UFC Ultimate '09 – The Fights Fans Want To See!

The Ultimate Fighting Championship can be proud and celebrate a tremendous 2008. Their momentum and strength as an organization and brand has grown even larger and stronger in the past year.

Economic times and turmoil may play a role in leveling out the UFC in 2009, however, the UFC stable of tremendously talented fighters and the organization's commitment to bringing the fans the best fights possible, will remain the reason why they are at the top of the food chain in the MMA world.

Here are the Top 10 fights that will or would be the most exciting to see in 2009. Some are already scheduled, some are very realistic wishes and some may not be. As a fan and student of the game, here is my ultimate card for 2009.

10. Clay Guida (24-6) vs. Nate Diaz (10-2) Lightweight

This fight is already scheduled on the card of UFC 94 St Pierre vs. Penn on Jan 31st, 2009. A nice card to start off the year is bolstered by this intriguing lightweight bout between Clay Guida and TUF 5 winner Nate Diaz.

It is no secret that Guida is a gateway opponent in a sense that he beats all the “good” fighters in the division and loses to all the “great” ones and true title contenders. His smothering wrestling style and relentless cardio attack are famous for frustrating opponents time and time again. In true fashion, Guida executed his game to a tee in September against TUF winner Mac Danzig, gaining a unanimous decision.

Nate Diaz is a rising star with an excellent ground and submission game, and a tough, fighter first mentality. In his brief spot in the UFC he has been brought along fairly slowly, with some early match-ups against one dimensional and unproven opponents.

Diaz’s September win against MMA veteran Josh Neer, was his first true test in the UFC and he passed with a solid decision win. It was his true arrival in a sense, and a win against Guida would separate him from many other fighters in his division and set him on a true path to being a contender and some fabulous future match-ups with the likes of Stevenson, Huerta and Sherk.

Prediction: Much like the fight with Danzig, Guida’s strength smothers Diaz and prevents the youngster from securing a submission. Guida wins in a unanimous decision.

9. Roger Huerta (22-2-1) vs. Joe Stevenson (34-9)  Lightweight

These two fighters seem to be inevitably stuck on a crash course to fight, but it is not a bad problem to have for the UFC in 2009. Huerta is a future star, coming off a decision loss to No. 1 contender Kenny Florian in August. He performed well going the distance with Florian, but was clearly beaten by a sharper, more experienced fighter.

Huerta made the jump to contender in the division at the end of 2007 by submitting Clay Guida in a key bout for his career. His aggressive, exciting and well rounded style is always entertaining and the fact that he is a rising star peaks interest in all of his bouts.

Joe Stevenson is coming off a very disappointing loss as recently as November, a 1st round submission loss to that same Huerta foe Kenny Florian. I was looking for a much better showing from Stevenson against Florian, especially considering that he was talking very heavily before the fight. It was a step back for him, one he must be hungry to redeem in 2009.

It is clear that Florian has separated himself from these two for the time being and stands alone in my view as the No. 1 contender to BJ Penn’s belt. Behind those two stars in the division there is Huerta and Stevenson. Both are in the prime of their careers and should be chomping to elevate their status.

Because Stevenson has fought so recently and Huerta back in August the timing might not be right, but I would love to see these two rumble in ‘09.

8. Rich Franklin (25-3) vs. Dan Henderson (22-7) Light Heavyweight

This headlining fight between two MMA stars and sure fire future MMA Hall of Famers is already scheduled to kick off the year January 17th at the O2 in Dublin. Franklin is coming off two wins in 2008 with the latest a convincing TKO against a young, game but inexperienced Matt Hamill in September.

He has beaten most of the top guys in this division but cannot climb the mountain that is division champ Anderson Silva. A star and face in the UFC, a win over Henderson will demonstrate which way this 34 year old's career will go from here on in.

Much like Franklin, Dan Henderson is and has been a star in the MMA for years now. Henderson’s best days and strongest fights took place across the world in Japan, but his fights have entertained since his much-hyped arrival to the UFC. He is coming off a strong decision win over up and comer Rousimar Palhares in September.

