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.
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Conor McGregor
Following his 66-second shellacking of Donald Cerrone, Rafael dos Anjos warned Conor McGregor to stay in the safer confines of the featherweight division.
Although the bombastic Irishman's name was on everyone's lips on Saturday night, McGregor's desire to be a two-division champion coupled with dos Anjos' recent run of destruction makes this potential superfight too tantalizing to pass up.
What would happen if these two champions played a technical game of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em robots inside the Octagon? Well your guess is as good as mine. McGregor's precision and power is obvious, and his venomous finishing ability is among the best in the sport. Dos Anjos, however, possesses fight-ending power of his own, and his stout, oft-overlooked grappling could swing the pendulum in his favor.
Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum-Cain Velasquez winner
The UFC needs to strike while the iron's hot with Alistair Overeem.
With a scintillating TKO victory over former heavyweight overlord Junior dos Santos, it's high time Overeem got the title shot he's been tabbed for since he made his UFC debut in 2011. Riding a three-fight winning streak including an impressive stoppage of a formerly iron-chinned champion, the time is now for Overeem.
Should Werdum emerge from his rematch with Cain Velasquez with the heavyweight belt safely resting around his waist, it would create a trilogy bout for Overeem-Werdum. Werdum won their initial encounter nearly a decade ago in PRIDE, while Overeem took the rematch in an uninspired Strikeforce bout in 2011 (the last loss on Werdum's ledger).
Nate Diaz vs. Tony Ferguson
Based on his characteristically profane tirade following a victory over Michael Johnson, Nate Diaz wants a money fight against Conor McGregor.
As fun as it would be to see the Stockton bad boy trade expletive-laden barbs with the impossibly brash Irishman, the UFC is unlikely to put together this fight.
Instead, the promotion should pit Diaz against fellow purveyor of ultraviolence Tony Ferguson in a bout sure to shatter records for significant strikes landed (*shudders in anticipation*).
Junior dos Santos vs. Ben Rothwell-Josh Barnett loser
Junior dos Santos did not look good against Alistair Overeem.
Carrying the long-lasting damage that comes with losing multiple wars against Cain Velasquez, "Cigano" no longer resembles the predatory finisher that violently carved a path through the heavyweight division for the better part of four years.
The uncharacteristically gun shy dos Santos would at least keep himself in the heavyweight conversation with a win over either Ben Rothwell or Josh Barnett, who square off at UFC on FOX 18 on Jan. 30.
