaten by a 10-1 Lil' Nog back in 2005. Before that, Nogueira had previously beaten former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem.

Nogueira has lost back-to-back fights to two young 205 pound contenders. Henderson has won three fights in a row by knockout on his way to capturing the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship.

I'm not saying this has main event written all over it, but I think Henderson would want the fight for the chance to avenge the loss.

Chris Leben vs. Melvin Manhoef

This is another fight for those who like to see fighters ending up on their backs, out cold.

These two middleweights have a career 35 knockout victories between them, 27 coming in the first round.

Both men have similar career records, though as a result of two very different recent streaks: Leben has won four of his last five fights, while Manhoef has LOST four of his last five fights.

Just put them in the cage and let them swing until someone can no longer stand.

Carlos Condit vs. Bobby Voelker

One more time, it's another knockout artists matchup.

Twenty-eight knockouts between the two men would provide for even more fireworks on top of the fireworks of the Leben-Manhoef matchup on top of the fireworks of the Carwin-Griggs matchup.

Both men have recently gone on impressive runs that have left them in two very different positions. Condit has won 12 of 13 en route to being named the No. 1 Contender for Georges St-Pierre's Welterweight Championship. Voelker has won 10 of 13 as he continues a slow climb up the ranks in Strikeforce's welterweight division.

This fight may be a ways away from happening.

Benson Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez

Once this Ben Henderson-Clay Guida, Frankie Edgar-Gray Maynard, mini-tournament of sorts is over, Ben Henderson will be the UFC Lightweight Champion and Gilbert Melendez will still be the Strikeforce Lightweight Champion.

At that point in time, the Strikeforce will officially fold into the UFC and these two men will meet to determine just who is the best 155 pounder in the world.

When that fight happens, it will have all the makings of one of the greatest fights of all-time.

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