UFC's Biggest Potential Fights of 2012

Now that the dust has settled on what was the UFC's biggest event to date, it's time to turn our attention to what the future holds for both the sport itself and some of its biggest stars.

While some would argue that UFC on FOX aided in catapulting mixed martial arts into the category of being considered a mainstream sport, others would suggest there is still a bit of work that needs to be done in order to classify the UFC as a truly elite brand. Moreover, 2012 could be just the year to take that extra step.

After all, when Dana White commonly referred to his 10-year plan for the UFC, he often suggested that 2012 would be the measuring stick with which the sport would gauge its true place in the world of professional sports.

With that, it's easy then to see that 2012 could in fact be the biggest year the sport has ever seen. Aside from the newfound exposure from network television, some of the sport's biggest stars are at stages in their careers where mega-fights seem to be the only thing that make a whole lot of sense.

Taking all of that into consideration, here are 10 of the biggest fights the UFC could put on in 2012.

Honorable Mention: Heavyweight Division

Because of the current jumble at the heavyweight division, it's a little unclear exactly how things will shake out once the remaining bouts come to fruition at the end of 2011. The good thing, however, is that regardless of what happens, there is no shortage of huge fights for the men at the top of the division.

For now, let the big boys revel in their newfound exposure thanks to a successful FOX debut.

1. Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II

Sure, it may be the only fight on the list that is all but guaranteed to happen. However, does that take away from any of the excitement of what would be one of the biggest rematches in the history of mixed martial arts?

Let's face it: Anderson Silva is a bit closer to the exit than some of his biggest fans would like to admit—so much so that his own manager, Ed Soares, publicly stated that Silva will likely retire after competing in four more fights, presumably through 2012 (SporTV, h/t Bloody Elbow).

Although Silva has refuted the claim (GLOBO, h/t Cage Potato), you have to at least wonder how much the middleweight champ has left in the tank.

The good news, though, is that 2012 could in fact be the biggest year for Silva. Although a loss to Sonnen could in fact derail some of Silva's grandiose plans, look for a win to set him up nicely against another UFC kingpin.

2. Anderson Silva vs. Georges St-Pierre

Has there ever been a more talked-about fight in the history of the UFC? The hopeful clash between the middleweight and welterweight champs has been at the forefront of MMA conversation for the last two years.

Each time one of the two wins a bout, it doesn't take long for the media to start suggesting that the meeting between St-Pierre and Silva is just around the corner. Although it's been hinted at on numerous occasions by White himself, it's always remained a fight or two away.

So what's changed? Well, a lot really.

For starters, both men are a win or two away from truly cleaning out their divisions. Sure, there will always be new guys that come along that may pose somewhat of a threat to either champion; however, if there is ever to be a case made for a guy cleaning out his division, both of them take the cake.

Some may even argue further that if Silva were to get through Sonnen and St-Pierre through Nick Diaz, all the chips would be in place to finally make that fight happen, all excuses aside.

After all, does anyone really want to see these two take on the Michael Bispings or Jon Fitches of the world anytime soon? Hopefully not.

3. Rashad Evans vs. Jon Jones

It was originally slated to happen in December of this year. However, Rashad Evans was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an ongoing injury. Even still, talk of an eventual bout between the two still seems to take precedence over Jon Jones' upcoming bout with Lyoto Machida.

So what does that tell us? The two still appear to be in each other's crosshairs.

That's a good thing, however, for those who believe Rashad is the only true contender who stands a chance against the light heavyweight juggernaut.

If Jones gets through Machida at UFC 140, look for the bout between the former training partners to take form sometime in the early to mid stages of 2012.

4. Dan Henderson vs. Jon Jones

There are a few factors at play in order to make this bout become a reality. However, such factors aren't quite as outlandish as some maybe would have suggested a few months ago. 

In interviews leading up to UFC 139, Henderson has made it abundantly clear that he has no intentions of taking another crack at the middleweight champ, Anderson Silva. Instead for Henderson, a chance to take down Jon Jones seems to be the much more appealing option at this stage in his career.

If Henderson dispatches Shogun after this weekend's main event, look for the ageless warrior to take a little rest in preparation of a hopeful dance with the light heavyweight champion should he get through Machida and possibly Evans.

If the timetables line up correctly, the two could face off near the end of 2012.

5. Rampage Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin II

When Forrest Griffin leg-kicked himself into his first taste of UFC gold, many were shocked to see Rampage Jackson standing on the losing end of the equation.

