...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Rich Hansen, MMATorch Columnist
The UFC just pulled off an unprecedented three events in three cities on two continents in an eight-day period. Last week it was Seattle. This week it was Australia and Las Vegas in successive nights. Just to do the math for you, that would be 64 fighters in 32 fights. And it would have been more had Ednaldo Oliveira vs. Krzysztof Soszynski happened, had Michael Chiesa vs. Marcus LeVesseur happened, and had Jamie Varner vs. Melvin Guillard. What's the point, you ask? Um, I don't know. There were a lot of fights this week? Sure, that's a good point.
So, since we know there were a lot of fights this week, let's take a look at what might be next for a selected handful. Instead of going chronologically, let's break them down by weight division (in three parts). As always, big guys first.
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Roy Nelson: So what did we learn about Roy Nelson on Saturday night that we didn't already know? Um, he hits really hard, he can take a shot, and he's better than Matt Mitrione. In short, nothing has changed. He's not championship-caliber, but he's a hell of a firewall between the elite and the second level. Why firewall and not gatekeeper? I don't know.
Nelson could face Josh Barnett next, assuming Barnett heads to the UFC. That wood be a stiff fight (double entendre). Daniel Cormier would be another possibility, as Nelson would make a fine UFC debut opponent. If Nelson doesn't welcome a Strikeforce fighter, then how about making a fight with the winner of Stefan Struve Mark Hunt? Either a Struve rematch shows us how far Struve has come since their first fight, or we have a dream power/chin vs. power/chin fight with Mark Hunt.
My choice: Nelson vs. Josh Barnett
Pat Barry: Look, I like Pat Barry. You like Pat Barry. People who don't like Pat Barry even like Pat Barry. He seems nice, and he is most definitely entertaining. So let's cater to his strengths and put him in entertaining fights only. I don't need to see Barry get submitted, you don't need to see Barry try to get his submission whale, and we all want to see him bang like a drunken Julian Lane. So let's go with the known quantity here.
My choice: Barry vs. Cheick Kongo 2
Matt Mitrione: Mitrione's a character that I happen to enjoy, and apparently he rubs a lot of people the wrong way. That's fine. And that said, as long as he's on his feet, he's a lot of fun. Fights with Dave Herman, the loser of Brendan Schaub vs. Lavar Johnson, or the loser of Mike Russow vs. Shawn Jordan all work.
My choice: Mitrione vs. the loser of Brendan Schaub vs. Lavar Johnson
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Alexander Gustafsson: I don't think one casual fight fan who watched the UFC on Fox card would today remember one moment of Gustafsson's brawl with Shogun Rua. Gustafsson was in complete control throughout the entire fight, but it certainly didn't provide the signature moment necessary to convince anybody that he is ready for a shot with Jon Jones. That said, what exactly could anyone do, short of morphing into Edward ChainsawHands, to convince anyone that they could defeat Jon Jones? That's what I thought.
Gustafsson is still a full fight away, which is where some people thought he was before the Rua fight. In short, he won the fight, but is just treading water. He could next fight the winner of Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Providing Evans defeats Nogueira, that would pretty much have to be a #1 contender fight for the next shot after Henderson/Machida. If the UFC hasn't seen enough to put Gustafsson one step away, maybe a fight with the winner of Rampage Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira. Another possibility would be to on call for Anaheim in case Dan Henderson or Lyoto Machida pull out.
My choice: Gustafsson vs. Rashad Evans (if Evans defeats Nogueira), or Gustafsson vs. the winner of Jackson vs. Teixeira (if Evans loses to Nogueira)
Mauricio Rua: Please please PLEASE remember that it is almost 2013. 2005 was like forty-five years ago. The Shogun you remember and occasionally see is gone. Shogun is Bo Jackson. Brilliant for a short time, and then instantly snatched away. He's a guy, period.
Shogun's next opponent could be the loser of the aforementioned Evans-Nogueira fight. A rematch with Nogueira might just be enough to give enough evidence to tell everybody that the young Shogun isn't walking through that door with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. A rematch with the loser of Lyoto Machida vs. Dan Henderson would be intriguing, but the expectations for an all-time classic with Henderson would hurt that fight in the end. It's also possible that shogun could face off against the loser of Rampage Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira.
My choice: Rua vs. Rogerio Nogueira (if Nogueira loses to Evans) or Rua vs. the loser of Rampage Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Hector Lombard: Is Hector Lombard a massive disappointment, or is he exactly who we thought he was? While he didn't have his hand raised versus Tim Boetsch, I think it's fair to state that a majority of impartial observers thought Lombard won that fight. Of course, since the fight was so awful, people didn't get outraged by the poor decision, just because. Lombard returned five months later by destroying Rousimar Palhares. Palhares is great at what he does, but Brock Lesnar reacts better to getting punched in the face than does Palhares. So Lombard in the UFC has done what Lombard does; either win dull, or win awesome. He's got a massive contract, and needs high-profile fights to justify that contract.
Lombard could be the first guy to welcome Luke Rockhold to the big show. It would be interesting to see the Bellator Middleweight Champion Emeritus face off against the Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Emeritus. Lombard could also face off against the winner of Alan Belcher vs. Yushin Okami. The winner of that fight could make a case for being the next #1 contender, which would be redeemable for a title shot by no later than 2017. It's a longshot, but they could also do Lombard vs. Chris Weidman. Weidman might have been next in line for a title shot, but he's injured and he had his seminal moment on Fuel. In other words, he hasn't had a big moment yet.
My choice: Lombard vs. Luke Rockhold
Rousimar Palhares vs. Ed Herman: Just because.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
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