Although being young for his years, Henderson is 38 yrs old now, and like Franklin, needs a strong showing to maintain his place among division headliners. This fight is a big name attraction, and I am looking forward to seeing two seasoned warriors compete for what may be close to the last time.

Prediction: Franklin TKO

7. Anderson Silva (23-4) vs. George St-Pierre (17-2)  Welterweight/Light Heavy

This one might be a long shot, but a guy can hope. The search continues for a man who can really test Anderson Silva, and he has whipped all top comers in his division. A move in weight would have to happen for this one to be real, but depending on how GSP does in his fight in January against Penn, this one has SUPERFIGHT potential.

Silva dismantled Irvin and toyed with Cote in his last two fights, and he must be starving for a real challenge to his plethora of fight skills. He has not been pushed in to deep water, and it remains to be seen if there is anyone who can. He is 33 yrs old and the time is now for him to establish his greatness.  Beating fellow pound for pound star GSP may be next best way to do that.

Georges St.Pierre has his biggest challenge yet in front of him in Jan 2009 as he puts his welterweight title on the line against BJ Penn. The outcome of that fight will shape his intentions for the rest of 2009. The noise is out there for someone to step up and finally take out Silva in the next little while.

As unfair as it is, Silva’s dominance and lack of a true test is turning some fans against him. GSP has taken on all the top talent in his weight class and if he beats Penn for a 2nd time in January, he will be faced with a similar dilemma as Silva. They will be two fighters in their prime with no one in their respective weight class good enough to truly test them to the limit.

Silva is tentatively scheduled to fight Thales Leites in April, which might make a bout with GSP even more of a long shot.

6. Matt Hughes (43-7) vs. Matt Serra (16-5)  Welterweight

Where has this fight and rivalry gone? I still want to see it. Both fighters are coming off losses in 2008. Hughes is coming off a somewhat surprising TKO loss to Thiago Alves in June, and Serra a not so surprising TKO loss to St. Pierre in April. These men do not like each other and were set to fight each other before injuries and timing got in the way. I would still like to see which one of these fighters can prevail.

Hughes has very much struggled in recent bouts in the UFC and it is clear that his best fights are passed. He still has brutal strength, wrestling and ground and pound, but what he does not seem to have is the drive or mystique that he once did. Hughes should still take an opportunity to fight Serra and show the fans that he can still be a headline fighter in the organization.

I believe Serra got injured prior to the fight with Hughes and I have not really heard much from or of him since. He is not an overly active fighter to begin with but he is still young and there were a lot of things said between him and Hughes leading up to their scheduled bout.

Serra has a deadly jiu-jitsu and ground submission game and can still rely on that against any fighter. The question is does he want to fight the big fights?

5. Rashad Evans (17-0-1) vs. Quinton Jackson (28-7) Light Heavyweight

Rashad Evans is on a serious roll in the MMA world. He has clearly established himself as the real deal in a very tough division with his dramatic knockout over superstar Chuck Liddell, and his TKO of Forrest Griffin to become the champion.

There are many in line to challenge Rashad and try to take his undefeated streak. Rashad is a tremendously gifted athlete and martial artist and has gotten better with each trip inside the octagon. He is on top of the heap right now, and it is a serious surprise to the MMA world.

Quinton Jackson is coming off a stunning, convincing knockout of MMA legendary fighter and nemesis Vanderlei Silva. His left hook knockout was just what the doctor ordered for Jackson to catapult him into a perfect contender to take on Evans for the belt. I believe it would be a great fight to see. These two just fought on the same card so the timing is there.

4. BJ Penn (14-4-1) vs. Kenny Florian (13-3) Lightweight

The challenge has been thrown out. Florian said it after his domination of Joe Stevenson that he considers BJ the Master and he wants to fight the Master. BJ Penn fights GSP in January as a welterweight to try and become the pound for pound best fighter in the game.

