MW matchmaking

Okay now that we are through with the Sonnen/Silva fight and Weidman just crushed Munoz there are some interesting matches to be made.

We've got Lombard/Boetsch coming up as well as Okami/Palhares and Shields/Herman.

Fights I'd like to see

Weidman/Bisping: Chris looked fantastic last night. Bisping has been lakcing a signature win to really qualify for a title shot and if Weidman were to win that would be two top victories. Make it #1 contender fight.

Franklin/Belcher: Belcher has had a nice run lately. The fight is a good way to see if Belcher is in title contention or if Franklin still has the goods to compete with top MW talent.

Munoz/Wandy: Both coming off a loss. Wandy needs to answer if he still has enough to compete at a top 10 level and Munoz needs to show if the Weidman fight displayed major holes in his game or if he just had a bad night.

Belfort/Sonnen: This is just a 185 fight that needs to happen. I'm not sure Belfort's return date from his injury but either way this is a fight we all want to see regardless of title fight implications.

Stann/?: There are some prospects they could put Stann in with but I can't think of any top 10 guys left. Wouldn't be bad to see him take a small dip in competition against good wrestlers to build back up.

Cung Le/Leben: Leben has been on the shelf for a while and hell this would be a fun fight to watch.

Stann or Belcher is next for Bisping. They both called him out and he agreed to either.

If Lombard beats Boetsch he gets a title shot. I believe that's already been decided.

Cung Le is expected to be on the China card in November. So i expect that he will be facing Franklin because that fight never happened at ufc 148x

Belfort and Chael would be a good fight to watch but it depends what Chael decides to do. He has said he doesn't want to keep fighting if he cannot become champion.

Weidman looked great against Munoz but i think he needs another top ten guy before Anderson and i bet its against whoever Bisping doesn't fight so either Stann or Belcher.

Lebens suspension has to be over soon?

Okami has to beat Palhares to get out of his two fight losing streak.

Shields needs to get Herman down or he will be KO'd.

Philippou has had a nice little streak i'd like to see him against a top 10 guy maybe a munoz fight.

Although he lacks a large body of work, Weidman's wins over Maia and Munoz are more significant than Stann's, Bispings or Belcher's top 2 wins. The UFC really wants Bisping to string together enough quality wins to get a title shot b/c they can promote the hell out of it. I think much depends on if Anderson plans on fighting again in 2012. I've heard Lombard mentioned for a title fight but only as a possibility. Honestly for the casual fan he still lacks name recognition. Belcher or Stann would all make good fights for Bisping but I think if the idea is to have an opponent ready for Anderson in early to mid 2013 you go with Weidman/Bisping. If Anderson wants to fight before the end of the year then Lombard/Boetsch winner is going to be the go to guy and it doesn't really matter wich combo Stann/Belcher/Weidman/Bisping go in.

I don't see Weidman vs Silva this
year. Too many guys have been around longer and think they should get there first. I agree with them, but Weidman is the guy who has most impressed me recently. Munoz is a solid, durable and experienced fighter; Weidman outclassed him in every way possible inside the octagon.

Stann and Bisping have been signed and scheduled. Decent fight to watch but in no way should be a title elimanator. I'll be curious to see if Rockhld and Kennedy end up making their way to the UFC now as well.