I'm excited about K-1 this weekend. I love the model of the tournament, the unpredictability, the unique match ups. I miss seeing them take the big stage in MMA. The tournaments of the Wild West days of early UFC were breathtaking. The different Gran Prix in the Pride days produced some of the most memorable moments in MMA. They made legends. It got me thinking, where could you do a real Gran Prix in the UFC? What division would produce the most excitement? A Gran Prix in the Light Heavyweight division could be historical on so many levels.

The LHW scene in the UFC is incredibly diverse and in an unique stage right now. You have an old warrior like Randy Couture who would relish the opportunity to be put into a tournament scenario. You have the young and talented Jon Jones, who we are all waiting to see go up against the best in the division. Then, you have the established contenders like Rashad, Machida, Rampage, Little Nog. Of course, the current king of the mountain and previous Gran Prix winner, Mauricio Rua, who seems to be at the height of his game. What makes the LHW scene so unique right now is that it is filled with tremendous personalities, tons of bad blood, and some of MMA's fiercest rivalries. It doesn't exist anywhere in any other division in MMA today. The dramatic storytelling an event like this could produce could be riveting.

With the current talent in the division you could easily put on a 15 man tournament with the champion getting a bye. Imagine first round match ups that could include Randy Couture vs Chuck Liddell or Jon Jones vs Rampage. Then from the quarter finals all the way to the championship you would have dynamic bouts. Dream matches. Each event would be a "must see" event, it could lead to buy rates that would rival some of UFC's most successful pay per views. 

The fall out could also yield many intriguing rematches and potential grudges. It would be an event that could span a year and keep all of us fans on the edge of our seats. A homage to the past while highlighting the best talent of the present and a look at the future. This is one of those rare times in MMA history where you have a division so rich in talent and prestige, with such unique personalities; what a fantastic opportunity. What a gift it could be to us, the fans. What history could be made if such a bold move was taken. I can only hope and pray to the MMA gods that such a thing might unfold in the coming year.