Matches to Make After UFC 139

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Pulses pounded. Hairs stood on end. Chills tickled the spine.

In a gripping fight that will go down in the annals as one of the best in mixed martial arts history, former two-division Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Dan Henderson outlasted Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to win a unanimous decision in an unforgettable UFC 139 main event on Saturday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Scores were 48-47 across the board for Henderson, who, at age 41, seems to get better with age.

Henderson fired his nuclear right hand into Shogun countless times and appeared to have the Brazilian teetering on the brink of defeat on more than one occasion. He controlled rounds one through three with his hellacious punching power but ran into difficulty in the fourth period. There, he found himself winded and wobbled, nearly undone by a Rua uppercut. In round five, Rua took down Henderson and kept him there, transitioning to full mount on five different occasions and dropping punches as he went.

According to FightMetric figures, Rua outlanded Henderson 191-113 in total strikes, 96-77 in terms of significant strikes. However, the cageside judges saw it for Henderson, giving the two-time Olympian yet another signature victory, this one leaving the masses utterly breathless.

In wake of UFC 139 “Shogun vs. Hendo,” here are eight matches we want to see made:

Dan Henderson vs. Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen winner: Since his surprising defeat to Jake Shields in April 2010, Henderson has been reluctant to consider a return to the middleweight division. Twenty-pound weight cuts tend to give 40-somethings pause. However, the lure of a rematch with UFC champion Anderson Silva -- the only man to finish him in the past six years -- might prove too great a temptation to turn down. With much of the light heavyweight division’s upper tier tied up for the next several months, Henderson could shift gears and move back to 185 pounds, especially if Silva can defend his crown against Sonnen when the two rivals meet for a second time in early 2012. Silva submitted Henderson with a rear-naked choke at UFC 82, and the American has pined for a rematch ever since. There will never be a more opportune time than now.

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson: No man, not even UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, has dominated Jackson quite like Rua. Their April 2005 encounter in the Pride middleweight grand prix resulted in Jackson absorbing a savage beating from the Brazilian. Rua came up short against Henderson; meanwhile, Jackson was soundly beaten by Jones at UFC 135 in September. With both men out of the 205-pound title picture, a rematch could be in order.

Wanderlei Silva vs. Vitor Belfort-Anthony Johnson winner: Silva showed flashes of his former self in dispatching Cung Le in the second round. The 35-year-old Brazilian icon flurried on Le with punches and drilled him with ferocious knees to the head from the clinch, one of which appeared to break the former Strikeforce champion’s nose. As much as there was to like about a vintage finish from “The Axe Murderer,” it has become obvious that Silva’s days as an elite fighter are long gone. Still, his box office appeal remains intact, a fact which leaves UFC matchmakers in a bit of a quandary. No one wants to soil the legacy of one of the game’s true legends, but, at the same time, only high-caliber opponents make sense for someone of Silva’s considerable stature. Belfort and Johnson will tangle at UFC 142 in January. Throw Silva the winner, especially if Belfort emerges. “The Phenom” laid waste to Silva in 44 seconds in October 1998, and the latter has sought retribution ever since.

Urijah Faber vs. Dominick Cruz: Consider this a no-brainer. Cruz defeated Faber by unanimous decision in a riveting showdown at UFC 132 in July, avenging the lone loss on his ledger. Following Faber’s scintillating performance against fellow former WEC champion Brian Bowles, he deserves his rubber match with Cruz, the once-beaten bantamweight king.

Brian Bowles vs. Demetrious Johnson: Bowles has nothing about which to hang his head. He was simply overmatched by Faber, a superior athlete with a wealth of experience who outgunned Bowles anywhere and everywhere the fight went. Bowles’ place among the world’s premier bantamweights remains secure, as he pairs crushing punching power with underrated submissions and a strong drive to succeed. Against Johnson, who failed in his quest to capture the 135-pound crown in October, he would enter the cage with a significant size and strength advantage. However, few can match the blurring pace the man they call “Mighty Mouse” pushes.

Martin Kampmann vs. Jon Fitch-Johny Hendricks winner: Kampmann has gotten something of a raw deal in the last two years. The 29-year-old Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts representative dropped controversial decisions to Shields and Diego Sanchez in late 2010 and early 2011, nudging him out of title contention. Even so, Kampmann has held true to his professional approach, inside and outside the cage. His split decision triumph over Rick Story will at the very least keep him in the conversation in terms of the top fighters inside the welterweight division. A showdown with the Fitch-Hendricks winner -- they meet at UFC 141 in December -- could go a long way towards defining Kampmann’s place at 170 pounds.

Stephan Bonnar vs. Ryan Bader: Apparently, Bonnar still has quite a bit left in the tank. The 34-year-old ran circles around Kyle Kingsbury on the ground, as he dominated the American Kickboxing Academy product with takedowns and flawless topside grappling. Bonnar, a finalist on Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” will carry a three-fight winning streak into his next appearance. That could conceivably come against Bader, an excellent wrestler with a thudding right hand who knocked out Jason Brilz in a little more than a minute at UFC 139.

Miguel Torres vs. Renan “Barao” Pegado: Torres recorded his 40th career win in his latest outing, as he took a one-sided unanimous decision from former Ring of Combat champion Nick Pace. Despite losses to Bowles, Johnson and Joseph Benavidez, Torres still wields one of MMA’s most potent offensive repertoires, with aggressive standup and a submission grappling game few can match. Barao has risen quickly through the 135-pound ranks, culminating with his first-round submission on Brad Pickett at UFC 138 on Nov. 5. The Nova Uniao standout now finds himself on the cusp of title contention. A win over the respected Torres might be all Barao needs to put him over the edge.