Fights To Make After UFC 141

By Raphael Garcia

UFC 141 was a stacked card that brought to a close an exciting year for the UFC and mixed martial arts as a whole. By the time the night was over, we had witnessed the end of a career, the establishment of new contenders, and other fighters showing us where they fit in their respective weight classes. Going into the New Year, here are some fights that we as fans, analysts, and experts should look forward to viewing:

Alistair Overeem vs. Junior dos Santos
With his demolition of Brock Lesnar, pushing the former champion into retirement, Alistair Overeem is now one step closer to being considered the best heavyweight in mixed martial arts. Having won world championships in Strikeforce, DREAM, and K-1, he is now positioned to challenge the newly-crowned UFC champion Junior dos Santos, once he has fully recovered from his knee injury.

Looking at this bout, we should expect a treat for striking fans, as both competitors are known for their ability to attack on their feet. On paper, it is hard to judge who the better striker is, as Overeem’s skills in kickboxing are world-class; you can look to his K-1 title for proof of that. And the way he was able to stalk Lesnar in the Octagon, delivering powerful strikes at will, demonstrate how well he has integrated those kickboxing skills into his MMA attack. On the other hand, Dos Santos’s striking abilities favor more towards a boxing skill set, and his combination of reach, hand speed, technique, and power is something that all heavyweight fighters should fear.

While it will be hard to pick a winner for most, I believe that Overeem is focused and poised to attain the position he has coveted for a long time. The anticipation from fans is already growing, and I see this bout ending in a technical knockout victory for the “Demolition Man.”

Nate Diaz vs. Jacob Volkmann
Nate Diaz put on a clinic, as he was able to walk through the “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone and bring to an end his hopes of having one of the most productive years in recent history. With this victory, it’s now obvious that Diaz should have never left the lightweight division, and that his skills make him a dangerous opponent for anyone looking to gain a title shot.

With that said, Jacob Volkmann has quietly put together a five-fight win streak dating back to March of 2010. Although his style does not make for exciting battles, he continues to have his hand raised at the end of the fight. He states that he wants to face off against the best of the lightweight division and Diaz would fit into that mold perfectly.

Diaz is a potent striker who, just as his brother does, scores and damages with punches in bunches. He would be able to hurt Volkmann, who is not the most solid on his feet. Yet at question in this fight would be how well Volkmann would fare in his attempts to take Diaz to the ground. Diaz has always struggled against fighters with solid wrestling bases, such as Gray Maynard and Joe Stevenson. If he shows the same ability to get back to his feet that Nick did against BJ Penn, Volkmann would be in trouble. However, if Volkmann can control Diaz long enough, and stifle his submission abilities, this fight would become the high-profile victory that Volkmann has been seeking.

Jim Hettes vs. Diego Nunes
The featherweight division is quickly gaining steam, as more names are emerging in the weight class. Jim Hettes opened a lot of eyes with the way he was able to break down his opponent Nam Phan in multiple ways during their bout. When it was over, it had become very apparent that Hettes is a prospect worth watching in the featherweight division. Nunes, who was on the cusp of title contendership before he was defeated by Kenny Florian, would be a stiff challenge for the developing star.

Diego Nunes used his striking to keep Manny Gamburyan at a distance for the entire bout. He was also able to neutralize the Judo abilities of The Anvil, and would look to do the same against Hettes, who has a skill set similar to that of Gamburyan. However, Hettes’s standup abilities are improving at a rate where, by the time they were to fight, he would be able to use them to push in close when needed.

On the ground, Nunes has the submission abilities to threaten any fighter. The question in this fight lies in whether Hettes’s defensive grappling can prevent Nunes from gaining a position of control.

Johny Hendricks vs. loser of Jake Ellenberger/Diego Sanchez
Johny Hendricks only needed 12 seconds to let the world know that UFC welterweights have another contender to worry about. With the left hand that stopped Jon Fitch, he placed himself near the top of the 170-pound weight class at a time when everyone is scrambling to be the man to replace injured champion Georges St. Pierre.

Jake Ellenberger is currently a potential contender to face off against the winner of Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz in 2012. However, he must first get through Diego Sanchez to solidify that position. But whatever the outcome of the fight, the loser of this battle would be a viable opponent for Hendricks to have to conquer before he is able to claim the next challenger position.

Looking forward to these bouts, and others like them, will give us all ample excitement as we look ahead to another great year of mixed martial arts action.

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