It seems like in today’s MMA scene, there are televised fights weekly.  Whether on Versus, Spike, Showtime, HDNet, ION TV or Facebook, there is a fight to watch on any given Friday or Saturday night.  Here are the fights you need to focus on for the month of April.  Get out your pencil and put these fights on your April to do list. 

Champ Eddie Alvarez vs. Pat Curran (Bellator Lightweight Title)

This fight on paper honestly isn’t that exciting to most fans.  Many of them will expect Eddie to sail past Curran and continue to angle for a cross promotional bout with Gilbert Melendez.  Not so fast ladies and gentlemen.  Pat Curran, the cousin of former UFC fighter, Jeff Curran, is a very resilient young fighter who could test Alvarez.  Ok, maybe not.  It’s always fun to see Eddie Alvaez fight though, so tune into Bellator on April 2^nd, on MTV2 to see the Championship Tilt.

Champ Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley (Strikeforce Welterweight Title)

Nick Diaz will put his Welterweight Championship on the line when he faces the hard-hitting and volatile Paul Daley.  Daley, who was banished from Zuffa-land forever for sucker-punching Josh Koscheck, has to be a little nervous about Zuffa purchasing Strikeforce and could feel a win is his only chance to stick around the big leagues.

Nick Diaz is one of the top three or four Welterweights in the world.  He continues to battle and defeat anyone they put in front of him, and he and Daley will be a war.  Outside of GSP, I see Diaz as being the most consistent and dominant fighter at 170 right now and this fight should be a barn-burner.  They will stand and trade.  Nick’s chin will be put to the test.  Make sure you don’t miss this war on April 9^th on Showtime.

Champ Gilbert Melendez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (Strikeforce Lightweight Title)

Another fight on the April 9^th Strikeforce card, this fight will be amazing.  This is sure to be among the best of the month! Gilbert Melendez is hoping to prove he’s among the best of the best at 155 in the world and Kawajiri will most certainly pose a major threat to that claim.  We saw what Melendez did so Shinya Aoki in the Strikeforce cage, but Kawajiri won’t be clueless on the feet.   “Crusher” can stand and trade with anyone at 155, and this fight will be an instant classic.

This card is stacked and you’ll see two additional fights from the card on this list.  Of all the fights on this card however, expect this one to be the best.  Whoever wins this clash will be able to call themself the best Lightweight in the world, not currently fighting in the UFC.

Mike Kyle vs. Gegard Mousasi

Showtime, April 9^th, Strikeforce…you get the point.  This Light Heavyweight clash is very captivating.  Mike “Mac” Kyle is a tremendously talented fighter and has been a wrecking ball at 205, going unbeaten at Light Heavyweight.  Gegard Mousasi is a talented fighter as well, and should give Kyle all he can handle and then some.  Gegard sports an amazing (30-3) record and has defeated some big name fighters in his career such as, Hector Lombard, Denis Kang, Melvin Manhoef, “Jacare” Souza, “Babalu” Sobral, and “Sokoudjou” among others.

This fight will be a test for Kyle as if Gegard wants the fight on the ground; it could be a long night for Kyle.  I think this is one of the more exciting fights on the card and you can expect it to go back and forth and could end with a highlight reel knockout.

Shinya Aoki vs. Lyle Beerbohm

Ok, I promise this is the last fight from the April 9^th Strikeforce card that is being recommended  for you this month.  Let’s be frank though, it has potential to be a major sleeper.  Shinya Aoki’s first foray into the Strikeforce world left him looking every bit a rookie with no options when he’s unable to locate a takedown.  In Beerbohm’s last fight, he had a tremendous clash with Pat Healy but dropped a decision.

This fight could become difficult for Aoki if he can’t take Beerbohm down.  If Lyle can force Aoki stand, he could pick him apart, but if it hits the mat, Beerbohm will have some issues.  Aoki is one of the more polarizing figures in MMA, so anytime he fights it goes without saying that you should watch it but when he fights someone with Beerbohm’s skills, its requisite viewing.

Michael Chandler vs. Llyod Woodard (Bellator Lightweight-Tourney Semifinal)

Lloyd is an up and coming star in the sport of MMA.  He already put the Lightweight division on notice when he knocked out Carey Vanier in the first round of the 2011 Bellator Lightweight tournament.  In the second round, he’ll face Michael Chandler who has looked tremendous as well.  Chandler submitted Marcin Held in the first round of the tourney and looks poised to do well in Bellator.

The two fighters bring a combined (17-0) record into this fight, so one of them will be losing their first professional bout.  Lloyd is a well-rounded fighter, who has good standup and better ground.  Chandler is a wrestler, but he also has heavy hands.  Make sure when this fight takes place on MTV2 on April 9^th as part of Bellator 40, you’re watching.

St-Pierre vs. Jake Shields (UFC Welterweight Title)

The last three fights of this list all take place April 30^th live on PPV as part of UFC 129.  First off we have the UFC Welterweight Championship between Georges St Pierre and Jake Shields.  Jake’s been wildly successful everywhere he’s been, and despite his uninspiring UFC debut against Martin Kampmann, he should pose some difficulties for GSP.  GSP is a champion in every sense of the word, and these two have only dropped a combined two fights in the past seven years.  That’s absurd.  They’ve also both competed against top level competition.

Many people expect this to be a 25 minute boring wrestling match.  Don’t bet the farm on that.  Both of these fighters can finish, and they will be looking to do just that.  This fight isn’t going to go 25 minutes, and the winner will win this fight in a decisive manner.  Anytime GSP takes to the Octagon, it’s worth watching, as we’re seeing one of the greats compete.  It’s like watching Michael Jordan in his prime, you just can’t miss it.

Champ Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick (UFC Featherweight Title)

Jose Aldo is one of the five best fighters on planet earth.  Mark Hominick has incredible stand up and can finish any Featherweight in the world standing.  This fight has a lot to love.  It’ll be the first title fight for Aldo in the UFC and it’s a fight with a very talented contender.  It wouldn’t be shocking for this to win fight of the night and be an early contender for fight of the year.

Aldo will bring his (17-1) record into the Octagon for the first time to face Hominick who sports a less than sensational (19-7) record but does currently ride a six fight winning streak.  You should expect an Aldo victory, but don’t be shocked if Hominick catches Aldo standing and hurts him.  Tune in for lots of leg kicks, and overhand rights!

Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida

This could be the last time we see Randy Couture inside the Octagon.  For that reason alone it’s worth watching.  However, for fans of “The Natural” it could be a bittersweet night.  The old guard seems to be handing the torch to a newer generation and this fight screams “Torch!”  Machida is elusive, quick and capable of damaging anyone in a hurry.  Couture is plodding, clinching and has more bark than bite.  Tune in to see the end of an era, but be sure to have Kleenex nearby.