The five biggest UFC bouts that never happened in 2012
Posted on August 26, 2012, 08:37 PM by Mike DrahotaObviously 2012 has been a year that held huge potential for MMA. While I wouldn't say it was a horrible year for fighting, the insane amount of injuries and other controversy that wrecked cards is unprecedented. From main events all the way down to preliminary cards, we saw an unheard number of big fights shifted, canceled, and just generally thrown into the muck. UFC 151's cancellation was the icing on the cake in what was the weirdest year MMA has ever seen. And it's not over yet. Let's take a look at the five biggest fights that never happened in 2012. GSP vs. Nick Diaz would have been huge, but Diaz was suspended and GSP had a torn ACL, so I'm sticking to fights that actually came close to happening, in 2012. I repeat, GSP vs. Nick Diaz was a pipe dream for 2012, I understand it is not on the list. It would have been a great fight. Do you think it will ever happen?
Dan Henderson vs. Jon Jones:
Currently the most talked-about canceled fight, and arguably the most ever, this fight showcased a dominant champion in Jones, who has not exactly gained the favor of the fans. Henderson was thought to be a great underdog, but I think many people were rooting for the knockout power of his right hand to pull off the monumental upset at UFC 151. Will we ever get to see these two warriors collide? Let's hope so.
Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem:
These two behemoths were set to collide at the ground-breaking UFC 146 in May, until Overeem's failed surprise drug test at a press conference put a stop to the bout. There was tons of discussion when it happened in April, and there still is. Overeem continues to goad dos Santos into a bout, but it appears that ship has sailed as dos Santos is rumored to be set to face Cain Velasquez in a rematch this December. Still, it is likely we will see these two duke it out in the not-so-distant future.
Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen:
In a whirlwind of hoopla and trash talk, Jones ultimately decided against facing Sonnen as a replacement opponent for Dan Henderson at UFC 151. Sonnen and Jones interestingly had a back-and-forth Twitter war a few weeks ago, and now Jones is insisting that it was a planned sneak attack by Sonnen, who knew that his training partner Dan Henderson was seriously injured. Whatever the background, Jones had barked that Sonnen was not deserving of a spot against him. Now, Jones's camp insists they want the Sonnen fight badly, just not on 8 days' notice. Either way, the pay-per-view numbers would be huge.
Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva:
In a matchup of hugely popular Brazilian fighters, these two famed strikers were set to go head-to-head at UFC 147 as part of what was once an absolutely blockbuster of a scheduled card. Unfortunately, it fell apart due to Vitor Belfort's broken hand, and Silva instead faced Rich Franklin, losing a decision. The fight would have great for Brazilian MMA fans, who love their fighters to the fullest. Now, Belfort will have, let's say, a step up in competition as he is set to face Jon Jones at UFC 152 in Toronto on September 22nd. Should he pull off the upset with his lightning-fast hands and BJJ, it will be quite interesting how the saga of UFC 151 ultimately ended up.
Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber:
This was a rematch that was set to headline the finale of TUF 15. In the first bout, Faber choked Cruz out during his monumental run as WEC champion. The second bout featured a close call of a decision, but ultimately Cruz retained his UFC Bantamweight title. The grudge match was set to decide the series until Cruz unfortunately tore his ACL in training. What's more, Urijah Faber lost the Interim Title bout to Renan Barao, so the third match should be much farther off than when 2012 first rolled around. Faber is great, but the young guns appear to be surmounting him at 135 lbs.
Comments
GSP vs. Diaz?
Wrote this before I read first paragraph but this fight was just as close as happening as Overeem JDS
I think that fight falls into the 2011 catagory
I tried to give you two sharps for that
word # 4 and 5 r dumb nd first 3 will def happend
How is Cruz/Faber dumb, dummy?
I understand it is not on the list. I do. Sometimes one must read the article prior to skipping to the comments, and then not commenting. Thank you fans lol
Sonnen shudnt be up there we didnt even hear about that untill It was already declined
It was close. Which event was it slated for?
KFC DOUBLE SHOT!!!!!
137?
Last October? Title says 2012, I believe.
I think the original original diaz vs gsp was scheduled for october of 2011. I could be wrong though...
Machida vs. Shogun III ?
I hope that the Ufc has learned from this past year and now will always have an alternate fighter ready just in case.
tito ortiz vs mark coleman?
That was for 2009 :P
Ken Shamrock and a housewife,,oh wait, that one happened.
What about Nogueira vs. Gustafsson for Fuel in April? Maybe not for a top 5 but for a top 10.
All I know is, Im keeping my UFC 151 flyers they sent me by mail and framing it. Imagine in 20-30 years how much a flyer from their only cancelled event might be worth. Start collecting everything as far as that goes. One day David's Bones gloves might be worth bucks who knows.
Check this: http://mymmaposter.com/?section=ufc
Some of those flyers canceled but all great artwork for the collection :)
I got those after his 3rd fight in the UFC before he became champion im only guessing, but im sure they have went up in value since then
Fedor vs Overeem and Overeem vs Barnet.
I think I'd vote Junior vs Overeem as the #1 fight we missed out on.
I'd make Jon vs. Hendo the #1 we missed just because of the implications behind it (Would Jones get closer to the all-time LHW title defense mark? Would Hendo be able to land that nuclear weapon he calls a right hand? Would Jones make Dan look like he didn't belong in the cage with him?)
The one I'm incredibly happy that we missed is Overeem-Dos Santos. The thought of Overeem somehow beating JDS because of "help" sickens me, and the thought of him doing it with us never knowing is even worse.
It's ridiculous to have Jones/Sonnen on this list when the fight was never scheduled or had any time to build hype or real prolonged interest in it whatsoever. The other 4 are legitimate picks.
UFC champions supose to fight 3 times a year we dont see that happen very often.Srikeforce was putting better cards until UFC desroyed it.im not folowing MMA any more nothing left to see boring card's
I remember Dana saying Fedor was not the best because he did not fight more than 2 a year and he was saying UFC champions defend their titles 3 or 4 times a year, but Silva and GSP dont fight more than 2 a year no more, also Dana was bitching about Fedor (who is a natural LHW) fighting a MW on Hendo but yet is ok with Jon Jones (who should fight at HW easily) fighting him an the giving Chael a shot and then Belfort, I am not trying to bring back Fedor to discusion just pointing out Dana is a hypocrate that says one thing and goes and do another thing.
Fedor was the best...in Pride after that he fought cans and hasbeens everytime he fought someone who posed a challenge or was relevent he lost..GSP's been injured and if you remember hes beat everyone in his division short of Diaz,and Condit and Silva well no need for explaining the greatest pound for pound fighter ever..If I mean when Silva beats Weidman I think he might retire.GSP vs Diaz gets my vote on this subject.