As the final Strikeforce card continues to crumble due to injuries, the bright side is that the UFC will finally be able to bring in some of the last remaining names within North American mixed martial arts promotions that would be able to capture the interest of fans. While most fans and media members do not expect any of the Strikeforce titleholders to be able to make a huge splash in the UFC’s talent pool, each still offers the opportunity to make an impact in some form or fashion. As anticipation rises for the announcements of opponents for each fighter’s respective Octagon debut, here are some great suggestions to introduce Strikeforce titleholders to UFC fans:
Luke Rockhold vs. Jake Shields
While the budding rivalry with Lorenz Larkin does have the potential to brew into something major, the UFC should match Rockhold with Jake Shields as a “welcome” fight. Shields spent a long time being considered one of the best middle and welterweights outside of the UFC, but since being brought over to the UFC, his transition has been less than stellar. Moving back up to 185 hasn’t been that great either, as he ended up having his win over Ed Herman turned into a no-contest. He now faces a suspension, but his return date should coincide with Rockhold’s return from injury.
Against Shields it would be very interesting to see how well Luke would be able to cope with Jake’s grapping game. The standup advantage would clearly go to Rockhold, but getting into range would allow Jake to set up his takedowns and then implement his well known, grinding style of grappling. The storyline behind this contest would write itself, as Shields-Rockhold would place the former champion who vacated the title to move to the UFC against the last champion to hold the title before the organization folded.
Gilbert Melendez vs. Gray Maynard
Gilbert Melendez is the individual who stands to gain the most from the absorption of Strikeforce into the UFC. For the last two or more years, he has consistently been considered one of the best lightweights in the world. However, he has not been able to “prove” his ranking, because he has not fought the best competition in the lightweight division. That’s all about to change, as he enters the proverbial shark tank that has become the UFC’s collection of fighters at 155 pounds. Gray Maynard would be a great candidate to welcome him, as they have both lingered at the top tier of the weight class in recent years.
Maynard vs. Melendez would be a great fight for the division. Melendez uses a swarming style that can overwhelm fighters such as Tatsuya Kawajiri, as he was able to do back in 2011. Against Maynard that could pose a problem, because “The Bully” throws with power, but also has the takedowns to get this fight to the ground and control the contest. With a win, either of these individuals would be able to stake a legitimate claim to top contender status, which could be parlayed into a shot at the lightweight title.
Nate Marquardt has taken an interesting path back to the UFC. After UFC President Dana White all but said he was permanently finished with the organization, Nate spent more than a year on the sidelines looking for another promotion to call home. Well, he found himself back in the Zuffa family, but on the Strikeforce roster, and fighting for the 170-pound title. Defeating Tyron Woodley this past July earned him the title, and now it looks like he will once again become a UFC fighter. Pairing him with Nick Diaz for his first fight back would create a bout that would welcome them both back into the UFC fold.
Fans and media alike are looking forward to Diaz’s return from his latest suspension. He’s still considered one of the top five fighters at welterweight by many different outlets, and remains one win away from getting the title shot that everyone has wanted him to have for a long time. Marquardt, on the other hand, is a fighter that many believed has had the abilities necessary to win a UFC title, but could not find a way to get there when the time was right. This would be an opportunity for both fighters to reestablish themselves as persons of interest in the welterweight division, and would be a great main event on a free show or co-main to a Pay per View event.
While it is unfortunate for business that another organization has been folded into the Ultimate Fighting Championship, this is the opportunity to create the fights that have been needed for a long to time to see exactly where Strikeforce champions stand in relation to their UFC peers, all while introducing them to mainstream MMA fans. If handled correctly, the infusion of talented Strikeforce titlists can provide and infusion of interest as well.
