Fate, Grudges, and Exciting Title Fights in 2012

Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem. Now that the marketing phenom known as Brock Lesnar is officially retired to his farm and/or hunting camp, the heavy weight division gets more interesting. Why? Well, the striker versus wrestler matchup is tired, classically tired. It has been so overdone, so completely explored, that it is the proverbial dead-horse in the octagon. We hereby declare 2012 the year in which all one-dimensional fighters should be retired. To today's informed MMA audience, a more interesting match is, say, boxing versus Muay Thai. This is not the first time we have seen this matchup of styles. Nate Diaz versus Cowboy Cerrone was a similar matchup. JDS versus Overeem is a boxing versus Muay Thai matchup with heavyweight power. And although I have been critical of the hype surrounding heavyweights (when the most exciting fights are usually in underappreciated lighter weight classes) this matchup is sure to please the fans. Never has so much striking talent been showcased in a heavyweight fight, perhaps not even in K-1.

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen. I am sure some of you are shaking your head, tired of the very idea of trying to make this fight happen. Besides, there is Mark Munoz to consider. But assuming that Chael Sonnen is as dominant as he looks, how can Anderson Silva avoid Chael Sonnen? Seriously. How can Dana White turn down promoting the biggest grudge match in UFC history? This fight feels fated to happen. If Sonnen had struggled with Brian Stann, eking out a decision, I could see Anderson Silva arguing successfully against a rematch. But Brian Stann was/is a legitimate middleweight contender, arguably a tougher fight for Anderson Silva than was Yushin Okami. Furthermore, I personally think Brian Stann would give Mark Munoz trouble. Sonnen didn't just win against Stann, it was a stunning overmatch. It reminded me of a gym-smoker where an experienced fighter gives a few rounds to a cocky new guy. Moreover, this new line that Sonnen is taking on Silva, claiming to have given up on fighting him; that is just as calculated as was the offer to retire. Chael Sonnen is the master of trash-talking. The UFC should pay him to write copy for the other fighters, which they then repeat as if it were their own smack-talk. The PPV numbers would soar.

George St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz. This of course assumes that Nick Diaz beats Carlos Condit, who is no push-over. However, I will take a chance and say that GSP vs Diaz, like Silva vs Sonnen, feels as though it is fated to happen. If not soon, then in the future. If the rumor is true that GSP was infuriated by the things Nick Diaz said after losing his title fight opportunity, perhaps we will see a fired-up GSP. I doubt it though. GSP is a chess-player who fights-not-to-lose, which is exactly what he should do to maximize his life-time earning potential. Its smart business; and every time you see GSP show up in a suit consider it a subtle message about being a business man. In this fight however, if GSP is as afraid of Nick Diaz's jiu-jitsu as he was of Jake Shields' jiu-jitsu, and tries to stand for 5 rounds, he will lose. GSP must win this in the clinch, or take Diaz down and ground-and-pound him with confidence, like he did BJ Penn. This will be the first fight GSP will...