Fight Forecast: Matches to make following UFC on FOX 16
After major UFC events, theScore's Kyle Smith gives his take on which matchups should be made for the big winners and losers of each event.
T.J. Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz
Following Dillashaw's complete and utter demolition of Renan Barao, there's only one man I want to see square off with the Team Alpha Male buzzsaw, and that's Cruz.
Cruz exists as a terrifying specter looming over the bantamweight division. A former champion who never really lost his title, Cruz was betrayed by bad knees, and has only made one appearance since 2011, needing a mere 61 seconds to run roughshod over division stalwart Takeya Mizugaki.
Two fighters that essentially mirror each other's style, Cruz versus Dillashaw could be the biggest fight in 135-pound history (though it likely won't kill it at the box office).
Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey (or Bethe Correia ... I guess)
In a division bereft of credible competition, Tate sadly remains the most viable challenger to Rousey's crown. Dana White admitted as much after the event, when he said Tate's four-fight winning streak had earned her another shot at the women's bantamweight overlord.
Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino is still the dream matchup for Rousey, but she'd likely have to cut off a limb to get down to 135 pounds, and Rousey has made it clear she's not open to a catchweight bout. That leaves Tate, Rousey's nemesis, who owns an 0-2 record against the champ, but at least holds the distinction of being the only woman to ever make it past five minutes with the former Olympian.
Of course, this all hinges on Rousey's bout with Correia at UFC 190, I guess there's an incredibly remote chance Correia walks away from Brazil with the strap.
Edson Barboza vs. Tony Ferguson
Barboza is an artist of violence. He doesn't work in oils or clay, he works in debilitating leg kicks, and brain-scrambling spin hook kicks. The Brazilian engaged in a wonderful display of ultraviolence with Paul Felder at UFC on FOX 16, ravaging Felder's lower body with rib-roasting, gait-destroying switch kicks.
Ferguson is a connoisseur of violence in his own right, systematically destroying former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson at a Fight Night event earlier this month.
If Barboza wants a firefight, Ferguson is his Huckleberry.
Joe Lauzon vs. Nate Diaz
Lauzon isn't a world beater, but he's seemingly allergic to boring fights, and knows how to viciously separate the wheat from the chaff in the lightweight division.
Instead of throwing Lauzon against an up-and-comer, though, why not pit him against fellow "Ultimate Fighter 5" castmate Diaz? Both are exciting, action-first fighters, and neither are likely to ever challenge for the 155-pound title. Of course, the brash Diaz sits 14th in the UFC's official rankings, so he may not even have any interest in the potential matchup.