Matches to Make After UFC 142

Vitor Belfort (file photo) overcame early adversity to defeat Anthony Johnson. | Photo: Sherdog.com

At some point during his ill-fated encounter with one of the scariest men on the planet, Chad Mendes had to have arrived at the reality of his predicament. He could not take down Jose Aldo; his lead leg was being tenderized by one sadistic leg kick after another; and 15,000 ravenous Brazilian fans were united against him.

What an awful feeling it must have been.

The incomparable Aldo retained his featherweight crown with a sensational knockout in the final seconds of the first round of the UFC 142 headliner on Saturday at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He broke Mendes’ belly-to-back clinch against the cage, whirled around to face him and, in one fluid motion, delivered a clean knee strike to the head of the challenger. The blow sent a stiff Mendes to the canvas, where Aldo closed the curtain with a right hand. Then, in scene that felt as if it had been ripped from the pages of a storybook, the champion exited the cage, ran into the stands and wound up on the shoulders of beaming countrymen, waving a flag, his arms raised in triumph.

Aldo’s performance likely sent shockwaves through the rest of the featherweight division. He has now won 14 consecutive fights, a number of them in utterly breathtaking fashion. In wake of UFC 142 “Aldo vs. Mendes,” here are seven matchups we want to see made:

Jose Aldo vs. Hatsu Hioki-Bart Palaszewski winner: At the moment, Aldo looks as unbeatable as any fighter in the sport. Spot-on takedown defense and a ridiculous combination of variety, accuracy and power on his strikes have made him into the prototypical mixed martial artist. He has no real flaw. People have long viewed the gifted but enigmatic Hioki as potential Kryptonite for Aldo and the Japanese star figures to be next in line, provided he can get by the resurgent Palaszewski at UFC 144 next month. That will be no easy task.

Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva: They have already agreed to coach opposite one another on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” and will lock horns at the show’s finale this summer. Belfort routed “The Axe Murderer” in 44 seconds back in 1998, and fans have pined for a rematch ever since.

Chad Mendes vs. Hioki-Palaszewski loser: Mendes was out of his league against Aldo, but he remains one of the elite fighters in a division struggling to find an identity beyond its champion. In truth, he may soon emerge as the clear second fiddle at 145 pounds, as he learns to blend his improving standup with his phenomenal wrestling skills and conditioning. Mendes will likely never reach Aldo’s level -- few ever do -- but he could easily find himself as the division’s torchbearer someday should the Brazilian decide to depart for a smoother weight cut at 155 pounds. In the meantime, he can develop some of his secondary skills. A showdown with the Hioki-Palaszewski loser figures to provide Mendes with a stout but not-so-overwhelming challenge.

Anthony Johnson File photo

Anthony Johnson’s stock tumbled.

Anthony Johnson vs. Yushin Okami-Tim Boetsch loser: No one’s stock fell further in Rio than Johnson’s. First, he failed to meet his contracted weight after moving up to the middleweight division. Then, he submitted to a rear-naked choke from Belfort, a man who had not scored a submission in more than a decade. Johnson’s physical talents are not up for debate, but his failure to manage his weight exposes a lack of maturity and, worse, a blatant disregard for his opponents. UFC President Dana White has already indicated it was likely “Rumble” will be trimmed from the promotion’s roster. If Johnson somehow earns another chance and sticks around, perhaps the UFC will see fit to stick him in the cage with either Okami or Boetsch. Those two meet at UFC 144 on Feb. 26.

Rousimar Palhares vs. Michael Bisping-Demian Maia winner: Few strike fear into their fellow man like Palhares, against whom no leg is safe. The Brazilian brute scored the sixth heel hook-induced submission of his career, as he victimized former Ring of Combat champion and fellow Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Mike
Massenzio inside of one round.

Palhares has done enough -- 12 wins in 14 outings -- to warrant a crack at some of the middleweight division’s elite. Bisping and Maia will toe the line against one another in a pivotal matchup at UFC on Fox 2 on Jan. 28. Send the winner to knock on Palhares’ door.

Edson Barboza vs. Evan Dunham-Nik Lentz winner: Barboza made himself immortal with his ridiculous spinning wheel kick knockout on Terry Etim. It was the first such KO of its kind in UFC history and seems certain to land the undefeated Brazilian on virtually every worthwhile highlight reel from here on out. Perhaps as impressive as the kick itself was the manner in which Barboza was dissecting Etim in the time that preceded it. He carries with him some of the fiercest leg kicks in the business -- ask Mike Lullo -- and could ascend the 155-pound ladder quickly in the next 12-18 months. Barboza’s ground game remains something of a mystery and his takedown defense could be exploited by more polished wrestlers. With that said, matchmakers have any number of directions they could go with Barboza, beginning with the Dunham-Lentz winner at UFC on Fox 2.

Erick Silva vs. Duane Ludwig-Josh Neer winner: Some, including White, feel Silva got a raw deal when he was disqualified for illegal punches to the back of Carlo Prater’s head less than a half minute into their bout. Whether or not the result is revisited in the face of replay evidence remains to be seen. Even so, Silva is clearly a fighter worth keeping an eye on at 170 pounds. Ludwig and Neer, who meet at UFC on FX 1 on Friday in Nashville, Tenn., possess the kind of experience and, particularly in Ludwig’s case, potent striking that could provide Silva with a real test. Let him have a go at the victor.