The MMA schedule seems come in waves these days. We will get a card or two here and there that is mediocre to just good and then out of nowhere we will be overwhelmed with events that have us reeling from the results and fallout. Right now we are smack dab in the middle of a very relevant tide of events that I see tapering off with Strikeforce’s next CBS card on April 17th. So while we have a breather, albeit small I think it is time we focus on what should be next for 10 guys who’ next move, for one reason or another, is of specific interest.
Dan Hardy
What Happened: Loss to GSP in a 25 minute beat-down, a beat-down he actually came out looking ok in considering he showed some grit and toughness getting out of two deep submissions.
Next: Jon Fitch or Kos/Daley Loser
Why: Dan Hardy proved he belonged on the platform with all other fighter who have gone the distance with GSP but that have not really hinted at having a shot at beating him. Fitch, Alvez and Kos are sitting there and Daley is the hottest prostect in the division. Fitch has never been a UFC darling so why not let him test Hardy and see what Hardy is made of after his big loss. If Zuffa is hell-bent on Fitch/Alvez II the loser of Daley/Kos would fit the bill as well. Hardy needs competition one way or another. The days of low level fights are over for a while. If you ask me, Dan Hardy’s stock rose a bit in those grueling 25 minutes but since there is nowhere to go but down for him, I hope Zuffa doesn’t let him fall too far.
Georges St-Pierre
What Happened: Dispelled yet another challenger at 175, but failed to finish another fighter that he looked to be light-years ahead of.
Next: Anderson Silva
Why: … why not? Sure Paul Daley might knock out Kos and earn himself a shot that I think most would consider legit, but the odds would only look slightly better than they did for Hardy. Zuffa has something rare in any sport, let alone a growing and in turn growingly competitive one. They have two of the best pound for pound athletes EVER and they have the opportunity to pit them against one another on a level playing field. Ok, ok ok… we can get back to that level playing field part if the time comes. GSP is power lifting and putting on weight and the fight likely wouldn’t happen until December anyway, giving GSP 8 month to figure out the weight. The time is now and if Maia falls like I think he will, the excuses have run out.
Jon Jones
What Happened: Another would be “toughest challenge yet” gets put down impressively, broken face and all.
Next: Thiago Silva
Why: I will stand by it right now, Thiago Silva IS the toughest fight Mr. Jones would have taken if this were to go down and it WOULD show in the cage. Silva is different than Vera, Hammil, and everyone else on the Bones Jones list. He is mean, aggressive, and damn good. Sure he got tooled by Machida but he has looked solid in every other fight, even when being banged up (apparently quite severely) for his fight with Rashad Evans. I am not saying Silva would win the fight for sure, but this would most certainly be a test. If he walked through Silva like he has everyone else I would put on the conductors hat and drive the bandwagon myself. Until then, I am optimistic about but not infatuated with this young man and his talent.
Cain Velasquez
What Happened: Impressive one-sided, first round KO of the legendary Big Nog
Next: Title Shot
Why: I go back and forth with this one. On one hand I would love to see Dos Santos vs Velasquez to clearly determine who should be the number one contender as I think they are the best two HWs under Zuffa contract. However, I would much much rather see them fight for a title within the next year and I think Velasquez has put in his time. If anyone has earned a shot it is this guy and making him defend his shot, let alone against someone as good as JDS, seems almost unjust. Sure some of the luster will come off in the time it will take to set up his title shot against the Carwin/Lesnar winner, but its not only worth it… its fair.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
What Happened: See Velasquez
Next: Mir/Nog II
Why: I won’t make an excuse for Nog in his first fight with Frank Mir but we all know the score. Anyone who has ever seen Nog, before or since that fight, knows that we didn’t see the real Big Nog. Maybe Frank Mir can do it again, but now is the perfect time to find out. Mir has shown a complete inability to deal with the big wrestlers at the top and both men are coming off losses to the top two contenders for the big belt. Nog deserves a crack at avenging his loss if he wants it.
Josh Barnett
What Happened: A solid win over an ill prepared “Mighty Mo”
Next: Meet With Strikeforce
Why: This suggestion is totally conditional. If Josh Barnett wants to compete to prove he is the best HW in the world today, this is the next logical move. It affords him the opportunity to challenge the greatest fighter of all time (in my humble opinion), in Fedor, as well as be put in the mix with at least 5 other relevant HWs that he has yet to meet in the cage or ring. Not even the UFC boasts that kind of legitimacy right now in their HW division. Barnett could help Strikeforce in the long run and Strikeforce could truly help Barnett. Unfortunately, the Baby-faced assassin has never really shown that drive to prove he is the best. I can easily see him staying in Japan and cruising out the end of his career and while I would be disappointed, I am in no position to judge a man of Josh Barnett’s status based on his professional decisions.
Kenny Florian
What Happened: Handled “The Fireball Kid” and got a submission in round 3
Next: Diego Sanchez
Why: There are a lot of We-Got-Beat-By-The-Champ-Bad clubs in the UFC right now and these two are heading up the LW chapter. Diego has flirted with the idea of returning to WW already but that makes very little sense to me. Both fighters are very different from their earlier versions that met at the end of TUF Season 1 and I think this is a rematch that should have happened a long time ago.
Junior Dos Santos
What Happened: KOed Gabe Gonzaga
Next: Frank Mir
Why: I know Frank Mir can’t really be next for both Big Nog and JDS but this is really the only fight that make a lot of sense for Dos Santos. He will need at least one, maybe two fights before his turn at a title shot comes up and he needs to be fighting guys that are going to continue to make him relevant. Getting revenge for his mentor’s loss would be a nice storyline to sell and Frank Mir brings some recognition to the fight. Plus, Mir is no push over. This would be a serious test. I can see them putting him against someone like Ben Rothwell or Kongo, hoping to keep him relevant while the three wrestlers work out who is the best but I predict that Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos are on a collision coarse, one that should culminate with a title shot well down the road and none of the aforementioned names are going to stop that.
Roy Nelson
What Happened: An impressive KO of Struve
Next: James Toney or Check Kongo
Why: Nelson is the one who called out James Toney and I personally love the idea. I think Roy Nelson is just the kind of guy to welcome Toney to the cage. He is an MMA fighter, through and through, well rounded and can beat you on the ground or on the feet. If Toney wants to be in MMA, this is a wonderful first test. It would bring a lot of legitimacy to whoever won the fight. Nelson’s stock would rise as he would win a high profile fight or Toney would prove he can hang with legit MMA fighters. However the Kongo fight would be a lot more likely. I don’t think the UFC is that eager to throw Toney in with someone like Nelson. I suspect a higher profile name to play welcoming committee. That said, Kongo could be a great next step for Nelson as he has recently become a sort of testing point for the division. He sits smack dab in the middle of the division and if you beat Kongo you get to play with the big boys, if you don’t you are on thin ice in the UFC. I would like to know where Nelson stands
Keith Jardine
What Happened: 4th loss in 5 fights to fighters with increasingly low profiles
Next: Matt Hamill
Why: I had already virtually completed this blog when I read that this fight was rumored to headline The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale. I had originally suggested an opponent like Brian Stann for Jardine, hoping that would increase Mr. Mean’s chances of getting back on his feet. However, this fight makes good sense. Hamill is technically on a 3 fight win streak but I don’t know anyone who I giving him legit credit for the win over Jones. Additionally he has been competing at a significantly lower level than Jardine has. I am glad to see Jardine is still in the mix, getting his shots. For one reason or another I like this guy and I hope he gets things turned around sooner rather than later.
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