Ever since then, Jackson has maintained that one of his remaining goals in his illustrious MMA career is to exact revenge on the man who cost him his UFC title.

One thing to note is that many factors would suggest both Rampage and Griffin are nearing the end of their respectable careers in the sport of mixed martial arts.

For Griffin, many have wondered if becoming both a new husband and father has cost him the much-needed desire to remain a true threat in the still-evolving sport of mixed martial arts. For Jackson, the allure of making movies and continuing his acting career has seemed to become a true factor in whether or not Rampage will continue to fight through the next couple of years.

The good news now, though, is that neither fighter appears to be ready to call quits in the immediate future. Moreover, both seem to be on a collision course to meet again before 2012 comes to a close.

6. Rampage Jackson vs. Shogun Rua II

Aside from the Griffin fight, only a handful of other bouts make that much sense for the former Pride star. After losing to Jones in what may have been his most impressive fight to date, it's clear that Jackson's days of challenging for the UFC title are essentially over.

Truth be told, though, that may not be a bad thing for Jackson's career going forward. In the past, we have seen him exact revenge on Wanderlei Silva and Marvin Eastman, both of which proved to be some of the more exciting fights in recent memory for the heavy-handed fighter.

Still, he's maintained his desire to put his best foot forward in a rematch with Rua, who beat Jackson back in 2005.

For Shogun, a lot rides on his UFC 139 clash with Dan Henderson. A win would catapult him right back into the title picture. A loss on the other hand would certainly put him at the back of the line—a perfect spot, in fact, for a late-December dance with Rampage.

Though Jackson's fight with Griffin would likely come to fruition first, a bout between both Pride veterans will likely happen before the end of 2012.

7. Gilbert Melendez vs. Frankie Edgar/Benson Henderson Winner

This is a bit tricky, as half of the equation is still fighting under the Strikeforce banner. If recent comments are to suggest anything, however, it's likely that UFC fans will get their first glimpse of Gilbert Melendez possibly sooner than previously imagined.

Sure, Melendez does have a scheduled fight for Strikeforce in December. However, a win would line him up nicely for a quick turnaround in a June or July fight against the current lightweight champ.

With Benson Henderson already slated to take on Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 in February, the winner would likely take part in a unification bout with Melendez sometime soon after.

8. BJ Penn vs. Gray Maynard

What's left for BJ Penn? It's one of the most common questions fans of MMA and the media alike seem to offer up every chance they get. Well, what's next could inevitably prove to be a fight that many would otherwise not have suggested.

At this point, the remainder of Penn's career will likely go one of two ways: 

Option No. 1

He will stay at welterweight, half-heartedly train and likely lose another close decision to one of the division's elite fighters—followed immediately by another in-ring retirement speech.

Option No. 2

Penn will realize that he has one good run left in the gas tank, although that run needs to be made at 155 pounds.

Sure, it's somewhat lofty expectations for a fighter who has gone 1-3-1 in his last five fights. Moreover, would Penn even want to endure the rigors that come with the camp and weight cut of a lightweight fight at this stage in his life?

While the direct answer to said question lies only within Penn's own psyche, it's not too far-fetched to imagine that a rejuvenated and motivated BJ Penn would realize that his best efforts going forward would come in the way of competing at lightweight, where he is not the most undersized competitor in every fight.

On the flip side, Gray Maynard is one fight removed from being a punch away from winning UFC gold. Although he will likely get a fight with Melvin Guillard or Clay Guida first, a bout with Penn could materialize sometime late in 2012.

9. Urijah Faber vs. Dominick Cruz III

Hands down, Urijah Faber is the most marketable fighter fighting in a weight class below lightweight. (Yes, even more so than Jose Aldo.) With that, the UFC still has a handful of fights that would sit well as a featured bout on any number of PPVs in the foreseeable future.

However, possibly no bout featuring the "California Kid" would prove to be as appetizing to a PPV crowd as a third meeting between he and Dominick Cruz.

While Faber shines in his role as a UFC fan favorite, something about Cruz suggests that he may just be the UFC's least-marketable champion. Although he does have the talent and overall game to warrant his spot at the top of the bantamweight division, there is certainly something fans see in Faber that they don't in Cruz.

That very difference between the two may just be what is so enticing to fans and the media alike about having the two fight again.

With the exception of a handful of bouts, second and third fights between mixed martial artists never materialize into the type of fight fans initially hoped it would be. This fight, however, would likely break that mold.

10. Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz III

We all know it's going to happen eventually, right?