Tabletop matchmakers (all of us)

[DUCE]

One thing that kind of surprises me about this forum is the lack of match making speculation/logic and personalized rankings. Most of us here have been playing GWF/LOW/CPC/etc. for quite some time. One of the best parts of filsinger games to me is the buildup. Right now at this point in our corner of the world the UFC has emerged as a front runner in the sport and its once speculated most stacked weight class is now scrambling to restore some kind of order and lineup for the next titleshot. Joe Silva(UFC matchmaker) has got his work cut for him( maybe he could be seeing pink soon as in YER FIRED). His strategy with Crocop and others has been portrayed as self defeating.



How would you handle Rampage's next title defence? Maybe a non title match against a returning Wand? How would you handle Dan Henderson? Go with another title unification bout with another Pride alum Anderson Silva or ditch anymore unification bouts and keep him at 205? Go ahead with a Chuck Liddel vs Wand showdown that we've been promised/teased? How would handle Shogun? Babalu? How would you handle the vicious Houston Alexander? Continue to feed him or give him an A class fighter? Would you resign anyone (Vitor)?

If I was Joe Silva.


I would give Rampage what he wants: Shogun or Silva in a non title fight. If Shogun or Silva won they get a title defence if not Rampage gets that revenge win he has been wanting and that would put them out of line for some time.


I go with another unification bout with Anderson and Henderson. Henderson is in a stacked class and would give more life to Chris Leben, Rich Franklin, Yushin Okami, and other UFC middleweights careers and matchmaking opportunities.


;D Forrest Griffin (lol at this picture) would get the Evans-Tito winner and that winner should be considered for title contention.


I would resign Babalu and test Houston Alexander. Those two should bring down the house. Reguardless of winner have a Babalu vs. Lambert rematch.

Then again there are great fighters like Jason Lambert and Ryoto Machida that would be good fights for Silva/Liddel/Shogun. Anyone who beats the past/recent incarnations of Shogun/Silva/Liddel should be considered elite IMHO.

[Wildfire]

I don't think I'd do any non-title fights... you don't fight often enough in UFC to merit it.

Some random thoughts"

-- Shogun needs to win a fight or two.. I'd give him a couple low end guys over the next six months

-- I'd do Griffin/Jardine in a rematch, with the winner facing the winner of Oritz/Evans for a shot.. I think Griffin-Jardine II would be a great fight, and would garner alot of attention.

-- In the meantime, I'd do Jackson-Silva for the title.. they haven't had alot of luck building guys, so just go for it

-- Alexander I'd take slowly, since they got plenty of guys at the top... though if Liddell is really considering retiring.. having him fight Alexander would be a good test.

[dukedave]

NO NON-TITLE FIGHTS!!!!!!

This was what made Pride so retarded. Their champions defended the titles only about once a year.

Rampage needs to defend the title and I'd bet good money on Forrest. Forrest is the TUF golden child and just beat the "#1 LHW" in the world and schooled him in the process. The TUF fans love Forrest and this would be a huge draw. I also wouldn't rule out the winner of Ortiz/Evans if they win in decisive fashion.

Have Silva face Jardine or Alexander and if he wins give him the shot at the Griffin/Rampage winner. In the meantime put Chuck and Shogun in together to co-main event one of the other PPV's

BTW - When are they just going to strip Sherk and have a fight to crown a new champ. This appeal is a bunch of BS. He got caught, man up (you like that Knapik ).

[DUCE]

dukedave said:

NO NON-TITLE FIGHTS!!!!!!

This was what made Pride so retarded. Their champions defended the titles only about once a year.

Rampage needs to defend the title and I'd bet good money on Forrest. Forrest is the TUF golden child and just beat the "#1 LHW" in the world and schooled him in the process. The TUF fans love Forrest and this would be a huge draw. I also wouldn't rule out the winner of Ortiz/Evans if they win in decisive fashion.

Have Silva face Jardine or Alexander and if he wins give him the shot at the Griffin/Rampage winner. In the meantime put Chuck and Shogun in together to co-main event one of the other PPV's

BTW - When are they just going to strip Sherk and have a fight to crown a new champ. This appeal is a bunch of BS. He got caught, man up (you like that Knapik ).

Wow, you think Alexander is ready for a titleshot? Legal battles take some time I guess especially if Sherk's has a case. Forrest has improved alot but so has Rampage. American Chute box has nothing on training up at big bear or with Xtreme Couture... Shogun just needs to change his training like Wand did( so does ninja).

