Part One of Two by Thomas Gerbasi

 

It’s that most wonderful time of the year – isn’t that a song? Anyway, as the snow starts falling, along with the temperature, it’s a good time to start making that list and checking it twice while hoping that some of your favorite fighters will get career-defining fights in the coming year. And if not career-defining, let’s at least see some barn burners that will raise the roof off the various arenas the UFC will call home in 2006. Here’s my wish list Mr. Claus:

 

Andrei Arlovski vs Frank Mir – Duh. This fight is a no brainer anyway you cut it. With his return to the Octagon in 2006 announced at UFC 56 last month, former heavyweight champion Frank Mir will have his work cut out for him in the form of ‘The Pitbull’, who has left the heavyweight division barren with his heavy hands and underrated ground game. Mir loves a challenge though, and in an interview with UFC.tv he spoke of Arlovski’s recent KO string and the possibility that the Belarusian may be relying on his hands too much, leaving openings for the Las Vegas jiu-jitsu ace. 

Question marks – Can Mir return to old form? Will Arlovski grow overconfident by his reign of terror over the big boys?

 

Tim Sylvia vs Paul Buentello – Two heavy-handed contenders looking for redemption after losses to Arlovski, this one will probably be fast and explosive. The edge on paper has to go to Sylvia, who appears to have the stronger beard and definitely has the advantage on the ground. But with Buentello’s power, one shot can alter the result of the fight in a split second.

Question marks – Did the quick KO loss to Arlovski make Buentello gun-shy? Who is fast enough to strike first?

 

Brandon Vera vs Brad Imes – Two young guns square off in a showdown to prove who the next big thing in the heavyweight division is. Vera was impressive in his UFC debut, knocking out Fabiano Scherner in October, and Imes won a legion of fans for his gutsy effort in defeat against Rashad Evans at the TUF 2 finale in November. Imes has a four inch height advantage over Vera and has been improving in leaps and bounds since his time on The Ultimate Fighter reality show, but Vera has an impressive Muay Thai attack and ground game. Would be an interesting clash of styles.

Question marks – Will Imes’ inexperience hurt him, or will he continue to improve to the point where he can hang with more experienced fighters in the next six months? Will Imes’ size be too big of a mountain to climb for Vera?

 

 

Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar II – Duh, part II. After putting on one of the best brawls in mixed martial arts history last April, a rematch between Griffin and Bonnar can’t help but be another classic. Doubt it? Think Gatti-Ward, Ali-Frazier, Zale-Graziano, etc, etc, and put it in an MMA context. Fireworks galore in this one.

Question marks – Could it possibly be as good as fight one? With his more high-profile schedule thus far, will Griffin want this fight or just focus on the big names and a possible title shot?

 

Randy Couture vs Chuck Liddell III – The buzz is starting to generate now, and MMA fans are gearing up for the conclusion of this 205-pound trilogy between the two future hall of famers in February. Enjoy these guys now, because you won’t see fighters like this coming around every day and this is the sport at the highest level. 

Question marks – Was Liddell’s KO of Couture a fluke, or a precursor of things to come in the rubber match? Does Couture, like every great fighter, have one last great fight in him?

 

Chuck Liddell vs Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral – Babalu has established himself as the best 205-pounder in the UFC not named Liddell or Couture, and a rematch against ‘The Iceman’ - with or without a title on the line - will do wonders as far as breaking the Brazilian big here in the States, something he deserves after a 9-0 run (including wins over Trevor Prangley, Mauricio Rua, Jeremy Horn, Jose Landi-Jons, and Chael Sonnen) following his first loss to Liddell.

Question marks – Will Liddell be able to get up for a fight against someone he already convincingly KO’ed? Does Liddell have Sobral’s number, or is the Brazilian truly the real deal at 205?

 

Tito Ortiz vs Ken Shamrock II – Okay, okay, on paper – after Ortiz’ thrashing of Shamrock in 2002 – there is really no reason for this fight happening. But just wait until you’ve watched Ortiz and Shamrock as the opposing coaches for Season Three of Spike TV’s The Ultimate Fighter, and tell me you won’t want to see these two go at it again. And Shamrock’s intense dislike for Ortiz will always make for an interesting pre-fight buildup at the very least.

Question marks – How much does Shamrock have left? What will be different, if anything, over three years after their first bout?

 

Tito Ortiz vs Chuck Liddell II – Randy Couture put a dent in Ortiz’ reputation; Liddell destroyed it in 2004. But Ortiz is a proud man, and you have to think that the one fight he would most like to have again is against his former buddy Liddell. Expect the always well-conditioned Ortiz to push himself beyond human limits to get ready for this one if it happens.

Question marks – Is Ortiz psychologically scarred by the one-sided loss to Liddell? Once again, can ‘The Iceman’ get up for a second fight with Ortiz, especially given the emotional nature of the first fight?

 

Vernon White vs Forrest Griffin – If Griffin is still moved at a reasonable pace, development wise, in 2006, what better test than the Lion’s Den veteran, who gave Liddell all he could handle in a frenetic first round in August of 2004? But while many newcomers to the sport might see this as a showcase for Griffin, White’s heavy hands and Griffin’s spotty defense would make for a memorable war.

Question marks – Has White seen better days, or does the veteran have a title run in him? Is Griffin’s tendency to get hit and rocked a recipe for disaster, or a correctable flaw?

 

Rashad Evans vs Elvis Sinosic – Australia’s ‘King of Rock and Rumble’ resurrected his career Stateside with an exciting standup bout with Griffin in October that saw him rock the rookie a number of times before getting stopped later in the first round. Sinosic would be a nice test for the heavyweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season Two, Rashad Evans, who has expressed a desire to move down to a more comfortable 205 pounds.

Question marks – How much more explosive will Evans be at 205? Is Sinosic’s ground game – one that once submitted Jeremy Horn – too much for the still improving Evans?