Nine Bouts We Want to See in 2009
Published by Dave Sholler on January 6th, 2009 in Current Events

 Print |  Email |  RSS

One of the greatest things about the dawning of a new year is that we have a chance to talk about things we’d like to see happen in the next 365 days. After a successful 2008 in mixed martial arts, we can only hope that the following 12 months provide us with the same amounts of action and fury.

Let’s take a look at nine bouts we’d like to see go down in the 2009 history books. Some may seem a bit unlikely, but as we learned in 2008, never say never.

Quinton Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin II

In a rematch of their UFC 86 affair, Jackson and Griffin will hopefully lock horns again this year. Considering Jackson’s recent win and Griffin’s recent title loss, all signs point to the rematch happening this spring. The first clash was a five-round war. We’d expect nothing less from part two. Here’s to hoping Jackson has learned how to check a leg kick though.

Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra

The ultimate, long overdue grudge match between Hughes and Serra should be settled by summer. While both are fading warriors, we’d bet that both will show flashes of old once they trade leather with one another.

Convention wisdom points to Hughes being the favorite, but haven’t we seen Serra counted out before?

Anderson Silva vs. BJ Penn/Georges St. Pierre

GSP and Penn will do battle later this month and the winner should consider a fight with middleweight champion Silva. From a size standpoint, a Silva-GSP bout makes more sense, but Penn has never backed down from anyone.

If we are ever to end the pound-for-pound debate, these three need to settle it inside the Octagon.

Bobby Lashley vs. Kimbo Slice

Be honest. This one entices you just a little bit. A relative MMA newcomer, Lashley has more of an athletic resume than the street-brawling Slice, but this one would be highly marketable.

Clearly, we think Slice would be dominated by Lashley. However, each person is allowed one outlandish wish for the New Year, right?

Chuck Liddell vs. Rick Franklin/Dan Henderson

After Franklin and Henderson scrap later this month, we’d like to see the winner face Chuck Liddell. Although Liddell’s stock plummeted in 2008, we think either opponent would expose what’s left of “The Iceman.” It could bring out the best or worst of Liddell and we think that’s what fans want to see.

Franklin and Henderson may very well be fighting for a title shot, but in the crowded 205-pound division, we think either matches up nicely against Liddell. Plus, both serve as opponents who could headline a major card with the former light heavyweight champion.

Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida

We hear you calling this one a snooze-fest already. Still, we think Machida deserves the title shot should he beat Thiago Silva later this month. Some call him methodical. Others call him boring. We call him complete. It would be hard to ignore Machida’s dominance if he strings together his sixth consecutive UFC win.

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett

If both win their respective fights later this month, we expect this dream to become a reality. Friendships aside, a Fedor-Barnett bout would crown the best heavyweight currently under contract to Affliction. Since neither appears UFC bound, the fight would also crown the best heavy whose paycheck isn’t signed by Dana White.

Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Considered two of the all-time best, Couture and Nogueira deserve to fight one another this year. Both coming off losses, the timing is perfect.

A classic wrestler vs. submission artist match-up, the Couture-Nogueira fight is one that transcends fighters’ ages or winning streaks. Fans will always pay to see two legends engage in mixed martial arts competition, especially when their last names are Couture and Nogueira. Neither may win a title again, but both still command audiences like no other.

Kenny Florian vs. Sean Sherk II

While Florian awaits his guaranteed lightweight title shot, we know he’d like to avenge his UFC 64 loss to Sean Sherk. A gifted jiu jitsu practitioner with vicious elbows, Florian has made drastic improvements since his 2006 bout with “The Muscle Shark.” Riding a six-fight winning streak, the Bostonian would be thrilled by the opportunity to fight the last man to defeat him. We would be equally happy to watch it unfold.