We’re going to skip the news today and go straight to the talking points. Actually, the news is mostly UFC 76 fallout anyways. If you want to read a quick recap of the show, check out the blog.

Talking Points

One of the more interesting things to do after watching a big show is to think about what match-ups could be created out of the results. UFC 76 featured two light heavyweight match-ups in which four of the top light heavyweights in the company faced off. With Forrest Griffin’s upset submission win over Shogun Rua, and Keith Jardine’s surprise decision victory over Chuck Liddell, the results of UFC 76 didn’t just shake up the division, it shook up the entire company.

It has been one of Dana White’s goals to put together a match between Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva. With Liddell being one of the top light heavies in the UFC, and Silva being the same in Pride, White wanted to give fight fans a super fight between the two men. He’s been close a couple times, including last year when Silva came out and stated that he wanted “fight Chuck”, but instead mixed the beginning of each words and nearly asked for something entirely different. But it didn’t happen. Earlier last month, White inked Silva to a UFC deal and believed that he had his fight after all. All Liddell had to do was beat Jardine, and the super fight would happen in December. Unfortunately for White, Silva, and Liddell, Jardine had other plans and now sits pretty, nudging himself into the mix.

What does White do now? Well, I’m not Dana White, and if I was, this blog would have several “f” words splattered in between words, but here’s what I’d like to see happen.

Forrest Griffin’s star may never be brighter. With his victory over Shogun, you could state the case that he’s ready for a title shot against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. But with Rampage out until early next year because of injuries sustained in his victory over Dan Henderson, Griffin would have to wait several months to fight again. I think he has to fight sooner than later. He’s a possible drawing card. He might be a guy who could push PPV buyrates past normal numbers. And I think you have to take advantage of that. I’d have him step in for Liddell and fight Silva. Much like this fight with Shogun, it’d be a win/win for Griffin. He’d probably be the underdog, but he’d also have a good chance at an upset. His star would shine brighter no matter what. And with his charisma, he could build that fight up in a way that would give it more interest than it looks to have on paper.

I’d save Keith Jardine for Rampage’s next title defense. It’s not a sexy fight by any means. But with Rampage, you have someone who will create the story for the fight. Jardine’s herky jerky style could give Rampage fits, but it’s my belief that Rampage is on top of his game right now and is in a spot where he’s a money fighter. It wouldn’t do huge buyrates, but Jardine’s win over Liddell puts him in a spot to where you could stick him in a title fight, and it’s justified.

As for Shogun and Chuck, you could put them in a match together (which would’ve been huge before Saturday happened), or you could put them in fights with either the winner of the Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz rematch, or with the winner of Michael Bisping and Matt Hamill rematch that is rumored to be happening. I’m not sure if Dana White would put Lyoto Machida with either guy for fear of a boring fight.

Even if those match-ups don’t happen, what is quite certain is that the division is stacked and whatever White, and match-maker Joe Silva decide, it will be fun to watch unravel.

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Thanks for reading,

Garrett M. Gonzales
MMA.Consumerhelpweb.com

Labels: Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin, Keith Jardine, Lyoto Machida, Matt Hamill, Mauricio Shogun Rua, Michael Bisping, Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz, UFC 76, Wanderlei Silva

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