While Champion vs Champion bouts are the most obvious to set up to see which promotion has the best of each division, some of the more exciting bouts could be with former champs, experienced veterans, & recognized prospects. Strikeforce has a descent roster of fighters that can provide a challenge for fighters on the UFC's roster. The fact that Strikeforce fighters would come in wanting to make a statement to earn recognition as top level fighter. Match-ups like pitting dangerous grapplers in a bout to see who can best each other, continuing the grudge American & British MMA, pitting a heavy handed striker against a technical boxer, & two explosive former champions who can promote some of the best hype for a fight any day.
Maia vs Souza
Two fighters that are considerably on the same level as grapplers & strikers in MMA would be UFC Middleweight contender Demian Maia & Strikeforce Middleweight Champ Ronaldo Souza. Coming into the UFC, Maia had the momentum as an elite 4th Degree BJJ black belt that resembled the likes of Royce Gracie. Like Gracie, Maia would learn the hard way that BJJ can only take you so far until meeting an opponent that end the fight before it even got to the ground. Souza is a dangerous grappler who has used his black belt in BJJ to simply scare his opponents from even trying to strike with him simply knowing that he can catch them off guard & take them to the ground where he can easily submit them. After his quick defeat at the hands of Nate Marquardt, Maia would look to improve his striking, which he would make his focus after his title fight against Anderson Silva proved his lack of expertise. Souza has been improving his striking since his loss to Gegard Mousasi for the Dream Middleweight title, & has used this improved striking to lure his opponents into a false sense that the fight will stay standing. In terms of rankings, I would put both fighters at the same level in the ranks that would justify such a match-up. Both fighters come from strong teams with Maia training with the likes of elite Light Heavyweight Mauricio Rua & fellow Middleweight Wanderlei Silva, while Souza trains with UFC Middleweight champ Anderson Silva. Whether the fight would stay standing or end up on the ground, this bout would be entertaining either way.
Bisping vs Kennedy
Another Middleweight bout that can attract attention & simply promote itself would be pitting British star Michael Bisping against US Army Green Beret Tim Kennedy. Since TUF USA vs UK, Bisping has been the bad boy of MMA to all American based fans, which has grown since his antics after his win over Jorge Rivera. Kennedy is one of the easier fighters to promote amongst American MMA fans being veteran of the War in Afghanistan. Clearly to market the fight to the fullest, the UFC would set it up on American soil where Kennedy would be received as a war hero. Bisping has great striking arsenal that has improved every fight in his career. Kennedy has a strong striking game that comes with a good grappling that he honed in his military training. Both are comparably at the same level in striking which can make for an entertaining display of exchanges. In the grappling whelm, Bisping has great defense that would make any takedown that Kennedy gets well earned. Comparing their mental game, Kennedy would have the advantage with his special forces training, while Bisping is known for getting to emotional for the simplest of comments from his opponents. This would be a perfect match-up to assign TUF coaches as Bisping has proven his coaching capabilities coaching both winners of TUF9, while Kennedy's military experience provides the perfect background to train aspiring prospects in the sport. Being one of the easier match-ups to promote between the two promotions, this would be the one of the most attracting to American fans with the classic heroic figure fighting a bad boy.
Guillard vs Noons
Two of the most heavy handed lightweights in the sport, longtime UFC veteran Melvin Guillard has proven to be a great test to take on professional boxer turned MMA fighter KJ Noons. Guillard has shot up in the ranks in the UFC with a devastating TKO win over Xtreme Couture top prospect Evan Dunham. Calling for contender status, Guillard has proven his striking is dangerous with such destructive stoppage wins over Dennis Siver, Waylon Lowe, & Dunham. While Noons is not completely accepted by fans as a Mixed-Martial Artist, Noons' professional boxing has transitioned well earn seven of his nine wins by way of knockout. With Guillard being a power striker, & Noons being more of a technical striker, a bout between the two could prove to be an all standing affair. While Noons has been competing in MMA over five years now, he has stood strong being a one dimensional fighter only going to the ground to finish off an opponent with strikes. When in heated exchanges, both fighters have the tendency to stand strong in position to take strikes while dishing out their own proving to have strong chins & intent on getting the better landing the KO blow.While we support Guillard's demand to be recognized as a legitimate contender, a match-up with Noons would be an entertaining bout that could headline a Fight Night card or demand a high placement on a PPV main card.
Rampage vs King Mo
With both fighters possessing a promotion friendly fight persona, this would be a fun match-up for fans to watch. Pitting former UFC 205lb champ Quinton "Rampage" Jackson against former Strikeforce 205lb champ Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal would promote itself as both have electric personalities that would demand PPV status. While coming from a good junior college wrestling background, Rampage developed a strong boxing game that helped earn him the UFC title with a powerful TKO win over Chuck Liddell. King Mo came into MMA with multiple amateur wrestling championships that he has only used to dominate Gegard Mousasi to win the Strikeforce title. King Mo is a strong amateur wrestler, with the persona of a professional wrestler. With two heavy hitters, these former champions would put on a show that would involve powerful swings that any who sit ringside will hear clear as day. Strategically, Rampage would do what he usually does using his boxing to go head hunting, while King Mo may decide to use his superior wrestling to control Rampage on the ground, though the showman within may tell him to stand & trade. After his first loss by TKO to the man who took his title in Rafael Cavalcante, King Mo may not be so confident any more with his striking game. Since King Mo has not fought since August, 2010, it remains to be seen how he will bounce back from his first professional loss. In terms of resumes, Rampage has the overwhelming advantage in experience, though his fight with fellow former champ Rashad Evans proved that his wrestling defense is not the strongest area in his game. With plenty of promotion to hype this bout, whatever action that may ensue would depend primarily on what King Mo would come into this bout.
With both the UFC & Strikeforce possessing a good stable of fighters with plenty to compare in skill & ranking, there are plenty more match-ups that can be made between the rosters of each promotion. This is just a list of four more possible match-ups that fans may want to see, & the listed fighters can be matched against plenty of other fighters that would provide entertainment for all fans to see. This is Part 2, there may be a Part 3 coming soon.
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