UFC Matchmaker (who should the UFC 84 guys fight next?)

[killerinstinct]

B.J. Penn vs. Sean Sherk
BJ Penn vs. winner of Fitch/GSP- The fans want this matchup to happen and it'd be wrong of the UFC to deny us of it.

Sean Sherk vs. Frank Edgar- Sherk wants to fight at UFC 87 and so does Frank Edgar, so the matchup makes sense timing wise. As far as the actual fight, I think it'd be a good fight. I'd feel bad for the loser though.

Wanderlei Silva vs. Keith Jardine
Wanderlei Silva vs. Rashad Evans- I think this fight would put the winner only a win or two away from a title shot with Rampage. I think it'd be an interesting matchup.

Keith Jardine vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura- Both fighters are top guys and both are coming off losses. Both fighters would have a lot riding on this fight, so I think it could make for a very exciting fight. Plus it's a very intresting clash in styles, because both of these fighters are pretty unorthodox.

Goran Reljic vs. Wilson Gouveia
Goran Reljic vs. James Lee- Both are decent submission fighters that are young and have good records. I think this is fight where Goran would have an advantage and would allow him to showcase his skills once again inside the octogan.

Wilson Gouveia vs. Antonio Mendes- Both fighters are coming off losses and both fighters would need a win badly in this fight. I think this would be a very exciting fight.

Lyoto Machida vs Tito Ortiz
Lyoto Machida vs. winner of Rampage/Griffin- Now I know this fight won't be able to take place for awhile, but Lyoto has waited several month in between fights before. Machida has certainly earned a shot more than anyone else right now and I think he'd put up a hell of a fight against the champion. If Machida insisted on fighting someone before this fight I'd match him up with some new comer with a poor chin and sloppy standup, so that away Machida could get the KO he's been wanting.

Tito Ortiz vs. TBD- It seems like he's out of the UFC for good, so I won't be making any matchups for him.

Thiago Silva vs. Antonio Mendes
Thiago Silva vs. Matt Hamill- The winner of this fight would take a big step up the LHW ladder. Both fighters have momentum going for them, so it'd be an easy fight to hype up. I think in the end Thiago Silva would come out on top and improve his record to 14-0. At which point, I'd start giving him a step up in competition.

Antonio Mendes vs. Wilson Gouveia- See Wilson Gouveia

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Stephan Bonnar- I think this fight would be an all out war! Both fighters have good ground games, but love to stand and bang. I think Sokoudjou would come out ontop, but it'd make for a good fight.

Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Keith Jardine- see Jardine.

Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Jon Koppenhaver
Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Dong Hyun Kim- Two up and coming Asian prospects. This fight would be good measuring stick. The winner would use the loser as a stepping stone on his way to fighting tougher competition, while the loser would have to go back to the drawing board.

Jon Koppenhaver vs. Jason Tan- This would be a must win fight for both of these gentlemen. If Jason Tan lost this fight, he'd be out of the UFC for sure and if Jon lost this fight, than he'd have a long ways to go, before being taken seriously in the UFC.

Dong Hyun Kim vs. Jason Tan
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida- see Yoshiyuki Yoshida

James Tan vs. Jon Koppenhaver- see Jon Koppenhaver

Rousimar Palhares vs. Ivan Salaverry
Rousimar Palhares vs. winner of Lister/Horn- This would be an interesting matchup between two top grapplers. The winner of this fight would have some really good momentum riding for him and would be in contention for a possible title shot with the champ at 185.

Shane Carwin vs.Christian Wellisch
Shane Carwin vs. Justin McCully- This would be another fight to showcase Shane Carwin's skills and to improve his record even more. The UFC HW division doesn't have the most depth in the world, so I would bring Shane along slowly.

Christian Wellisch vs. Brad Morris- Both fighters are coming off losses and both fighters have their backs against the wall. I think this fight would give us a good indication of where both of these fighters stand in the UFC HW division.

Rich Clementi vs. Terry Etim
Rich Clementi vs. Mac Danzig- Rich has won 6 straight fights and I think he deserves the step up in competition and the chance to compete on the main card. That's why I'd match him up against Mac Danzig. This fight would be a tough test for Mac Danzig and would really give us a real good evaluation of where he ranks in the UFC LW division. I also think this fight would be exciting.

Terry Etim vs. Cole Miller- Both are exciting fighters and both are coming off a loss. I think it'd be a good fight and would be a good measuring stick for both fighters.

