The UFC returns to Versus on Sunday and they’re bringing back Jon Jones. I’m still convinced that this is all part of the merging of the UFC and WEC, but let’s not focus on that. This should be an opportunity for a couple guys on impressive runs to make their final case to jump to the front of the line in their respective divisions.

Jon Jones vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Its Jon Jones world and we’re all just paying rent. Let’s get that out of the way right now. Jones is arguably the top rising star in all of MMA. He’s athletic, explosive and fun to watch. The only blemish on his record is a DQ loss he suffered to Matt Hamill back in December. Jones dominated the fight and was absolutely destroying Hamill’s face when the referee stopped the fight because of illegal 12-to-6 elbows. Driving elbows straight down into a dude’s face is too effective and thus too dangerous. For his last fight, he changed the angle and literally broke Brandon Vera’s face.

Matyushenko is no slouch, (24-4) but he’s basically just one last entry into the Jon Jones highlight package before Jones makes the final leap to contender-ship. After Jones dispatches “The Jantior” he’ll get a big name opponent and probably get to co-headline a PPV. I’m not sure how much longer the UFC is going to bring Jones along slowly, but he’ll definitely be fighting for a title in 2011.

Mark Muñoz vs. Yushin Okami
This is a matchup that I don’t really care about, but when I look at the records and resumes of each guy, I feel like I should. Muñoz is 8-1 with his only loss coming via head kick by Matt Hamill. He’s won 3 straight since that loss. Okami is 23-5 and 8-2 in the UFC with losses to Rich Franklin, Jake Shields and Chael Sonnen on his record. Okami, as Sonnen pointed out, is kind of boring. Muñoz will always be the guy that Matt Hamill kicked in the head. I see Muñoz winning this fight and finding himself in the middle of the clusterfuck that is the middleweight division. Maybe he can get beat up by Anderson Silva in 2011?

Jake Ellenberger vs. John Howard
Howard has won his first four fights in the UFC. Jake Ellenberger is 1-1. This video will serve as the rest of the preview.

Takanori Gomi vs. Tyson Griffin
The return of the Fireball Kid, Takanori Gomi. Gomi suffered a loss to Kenny Florian in his UFC debut and now he has to face one of the toughest little guys in the lightweight division in Tyson Griffin. Gomi is going to have to keep this one standing or Griffin is just going to out-tough him and push him around the cage on the way to a lopsided decision. Hopefully this turns into one of Griffin’s Fight of the Night worthy decisions.

PRELIMINARY CARD
Paul Kelly vs. Jacob Volkmann
DaMarques Johnson vs. Matthew Riddle
James Irvin vs. Igor Pokrajac
Mike Massenzio vs. Brian Stann
Darren Elkins vs. Charles Oliveira
Rob Kimmons vs. Steve Steinbeiss

[Image via Getty]