MMA Monthly Matchups: September

By Dan Hallberg

Welcome to MMA Monthly Matchups, where I give a little dissection of the matchups you’ll want to check out this month. I’ll even make a prediction, which is usually wrong, but at the very least is interesting. Last month was packed with action, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any interesting bouts in September. So, lets get started!

5. Evan Dunham (11-0) vs. Sean Sherk (33-4), UFC 119, 9/25/10

There has been a bit of the changing of the guard in the lightweight division as of late, and this fight represents that trend. Sherk believes that he can make one more run at the title, while Dunham is looking to get his name in the mix for that same title. Nobody in MMA works harder then Sherk, so he certainly has a chance against Dunham, but his achilles heal has always been the predictability of his offense. There’s no way that he’s going to be able to give Dunham any look he didn’t see in his last fight, and Dunham won decisively. Dunham is pretty much just Sherk a few years ago with way better jiu jitsu skills, and that means Dunham will probably take it.

4. Donald Cerrone (11-3) vs. Jamie Varner (16-3-1), WEC 51, 9/30/10

This is a rematch of a controversial decision during a title fight almost two years ago. Since then things haven’t been the best for either of these guys, both lost fights to WEC Champ Ben Henderson and Varner got a draw he should’ve won, but couldn’t keep his knees away from his opponents groin. This fight will decide who is still relevant in the WEC Lightweight division, and while Varner has the more diverse skill set, Cerrone has shown improvement throughout this year which could cause him problems. If Cerrone can get a quick start on Varner then it will be a long night for the former Champ, and I think that’s probably what’s going to happen.

3. Champion Nick Diaz (22-7) vs. K.J. Noons (10-2), Strikeforce, 10/9/10

It’s time for Diaz’s first Strikeforce title defense against fellow striker K.J. Noons. It’s no secret that both of these guys like to stand and bang, and Strikeforce likes to encourage that so it works for everyone! In their first fight Noons destroyed Diaz, but Diaz has improved exponentially. Also, Diaz has become a master at getting his opponent to play his game. With those things in place, I think things are looking up for Nick Diaz, who will retain, by submission after rocking Noons in the early rounds.

2. Frank Mir (13-5) vs. Mirko Cro Cop (27-7), UFC 119, 9/25/10

I don’t want to wish injury on any one, but when Rodrigo Nogueria got hurt, this card got way better. Frank Mir is trying to remain relevant in a division full of people that have 20 lbs of muscle on him. Cro Cop is just looking to have fun in the twilight of his career it seems, but a win over Mir would certainly propel him into the title picture. This fight is really going to come down to how mentally prepared Mir is. If he’s still shaking from his last loss, and lost in the woods trying to change his game then he’s going to get his head kicked off. I don’t think that will happen, but it could. Mir by TKO.

1. Champion Jose Aldo (17-1) vs. Manny Gamburyan (11-4), WEC 51, 9/30/10

The Featherweight title is on the line, as one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world in Jose Aldo takes on former Ultimate Fighter finalist Manny Gamburyan. Gamburyan is mostly famous for throwing his opponents down and controlling, but in his last fight against former champ Mike Brown he looked to be packing some power in those hands. That being said, standing with one of the top three strikers in the sport is probably a bad idea. He’s going to try and throw Aldo to the ground, but Aldo has already proven that if he wants the fight on the feet then that’s where it’s going to be, and Aldo on his feet means that Manny will be on the canvas. Also by KO in the second.