These Mouth-Watering Matches Leave MMA Fans Wondering What If

The history of MMA is flooded with what-ifs and only-ifs. In this two part series, we will look at some of the greatest fights that never happened ... but should have happened.

10. Frank Shamrock vs. Kazushi Sakuraba

These two warriors were at the top of the heap for quite a few years — not only in their respective weight classes — but in MMA in general.

Interestingly, they both fought on the same card at UFC Japan (December 1997). Shamrock became the first-ever UFC light-heavyweight champion, and Sakuraba took home the title of UFC heavyweight champion. Stranger still, they both walked around at about the same weight.

Frank retired from the UFC undefeated in 1999, while it was Sakuraba's exploits in Pride FC besting a bevy of top-name fighters that really put him on the map. But the collision course with Shamrock just didn't materialize with allegations of contract disputes.

No doubt, this would have been the fight of the 1990s. Sakuraba was undefeated up until the year 2000 (save for a suspect “MMA” fight and loss against Kimo). Both men seemed invisible and pundits argued about who would own who. For certain, this fight would have had to have taken place in Pride FC as Shamrock severed his ties with the UFC.

 

How It Breaks Down

• Punching Power – Shamrock

• Submissions – Even

• Conditioning – Even

• Prediction: Shamrock via decision or (T) KO

It’s doubtful Saku could have submitted or (T) KO'd Shamrock, but Frank could have KO'd and/or outlasted and outworked Saku.

 

9. Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko

“Captain America” wanted nothing more than to fight “The Last Emperor,” and this would have been the BIGGEST fight of the new millennium.

When Couture was a UFC champion, Fedor was a Pride FC champion. And therein lies the problem. The UFC and Pride FC were major competitors at the time.

UFC president Dana White tried his hand at showcasing UFC fighters in Pride (ie. Chuck Liddell). Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned when Liddell, the UFC poster boy, was KO’d.

Eventually, the UFC bought Pride and tried in vain to secure a fight between the top two fighters in the world at the time. Again, red tape in the form of Fedor's seemingly corrupt management team quashed any hope for this mega-fight. Truthfully though, Randy was probably past his golden years when the opportunity presented itself, while Fedor was in his prime.

 

How It Breaks Down

• Punching Power – Fedor

• Submissions – Fedor

• Conditioning – Couture

• Prediction: Fedor via (T) KO or Randy via decision

Randy's wrestling could have stifled Fedor's standup attacks to gain a decision. But, chances are, Fedor's hand speed/power would have made it a short night for Randy.

 

NOTE: The full story is in the OCTOBER issue of Ultimate MMA.

 

 

CREDIT: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images