Despite the outcome, at some point he is going to have to defend his lightweight title against the young and hungry Florian. BJ is not called the Prodigy for nothing and his stand up and submissions are second to none in the world today. I personally don’t feel like anyone in the division, including Florian can touch him.

I do think Florian is very good, and very hungry. He continues to show an admirable dedication to becoming a great fighter and he shows it each time he steps in there. There is no one else for him to face at this point after beating Huerta and Stevenson except for maybe a rematch with Sean Sherk. I would rather see him face Penn for the title though.

3. Fedor Emelianenko vs. winner of Brock Lesnar/Frank Mir   Heavyweight

This could be a pipe dream considering the difficulties in getting Fedor to come to the UFC any time soon. It would be nice to see him do that and settle once and for all that he is the undisputed heavyweight king of the MMA world.

Lesnar or Mir surely would be a handful for anyone and are set to see who the UFC undisputed heavyweight title holder is. Fedor is largely inactive and he is now in his prime. His legendary power and ground and pound strength have been able to beat down any opponent put in front of him. The time is now for him to make his splash in North America.

Brock Lesnar is such a big man that he poses a shear size and strength problem for Fedor if they were to meet. He has shown adequate stand up and the ability to dominate and control on the ground. A battle of strength with Fedor would be something to see.

Mir has shown that he is the ultimate thinking mans fighter. His jiu jitsu and strategic mastery would be his hope and strength against Fedor. His jiu jitsu is better but Fedor would be favored in most all other aspects of the game. This clash is a must see and needs to happen soon, or Fedor will forever be a myth on the NA MMA scene.

2. Brock Lesnar (3-1) vs. Frank Mir (11-3)  Heavyweight

Fight fans already know that this one will happen in 2009 but it has not been decided yet when this Heavyweight unification bout will take place. Brock Lesnar is the champion right now courtesy his surprise TKO win over Randy Couture in November.

Mir just shocked the MMA world with his stand up mastery over interim heavyweight champion Nogueira. The stage is now set for Lesnar vs. Mir II, to find out once and for all who the king of the heavyweight division is.

These two fought this past February with Mir pulling out an impressive heel-hook submission after taking a barrage of Lesnar punishment which seemed close to ending Mir’s night quickly. Mir will always have that submission edge over Lesnar, and Brock needs to train hard on his submission defense leading up to the rematch.

It is clear that Lesnar’s shear size, athleticism, strength, wrestling and stand up are good enough to beat anyone in this division, however, his lack of jiu-jitsu experience makes him susceptible to losing again to a fighter like Mir.

It is also clear that Frank Mir is back in full form after much adversity in his career in the last two years. He is the smartest fighter in the game, certainly the smartest heavyweight, and it is exciting to watch anytime he steps in the octagon.

Prediction: Mir submits Lesnar again

1. BJ Penn (14-4-1) vs. Georges St-Pierre (17-2) II  Welterweight

It is extremely exciting to know that the top 2 must see fights for 2009 are already going to take place. This fight has all the makings of a Super fight that will go down in MMA history. Already scheduled for UFC 94 on January 31st, 2009 Penn and St-Pierre II will showcase in my opinion two of the very best pound for pound fighters in MMA history.

Both Penn and GSP are in the prime of their careers and at the top of their respective divisions. Penn will make the weight jump to welterweight as he has done many times before.

BJ Penn is a jiu jitsu master with great stand up and GSP is the most athletic all around fighter in the game. The last time these two met it was a very close three-round fight which saw GSP take a split decision based on his dominant wrestling and conditioning in round two and three. Penn is a much more dedicated fighter now and conditioning should be less of a factor this time around.

I believe that these two fighters are evenly matched in stand up. The edge on the ground goes to Penn in terms of gaining a submission, but the strength and wrestling edge clearly goes to GSP. This fight will be a 5 round war, and a fight for the ages in the MMA world. Fans do not miss this one!

Prediction: GSP wins split decision