UFC Japan came and went and there were a handful of big winners on the night.
Josh Barnett came back to the UFC after nearly a two-year absence and slugged it out with fan favourite, Roy Nelson in a five-round barnburner. Also, Uriah Hall just scored the biggest win of his career in a shocking upset over perennial contender Gegard Mousasi, while Japan’s biggest MMA star, Kyoji Horiguchi, bounced back from his loss to Demetrious Johnson in emphatic fashion.
With that in mind, here are four matchups the UFC should seriously consider putting together:
Uriah Hall vs. Anderson Silva
Hall stole the show and shocked the MMA world by becoming the first man to finish the iron-jawed Mousasi by strikes. Coming in as a 4-to-1 underdog, Hall scored his most impressive victory to date and shook up the middleweight rankings.
There are plenty of options now for Hall from Michael Bisping to Lyoto Machida but the most intriguing fight is Anderson Silva. The enigmatic Hall has been plagued by inconsistencies but he has all the physical tools to be a title contender. Not only that, but it would be a fantastic stylistic matchup with the MMA legend, who isn’t eligible to fight until Jan. 31 because he’s currently serving a suspension.
Josh Barnett vs. Mark Hunt/Antonio Silva Winner
“The Warmaster” returned with a vengeance by putting a beating on Nelson and winning a definitive, five-round decision. The former UFC heavyweight champion looked rejuvenated and ready to make a run at the belt, even though he’s on the outside of a muddled title picture. Other contenders in the same spot are Hunt and Silva who seem like logical opponents for Barnett ranking-wise. Barnett also has some history with Hunt who he previously defeated in Pride FC. Hunt also previously stated he wanted to rematch Barnett.
Roy Nelson vs. Todd Duffee
Nelson dropped a tough decision to Barnett and has now lost five of his last six. Nelson is closing in on age 40 and all his UFC losses have been to top-10 opponents. It’s clear that Nelson, while very powerful and durable, is simply not a title contender yet he’s still capable of putting up fights that fans pay to see. Setting Nelson up with a lower-level opponent should be next. Duffee is coming off a knockout loss to Frank Mir and pairing these two sluggers together will all but guarantee a highlight-reel finish.
Kyoji Horiguchi vs. John Dodson
The rising Japanese star outclassed Chico Camus and showed improvements to his already stellar striking game. This prompts a significant step up in competition and a return to title contention. Dodson just lost his championship rematch with Mighty Mouse and would provide a tough test and fun dance partner for Horiguchi. Both have heavy hands, both are quick and well-rounded. Should Horiguchi get by Dodson, he may be on the shortlist back to a rematch with the champ.