Ultimate Weekend: UFC 76 Preview

I for one am shocked that there aren't more UFC stories around here.

With UFC 76: Knockout on the horizon, I decided to take a look at the big matches on the card.

Here's the rundown...

Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

The Pride of Pride Fighting, Shogun Rua, makes his UFC debut against tenacious Forrest Griffin.

Griffin is the man who literally wore his heart on his sleeve during the first season of The Ultimate Fighter and was rewarded for it with a contract to the UFC.

To many, this is another showdown between Pride Fighting and Ultimate Fighting. But to those who know the sport, and watch it religiously, this is a battle between two of the future legends of the sport.

As for Rua, he is 16-2 with 14 knockouts. Pretty impressive...but is it enough to get past the Georgia Force known as Forrest Griffin?

Jon Fitch vs. Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez

Jon Fitch has been a force in UFC with a 14-2 record, and he will have his hands full against a man who suffered his only loss of his professional career.

Diego Sanchez lost a heartbreaker to Josh Koscheck and will be looking to rebound against Fitch. Sanchez looked more ready at weigh in for this bout, and he wants to get back in the welterweight championship picture.

Most likely, one of these men will be in line to face either Matt Hughes or Matt Serra for the UFC Welterweight Championship. 

Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell vs. "Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine

Both men are dangerous. Both are nightmares with their hands. Both have predicted that they will knock the other out.

On Saturday night, someone is going to be made a liar.

After suffering a knockout and losing his championship to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, The Iceman will be looking to get back his pride and his title when he faces the Dean of Mean.

Jardine is a force to be reckon with throughout the UFC, but he will most likely be the bad guy when he faces one of the legends of the octagon in Anaheim.

Both have the tools to get the job done—but on Saturday night, someone will have to lose. 

 The Arrowhead Pond got its first championship earlier this year with the Ducks. Which one of these brawlers and grapplers will become the next man in line for a title shot? We'll find out this Saturday night in which "Two Men Enter. One Man Leaves." UFC 76: Knockout. Live from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. This Saturday on Pay Per View.