Speculating UFC 96: The Matchups We Want to See

There are several upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-views and other events coming up that already have fighters locked up and training and unavailable for a while afterwards.  However, thanks to the UFC's huge stable of fighters, there are many talented warriors waiting in the wings to perform soon.

So, since the next few events are already billed, the commercials budgeted, and the hype built, what fighters and matchups can we look forward to after them?  There are so many fighters still available despite the upcoming events, I had a hard time figuring out who I would like to see perform.

So I made rules of engagement to help me choose.  The fighters I can use must make it through the following criteria to be considered:

1. A fighter cannot have fought within the last month, and cannot be fighting already in any upcoming events.
2. A fighter cannot be semi- or fully-retired.
3. A fighter cannot have a record worse than two wins per loss  (I did break this rule in two of my selections.  You will see why.).
4. A fighter must be fresh, or newly refreshed.
5. No matchup can be a rematch.
6. No title fights.

So for UFC 96, which should be coming up in early March, I have some very interesting picks.  My fight matchups are intriguing because I have a variety of different guys that have never faced each other before.  So what matchups can we hopefully look forward to in 2009?

To start with, let us get the basic fights out of the way.  My "possibly not televised" undercard would be three fights:

1. James Lee (25-3) vs Eric Schafer (12-3-2)  Two light heavies with bright futures.  Schafer is definitely up-and-coming, and despite two recent losses, his last fight was a first round win against powerful Huston Alexander.  Lee lost to horrifyingly powerful Alessio Sakara in his only UFC fight, but the matchup of two good submission fighters could prove to be a real show.  I think Schafer would win in the second round by submission.
2. Luke Cummo (9-6) vs Matt Brown (11-7)  Welterweight action for my two bad-record candidates.  These two have mountains of heart and sluggers' mindsets.  The fight, even though an undercard to much higher profile battles, would be a great candidate for Fight of the Night.  My call is Cummo (I know this is slightly off-kilter; I just like the guy) in the second round by TKO.
3. Goran Reljic (8-0) vs Thales Leites (14-1)  These two middleweights are poised to do great things in the UFC.  Both are on win streaks, and both seem on the verge of becoming stars.  I would give the edge to Reljic, mostly because he has proven to be able to do enough to win in every fight so far.

Main Event (televised) fights

1. Michael Bisping (18-1) vs Patrick Cote (14-5)  Other than his recent loss to Anderson Silva, Cote rode a win streak through his previous four fights.  Bisping is one of the scrappiest, smartest fighters in the game.  These two would be dynamite in a fence with the winner connecting on a square power punch and a ground and pound TKO finish in the third round.  Bisping would be my guess on this one.
2. Mac Danzig (19-5-1) vs Tyson Griffin (12-2)  Griffin is a dynamite wrestler with good speed and power.  Danzig matches up with ground skills, smart striking, and guts of solid steel.  I would give a slight advantage to Griffin throughout the fight unless Danzig caught with a head kick or power punch.  Griffin in the second round by ground and pound TKO.
3. Thiago Alvez (22-4) vs Diego Sanchez (21-2)  Alvez rides into this on a big win streak, with Sanchez 2-2 in his last four fights.  These two fighters would play a rich game of chess for a whole round or more, and once they were done feeling out, they would begin tearing each other down.  Alvez would have the strength advantage despite Sanchez's wrestling, and look for Alvez to win by submission in the third round.
4. Kenny Florian (13-3) vs Nate Diaz (10-2)  Two excellent fighters with similar builds.  Diaz, who has a slight advantage on the ground, is a true constrictor snake; flexible, quick, and deadly.  Florian holds a distinct advantage on his feet, with Muay Thai skills unseen in the lightweight class. 
   
   This one is too tough to call, as both fighters are superior at what they do.  I would have to go with Florian for being better rounded, and being able to end any fight in one elbow, whether by knockout or huge rivers of blood, second round.
5. Rory Markham (16-4) vs Matt Serra (16-5)  Markham is the spoiler here.  Though still not well known in the UFC, this fight would be his chance to upset a big name.  Serra would want this fight to be his crutch, helping him get back on his feet after a tough loss to St. Pierre.  Markham by knockout at 2:30 in the first.
6. Amir Sadollah (2-0) vs Kendall Grove (11-5)  After his latest fight, a win against Evan Tanner (RIP), Grove needs one more win under his belt to have the confidence we have seen from him in the past.  Sadollah just needs more experience to determine what kind of fighter he is. 
   
   One thing we already know about these two though:  They both love to pound out a good striking game on the feet.  This would be one of those standing wars that would be talked about for years.  Both fighters would throw the kitchen sink at each other, hoping to be the last man standing when the dust cleared.  I really like these two, and would give this match an instant classic status as soon as it was announced. 
   
   But how would it end?  Sadollah rocks Kendall with a good punch in the first round and it looks like Grove is out.  In the second round Grove lands a clinched flying knee to the face of Sadollah, making him a twin of Rich Franklin.  Winner, Kendall Grove!

If Dana White has any of these fights pegged for UFC 96, I would consider myself a genius, and none of you would ever hear the end of it.  If he doesn't have any of these fights on the card he's worked out to himself and not shown us, then it doesn't mean I am not a genius, just that White's genius and my genius don't see eye to eye right now (I am quite a bit taller than Dana White).

So here's to you UFC 96.  We hope you give us the great matchups we crave in the UFC, and if you could give the Kendall and Amir fight a chance, well;  I would really appreciate it.

And one last thing Dana:

I am available for hire to make matchups for you if you like my ideas.

I'm just saying.

But seriously.

I am.