Fights that Make Sense

There are some matchups that are classic. Striker v Grappler is a classic example, it has history that dates back to Royce Gracie and the early UFC's, where the majority of the martial artists competing were standup fighters. I just want to give a look at some classic matchups, some exciting matchups and some ridiculous matchups.

Like I already said, the most classic of all is Striker v Grappler:

In a striker/grappler matchup, everyone knows what they are watching for: the takedown. Some strikers get taken down and pounded on, despite their best efforts to stay standing, some strikers have that touch that can take the grappler out right away, or that uncanny balance that can keep them standing up. Here's a little montage of some of the best striker/grappler matchups in history:

Tito Ortiz vs Wanderlei Silva @ UFC 25: Ultimate Japan 3 - Ortiz puts on a classic display of wrestling against one of the greatest strikers in the history of the 205 pound weight class. Wanderlei got his nickname (The Axe Murderer) because of his aggression and brutal Muay Thai attack, but you'd never know it by the way Ortiz beat on him en route to a unanimous decision victory.

Chuck Liddell vs Kevin Randleman @ UFC 31: Locked and Loaded - The striker prevails as Chuck showcases his incredible takedown defense and savage right hand as he demolishes one of the greatest wrestlers in collegiate wrestling.

Takanori Gomi vs Ralph Gracie @ PRIDE Bushido 3 - Takanori "The Fireball Kid" Gomi posted one of the fastest KO's in PRIDE FC history. It ended Gracie's previous undefeated streak and brought the future lightweight champion into the limelight.

Striker v Chin is one of the great matchups to watch. Sometimes the line between which is which becomes burred, and those are the matchups that are really exciting to watch. It's exciting to watch a fighter get hammered and keep standing, keep fighting back, and some of these matchups are really freakish displays in endurance.

Don Frye vs Yoshihiro Takayama @ PRIDE 21 Demolition - Don Frye is a great fighter, and Yoshihiro Takayama isn't. Their fight proved that it wasn't that simple. Takayama was eventually overwhelmed Frye to continue an MMA career that still doesn't have a win, but it has some of the greatest exchanges in the history of the sport.

Mark Hunt vs Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic @ PRIDE Shockwave 2005 - Mark Hunt is the ultimate chin. He worked his way into K-1 kickboxing by going back and forth with anyone, refusing to fall down. CroCop, the greatest striker in MMA, lost a close decision to Hunt in their PRIDE fight, but it was a complete war.

Mark Hunt vs Yosuke Nishijima @ PRIDE 31 Dreamers - Mark Hunt defeated the boxer Nishijima after a long war. Hunt had a superior kickboxing backround and an extreme size advantage, and everyone expected him to destroy the small Japanese boxer, but Nishijima showed great technique. Unfortunately, he couldn't hurt Hunt (he probably couldn't have hurt him with a sledgehammer) and Hunt KO'd him late in the fight.

Single Style matchups like striker/striker or grappler/grappler are all about proving dominance, and it's always exciting because you never know which fighter is going to finish his opponent at any given time.

Jeff Monson vs Branden Lee Hinkle @ UFC 57: Couture vs Liddell - Jeff Monson may be, from a pure grappling standpoint, the most talented grappler in the world. He beat Hammer House fighter Hinkle decisively, demolishing him in one round and finishing him with a submission after Hinkle already seemed unconscious.

Fedor Emelianenko vs Kevin Randleman @ PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004 - The greatest fighter in the world put on one of the greatest displays of table turning when he recovered after being suplexed onto his neck to submit Kevin "The Monster" Randleman in a fast paced grappling display that only lasted 1:33 seconds.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs Chuck Liddell @ PRIDE Final Conflict 2003 - In their first matchup, Rampage put on an incredible display of striking, with the constant overlooming possibility of Liddell landing one of his trademark overhand rights and putting Rampage to sleep. Rampage defeated Liddell late in the first with an incredible display of fearlessness and, some might say, recklessness.

These are just three types of great, classic matchups, but they seem appropriate since we will be seeing them soon. These are the up-coming ones:

Striker/Grappler:

Frank Mir vs Antoni Hardonk @ UFC 74
Matt Hamill vs Michael Bisping @ UFC 75
Kenny Florian vs Din Thomas @ Ultimate Fight Night 11
Kazuhiro Nakamura vs Lyoto Machida @ UFC 76

Striker/Chin:

Terry Martin vs Chris Leven @ Ultimate Fight Night 11
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs Forrest Griffin @ UFC 76

Single Style:

Randy Couture vs Gabriel Gonzaga @ UFC 74
Kurt Pellegrino vs Joe Stevenson @ UFC 74
Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic vs Cheik Kongo @ UFC 75
Houston Alexander vs Alessio Sakara @ UFC 75

Enjoy the upcoming cards, the wait for the return of the UFC is almost over.