2. Nick Diaz:

There isn’t a man on this planet who enjoys fighting as much as Nick Diaz. This Stockton tough guy shows up ready to leave 200% of himself inside the cage, and that’s a dangerous quality in a fighter.

While Nick’s wrestling still needs some work, if he can lure St. Pierre into a kick boxing match, things are going to get extremely interesting. Diaz is a man who moves forward at all times, throws more punches than 95% of fighters in the game, and has a chin that refuses to crumble. Furthermore, Nick may have the best liver punch in the sport; it’s a strike that’s left many a man crumbled on the canvas, and it’s not inconceivable that he could land that same punch on the champion.

Factor in a “revenge” lining (GSP just defeated Diaz’s training partner Jake Shields at UFC 129) to this bout, and Nick looks like one of very few who could potentially stop the champion.

1. Rory MacDonald:

Let’s keep it real here, Rory, despite being a tender 21 years of age, already has a phenomenal skill set. Lethal striking, lightning speed, heavy hands and sounds wrestling are all tools that Rory owns. He’s looked just short of amazing in his three UFC bouts (Michael Guymon, Carlos Condit, Nate Diaz), and somehow, he’s looked just a bit better in each outing.

Few prospects are as well rounded as MacDonald, and if the UFC keeps this Canadian on the fast track, he’s going to be toppling the division’s stars by the end of 2012. If “The Waterboy” can avoid injury, continue to pick up quality experience, and keep his cardio as crisp as it was for the Diaz fight, we’ll be eyeing the toughest test of St. Pierre’s career.