UFC Stars and Their Spartacus Counterparts

If you're not aware of the Starz TV show Spartacus: Blood And Sand, and its prequel Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, then consider yourself a very deprived individual.

Lucky for you deprived ones out there, the series is gearing up for its third season with Vengeance set to premiere January 27th.

The show uses the characters and some events from the real-life Spartacus gladiator rebellion that occurred in ancient Rome.

With the common notion that MMA fighters are modern-day gladiators, it's very easy to see some of the best UFC fighters compared to their ancient counterparts.

Just like the series, the UFC is full of heroes and villains that play their roles well.

Ashur-Tito Ortiz

The character of Ashur in the original season was a debilitated former gladiator that used his silver tongue almost as well as a sword.

In the prequel, Ashur was a struggling gladiator looking for recognition from his peers.

Ashur and Tito Ortiz have a lot in common, as they were once warriors but now have been reduced to doing more fighting with their words than their actions. Ashur was crippled by an injury from a man he believed to be his ally (Crixus).

Ortiz's career never seemed to fully recover after being blasted by someone he once considered an ally (Chuck Liddell).

Ortiz is pretty good with his words these days in addition to how well he convinces us he's fully healed and ready to take on anyone and everyone at any given moment.

Gannnicus-Urijah Faber

Gannicus first appeared in the prequel season, Gods of the Arena, as Battius' champion gladiator. Although Crixus and Spartacus would go on to become the champions we associated with Battius' collection of gladiators, Gannicus paved the way for what a champion should be.

Like Gannicus, Urijah Faber was paving the way for the featherweight division before many MMA fans were able to watch. MMA fans who are just now seeing Faber perform have missed out on some of the best years from "The California Kid."

Gannicus will be making a comeback this season to join Spartacus' army just as Faber is getting his second wind in his career by dropping a weight class.

For a further comparison, look at how Gannicus fought in Gods of the Arena. He tended to be very flashy by using two swords and even once fought blindfolded but toned his ego down considerably by the end of the season.

Faber also tended to be flashy (or unorthodox) during his earlier years and seems to have settled down in the later years of his career.

Doctore-Rich Franklin

Doctore was once a prominent gladiator himself. But through a series of events inside the ludus, Doctore was forced to become Batiatus' trainer; a career move he was not necessarily fond of.

Like Doctore, Rich Franklin once had a prominent MMA career. Once considered the cream of the crop in the UFC middleweight division, his embarrassing losses to Anderson Silva drowned any dreams he had of recapturing the belt.

Once he realized his time at 185 pounds was at an end, Franklin reinvented himself as the picture-perfect company man for the UFC. He's taken a number of fights that have meant very little to advance his career just for the sake of helping his company.

Batiatus-Dana White

Both Batiatus and Dana White run a collection of fighters that compete for the honor of their promotion (or ludus in Batiatus' case).

Besides running the show behind the scenes, both men are gifted with a good business sense. In the show, Batiatus always seems to be on the losing end of what's happening, only to realize a few episodes later that it was all part of his secret plan.

White runs his show in much the same way, as we always are seeking a way to understand the method to his madness. Even when White (and the UFC) lose, they always end up on top.

Crixus-Anderson Silva

On the Blood and Sand, Crixus was the incumbent champion of the ludus. As Spartacus was a hit with the fans, Crixus and Spartacus immediately grew to dislike each other. The champion was a popular figure but suffered some setbacks in the seasons, which included a life-threatening injury in the arena.

The comparison between Crixus and Anderson Silva is the idea of doubt. Both men are popular champions but both suffer from doubt surrounding their careers due to their age.

But as quick as we are to doubt Crixus on the show, and Silva in the Octagon, both men go out and put the doubters to rest with impressive performances.

Spartacus- Jon Jones

Jon Jones may have not had to endure the hardships that Spartacus suffered on Blood and Sand, but their paths to being a champion are almost mirror images.

Both men achieved the greatest success that they could in a relatively short time. Spartacus, being of Thracian decent, possessed a handful of physical talents that helped translate into success in the arena.

Jones' physical gifts and raw talent have also allowed him to achieve success on the grandest stage of them all as well.

Spartacus always had people doubting him, whether it be other gladiators or Roman citizens. By defeating Theokoles, Spartacus became a household name in ancient Rome.

The same can be said of Jones' victory over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua or his win against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Both men are considered legends of the sport and Jones, in essence, became one by defeating them.

Gaius Glaber- Fox Network

Gaius Glaber represents the very essence of ancient Rome. He does what is considered right by way of the Roman culture. He's also the source of Batiatus with his attempts to secure Glaber's backing for a political office.

The same could be said of the Fox network and the UFC. The ultimate prize (a network deal) was pursued by the UFC for years and they finally accomplished that. Now with a working relationship, it's clear that the UFC is doing what it can to keep Fox executives appeased.

On the show, Glaber refused to back Batiatus and his political aspirations came to a screeching halt. Will the UFC change so drastically for Fox that we recognize the sport in time? Highly doubtful, but there's always that chance.