For The UFC Fan

I know that in America, even fans of the sport aren't aware of other organizations in other parts of the world, so I can use names like Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, and everyone knows who I'm talking about, but as soon as I start talking about PRIDE fighters like Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira or Josh Barnett, people get lost. That's fine. I understand that the UFC has such a monopoly on the American MMA market that it's hard to find anything else and, though WEC and a handful of other smaller organizations are coming into their own, the UFC is still the only one people pay attention to.

This article is dedicated entire to the UFC fan who wants to learn about the guys who will be coming over soon.

The first guy that will be making his debut at UFC 73 is Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, known probably best as Big Nog or Minotauro. I'll just call him Big Nog.

Big Nog will be making his UFC debut on the Stacked card against Heath "The Texas Crazy Horse" Herring. While Herring is probably not the biggest name fighter in the world, and many UFC fans were not impressed with his debut loss against Jake O'Brien (mostly because it wasn't an impressive fight) it's partially because Herring isn't the fighter that he once was, but Herring is a good opponent and will make every fight as challenging as he can.

I don't want to make this sound like a close matchup, because it isn't. Big Nog is widely considered the #3 heavyweight in the world, behind PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic. Yes, Nog is ranked ahead of UFC Champion Randy Couture and #1 contender Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga.

Here is a brief overview of Big Nog:

- Blackbelt in Brazillian Jiu-jitsu
- Considered to have one of the three most dangerous ground games in the sport (contending with Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett)
- Teaches Brazillian Jiu-jitsu to UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva
- A member of the Brazillian national boxing team
- Has never been stopped in his career
- Only top five heavyweight with a Brazillian Jiu-jitsu blackbelt

What's probably the most important part of Big Nog's career is how hard he is to finish. Over the course of his career, despite having fought numerous top ten opponents, Big Nog has never been finished.

The second fighter who will be making his debut is the only fighter in the world to holding multiple belts.

Dan Henderson is going to make his UFC debut in a fight that will unify the 205 pound titles for PRIDE and the UFC. Dan Henderson currently holds the 185 pound and 205 pound titles in PRIDE. He won the welterweight grand prix to gain his 185 pound title and defeated long standing champion and seemingly invincible Brazillian kickboxer Wanderlei Silva to take the 205 pound belt.

The big deal with Henderson is that he will be fighting Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in Jackson's first title defense. Rampage fought in the 205 pound division in the PRIDE fighting championships for many years and, though he was a top fighter, he never dominated the division.

While UFC fans will consider Rampage, who is coming off of his victory over Chuck Liddell, where he smashed the many-time defending UFC champion in the first round, the heavy favorite. In my opinion, though, you have to consider that Henderson is on the top a mountain Jackson never managed to climb, so I think that Henderson (the smaller fighter) has a big advantage going into this fight.

The third fighter is probably the biggest one and the most important one for long time UFC fans to watch.

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua is, far and away, the most dangerous fighter in the lightheavyweight division. People don't believe me when I talk about his credentials, but he's for real.

Shogun has one legitimate loss in his career, to the opponent he is expected to make his debut against Renato "Babalu" Sobral. He also has a loss against Mark Coleman after recieving a broken arm while trying to stuff one of the former UFC champion's takedown attempts.

Since Shogun's loss to Babalu he has improved more over a short period of time than any fighter I have ever seen. He has beaten everyone worth beating in the PRIDE 205 pound division except for Henderson and his training partner, former 205 pound champion Wanderlei Silva. During the course of his rise through the ranks of the 205 pound division Shogun has beaten current UFC lightheavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and, most recently, former UFC heavyweight champion and collegiate wrestling legend Kevin "The Monster" Randleman (who, in addition to being one of the strongest fighters, pound for pound, in the sport, was also beefed up by steroids at the time). He defeated both of them in the first round.

Also among fighters Shogun has beaten with his brutal striking are Brazillian Jiu-jitsu wizard Ricardo Arona and Dutch kickboxer Alistair Overeem.

While Shogun does not hold a belt, he is widely considered the #1 ranked fighter in the world at 205 pounds. His UFC debut is, clearly, a match-up, he is favored to win and if he defeats Sobral using the devastating striking his is known for the world over, expect him to be fighting for the unified 205 pound world championship relatively soon.