Looking Forward: Ten Fights Fans NEED To See In 2010

Now that the UFC has a legitimate rival organization, the fans will be treated to some great fights for the upcoming year. Regardless of the mess of injuries lately, the UFC and Strikeforce both have rosters able to draw crowds and sell-out PPV events (or Primetime television). So, as we approach the new year, I thought it was a good idea to compile a list of fights fans need to see in 2010. While some of these fights have a good chance of happening, others may be a stretch into my wishful mind.

Feel free to give your thoughts on these match-ups, or any others you want to see.

10. Jon “Bones” Jones vs. Brandon Vera (UFC)

Let’s not get the “loss” to Matt Hamill twisted in any way. Jon Jones demolished Hamill with his striking, proving to be on the path to greatness. His high energy, risk taking ability makes him a dangerous fighter in every sense of the word. While we haven’t see his submission game yet, we can only hope the athletic ability and wrestling translates well.

That brings us to Brandon Vera. Once hailed as the next bright prospect for the UFC, Vera has been off-and-on with his performances. Coming off his latest loss to Randy Couture, he could play a low-end gatekeeper opponent for Jon Jones. Known for his own dangerous style of muay thai striking and high caliber wrestling, this type of match-up could easily push Jones, forcing him to adapt to someone on his own game.

9. Dustin Hazelett vs. George Sotiropoulos (UFC)

Everyone likes to watch a stand-up wars, but the hidden gems of MMA will always be the slick ground game battles.  What better way than to schedule a fight of two bright submission artists making names for themselves in the UFC middleweight division.

Sotiropoulos has pretty much run the table in his last 5 fights, pulling out 4 dominant submission victories.  Since adapting the rubber guard to his game, he has been a force moving up the division rankings – FAST!

Hazelett stands 5-2 in the UFC, also with 4 slick submission victories.  Another fighter flashing his ever improving ground game, he would be perfect for this fight.  He is set to face Paul Daley at UFC 108, but that shouldn’t get in the way of this dream match-up.

8. Shinya Aoki vs. Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce)

Given that Strikeforce can actually sign Shinya Aoki, this matchup would be very interesting.  On one hand we have a known wrestler and striker in Melendez, standing 16-2 overall and a majority of his wins by KO/TKO.  Always the tough fighter and game opponent, a match-up with a contrasting style wouldn’t faze him.

Aoki is a guru of the ground game, known for fighting with his signature tights.  Mr. gogoplata-from-the-mount brings such a dynamic style to this match-up, you can’t help but be intrigued.  Standing 22-4 overall, he holds many submission victories, but a majority of his losses have been to strikers by KO/TKO.

7. Mike Swick vs. Thiago Alves (UFC)

Thiago Alves will be coming off injury and looking to get back in the title mix, after his loss to GSP at UFC 100.  Certainly, he won’t fight Dan Hardy after GSP demolishes him, but he also won’t fight a guy like Koscheck again, after running through him at UFC 90.  So, why not give him another top 10 welterweight for his comeback.

Mike Swick is coming off the recent decision loss to Dan Hardy, even though many argue he should have gotten the title shot before that fight.  With fast, crisp striking and a underrated ground game, this could be a good test for Alves.

6. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Rashad Evans (UFC)

Look, we all heard the constant trash talk on TUF 10, as well as the blog ramblings from Rampage while he was “retired”.  These are two guys who really, really, really can’t stand each other, so what better way than to make the anticipated fight happen.  Take those words and back them up, for both fighters.

Rashad Evans is set to take on Thiago Silva at UFC 109, but that really shouldn’t determining if this fight happens.  Win or lose, Rashad’s next fight should be against Rampage.  Now that Jackson is back in the UFC, he shouldn’t back down from this being his welcome back bout.  Bring the ruckus gentlemen!

5. Shane Carwin vs. Brock Lesnar (UFC)

Yup, Brock Lesnar is still sick and recovering from his intestinal issues.  But, he will be back around mid-2010 to defend his title.  In the meantime, Shane Carwin isn’t scheduled for any fight while he gets back to 100%.  This was the fight we were all waiting to see, and the heavyweight match-up that was the most intriguing.  Two world-class wrestlers with freak athletic ability and some mean power in their hands.  Sounds like a no brainer to me for a shallow division of true contenders.

4. Dan Henderson vs. Gegard Mousasi (Strikeforce)

Strikeforce has added Dan Henderson to their roster, who will fight anywhere from Middleweight to Heavyweight.  He feels he still has a lot of value and fight left (so do alot of fans), so let’s see him fight a top guy in Strikeforce – Gegard Mousasi.  Not only would this battle bring out the PRIDE/DREAM fanatics, but it could mean some huge ratings as well.  Both have excellent striking, while Mousasi has a great ground game to counter Henderson’s top wrestling skills.

3. Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber (WEC)

Faber is back in the featherweight mix after his loss to Mike Brown and some broken hands.  Still as dynamic and dangerous as he was before (nothing was effected by his injury), the draw for WEC fans is to see him take on Aldo.  The former champion against the new champion, who also managed to take out the champion between both their time with the belt.  It’s so hard to even think who has the upper hand in this fight, given they both are unorthodox strikes with exceptional ground games.  If the WEC ever wanted to hold their first PPV event, this could mean BIG dollars and viewers.

2. Alistair Overeem vs. Fedor Emelianenko (Strikeforce)

The fight that everyone has wanted for quite some time can actually happen in Strikeforce.  While Overeem has been fighting in K-1 (and losing as of late), he still holds the Strikeforce Heavyweight title.  Now that Fedor is taking that division by storm (see Brett Rogers), let them fight for the title.   Fedor holds the WAMMA heavyweight title, so why not put them both on the line for this bout.  Hold this match on primetime CBS and you have a ratings bonanza and a MMA fan’s dream match-up.

1. Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre (UFC)

I’m not sure this fight needs much hyping, so let’s cut to the chase.  We have the two fighters who are arguably 1A and 1B in the pound-for-pound list of best in the world. Both are clearing out their divisions like it’s a walk in the park.  Does the UFC want to hold the biggest fight in MMA history?  Make a catchweight bout between the two and let them go at it.  It could be unfair for either fighter to put up their titles at 170 or 185, so catchweight seems the most fair solution.  It’s less about the actually titles, and all about the crazy match-up this would be.