Fights That Need To Happen

In this article, I'd like to highlight some of the most anticipated fights in MMA today. One has never occurred but just seems like such a good idea. Others went down once and were either incredible or ended too quickly -- either way, the fans are demanding a rematch. And some have gone two fights, each fighter has taken one, and the world wouldn't be right without a fitting end to the trilogy. Here they are, MMA fans...you may begin to dream...

Matt Hughes-Georges St. Pierre III

Hughes submitted a young St. Pierre at UFC 50 in a bout which is probably as well recognized for George's eerie calmness and stability under Hughes' guard as it is for the spectacular arm bar which ended the fight with just seconds left in the first round. MMA fans knew they had seen something different. Someone had just fought Hughes, didn't panic, and even showed his own moments of brilliance (something Matt usually squashed early on). And so the rematch was set. At UFC 65, St. Pierre was the more confident fighter, striking his way to a stoppage after a series of unintentional low blows. Unintentional? Tell that to the Hughes camp, who has been itching for a third fight ever since. Provided Hughes prevails over Serra and St. Pierre defeats Koscheck, this fight will be all but a certainty come Spring of 2008.

Percentage chance of it happening in the future: 90%

Matt Hughes-B.J. Penn III

A similar scenario to the St. Pierre duo, but it all happened backwards here. At UFC 46, Penn shocked the world with a submission victory over the highly-favored champ. At UFC 63, Hughes was the champion again and it looked to be going the same way as Penn stopped the legendary Hughes take downs and forced the country boy to strike (where Penn has the obvious advantage). However, Hughes escaped the first two rounds as his Miletich conditioning dragged him into the third round where he pounded a then-tired Penn to a Big John stoppage. Two great fights and a split. With Penn's recent move to Lightweight, it doesn't look like it'll be happening very soon. Penn and Hughes are both veterans and are most likely reaching the end of their careers. If this is going to happen, it needs to happen soon.

Percentage chance of it happening in the future: 50%

Chuck Liddell-Rampage Jackson II

Maybe this is just my admiration and respect for The Iceman talking, but I just don't think Rampage is the better fighter. Oh, and I don't count that PRIDE bout as Liddell-Jackson I. No cage? No thanks. The fight at UFC 71 was, as far as I'm concerned, the first time these two men have fought. Liddell got off his game plan, was timid, and got caught. Simple as that. GSP just got caught, didn't he? And we all know he's still better than Serra. You'd be hard pressed to find two more exciting guys than Liddell and Rampage. The UFC could throw this match on every single card for the next two years and it would sell, even if Rampage won every time. In my book, this fight has only happened once and I'm dying to see it happen again. Mark my words, Liddell WILL NOT retire without his last shot at Rampage.

Percentage chance of it happening in the future: 90%

Chuck Liddell-Wanderlei Silva I

This was supposed to be the superfight to end all superfights, and was even announced during a UFC event before it fell through. Of course, this was before PRIDE 33 and UFC 71, when both these men were on the top of their respective companies. Still, the similar aggression displayed by both men would make for an awesome fight. They'd come out swinging and someone would go down...early. I'm talking Frye-Takayama kind of a war. If I had more room, I'd add Liddell-Silva II even without the result of the first. It's going to be so good, you'll want a second and a third. This fight is all but booked for later this year.

Percentage chance of it happening in the future: 99%

Wanderlei Silva-Dan Henderson III

Dan Henderson had a good career before PRIDE 33, but nothing to put him among the pantheon of greats. He had a split record against Big Nog, had beaten Ninja Rua, a Gracie, and Vitor Belfort, and of course, lost to Wandy once. A string of victories found him in position to take on Wanderlei once again, and at PRIDE 33, Henderson stopped Silva with a nasty left hook en route to becoming the first-ever fighter in MMA history to hold simultaneous belts in two different divisions. With both men now in the UFC (or so it seems...), a Silva victory over Liddell and a Henderson victory over Jackson should set these men up to meet again. Even if it doesn't go as planned, safe bets are on a third fight.

Percentage chance of it happening in the future: 75%

Fedor Emelianenko-Mirko Filipovic II

With wins over Mark Coleman, Josh Barnett, and Wanderlei Silva, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic seemed like just the man to fill the tall task of taking on undefeated Fedor Emelianenko. And he did just that, despite losing a close decision to Fedor. Throughout the fight, Cro Cop matched Fedor's every move and humanized him in a way that no opponent has ever done. No crafty submission from Fedor. No left leg kick from Cro Cop. Just two of MMA's best in a chess match for the ages. In my recent article on the Top PRIDE Fights Of All Time, all four writers chose the first bout for their lists, making it one of three unanimous choices. However, with Fedor stalling and not really fighting anyone coupled with Cro Cop's recent and devastating loss, it is difficult to tell when, if ever, this fight will occur.

Percentage chance of it happening in the future: 10%

That's all, folks. Post thoughts and insults on the comment board please.

Other fights receiving consideration:

• Hughes-Trigg III
  
• Fedor-Big Nog IV
  
• Diaz-Parisyan II
  
• Sanchez-Parisyan II
  
• Penn-Sherk I
  
• Griffin-Bonnar II
  
• Fedor-Couture I
• Gonzaga-Cro Cop II
• Arlovski-Fedor I
  
• St. Pierre-Sakuraba I