The Top 5 Dream Fights That (Still) Need to Happen

Nothing gets an MMA fan talking quite like dream matches. Even with MMA being bigger and better than it’s ever been, there are a number of dream matches that consistently elude reality. So here are my top five “dream matches” that still need to happen.

5. Shane Carwin vs. Cain Velasquez

Once a fight destined to determine the next UFC Heavyweight Championship contender, Shane Carwin vs. Cain Velasquez has a very real possibility of being for the UFC Heavyweight Championship when it all goes down. What makes this match so interesting is the progression of both men since this match was first announced. At the time, both Carwin and Velasquez were lighting up the lower to mid-level UFC Heavyweight division, but lacked a real win against world-caliber opponents. Since then, both have proceeded to obliterate former UFC Heavyweight Champions. When this fight does happen, it won’t be two relative rookies out to prove who’s better, it’ll be an epic battle between two of the best Heavyweights in the world.

4. BJ Penn vs. Georges St-Pierre

Not only is there a precedent for the UFC booking a third fight between two men when one has won the previous two fights, there was also an enormous amount of controversy behind the second bout. And no matter what side of the fence you found yourself on, you have to admit that a third showdown between former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion BJ Penn and current UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre has massive amounts of appeal. Even with BJ Penn’s recent loss to Frankie Edgar, I think we’d see the best Penn ever if he were to get his wish and be given a third chance to prove once and for all that he can beat Georges St. Pierre.

3. Anderson Silva vs. Georges St-Pierre

If there’s one fight for GSP that could conceivably be bigger than a third fight with Penn, it’s a fight with UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Despite his recent antics inside the Octagon that have drawn the scorn of most of the MMA community, Anderson Silva remains one of the deadliest fighters on the planet…when he’s trying. Against Georges St. Pierre, Silva would put away the dancing routine and bring back the laser-precise counter-punching and nearly-unstoppable Muay Thai to deal with GSP’s raw takedown power and expert ground game. On the feet or on the ground, this would be one for the ages.

2. Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar

Everyone loves to talk about a dream-match between Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem and Fedor Emelianenko, or a fight between Emelianenko and UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, but few fans seem to realize how much potential an Overeem vs. Lesnar fight would have. Lesnar’s raw power would seemingly be nullified by “Ubereem”, who has never looked in better shape and has never been so crisp in his striking and grappling. If this fight goes to the ground, Overeem has always possessed a critically under-rated ground game. To his credit, Lesnar continues to evolve by leaps and bounds in every single one of his fights, and would most likely push the “Demolition Man” to his limits. No matter who wins, this one would be one hell of a spectacle to watch.

And my #1 “dream match” is…

1. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Randy Couture

You read that right: not Brock Lesnar, but former UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture would be the biggest and best fight that Fedor Emelianenko could ever have before he calls it a career and retires. The appeal of Fedor/Couture doesn’t get much simpler: it’s two of the best MMA fighters of all time finally fighting each other. Even if both men are no longer in their prime, this fight would be one of the biggest MMA fights ever. And I honestly don’t think it matters who wins this one: I respect and admire both men so much that just seeing them staring across the cage at one another would give me goose bumps.

So that’s my list, fans and friends. How does your list measure up? What are some of your favorite “dream matches”?