Tuesday delivered a stunning development in the world of mixed martial arts when UFC legend Ronda Rousey revealed she was making an unexpected return to the fight game. However, the women’s MMA great will not return to compete inside the Octagon. Instead, she will compete in the main event of Most Valuable Promotions’ (MVP) first MMA event.
Beyond Rousey making her surprising return to the fight game, and for the company led by Jake Paul, no less, her opponent in May will be another pioneer for women’s MMA, Gina Carano. While it is a long-time dream fight, Rousey has not fought in a decade, while the veteran actor hasn’t competed since 2009. So, it is a dream fight that comes pretty late.
Nevertheless, the news got us thinking. What are some other way too late dream fights MVP should make for their upcoming MMA events?
Georges St. Pierre vs. Anderson Silva
For many long-time, die-hard UFC fans, the fight that was talked about often but never happened was between Octagon icons Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva. To legions of fight fans, they are still seen as the two greatest cage fighters of all time. While “Rush” is 44, and “The Spider” is 50, both are still in pretty good shape. Millions of fight fans would still be intrigued by a matchup even with the pair a decade or more removed from their primes.
Brock Lesnar vs. Fedor Emelianenko
Two of the most popular heavyweights MMA has ever seen are Brock Lesnar and Fedor Emelianenko. And when the WWE legend was at the height of his fighting powers, a clash between them was something fight fans hoped for. But alas, the Russian never signed a UFC contract.
The pair of MMA greats are only a year apart in age and equally far removed from their primes. While Lesnar is still a physical freak, Emelianenko is light-years ahead of him in fight skills and probably still has the power to KO heavyweights currently in the UFC. It is a way too late dream fight that now has a real chance of happening.
Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis
Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis are among the few fighters on earth that held both WEC and UFC gold. And after Pettis won the WEC lightweight title in 2010, a super fight with the Brazilian, who was the featherweight king at the time, was something fight fans wanted.
If Aldo could find his way out of his current UFC deal, a clash between them on an MVP card makes sense. They are both 39 and still very good athletes. Even at this point in their careers, a matchup would be interesting.
Anderson Silva vs. Roy Jones Jr.
While Anderson Silva was one of the scariest men on the UFC roster, he often let it be known that he dream to face one of his all-time favorite boxers, Roy Jones Jr., inside the ring. Unfortunately, the UFC doesn’t allow its athletes to fight outside the Octagon, unless your name is Conor McGregor.
While it wouldn’t be inside an MMA cage, if MVP is looking to make dream fights finally happen, a Silva vs. Jones Jr. boxing bout could definitely become a reality in 2026 or 2027.
Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko
Before fight fans wanted to see Lesnar vs. Emelianenko, the first real MMA dream fight was the Pride FC icon versus Randy Couture. At 62 years old, the American may not be physically up to a fight. However, “The Natural” has always kept himself in great shape. If any person could get back in the cage past 60, Couture would do it to finally get the fight he tried to quit the UFC for in 2008.
Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg
While Rousey vs. Carano is a dream fight for long-time fight fans, the one most have wanted the Olympic silver medalist in was against former Strikeforce, Bellator, and UFC featherweight queen Cris Cyborg. The pair hated each other during their heyday, and a clash between the pair that were once the top two females in the sport intrigued the fight world. If Rousey is successful in May, a clash with Cyborg will be something MMA fans push for next.
Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou
Another heavyweight dream fight that fans always wanted is Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou. The bout was even being negotiated a few years ago, but it never truly came close to happening. If “Bones” can find a way out of his current UFC pact, a clash with Ngannou would be a very big-money fight that would draw a ton of interest from fight fans.
