Each week, ESPN.com MMA writer Brett Okamoto, ESPN Insider senior editor Mike Huang and a guest panelist tackle hot topics that are buzzing in the world of mixed martial arts.
This week, UFC welterweight contender Kelvin Gastelum joins the panel.
1. What is the most memorable moment of Nick Diaz's career?
Kelvin Gastelum: There are a lot. I like watching him, man. I like watching Nick Diaz fight. One I really liked was his Paul Daley fight. I liked his Evangelista Santos fight [as well].
Brett Okamoto: Four words. Where you at, Georges? When Diaz called that out after beating up BJ Penn in October 2011, his title fight against Georges St-Pierre became MUST SEE. You had the longtime Strikeforce champion calling out the longtime UFC champion -- and it just so happened their public personas could not have been any more different. Diaz was never a hotter commodity than he was at that moment in time.
Mike Huang: I would have to say his defense of his Strikeforce title against Paul Daley in 2011. I remember "Semtex" was coming off a dominating performance against Scott Smith, whom he knocked out so fiercely that Smith was out cold before he hit the mat, toes curled. So Daley had some momentum. Daley actually dropped Diaz twice, but Diaz came back to win by TKO -- all the while offering the crowd his typical über-confident showmanship.
2. Would you have any interest in a third fight between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman?
Gastelum: I'd like to see it a third time, yeah. Why not? Both wins were kind of weird. A win is a win. But I want to see both of them really grinding it out like Weidman and Lyoto Machida did. I would take the win, however; nobody likes wins to end that way [via a broken leg], though. I'd pick Chris to win that [rubber match].
Okamoto: God help me, I would. I give 100 percent credit to Weidman for defeating Silva twice and I would pick him to beat the former champion again should they ever meet a third time. I guess there is just something about wanting to see Silva try to climb that mountain one more time. There's just never been another mountain he couldn't eclipse. It's absolutely not fair to any other middleweight if Silva cuts in line, so I will say I'd like to see Silva fight at least twice before getting a title shot. If he wins both, and Weidman still has the title, heck yes -- I would be interested in seeing Weidman-Silva III.
Huang: I would -- if only to shut up critics who still doubt Weidman's legitimacy. I think Silva still needs to fight someone else after Diaz before getting another shot, though.
3. Will Ronda Rousey and Cris Justino ever share the Octagon?
Gastelum: No, I don't think Justino can ever make the weight. She tried going down already once, right? I hope it happens, but I don't think it does. I don't think so.
Okamoto: As long as they both continue to win, yes. A loss (on either side) could easily bring the entire thing down. Justino is going to compete at 145 pounds in Invicta. Rousey is going to defend her UFC 135-pound title. I am guessing Justino would attempt to cut to 135 pounds after her fight in February, while Rousey would book another title defense against a UFC challenger. If Justino can make 135 and win, she would fight Rousey. If she can't make it to 135, but both continue to win, I could see the UFC relenting on the weight class and booking a catchweight.
Huang: I say yes. Sounds like the UFC and Justino's people are getting close to a deal. I think the weight issue is the biggest challenge. From the sound of it, the heavily muscled Justino would have difficulty making 135 and Rousey likely wouldn't fight at a catchweight. No champion should be the one accommodating the challenger.
4. Early pick: Jon Jones or Anthony Johnson?
Gastelum: Man, Johnson is on a tear right now -- but at same time, Jones has seen it all, he's been in there with the best. We'll have to see. I'm going to pick Johnson, because of the power. He's never fought anyone with that kind of power.
Okamoto: Can't believe I'm saying this, but my early lean is toward Johnson. The man needs only to touch you at 205 pounds and it's done. Game over. I definitely deserve the right to do a 180 before the fight actually goes down -- but as of right now, late January, my pick would probably be Johnson.
Huang: It might be fashionable to say this, but "Rumble" looks absolutely unstoppable. I said this once before: There is a different sound -- a different thud and snap to Johnson's punches. Ferocious power, unlike any of Jones' previous opponents. I would love to watch him hit mitts during practice and see what 80 percent is like. Because I'm thinking if Jones gets clipped with even 80 percent, it could be lights out.
5. With the Super Bowl this weekend, who is the one NFL player you'd want to see make a career change to the UFC?
Gastelum: That's interesting ... probably Marshawn Lynch. Beast Mode. I don't know how he'd do, but he's a beast -- incredible athlete, but also just seems like a ruthless guy.
Okamoto: Do you go defenseman because they like to hit, or an ultra-athletic offensive playmaker? J.J. Watt seems like an obvious answer but that doesn't make it a bad one. Eric Weddle is one of my favorite safeties to watch in the NFL, so he'd be on the short list. If we're going offense, so many: Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant, Rob Gronkowski -- any one of those.
Huang: That's an easy one: J.J. Watt. Imagine what the heavyweight division would be like with all 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds of Wisconsin strength and Texas motor? He'd be Brock Lesnar-like, and he has a flair for the dramatic as well. He has shown he's athletic beyond just a lumbering lineman. Like Lesnar, he's beyond just a football player. He could make the transition . . . if he can learn to like getting punched in the face, that is.