Now that Zuffa has purchased Strikeforce it’s safe assume that a large chunk of the Strikeforce roster will migrate over to the UFC’s octagon, where they’ll finally be showcased on the largest stage north America has to offer. As Strikeforce’s heavyweight tourney winds down, we can expect plenty of big men to join the UFC ranks, and that’s likely to make for some amazing match-ups.

Will Fedor Emelianenko ever step foot inside the octagon? Probably not, however, there’s still a wealth of heavyweight talent that will be able to test themselves inside the UFC’s confines. Check out the list below, highlighting some potential heavyweight clashes that should leave the typical MMA fan’s mouthwatering.

Brock Lesnar vs. Josh Barnett:

Assuming Lesnar makes a full recovery from his second bout with Diverticulitis; he’s got himself a great prospective match up staring him in the face: Josh Barnett. Barnett is a big, well rounded fighter who’s only lost to the best the sport has to offer. Furthermore, his body is still relatively young due to being fairly inactive since the demise of Pride Fighting Championships. Lesnar meanwhile has little fight mileage on his body as well, and he’s continuing to mature as a mixed martial artist. His athletic ability is nearly unrivaled in the sport, and while most crumble at the sheer size, power and explosiveness he brings to the cage, Barnett isn’t likely to be fazed by the big man’s credentials.

Fabricio Werdum vs. Frank Mir:

Two jiu-jitsu specialists colliding? I’ll take it. What makes this bout so interesting is the fact that Mir has tightened his overall game considerably; no longer is Frank a one dimensional fighter with a questionable gas tank. The same may not be said of Werdum: his striking still appears fairly rudimentary, he has yet to show a chin capable of absorbing significant damage and he’s been known to fade down homestretch a time or two. This fight could look a lot like Werdum’s bout with Andrei Arlovski, though I suspect we’d see either a) some highly technical jiu-jitsu on display, or b) Mir finish Werdum with a sharp shooters combination of strikes. Either way, it’s a fight I’d love to see.

Shane Carwin vs. Brett Rogers:

On one hand we’ve got Carwin, who’s got the hardest right hand in the business. On the other we’re looking at Brett Rogers, who may have the greatest resolve in the division; this is one man who just refuses to go away. Whether Carwin could perfectly place those massive mitts on Rogers’ chin before he fades is a mystery in itself. If he can’t, Rogers has a serious chance of weathering the storm, and this guy is mean: he will not stop, and that could bode terribly for Shane.

Roy Nelson vs. Antonio Silva:

There’s something extremely appealing about these two massive men toing the line. Both are large, likeable personalities, and both fight their absolute hearts out. What’s most intriguing is, in terms of pure MMA skillsets, they’re remarkably similar; both possess fair striking abilities, both are durable, and both possess excellent grappling bases. Ordinarily I’d pick Silva on size alone, but to count Nelson out of a fight is absolutely absurd. It’s a coin toss fight that guarantees highly entertaining action, who wouldn’t want to see that?

Junior Dos Santos vs. Sergei Kharitonov:

Here we have two of the best punchers the division has to offer. Anyone who believes Sergei would fail to hold his own against the likes of dos Santos probably hasn’t seen many of his fights. This man comes to bang, and he’s willing to do so until someone is unconscious. While his boxing may not be quite as polished as Junior’s, he’s persistent enough to do what Roy Nelson wasn’t: get in the Brazilian’s face and land hard shots. I’d favor dos Santos in this fight, but Sergei has proven time and again he cannot be counted out.

Cain Velasquez vs. Alistair Overeem:

It’s a fight fans dream: the two most dominant heavyweights colliding on center stage. Both Velasquez and Overeem have destroyed the competition for a few years straight. Velasquez rocketed through the UFC heavyweight ranks running over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Brock Lesnar in the process, while Overeem has become a multi-sport champion, tearing through the K-1 ranks, and obliterating just about every man he’s faced in MMA competition since 2007. I cannot think of a heavyweight match as anticipated as this one here. The victor would undoubtedly be recognized as the number one heavyweight the sport has to offer.

Source: http://www.mmanews.com/news/89550

The Overeem-Velasquez fight is real interesting. Overeem has got such a wide array of striking tools and can crack with anybody and Cain Velasquez is so well rounded. Still though I want to see The Reem face top competition first not having fought any big names for some years now.

Just the thought makes me drewl!!! Bring it ON!

And it should all be on one PPV!! Great list!

WOW that would be SOME KIND OF EVENT! Great idea