Back in December, I decided to play UFC matchmaker by taking on the role of the always mysterious Joe Silva, and putting together potential match-ups that I thought would be both entertaining and significant in regards to the standing of each fighter within their respective weight class.  I didn't end up doing so hot: out of the twenty-nine fights I booked last time as wannabe-Joe Silva, only one turned into a bout that Joe Silva himself actually booked (Heath Herring vs. Cain Velasquez - but of course that one didn't even end up happening).  These aren't really predictions though, but rather a thoughtful wish-list.

As we're now on the verge of UFC 100, and with the UFC's numerous fall events starting to fill up quickly, I've decided to roll out my second version of Fantasy UFC Matchmaker 2009: Undisputed.  Once again, I'm using only those fighters who are not currently confirmed or rumored to be fighting on future cards.  Fighters who are rumored to be fighting "TBA", and those are who currently injured or suspended but are still under contract to the UFC, are fair game.  Like Joe Silva, I'm also trying to include two types of match-ups: those that draw in viewers and PPV revenues/TV ratings, and those that may not seem as entertaining on paper, but are important for determining contenders within each division.  The list is also a combination of fights that I really want to see, and fights that I think make sense and might just happen in the near future.

I'm not going to provide any commentary or rationale for any of the match-ups...I'm asking you to do that as I did last time.  Let me know what you think.  Would you plunk down 50 bucks to see some of these on PPV?  Or are some of them so meaningless that you wouldn't even tune in to a free Fight Night event to see them?  Tell me which ones you like, which ones you would change, or give me some completely new pairings that you want to see.

So without further ado...

HEAVYWEIGHT -

Antoni Hardonk vs. Heath Herring

Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo

Stefan Struve vs. Mostapha Al-Turk

 

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT -

Rich Franklin vs. Luis Cane

Steve Cantwell vs. Elliot Marshall

Brian Stann vs. Houston Alexander

Krystof Soszynski vs. Tomasz Drwal

 

MIDDLEWEIGHT -

Patrick Cote vs. Chael Sonnen

Wanderlei Silva vs. Yushin Okami

Rousimar Palhares vs. Ed Herman

Denis Kang vs. Jorge Rivera

Goran Reljic vs. Alessio Sakara

Drew McFedries vs. Rob Kimmons

Mike Massenzio vs. Tim McKenzie

 

WELTERWEIGHT -

Matt Hughes vs. Karo Parisyan

Brock Larson vs. Marcus Davis

Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit

Matt Brown vs. Anthony Johnson

Dustin Hazelett vs. Ben Saunders

Chris Lytle vs. Edgar Garcia

Brad Blackburn vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

Rory Markham vs. Dan Cramer

Matt Riddle vs. James Wilks

Damarques Johnson vs. Paul Taylor

 

LIGHTWEIGHT -

Sean Sherk vs. Clay Guida

Joe Stevenson vs. Frankie Edgar

Joe Lauzon vs. Mark Bocek

Gleison Tibau vs. Paul Kelly

Matt Wiman vs. Jason Dent

Terry Etim vs. Junie Browning

Denis Siver vs. Phillipe Nover

Ross Pearson vs. Rafael Dos Anjos