UFC Senior Circuit 2010: What some fans hope for
Senior circuit matchups may be irrelevant for potential title fights, but they often are fun, intriguing matchups fans have longed to see. I’m going to briefly cover some recent senior circuit fights, along with discussing future fights that will take place in the coming months.
Matchups between Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman and Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg during UFC 109 in Las Vegas were extremely popular, anticipated fights. Couture, 46, and Coleman, 45, met for the first time in a fight that should have happened at least a decade ago.
Although they are in the same age group, Couture proved he’s the more skilled, durable geezer, and finished the fight with a second round rear naked choke submission. Unfortunately, some MMA reporters believe Couture may have retired Coleman after their fight last weekend.
Serra landed a big shot to drop Trigg for the KO victory, as it also looks like it’s time for Trigg to hang up the gloves.
The UFC also has several other senior circuit fights planned in the future, with Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell meeting for a third time after the 11th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Liddell, 40, has beaten Ortiz, 35, twice before but has lost four of five fights since his last meeting with Ortiz in 2006.
As one of the most dominant UFC champions ever — and the most dominant UFC LHW champion — I’d like Liddell to retire, win or lose, after his third fight with Ortiz. I don’t want to see him effectively serve as a human punching bag against Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans and Mauricio Rua, while winning a decision against fellow aging superstar Wanderlei Silva.
His place in UFC history is set, and there is no need to put additional blemishes on his Hall of Fame career.
During UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi this April, Renzo Gracie, 42, will fight former welterweight champion Matt Hughes, 36, in yet another senior circuit fight. It’s going to be a matchup between a former superstar wrestler who utilized ground-and-pound and top control against a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter.
It’s possible the fight could end up turning into a sloppy boxing fight, with fellow MMA legend Pat Miletich breaking down the fight over at Five Ounces of Pain.
After these current proposed senior circuit fights are over, the futures of all fighters remain unknown. Couture could eventually find himself back in the title hunt, but all of the other fighters likely won’t get anywhere near contender status again.
Even though title runs are unlikely, the UFC could still put together a number of things, depending what the fighters request. Possible rematches between Couture and Ortiz or Couture and Liddell would likely be popular among MMA fans. Ortiz has continued a war of words with Coleman, and viewers absolutely love grudge matches.
In the welterweight senior circuit, a rematch between Serra and Hughes could be appealing later in 2010. There has been some friction between Hughes and the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), but the UFC is unlikely to put Hughes against top-10 competition any time soon.
Until we learn more, let’s just sit back and enjoy some upcoming senior circuit fights.