The great thing about being a UFC fan is that more often than not, the matchups that everyone wants to see do eventually happen. So what are a few fights that are on the mind of the discerning UFC fan after UFC 200? Read on to find out…
Jon Jones vs. Cain Velasquez
During his long reign atop the light heavyweight division, it was assumed that Jon Jones would eventually clean out the weight class and move up to heavyweight. And while he currently has some business to take care of with Daniel Cormier at UFC 200, wouldn’t it be nice to see Jones test out the waters with the big boys, and in particular, Cormier’s teammate, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez?
Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson II
At UFC 100 in 2009, Dan Henderson dashed Michael Bisping’s championship hopes with a devastating second-round knockout. Seven years later, Bisping is now king of the middleweights after knocking out Luke Rockhold, and the 45-year-old Henderson rejuvenated his storied career on the same card with a knockout of Hector Lombard. “Hendo” has been non-committal on his fighting future, but a title fight rematch with Bisping would likely make him stick around a little longer.
Conor McGregor vs. Frankie Edgar
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar could leave T-Mobile Arena with the interim UFC featherweight title should he defeat Jose Aldo on July 9, but if Edgar had his way, after compiling a five-fight win streak at 145 pounds, he would have squared off with champion Conor McGregor. “The Notorious” one has some unfinished business with Nate Diaz at UFC 202 on August 20, but when that’s done, a McGregor-Edgar bout would be one for the featherweight history books.
Countdown to UFC 200
- Best of the best: Strikers | Entrances | Upsets | Moments | Events | KO's
- Figures that helped us get here: Hughes | Lesnar | Faber | Griffin | Tate | St-Pierre
- Behind the lens - over 15 years of greatest UFC photography
- Behind the lens - Photos that will knock you out
Demetrious Johnson vs. Dominick Cruz II
In October of 2011, Demetrious Johnson made an unsuccessful bid for Dominick Cruz’ bantamweight title, losing a five-round unanimous decision. “Mighty Mouse” has not lost since, going 10-0-1 while becoming the UFC’s first flyweight champion and one of the best fighters ever to grace the Octagon. And after tearing through his division, a rematch with “The Dominator,” who is coming off two huge wins over TJ Dillashaw and Urijah Faber, would be a SuperFight no fan would want to miss.
Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey III
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey may be unbeaten in her two bouts with Miesha Tate, but the rivalry between the two 135-pound superstars is as heated as ever. And while Tate has a tough task ahead of her on July 9 when she defends her title for the first time against Amanda Nunes, win or lose, a third bout with Rousey has taken on added intrigue given the paths the two have traveled since their last meeting in December of 2013.
Robbie Lawler vs. Nate Diaz
Even though Nate Diaz has had much of his recent success at 155 pounds, his UFC 196 win over Conor McGregor at 170 pounds showed that the Stockton standout can battle with the big boys as well. So why not a fight against Robbie Lawler that revisits Diaz vs. Lawler for a new generation, as it was Nate’s brother Nick who handed Lawler a defeat back at UFC 47 in 2004. Stylistically and historically, this one could be a classic.
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