[DUCE]

wildfire said:

I don't think I'd do any non-title fights... you don't fight often enough in UFC to merit it.

Some random thoughts"

-- Shogun needs to win a fight or two.. I'd give him a couple low end guys over the next six months

-- I'd do Griffin/Jardine in a rematch, with the winner facing the winner of Oritz/Evans for a shot.. I think Griffin-Jardine II would be a great fight, and would garner alot of attention.

-- In the meantime, I'd do Jackson-Silva for the title.. they haven't had alot of luck building guys, so just go for it

-- Alexander I'd take slowly, since they got plenty of guys at the top... though if Liddell is really considering retiring.. having him fight Alexander would be a good test.

Good matchmaking. I dunno they've been fighting alot this year. If Rampage fights three times in 2008 I don't think one non title fight would be out of the question. Although, I'm sure Wand would be pissed that he doesn't automatically warrant a shot.
If I was Joe Silva things would be different but I'd still have the same heat.

[dukedave]

duce said:

Wow, you think Alexander is ready for a titleshot? Legal battles take some time I guess especially if Sherk's has a case.

I was meaning Silva comes in and if he beats Jardine or Alexander then Vanerlei gets his title shot. I don't like giving guys who just got KTFO a title shot in their next fight. Vanderlei needs a warm up. BTW - Even though it was not what I meant, why would Alexander not have a legit claim for a title fight having KO'd Jardine and beat Vanderlei in this situation. He's the only guy out there who has not lost in the last year and a victory over Silva would make him as legit as anyone.

[Darth Turkish]

Rampage needs to fight Jardine next- he cannot fight a guy like Shogun who was just dominated or Wandy who is an unknown to the casual fan- people will not buy either.

If Wandy needs a tune up fight- give him Alexander.

Definately do the Chuck- Wandy fight- they have to.

Drop Henderson down to 185 and have him fight the winner of Franklin- Silva II for the unified title. 185 is very thin right now, as aside from the aforementioned three, you have Nate Marquardt and Yushin Okami- not that deep.

Alexander needs a more serious opponent- loser of Ortiz- evans II

Griffin to fight the winner of Ortiz- Evans II

[Wildfire]

That's a good point about 185.... I'd love to see Evans drop down... he's REALLY small for a light Heavy

[DUCE]

dukedave said:

duce said:

Wow, you think Alexander is ready for a titleshot? Legal battles take some time I guess especially if Sherk's has a case.

I was meaning Silva comes in and if he beats Jardine or Alexander then Vanerlei gets his title shot. I don't like giving guys who just got KTFO a title shot in their next fight. Vanderlei needs a warm up. BTW - Even though it was not what I meant, why would Alexander not have a legit claim for a title fight having KO'd Jardine and beat Vanderlei in this situation. He's the only guy out there who has not lost in the last year and a victory over Silva would make him as legit as anyone.

I can see having faith in Alexander's skill( the man has been on a vicious TEAR) but he has only been in the UFC for three months. He racks up another big win then I think he is in contention( what you said). ;D

[DUCE]

turkish said:

Rampage needs to fight Jardine next- he cannot fight a guy like Shogun who was just dominated or Wandy who is an unknown to the casual fan- people will not buy either.

If Wandy needs a tune up fight- give him Alexander.

Definately do the Chuck- Wandy fight- they have to.

Drop Henderson down to 185 and have him fight the winner of Franklin- Silva II for the unified title. 185 is very thin right now, as aside from the aforementioned three, you have Nate Marquardt and Yushin Okami- not that deep.

Alexander needs a more serious opponent- loser of Ortiz- evans II

Griffin to fight the winner of Ortiz- Evans II

Interesting... what would you do with Shogun/Machida?

I like Havoc's Evan middleweight ideal.
They've got really good middleweights in WEC. Not to mention Leben, MacDonald, Terry Martin, and Jorge Rivera.

[DUCE]

Match making aside. What about the rest of the group if how would you as a veteran top ten maker/promoter/all around personality of your galaxy and fan of MMA make up our current UFC light heavies? Of course this is all speculation and this is by no means measures someone's skill/training team/motivation but where they are at in the UFC as far as title contention.
Here is a list of currently active fighters at 205 in no order;

Rashad Evans
Houston Alexander
Keith Jardine
Tito Ortiz
Wanderlei Silva
Dan Henderson
Forest
Stephen Bonnar
Chuck Liddel
Shogun Rua
Jason Lambert
Nakamura
Wilson Gouveia
Michael Bisping
Matt Hamill
Ryoto Machida

I'll take a stab later...