UFC 128 will likely be talked about for many months to come, whether it’s due to Mirko Cro Cop getting KO’d again, Jim Miller staking his claim atop the UFC’s Lightweight division, or the obvious: Jon Jones destroying Mauricio Rua. But now once again it’s time to ask: what’s next? What does the future hold after so much seems to have changed? Here’s my answer to just that: a new edition of my “What’s Next for the Winners and Losers” series of articles, now featuring UFC 128: “Shogun vs. Jones”.
Next for Mirko Filipovic: Retirement, if he knows what’s good for him. I’ve had my wars with Filipovic’s legion of fans in the past, but a strange thing happened to me at UFC 128. I found myself quite sad when I saw Cro Cop lifeless on the mat for the second time in a row. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, and I won’t speculate because I’ve never followed him that closely. But the evidence is staggering: Cro Cop is on the decline, and it may be better to hang it up now or else he risks becoming a Heavyweight version of Chuck Liddell.
Next for Brendan Schaub: With this win, Schaub took a crucial step forward on his quest for top-division status. I think the time has come for Schaub to rematch Roy Nelson, but that’s only if Nelson loses to his upcoming opponent, Frank Mir. Likewise, I’d love to see Schaub take on Cheick Kongo if Kongo loses his upcoming fight to Pay Barry. Also, Stefan Struve would be a good fit for Schaub, that’s a fight that’s been discussed and I think it’d be very entertaining. Schaub may not be a championship contender just yet, but he’s really beginning to find himself in the UFC’s Heavyweight division. Big things are in store for Brendan Schaub in 2011.
Next for Jim Miller: I’ll be watching very closely to see how the UFC approaches Jim Miller now that he’s beaten another tough competitor. Miller may not deserve a title shot, but he’s very close. He’s on the short-list. Unfortunately he’ll have to wait awhile, because Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard have to fight again, then Anthony Pettis and Clay Guida have to fight, and then, on top of all that, the winners of those two matches have to fight. It’s a crowded Lightweight scene, but Miller is fast-rising to the top of it. He deserves a top-level opponent for his next fight.
Next for Urijah Faber: I think the man that many consider the WEC’s best asset and biggest star will have a very bright future in the UFC. Faber came off as a class act during his post-fight interview, and when he fought Eddie Wineland he fought with the style that made him a well-respected and a very entertaining champion. The WEC was always quick to put Faber into title contention, and the positives and negatives of that are best left for another day, but in the here and now I think the UFC will continue that trend. Faber is only one or two fights away from challenging for the championship.
Next for Mauricio Rua: A certain section of the “Shogun” contingent are already calling for him to drop down to Middleweight, and I honestly think that would be very interesting and I’d like to see it happen. My gut reaction is that it won’t, but if it does it wouldn’t surprise me too much, and I think Rua has a lot of interesting match-ups at 185. If he stays at 205, I think Rua should face Lyoto Machida for a third and final time, or perhaps Quinton Jackson. Rua needs to battle an established veteran, both for the sake of nostalgia and to keep him alive in the UFC’s ever-crowded Light Heavyweight scene.
Next for Jon Jones: Rashad Evans, and another dominating victory. I once swore I’d never again bet against Jon Jones, and Rashad Evans won’t be the fighter that makes me break that promise. I don’t even know who that fighter is, since I don’t see anyone beating Jon Jones at Light Heavyweight. It may be the hype getting to me, and I may be getting my hopes up too high, especially given the “Light Heavyweight curse”. But I said it was “The Era of Bones”, and I truly believe that.
And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? What do you see happening in the near and not-so-near future of the big winners and losers of UFC 128?
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Jim miller could beat edgar. millers only weakness is trying to beat guys in their own game.
Jones could not beat anderson silva for another four years.
jones vs spider silva would be a great match up. I think jones will be the best match up to silva. Jones is confident and not intimidated to anyone.
Schaub should fight Minotauro in Rio or Shane Carwin, and I believe Jim Miller could’ve fought Denis Shiver next but he’s facing Matt Wiman or Melvin Guillard but he’s facing Shane Roller.
Lightweight is freakin stacked, next we’re going to talking about Donald Cerrone if he gets a streak going.
We saw the Shogun of 2008 Saturday night unfortunately.. I knew it was over when he stood up gassed.. he had more muscle on his upper body/arms too, meaning he couldn’t train lower body for a LONG time and had to just LIFT .. which does nothing for cardio… hope he’s put the knee issues behind him and comes back stronger..
Rua was terrible against Forrest…..then again against Coleman. He progressively became magnificent fight by fight after. Then more surgery after becoming champion – and we got a lax, slow performance which resulted in him being bashed by what is a difficult fighter to train for. Rashad would have destroyed Rua too. Rua needs to be fighting to be great. Jones is a seriously difficult fighter to gameplan for. At distance he is extremely rangy and unpredictable. In close his top class greco is even better. A low stance and long arms protect from kicks. Not to mention size – he is a brock lesnar of the 205..of course this takes different shape but massive frame and leanly muscled is what accounts for this fact. He will bully the division until a hard puncher lands. Rampage could indeed proove a challenge – Machida will contend to land an unseen bomb…But, i honestly advise not to count out a return rematch with an inflamed, invigourated shogun in 3 or 4 fights..if they both manage to bash the top contenders – -
As far as Bones is concerned…i’d like to see him move up to HW in a year or so to truly test his skills. Like he said himself he gotto embrace his greatness. Nothing for him left in that div.
For Rua…he will be back. he’s a true warrior thru and thru. I think he’s better that that, that wasnt the best Rua out there, not taking ayway anything from Bones. I just think Shogun just didnt showed his best for whatever reason. But he definitely shud stay at that weight class.
I would like to see shogun fight lyoto for a third rme then the winner of that fight jones for the title. Personally I think lyoto’s counter attacking style would put jones in his place and shogun needs to get his s**t together and start kicking ass again
Jones / Silva
I would like to see Anderson Silva go up to light heavyweight again and fight Jon Jones.
I was expecting Jones to win, but not in such convincing fashion. Shogun didn’t look the the usual Shogun in that fight. Maybe he was demoralized after that first takedown, or maybe a lingering problem with his knee. Either way, Jones dominated, and I can only hope he beats Rashad even more convincingly.
Shogun’s knee surgery affected him in the Jon Jones fight almost seems like