The 2006 UFC Christmas Wish List

With Christmas less than 24 hours away, we have a few gift ideas we'd like to see wrapped under the Zuffa tree come sunrise.

And if Santa can't make it to Sahara Avenue in time tomorrow, then we'll settle for sometime -- anytime -- in 2007.

We're good like that.

Here's our UFC wish list for this holiday season:

10. Show more Octagon Girls. We don't see them enough ... it's that simple. What's the hang up? If there isn't a knockdown or decent exchange in a round, don't show a pointless replay -- give us some skin.

9. Kill pointless subplots. There aren't too many people clamoring to see the Tito Ortiz-Dana White three-round blockbuster sparring session. Can't think of too many people who are dying to see Joe Rogan-Wesley Snipes, either. Let's just pretend these non-stories never happened -- so we don't have to write about them anymore.

8. Throw Rich Franklin a chump. He'll never admit it, but after a seven-month layoff, "Ace" wasn't ready for a top-level fighter like Silva. It will be five more months before he returns to the Octagon at UFC 68. Give him a more than better chance to win in front of a hometown crowd -- don't make the same mistake twice.

7. Have Andrei bring it back. Arlovski hasn't been the same fighter since he showed up with a crew cut at UFC 59. Some point to injuries or lack of focus, we think it's the Agassi hair. Give up the buzzer, champ, and let it grow -- thank us later.

6. Deliver Wanderlei. This is never going to go away. Dana White crossed the line when he paraded the "Axe Murderer" into the Octagon at UFC 61 and promised us fans a monster showdown with Chuck Liddell. We'll never forget ... and neither will Santa -- he doesn't like liars.

5. Lower PPV buys. The UFC is planning more fights and more shows in the New Year. That's swell if you have Fertitta cash, but the rest of us blue-collar fans actually have cable bills to consider. Reduce the price -- or we'll just watch them on YouTube.

4. Fix BJ Penn. He's 0-2 since his return to the UFC. Sure, those losses came against Hughes and St. Pierre -- two of the best 170 pounders in the world. But, this guy oozes talent. We want to see him put together 15 solid minutes of mixed martial arts -- in the same night.

3. Announce St. Pierre-Sanchez. Matt Hughes is having reservations about fighting GSP so soon. So, screw him. The Rush-Nightmare rivalry is something we will get to enjoy for at least seven more years (five fights, minimum) -- might as well start now.

2. Bring back "The Natural." Randy Couture is our hero, Joe Rogan. Even at forty-something, we think he called it quits too soon. He's got some premium gas left in the tank, unlike Ken Shamrock -- and he knows it.

1. Sign "Cro Cop." We don't really need to go into this. Just send the man a blank check -- it still won't be enough.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone. Thanks for stopping by. Let us know if we left something off our list.