Readers have been making their picks this week, and in our online poll, Anderson Silva is the top choice among readers regarding the "most intriguing fight" Couture could have, followed by Tito Ortiz, Mirko Cro Cop, Frank Mir, and Forrest Griffin.
I have relatively little interest in seeing Couture fight Chuck Liddell, Brock Lesnar, Tito Ortiz, or Mark Coleman (who several readers have indicated they'd like to see him fight). With Liddell we wouldn't learn much of anything. If Liddell won, it'd really hurt any relevance to Couture going forward. If Couture won, well, join the club (plus it'd create a need for another rubber match in some people's eyes).
As for Ortiz, I just think there are more interesting fights for both out there. We need to see what Ortiz can do against some other competition before a win or a loss against Couture would mean much. It could be an entertaining fight, but again it's just not high on my list of fights I'm on the edge of my seat to watch. It just feels like a needless trip back in the time machine.
Same goes for Mark Coleman. What does Couture gain from beating Coleman at this stage of Coleman's career? No matter what happened, it could be written off as two old-timers past their prime battling, one beating the other showing only that one was way over the hill compared to the other. Don't get me wrong, I'd watch the fight and look forward to it, but I think there are others that are much more intriguing and marketable for UFC.
I'm not ready for a Couture-Lesnar rematch, either. I'm much more interested in seeing Lesnar against other top heavyweights he's never faced, starting with Shane Carwin and, win or lose, Mirko Cro Cop, Dos Santos, and Antonio Nogueira, to name three.
As for my wish-list, it looks like I have a pretty good chance at getting some of them since Couture is moving to light-heavyweight. Forrest Griffin intrigues me. I'm not sure it's a top three fight, but I get why people want to see it. I suspect Couture would grind out a win, but I'm not sure it'd be an exciting fight. Both are on losing streaks, but I'm not sure what would be gained by either with a win or what we'd learn from it as observers of the fight.
So my top three list is Mirko Cro Cop, whether he wins or loses to Dos Santos, although if he wins, I suspect he might be saved for Lesnar's next opponent after Carwin, whether Lesnar wins or loses - either a title fight or a fight to earn the next title shot against Carwin. Granted, that's heavyweight, so it might not be in the cards.
Light-heavyweight fights that intrigue me most are Lyoto Machida, Anderson Silva, and Wanderlei Silva. I'd look forward to Rich Franklin, Rampage Jackson, or Rashad Evans, too. Of course Silva is an interesting match-up, but I fear his speed and punching power would end it quickly and decisively in embarrassing fashion for Couture. Silva is a Pride vs. UFC icon dream fight that we haven't seen before and style-wise could be a lot of fun. Couture's best chance at his age will be size, endurance, and obviously wrestling skill. Seeing how he matched up against Franklin would be fascinating. Seeing Evans vs. Couture stands out because of the vast different stages each is in his respective career.
So if you cornered me and made me pick three in order, regardless of weight division, I'd go: Cro Cop, Wanderlei Silva, and Rashad Evans, with close honorable mentions to Rich Franklin, Shane Carwin, and Lyoto Machida. This list, of course, will change for everyone as other fights take place and wins and losses change people's place in the rankings and the relevance of potential Couture fights.
Anyway, keep voting in our poll and keep sending your picks for the top three fights you'd like to see Couture in next.
