UFC 101: Starting The New Era In The UFC

What a card UFC 100 was, huh? I mean Hendo winning one for America after Bisping and his team took over The Ultimate Fighter. And not just winning, but knocking "The Count" senseless. And Georges St. Pierre displaying dominating takedown after takedown over the what we thought was the must stronger Thiago Alves to retain his UFC Welterweight Championship.

Although these are big names, none were bigger after UFC 100 then Brock Lesnar. Not only the fact he destroyed Frank Mir to become undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion but his post fight antics. But that was 100. Were now going one up on that...and I'm not just talking the number.

UFC 101 will showcase a pair of main events with 4 of the biggest MMA fighters in the World today: Forest Griffin vs. Anderson Silva and B.J. Penn vs. Kenny Florian for the UFC Lightweight Championship.

Anderson Silva, the UFC Middleweight Champion and said by many to be the number 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the World, will have his hands full with Forest. Silva, 24-4, said to be looking for someone to challenge him has to look no further then his opponent at UFC 101.

Coming off a unanimous decision over Thales Leites at UFC 97 which many said to be the worst fight since joining the UFC. Dana White said all Silva needs is to be pushed. Well he's going to get pushed all right.

The Season 1 winner of The Ultimate Fighter and a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forest Griffin will be the first to tell you that he has no problem pushing Anderson Silva. "Fighting a guy like Anderson Silva really gives you a chance to test yourself" said Griffin about the fight.

Both fighters in sure that it will be exciting and I have no doubt it will. Silva intends to come out and prove that he is still the best pound-for-pound fighter in the World today. While, on the other side, Forest is out to prove no man is unbeatable. Forest went on to say, "Am I the guy to beat Anderson Silva? Why not? Somebody's gotta do it...why not me?"

The main event of the card is a title fight in the UFC Lightweight division. B.J. Penn is coming off a superfight with Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre that ended with Penn's corner throwing in the towel. Penn, though, far from discouraged. "UFC 94 was actually a blessing. And now getting the opportunity to refocus and take a look at my whole career. Now I feel that I will reach that potential."

Kenny Florian is not GSP...but that didn't stop him from bring in St. Pierre to train with him in preparation for this fight. Florian, who is riding a 6-fight win streak, is looking to take full advantage of his long awaited title shot claiming he "might finish him in the first round." Both men are very focused and it should be a very entertaining title fight.

As big as those 2 fights alone are, they are not alone. On the UFC 101 main card is the long awaited return to the octagon for Ultimate Fighter 7 winner Amir Sadollah when he takes on a very dangerous fighter in Johny Hendricks. Also, a very exciting middleweight match-up between Kendall Grove and Recardo Almeida.

The under card is just as great with 2 up and comers in MMA face off as 12-2 Tamdan McCrory does battle with 11-4 John Howard. And former number 1 contender in the middleweight division Thales Leites will be in action against Alessio Sakara. Be sure you don't miss this huge event live, for the first time, from the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia on August 8th.