By Thomas Gerbasi

 

In Part One of this admittedly greedy list to Santa Claus, we focused on the big boys of mixed martial arts with the heavyweights and light heavyweights. Today, the middleweights and welterweights get their place in the sun, and there are just as many – if not more – intriguing matchups to be had in these divisions in 2006…

 

Rich Franklin vs David Loiseau – It hasn’t even been signed and already this is being talked about as 2006’s Fight of The Year. Take two explosive strikers with the skills to handle themselves standing or on the mat, put them in the Octagon and just get out of the way. Franklin, the reigning middleweight king, has adjusted well to his new role, as demonstrated by his devastating first round knockout of Nate Quarry at UFC 56. Canada’s Loiseau is just as deadly, with his elbows perhaps being the most dangerous weapon in mixed martial arts today. This bout can’t help but be a classic.

Question marks – Only one: Will the loser of this bout be able to recover and still have a successful career after what should be a brutal war?

 

Nate Quarry vs Patrick Cote – Cote, another Canadian banger, has had no success in the UFC thus far, losing to Tito Ortiz, Joe Doerksen, and Chris Leben. But Cote can fight and in a bout against Quarry, he may be able to show all his skills on the sport’s biggest stage. As for Quarry, it’s a chance to get back in the swing of things after his loss to Franklin against an opponent that will test – but not overwhelm – him.

Question marks – Does Cote have the ability to truly compete on this level? How will Quarry react to the decisive KO loss to Franklin?

 

Jeremy Horn vs Trevor Prangley II – Their first fight, at UFC 56, was an interesting clash between two top level MMA fighters that ended in a controversial decision win for Horn. Why not do it again as a title eliminator, with the winner getting a shot at the middleweight crown.

Question marks – Will Prangley’s desire to push the action more for the judges’ sake lead him to deviate too much from his gameplan? Does Horn have a desire to stay at 185 pounds or will he move back to 205?

 

Mike Swick vs Jorge Rivera – Swick has fought a combined 42 seconds in two UFC fights, making him must see TV against anyone. In Rivera, he’ll face a hardened veteran who will welcome a stand up war. This one won’t go three rounds.

Question marks – Is Swick’s power that good? Is Rivera’s chin that sturdy?

 

Mike Swick vs Chris Leben II – Leben knocked Swick out in a WEC show in January of 2004, and what better way to build the next contender for the 185-pound title than to match these two old rivals late in 2006 if they both keep on the winning track?

Question marks – Will Swick be gun-shy facing the only man to beat him? Will Leben be too overconfident?

 

Phil Baroni vs Chris Leben – If Baroni comes back to grace US rings again after a stint in Japan for Pride, this is the perfect fight for him, as Leben will stand and trade with him. From a selfish point of view, the pre-fight interviews will be worth the price of admission alone.

Question marks – Will Leben keep it standing after tasting Baroni’s power? Can Baroni break his Team Quest jinx?

 

 

Matt Hughes vs BJ Penn II – Most thought it would never happen, but with Dana White’s announcement that Penn was returning to the UFC, this mega-rematch may become a reality in 2006. No explanation is needed as to why this is a great fight, as two of MMA’s best – pound for pound – square off again to see whether Penn’s win over Hughes was a fluke or a sign of pure dominance.

Question marks – Can Penn pull off the impossible again? What does Hughes do to reverse the result of their first fight?

 

Matt Hughes vs Georges St. Pierre II – If you saw their first fight, you would wonder why there’s a need for a rematch. But St. Pierre has gotten so much better since fight one, decimating Frank Trigg and Sean Sherk in the process, that many believe it’s not a question of if ‘Rush’ will win the 170-pound title, but when.

Question marks – Has Hughes plateaued, talent-wise, while St. Pierre has obviously gotten better? Is St. Pierre as good as he has looked against Trigg and Sherk?

 

Georges St. Pierre vs BJ Penn – This is one of those bouts that would truly demonstrate the beauty of this sport when done at its highest levels. If it happens, invite your skeptical friends over the house to watch and learn from two of the best in the game.

Question marks – When can it happen? Soon please.

 

Nick Diaz vs Josh Koscheck – Diaz was so incensed at getting matched up with an alum from The Ultimate Fighter reality series – Diego Sanchez – in November, so why not give him another one – Koscheck? Both are coming off losses in fights that they could have won, so both will be hungry to get back in the mix in the crowded 170-pound division.

Question marks – Will Diaz use his anger to fuel him or distract him? Is Koscheck - still fairly new to the game – ready for a ground wizard with heavy hands like Diaz?

 

Diego Sanchez vs Joe Stevenson – The winners from season one and season two of The Ultimate Fighter series square off. And surprisingly, it would be season two’s winner – Stevenson – who would hold the experience edge on Sanchez, having fought professionally since he was still in high school. A fight that would actually attract fans to the sport for ground fighting, and not just standup battles.

Question marks – If the fight remains standing for any length of time, who holds the edge? Is it too soon for a bout between these two future welterweight stars?

 

To read Part One, Click Here