We already know two fights coming out of UFC 126. Jon Jones earned himself (with the help of Quinton Jackson's 250-pound physique) a title shot against Mauricio Rua in six weeks at UFC 128. And UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva will finally meet welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre, should GSP get by Jake Shields at UFC 129.
But what about the rest of the UFC 126 roster?
- Forrest Griffin vs. Quinton Jackson coming off a loss OR Lyoto Machida coming off a win - At this point in his career, Griffin isn't going to be fighting the likes of Hector Ramirez again. As Rich Franklin alluded in his pre-fight hype video, you're stuck in the shark tank once you jump in. So fights with fringe top-20 guys like Alexander Gustafsson and Jason Brilz aren't an option. Griffin's out for six months anyway, so waiting things out isn't an issue. Jackson or Machida would provide an interesting storyline (revenge match for Jackson, Forrest seeks revenge for Couture with Machida) and an elite fighter.
- Rich Franklin vs. Ryan Bader - I could see the UFC throttling back on Bader coming out of UFC 126, but I think he's entering "what you see is what you get" territory. It gives him a good name to fight that he has the tools to beat. The UFC can throttle him back should he lose. Plus, Franklin is in a similar position as Griffin, and he isn't a great option for the other guys in the top ten right now.
- Vitor Belfort vs. Yushin Okami - We're assuming, of course, that Georges St. Pierre beats Jake Shields, and that Yushin Okami isn't going to pull a Rashad Evans as a result. I'm also assuming the UFC doesn't scrap plans of Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann in favor of the Wandy/Belfort rematch (in which case, Okami fights Demian Maia). I could also see Belfort fighting Jorge Santiago should he join the UFC.
- Jake Ellenberger vs. Dong Hyun Kim - Much to his chagrin, I don't think Ellenberger is getting a fight with Jon Fitch, regardless of the result of Fitch's fight with B.J. Penn at UFC 127. This fight acts as a sort of eliminator into the Lytle/Sanchez/Thiago tier at welterweight.
- Miguel Torres vs. Demetrious Johnson - The UFC probably wants to push Urijah Faber into a title shot should he get by Eddie Wineland, so we can rule him out. Wagnney Fabiano is available, but he's coming off a loss to Joseph Benavidez. Johnson's probably going to jump into a lot of top ten lists this month, and the timing just makes sense.
- Chad Mendes vs. Kenny Florian or Tyson Griffin - The 145-pound division is about to get awfully interesting. I think Griffin's the likely option, as I see the UFC handing Diego Nunes or Dustin Poirier or Michihiro Omigawa to Kenny Florian. Mendes is probably in line for a title shot if he wins his next fight regardless of the opponent.
- Donald Cerrone vs. Evan Dunham - Everyone's calling Cerrone out, and there's a lot of UFC lightweights that would be appropriate opponents for him, but I think this is the fight that makes the most sense to me.