Strikeforce middleweight star and decorated US Army Special Forces sniper Tim Kennedy

By Joshua Molina

After a mid-year slump, the UFC appears poised for a huge 2013.

The UFC is setting up for some blockbuster fights: Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche, Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida, Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz, Rory MacDonald vs. Carlos Condit, Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen and Alistair Overeem vs. the winner of December’s Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez.

Even though the UFC dropped the ball in its management of Strikeforce, there’s still great potential in many of the fighters under the brand.

We all know the UFC will sign Gilbert Melendez, Luke Rockhold, Daniel Cormier, Gegard Mousasi and Josh Thomson, but here are four fighters the UFC should definitely sign from Strikeforce to add to the firepower in 2013.

4. Ovince St. Preux: The star high school wrestler and defensive end for the Tennessee Volunteers is 6 foot 3 inches and 205 pounds of superstar potential.

OSP has won eight out of his last nine fights, with his only loss coming againsts the great Gegard Mousasi.

Physically he matches up with Jones, and might be somebody who can take the champion down.

3. KJ Noons: Mr. Laid-Back beat Nick Diaz once, almost beat him a second time, and is one of the best punchers in the business.

Wrestling is his weakness, but Noons is tough and scrappy, and showed tremendous ability to escape submission attempts against wrestler Thompson.

Noons is the kind of guy who could win Fight of the Night Award.

Put Noons in the cage with Nick’s little brother Nate and make sure the police are at ringside.

2. Pat Healy: One day Gilbert Melendez will have to face Pat Healy. Until then Healy belongs in the UFC. He’s a tough fighter, difficult to look good against. A fighter who betters with age, he holds submission victories against Carlos Condit and Caros Fodor.

A winner of nine out of his last 11, Healy is trouble for anybody he faces.

1. Tim Kennedy: Time for the UFC to Ranger Up. Kennedy has a million-dollar body and the potential to match.

He’s cocky, conservative and an American hero. He’s perfect for the UFC.

The U.S. Army Sniper has fallen short in his first two title shots, but if Kennedy can learn to live dangerously inside the cage, he could be a threat in the middleweight division. Somebody please tell him to wear longer fight shorts in the cage please.