Deep pool of fighters may leave some bouts unseen

Anderson Silva is the reigning UFC middleweight champion. Courtesy of Zuffa, LLC

Ultimate Fighting Championship 82 is such a deep card that former rising welterweight stars Josh Koscheck and Diego Sanchez are both unscheduled to fight during the live portion of the pay-per-view telecast and may not make the broadcast at all.

In addition, former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski is tabbed to fight on the dark card, though for potentially different reasons than Koscheck and Sanchez. The two welterweights are victims of superior depth in their weight class and their own recent failures, while Arlovski is reportedly stuck in the middle of a contract dispute with the UFC.

Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson (UFC Middleweight Title)

This is perhaps the most highly debated UFC matchup since another Silva fought Chuck Liddell at UFC 79. However, the circumstances surrounding this fight couldn't be more different than that classic. While Wanderlei Silva and Liddell both needed a win badly to end losing streaks, Saturday's bout features two fighters at the top of their games. Anderson Silva is the reigning UFC middleweight champ, while Henderson is the last PRIDE champ in that promotion's equivalent weight class.

So, who will win? Fans and pundits have debated the finer points of the matchup since it was first announced. Will it be the man who prefers the Muay Thai clinch (Silva) or the man who prefers the Greco-Roman clinch (Henderson)? The man with the rock solid chin (Henderson) or the man who accurately targets his opponents' chins with his strikes (Silva)? Wrestling (Henderson) or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Silva)?

Henderson clearly has the tools to defeat Silva and is easily his toughest UFC opponent thus far in the promotion's weakest division. But I have a general rule when it comes to predictions: pick the hot champ unless he's fighting someone who has beaten him fairly recently. Therefore, Silva, whether he has fought tailor-made opponents or not, gets my vote. He has all-around skill and has owned the Octagon for a year-and-a-half. Let Henderson come in and take the Octagon from Silva and I, too, will become a believer in the PRIDE champ's legendary chin.

Whatever the outcome, this fight should be a fine display of MMA. And, assuming it lives up to the hype, expect a rematch very soon.

Prediction: Silva wins by TKO in the third round

Yushin Okami vs. Evan Tanner (Middleweight)

In a division that boasts very few contenders, this bout may determine the No. 1 contender for the title (assuming the Silva-Henderson bout doesn't warrant a rematch.) Okami isn't well-known but he's steady, even if unspectacular. A big, strong guy, his favorite tactic is to take the fight to the ground and go to work there.

Okami's last shot at being the No. 1 contender came last year against former champ Rich Franklin at UFC 72. Okami almost pulled off a submission victory, even though he didn't appear interested in fighting until the third round. The Okami loss forced Franklin to experience the now-annual ritual of using his face as target practice for Silva's knees at UFC 77.

Tanner is a very familiar name to old-school UFC fans. A former middleweight champ with an 11-4 record, Tanner hasn't fought since 2006. At 37, Tanner has overcome personal obstacles, including a battle with alcoholism, to make it back to the Octagon. With Tanner's personality and name-recognition, it wouldn't be difficult to imagine UFC President Dana White crossing his fingers in hopes of a Tanner victory in this bout, thus setting up a more compelling title fight. The edge in experience certainly goes to Tanner, but can he shake off cage-rust, the effects of hard-living, and age in his first fight back?

Maybe the UFC will catch a break, and a much-needed story will emerge from the middleweight division Saturday night.

Prediction: Tanner wins by submission in the third round

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