One of Many Previews of UFC 94

Needless to say, with countless previews and predictions as to the outcome of the biggest fight of the year so far (referring to Penn-St. Pierre coming up this weekend), I will take a different look at UFC 94.

First and foremost, I will actually be attending this event in Vegas on Saturday, so I will post another article next week reviewing the show from inside the MGM Grand.

While many out there are paying triple to quadruple face value right about now, I bought my tickets on Ticketmaster during the pre-sale for $100. I saw an eBay bid for some tickets in my section and the bid was about $900 right now.

I was very tempted to sell my tickets a while back and make three times what I bought them for, but this is my first UFC event and GSP is my favorite fighter, so there is just no way I could do it.

That being said, since I will get to be at the event, I will take a look at all the fights in the order of which I am wanting to see them.

1. Georges St. Pierre vs B.J. Penn (Welterweight Championship) - This fight is being billed as the biggest in 2009 so far. This fight will not only settle some tension between the two—hopefully—and prove once and for all the GSP is the better man.

This should also give the winner the edge as the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Yes, right now Fedor and Anderson Silva are Nos. 1 and 2, but GSP and BJ have been fighting better competition than Anderson lately. Fighting each other as Nos. 3 and 4 should give them the edge for the No. 2 spot.

Favorite: GSP

MY Pick: GSP

2. Lyoto Machida vs Thiago Silva - This is possibly the No. 1 Contender match for Rashad Evans' Light-Heavyweight title. Silva and Machida also happen to be 13-0, so somebody's "oh" must go. Then they can take on Evans, who also is undefeated (with one draw). I really want to see Thiago pull this off, but Lyoto is simply innovative.

Favorite: Machida

My Pick: Silva

3.Nate Diaz vs Clay Guida - Diaz and Guida should be on the short list of top lightweight contenders in the UFC. There are very solid lightweights in the UFC, but they just keep beating each other. This will undoubtedly be Diaz' biggest challenge yet, but I think Guida will show why he should be considered a contender.

Favorite: Diaz

My Pick: Guida

4. Karo Parisyan vs Dong Hyun Kim - Kim is not is the second biggest underdog on this card, but both of these fighters have everything to gain with a win. Karo has lost only to championship-caliber fighters (Sean Sherk, GSP, Diego Sanchez and Thiago Alves). However, Kim comes in 11-0-1 and is 2-0 in the UFC so far.

Kim puts his unbeaten streak on the line but a win over Karo means matches against the top tier of the division. With Jon Fitch on the same card, I can see the winner of this match taking on him if he wins.

Favorite: Karo

My Pick: Karo

5. Jon Fitch vs. Akhiro Gono - The former title contender takes on the wily veteran from Japan. Gono is a fighter with many huge fights under his belt, but he has won and lost his share. Fitch is coming off a tough loss to GSP and is looking to climb back up the ladder. Gono is a wild card and Fitch is facing a must-win situation.

Favorite: Fitch

My Pick: Fitch

6. Stephan Bonnar vs Jon Jones - Bonnar is coming off a long layoff and should be looking forward to being in the top tier of the division, since his only losses came to champions Forest Griffin and Evans.

Jon Jones is looking for a big name to put on his resume and Bonnar would be a big step up. He is a highly-touted young fighter with wrestling honors under his belt.

Favorite: Bonnar

My Pick: Jones

7. Manny Gamburyan vs Thiago Tavares - Tavares has lost three of his last four fights, including two in a row, and is 3-3 in the UFC. Manny is coming off a tough loss to Rob Emerson and is 2-2 in the UFC. Both are facing a must-win situation and should be very competitive.

Favorite: Gamburyan

My Pick: Tavares

8. Jake O'Brien vs Christian Wellisch - Irish Jake O'Brien is coming off two losses in a row, but is 3-2 in the UFC. Christian touts a 2-2 record in the UFC, but is also coming off a loss. This will be a stand-up fight and a must-win for both men.

Favorite: O'Brien

My Pick: O'Brien

9. Matt Arroyo vs Dan Cramer - Former Ultimate Fighter participants take on each other. TUF 6 vet Arroyo, who pulled out and did not face off versus winner Mac Danzig, gets TUF 7 vet Cramer, who has no professional bouts yet and gave semi-finalist Tim Credeur a fight until he was caught in a heel hook.

Favorite: Arroyo

My Pick: Cramer

10. Chris Wilson vs Josh Howard - Wilson is highly touted member of Team Quest, but has suffered a loss to Fitch before winning his first fight in the UFC. He is 13-4, but 1-1 in the UFC. Howard comes in at 10-4, but is making his UFC debut.

Favorite: Wilson

My Pick: Wilson

Stay tuned for an inside the audience look at UFC 94!!!