[Steve88]

good stuff, i think thiago would murder hamill

[Buggedoutnicy]

Originally Posted by killerinstinct

Wanderlei Silva vs. Keith Jardine
Wanderlei Silva vs. winner of Rashad Evans/James Irvin- I think this fight would put the winner only a win or two away from a title shot with Rampage. I think it'd be an interesting matchup.

james got injured and rashad got scratched from the card

[killerinstinct]

Originally Posted by Buggedoutnicy

james got injured and rashad got scratched from the card

Yeah, I knew that. The mmaweekly rumors page just made me have a brain fart.

[hunterkiller]

BJ Penn vs GSP - The GSP-Fitch fight is little more than a formality.

Sean Sherk vs Joe Stevenson and the winner faces the winner of Huerta/Florian for the UFC LW Title. I say BJ drops it to fight at 170.

Wanderlei Silva vs Sokodjou

Keith Jardine vs the newly resigned Tito Ortiz (Tito and Dana have done this hate each other dance every time negotiations happen and Tito always goes to the Fertitas and gets the deal done with a compromise. This time won't be any different.

Goran Reljic vs Thiago Silva

Wilson Gouveia vs Matt Hamill

Machida vs Rampage/Forrest - Some people say he needs another win but the UFC won't put the winner of UFC 86 on hold while they wait on Machida. This fight happens in October.

Cut War Machine - I like the guy but he lacks enough common sense to be a professional. Send him to EliteXC where they can make him a Kimbo like star.

Palahares vs Nate Quarry

Shane Carwin vs Cheick Kongo

Rich Clementi vs Melvin Guillard II - I only want to see this so I can see Melvin talk more crap, get choked out one more time and out of the UFC FOR GOOD!

[Quintessential Studmuffin]

Bj Penn vs winner of Huerta/Florian,then GSP rematch
Sherk vs Nate Diaz
Gouveia and Jardine rematch
Goran Reljic vs James Irvin
Thiago Silva vs Soko
Wandy vs Rashad - Winner gets title shot
Rich Clementi vs Manny Gamburyan
Yoshida vs Anthony Johnson
Hyun Kim vs George Sotoropolis
Jason Tan: Out of UFC
Antonio Menedes: Out of UFC
Koppenhaver vs loser of Saunders vs Jroc- loser of thats gone
Palhares vs Winner of Tanner/Grove
Ivan: Retired
Etim: Out of UFC

[TeddyDaBear]

Originally Posted by killerinstinct

Rich Clementi vs. Terry Etim
Rich Clementi vs. Mac Danzig- Rich has won 6 straight fights and I think he deserves the step up in competition and the chance to compete on the main card. That's why I'd match him up against Mac Danzig. This fight would be a tough test for Mac Danzig and would really give us a real good evaluation of where he ranks in the UFC LW division. I also think this fight would be exciting.

Mac Danzing is fighting Clay Guida next, other than that...great stuff as usual and rep'd

[Mirko45]

BJ vs the winner of Huerta/KenFlo
Sherk vs Edgar
Wandy vs Gouviea
Alexander vs Jardine II
Goran vs Lee sounds good enough to me
Thiago vs Rashad
Tito... ???
50/50 on if Mendes should stay
Soko vs Bonnar sounds good
Kim should fight the winner of Swick/Davis
Yoshida should fight a UFC top 10 WW
Palhares should fight the winner of Lister/Horn
Clementi/Danzig sounds cool
Carwin should fight either McCully or Hardonk

I also would cut:
Wellisch
Tan
War Machine
Nakamura

[Legend]

Originally Posted by Quintessential Studmuffin

Bj Penn vs winner of Huerta/Florian,then GSP rematch
Sherk vs Nate Diaz
Gouveia and Jardine rematch
Goran Reljic vs James Irvin
Thiago Silva vs Soko
Wandy vs Rashad - Winner gets title shot
Rich Clementi vs Manny Gamburyan
Yoshida vs Anthony Johnson
Hyun Kim vs George Sotoropolis
Jason Tan: Out of UFC
Antonio Menedes: Out of UFC
Koppenhaver vs loser of Saunders vs Jroc- loser of thats gone
Palhares vs Winner of Tanner/Grove
Ivan: Retired
Etim: Out of UFC

Good list. I highly agree with BJ defending his title against the winner of Huerta/Florian match first before moving up to fight GSP. Either guy would make for a good match up although they are not on BJ's level. But still both are interesting fights.

And yeah I would say Tan needs to be kicked out of the UFC post-haste but I think Kim already elbowed him out.

[killerinstinct]

Originally Posted by TeddyDaBear

Mac Danzing is fighting Clay Guida next, other than that...great stuff as usual and rep'd

I didn't think that fight was confirmed yet.