GSP Road

[Chops]

OK, so aside from the obvious match with Serra and Rematch with Hughes, who should we expect to see challenging GSP for his belt? Is there any specific fighter you guys want to see GSP face? I know the sherdog guys want a Penn rematch. I think it's bunk. Without a cut eye GSP would have won all three rounds or maybe a unanimous decision.

He's already beaten the best WW's the UFC had to offer in my opinion, so I don't see a lot of opportunity for good matches unless they can get some new blood in the division. Help me out, who'd be an interesting fight?

[Chiron]

I actually agree with those that say they'd like to see a GSP vs. Penn rematch. Penn is a more skilled fighter than Hughes and he was showing it in that fight, just like he did in their first fight, up until the rib injury. Ironically, Penn's biggest problem has been that sometimes he doesn't come to fight in shape. That's why people thought he gassed the last fight. But I think he would definitely be in shape for a rematch with Hughes or GSP. But Penn should have to have the rubbermatch with Hughes or fight someone else and win before he's allowed a title fight. I do think GSP is a little better than Penn though. A fight with someone like Dan Henderson or Denis Kang would be a great match but that's not gonna happen. So if GSP doesn't fight Penn the only other guy I can think of that would be a great match is Diego Sanchez. I think a match with Melvin Guillard would be pretty cool too simply because they are both so explosive.

[kuri]

Provided Diego beats Riggs, which is not a given, one would think that it'll be Penn vs. Diego to line up GSP's first defense.

I would like to see the UFC bring in Tatsuya Kawajiri or Joachim Hansen, which is realistic as neither is too active in Pride right now. Both may be a little undersized but would be fun to watch.

[Chiron]

Ya, that's a good point. Riggs might beat Sanchez. Maybe they should give the winner of that fight a shot at GSP. Penn and Sanchez fighting each other for a shot at the title would be cool. They need to stick to a bit more of a record system with fighter rankings, imo. But sometimes that doesn't make for the most sellable fights. Bringing in Kawajiri or Hansen would be good for the UFC but I don't see that happening because Pride tends to treat their fighters better than the UFC does. But I don't know where they are at contract-wise so who knows.

[Chris D]

Originally Posted by kuri

I would like to see the UFC bring in Tatsuya Kawajiri or Joachim Hansen, which is realistic as neither is too active in Pride right now. Both may be a little undersized but would be fun to watch.

I haven't seen Kawajiri, but the one video I saw of Hansen...he was down right brutal. I've not seen anything like that in the UFC.

[kuri]

Hellboy Hansen always brings it and can end a fight at any time. I'd love to see him come stomp some TUF ass.

[kuri]

"Crusher" Kawajiri HL. He's too small for 170 though but with his GnP I'd love to see him and Sherk go to war.