[Zeke's Chaingun]

Rich Franklin's going to be out for some time, but while he has been gone some interesting things have been developing in this division with Anderson Silva being brought in, and with The Ultimate Fighter 4 having taken place with the winner of the show earning a title shot at the Middleweight Champion sometime in the near future.

While Franklin has been gone we've seen a Top 5 Middleweight enter the UFC and dominate Chris Leben who was on a 5 fight winning streak in the UFC. This shakes things up a bit as before the introduction of Anderson Silva, Nate Marquardt was long considered to be the #1 contender, especially now since Jeremy Horn is no longer signed with the UFC.
Since the UFC is unlikely to launch Silva into an immediate title shot in effort to build up more credibility and a larger fan base, what will happen in the UFC until then? Here are my ideas:

Silva needs at least one more fight, possibly two since his contract is for three fights. After winning three in a row his contract would need to be renewed, convienently in time for his title fight. At this point lets consider possible fights for Silva.

Silva vs. Marquardt

At first this looks like a wise choice because it would be a fight between the two top rated fighters in the UFC behind Franklin. But would it? By having this fight you immediately set up the true #1 contender, but you also eliminate one of them for some time by handing them a loss. If Silva beats Marquart and then losses to Franklin, Marquardt wouldn't be the next in line for quite some time to fight Franklin. Especially at the rate he fights. That would leave Franklin to defend his title against someone he had previous beat. yes, another rematch with Tanner or Losieau, etc.

Silva vs. Tanner

This would be a terrific fight but also is possibly the worst match-up for Anderson Silva. You have a guy with great takedowns who is larger and stronger than Silva. If Tanner defeats Silva you are once again setting up a fight with Franklin. Are we ready to see this again just yet?
If Silva wins, then that puts Tanner back down for possibly a rematch with Losieau or Terrell, or matches against people like Lister (good fight!), Swick, Doerkson, or possibly Salavary if he comes back.
This fight seems to be a wiser choice than Marquardt because you save an undefeated UFC fighter (Marquardt) as another true contender for Franklin's belt, one who's not going to be a rematch.

Silva vs. Losieau

This is IMO the best fight for Silva. He gets a top ranked fighter, and one he is likely going to be able to defeat. By taking out Losieau Silva builds his legacy in the UFC over a Top 10/Top 15 fighter and continues to build a following. Unlike the Tanner fight, this fight matches up better for Silva because Losieau doesn't have as good of takedown skills, and shows a tendency to keep trading on the feet even if he is on the losing end.
This fight also saves Marquardt for a title challence, and leaves Tanner next in line for a possible fight with Silva at a later date.

Other than these, we could feed Silva a lower ranked fighter, but having just taken out Chris Leben who was probably next in line behind the three mentioned above, that would be a little bit pointless.

Future contending fights to help establish the Middleweight Division:

Tanner:

Tanner is still rebuilding from his disappointing loss against Losieau and has recently had a victory over Levens who was a lower tier fighter in the UFC. His fight was supposed to be against Jeremy Horn, and it's a shame that never happened. His next fight IMO shouldn't be against a top tier fighter in the UFC just yet because Tanner is so good he could win against nearly anyone, and we aren't ready to see another Tanner vs. Franklin. It would be more interesting to have Tanner fight Silva for the title if Silva wins over Franklin, or at least against Franklin again at a later date. Therefore it is wiser to build Tanner up a little more slowly.
Good next fights for Tanner:

Quarry
Swick
Riggs
Sonnen
Doerkson
Salavarry
Lister
_____________

Losieau:

He was on a roll after his loss to Horn and before being stopped by Franklin. He had his shot at the title and was embarrassed by Franklin, and now needs to work hi sway back up to the top again. Just like Tanner had to fight a tough Losieau after losing to Franklin, Losieau should fight a great fight as well. I would love to see him take on Anderson Silva next. If he wins, he proves he has what it takes, and makes a statement that he has learned from his fight with Franklin. Overcoming a great striker and Top 5 fighter like Silva would give the fans evidence that Franklin's domination over him may have merely been an off night for the Crow.
A loss to Silva provides everyone with a new contender in Anderson Silva, and doesn't say much negative things about Losieau. It will be like it was for Tanner when he lost to the Crow. It will be rebuilding time.

Other good fights for the Crow:

Marquardt
Gives Nate a chance to solidify his title bid.

Lister
Gives Dean a chance to make his impact on the Middleweight Division

Terrell
Could be a stepping stone to bring this young talent to the top.

Swick
Same as above

Leben
Two guys who's last fight ended in a loss battling to take that step forward again.

