Issue 153
April 2017
Forget about rankings, who deserved what and who was next in line in 2017, here are 14 weight-skipping super scraps that we'd pay top dollar to see.
1: JON JONES VS. STIPE MIOCIC
In order to put the most tumultuous 18 months in the life of the most talented mixed martial artist the sport has ever seen to bed, nothing would be better than to see Jones finally move up in pursuit of his destiny.
To truly be considered the greatest of all time, ‘Bones’ must become a multi-weight champion. Challenging the current heavyweight king would draw huge numbers of eyeballs, too.
2: DOMINICK CRUZ VS. FRANKIE EDGAR
Former lightweight champ Edgar was always on the small side, so he moved down to featherweight to chase more championship gold.
With his road to the 145lb title belt now blocked, it could be time to drop to 135. He’s said he could move further down in the past and facing another all-action striker like Cruz would create a terrific main event – and also double as a fine eliminator for a future title shot.
3: GUNNAR NELSON VS. NATE DIAZ
After struggling to break into the upper echelons of the 170lb division, a move down to lightweight for ‘Gunni’, who never cuts weight, to take on teammate Conor McGregor’s nemesis works for both fighters.
Nelson gets a fresh start at 155lb while Diaz gets the ideal fight to lure McGregor back for a bank-balance-busting trilogy. This could end up as a grappling masterclass.
4: MICHAEL CHANDLER VS. MICHAEL PAGE
After wins over Patricky ‘Pitbull’ and Benson Henderson, the 155lb Bellator title well and truly belongs to Chandler. Now he needs more marquee money fights, so what better than a move up to 170lb and a battle with ‘MVP’.
A main-event-ready eliminator to face welterweight champ Douglas Lima would be a great break from propping up tentpole events with matchups between aging icons.
5: ROY NELSON VS. ILLIR LATIFI
'Big Country' may well be a career heavyweight but with his status on the slide; six months on the Atkins diet and a lifestyle change could easily see Roy slim down to 205lb for his swansong.
Who better to match him with than a fellow big hitter, Sweden's ‘Sledgehammer’.
Expect overhand rights flying everywhere. It's not over till it’s over, Roy. Anybody got a number for coach Bob from The Biggest Loser?
6: ANTHONY JOHNSON VS. JUNIOR DOS SANTOS
We’ve seen ‘Rumble’ up at heavyweight before, knocking out Andrei Arlovski no less, so a return to mix it up with the big boys wouldn’t pose a problem and could quickly lead to a title shot.
A matchup with fellow punch-happy heavy hitter Junior dos Santos would make for a great five-rounder – although few would bet on it going that far.
7: LUKE ROCKHOLD VS. ALEXANDER GUSTAFSSON
Big bad Luke has got business to take care of at 185lb, we accept that. But as one of the longest and thickest dudes in the middleweight division, he could also comfortably move up to light heavy.
A match with ‘The Mauler’ would be a huge ticket seller. High-level strikers with grappling games to match, this is a pay-per-view fight worthy of anybody’s money.
8: NICK DIAZ VS. MICHAEL BISPING
‘The Count’ was calling for this money fight last year, shortly after winning the 185lb belt, but titles aside, matching up two of the men with highest striking output in MMA history is too good an opportunity to miss.
Practically guaranteed to go five rounds, this would have an entertaining few months of trash talking followed by 25 minutes of bloody brilliance.
9: 'SHOGUN' RUA VS. VITOR BELFORT
Two Brazilian icons in the twilight of their careers.
‘The Phenom’ is no stranger to 205lb and he’d surely be willing to revisit the weight class for a fight that could sell out a Brazilian stadium.
In a time when the UFC needs headline fights, matching these two warriors would stir emotions with the Brazilian fanbase and likely result in career-punctuating performances from both.
10: DOO HO CHOI VS. THOMAS ALMEIDA
After having his incredible winning run ended by new champ Cody Garbrandt last summer, and seeing himself pushed way behind the TUF 25 soap opera, Almeida could see a return to featherweight as the perfect way to refresh his title ambitions this year.
And what about a fight against ‘The Korean Superboy’, Doo Ho Choi, for starters? If that’s not got you smiling then you’re not a fan of MMA.
11: TYRON WOODLEY VS. YOEL ROMERO
Regardless of whether either man has a belt around his waist, the meeting of two of the biggest hitters and best grapplers on the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster should guarantee an athletic explosion.
Who knows, it could well result in another UFC two-weight champion and another piece of Octagon history.
12: JESSICA EYE VS. ROSE NAMAJUNAS
Finishing with a crossover for both girls, a matchup at flyweight – which the UFC has done before – between all action Eye (moving down) and exciting prodigy Namajunas (going up) would hand IMG another much-needed women’s matchup that’s deserving of a Fight Night headline spot.
A great stylistic match for both, the winner would see her stock soar back in her weight class.
13: AMANDA NUNES VS. CRIS 'CYBORG'
'The Lioness' already looks one step ahead of the rest of the bantamweight division and with Cyborg likely already into a minimum 12-month suspension, this one may well be for early 2018.
But a move up to 145 to claim a second belt would be a great way for Nunes to quickly become the most decorated women's fighter of all time.
14: STEPHEN THOMPSON VS. LYOTO MACHIDA
The Octagon’s latest karate king against its original.
‘Wonderboy’ sure has the size and length to move up to middleweight and soon-to-be-returning Machida will only be looking for marquee fights as he closes out his stellar career.
This potential main event could have more technical mastery than a Bruce Lee action epic.
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