Quarry
Same as above

Doerkson
Salavarry
Sonnen
Riggs
____________

Marquardt:

After another win for Nate the Great, he is poised for a shot at the title. Should he get it before Anderson Silva? Possibly. He hasn't yet fought Franklin, Silva, Tanner, or Losieau and his next fight should be against one of them. After two tough fights that recorded as wins for Nate, he is due to only go UP on his next fight, not down. If Anderson Silva is not going to get a title shot after 1 or two more fights then it would be best to have Marquardt right Franklin next.

____________

In all I would like to see soon:

Franklin vs. Marquardt

Anderson Silva vs David Losieau

Tanner vs. Doerkson
(If Tanner wins, Doerkson could face Leben in a rematch)

Terrell vs. Swick
(Gives Swick a tough fight yet one with someone who may still trade with him, unlike a match-up with Tanner. For Terrell it gives him a good fight, gets him exposure, and possibly a victory over a guy who is on a roll in the UFC.)

Leben vs. Riggs
(Two guys coming off of losses, and two guys willing to throw down. Good fight to start rebuilding again)

Lister vs. Sonnen
(Sonnen gets his chance to come back from losing to Horn and prove he has what it takes, and Lister gets a shot at taking out a tough ground fighter and moving up in the rankings.)

Quarry vs. Luigi Fiorvanti
(Quarry gets his first fight back after being demolished by Franklin against a lower ranked yet talented fighter in Luigi. Luigi gets a chance to move up the ladder with a victory over Nate Quarry)

[Ryf0]

Originally Posted by Zeke's Chaingun

In all I would like to see soon:

Franklin vs. Marquardt

Anderson Silva vs David Losieau

Tanner vs. Doerkson
(If Tanner wins, Doerkson could face Leben in a rematch)

Terrell vs. Swick
(Gives Swick a tough fight yet one with someone who may still trade with him, unlike a match-up with Tanner. For Terrell it gives him a good fight, gets him exposure, and possibly a victory over a guy who is on a roll in the UFC.)

Leben vs. Riggs
(Two guys coming off of losses, and two guys willing to throw down. Good fight to start rebuilding again)

Lister vs. Sonnen
(Sonnen gets his chance to come back from losing to Horn and prove he has what it takes, and Lister gets a shot at taking out a tough ground fighter and moving up in the rankings.)

Quarry vs. Luigi Fiorvanti
(Quarry gets his first fight back after being demolished by Franklin against a lower ranked yet talented fighter in Luigi. Luigi gets a chance to move up the ladder with a victory over Nate Quarry)

i like your picks for lister and luigi. good post++

[JAS4444]

I like the picks as well, although I think Nate Quarry is out a while following back surgery of some kind. I think Terrell vs. Swick is a potential matchup that could be exciting, although I have a feeling the UFC will put Swick against Leben at some point in the near future, assuring one of their TUF guys a win in a tough weight-class.

If I'm not mistaken I believe Alessio Sakara is dropping down to Middleweight as well. I think putting him against Silva, Swick, or any strikers would be a great matchup if he does in fact move to this weight class.

[Body_Shots]

Good post I had similar ideas, only I'd have Nate fight Silva for number contendership, Swick vs Terrell should happen....Terrell is probably one of the most talented fighters in the world he just has to put it together. I like Lister vs Sonnen....I don't see Tanner doing much in the near future, he has some issues he needs to work out before he ever fights.

[OmegaRed]

Originally Posted by Body_Shots

Good post I had similar ideas, only I'd have Nate fight Silva for number contendership, Swick vs Terrell should happen....Terrell is probably one of the most talented fighters in the world he just has to put it together. I like Lister vs Sonnen....I don't see Tanner doing much in the near future, he has some issues he needs to work out before he ever fights.

I hope you are referring to Nate Marquardt and not Quarry

[LouisvilleDeac]

If I were Dana, it would be very simple...Silva-Lister at UFC 63. Marquardt-Terrell and Swick-Louiseau at UFC 62, or Marquardt-Swick, and Terrell-Crow. I would giev Leben a fight against Joe Doerksen. Doerksen has a win over Leben in a smaller show, and has been out fo UFC for a bit but is a on a 3 fight winning streak. Give Evan Tanner a fight against one of the UFC 62 guys following their fights. Who knows...

[Rematch]

I really like your post. All of the fights are rationally thought out.

[MATT-H]

what about a tanner/swick......or a tanner/lister...and the leban/riggs fight would be good for both of them

[ravage#70]

good post all are equal

[kcp_ko]

good post. the ufc middleweight division is stacking up very nicely. id like to see silva vs. marquardt to determine the number one contender for the title. rumor has it that terrell might be fighting nate and i wouldnt mind that. swick vs. crow is also being talked about and that would be a good fight but if that doesnt happen it should be swick vs leben. i think swick needs to beat leben before he is talked about with the top fighters. hopefully by the time rich is back and ready to fight there will be a clear number 1 contender

also i would really love to see tanner back in the mix. he is one of my favorite fighters and i want to see him back at the top