Ultimate Fighting Championship 118 Preview

I find that I am not quite as anxious in anticipating this weekend's Ultimate Fighting Championship as I have been for most all past UFC cards.

This is no fault of the fighters.

The main reason for my lack of enthusiasm is probably also the least rational. I was so excited for, and satisfied with, UFC 117 that I find myself lacking the needed energy to get myself back up for Saturday night's event.

I have been into the UFC since around number 50 and have not missed a card, except one, since UFC 100. Unfortunately, the card that I missed was the one that featured the first bout between tomorrow's headline rematch.

This is another reason that I am less excited than others to see BJ Penn and Frankie Edgar clash. As I am an Army Reservist, I had drill the weekend when they first met and was too exhausted to catch the card. Having missed out on the excitement of the initial upset, I am less eager than others anticipating the possibility of revenge.

UFC 117 delivered from top to bottom. Outside of its main event, the match I was most anticipating, Junior Dos Santos versus “Big Country” Roy Nelson, kicked off the main card. This is a testament to every single match on 117 being solid.

For me, at least, 118 does not have the same firepower throughout the card.

That being said, it is not as if I am dreading this card. I love watching Mixed Martial Arts and 118 has some elements that grab my attention. For starters, a Diaz brother is fighting; and while Nate, to me, is less entertaining than Nick, I always enjoy the opportunity to witness either of them competing in a cage.

I am also looking forward to Damian Maia's bout. Despite last seen being tooled by Anderson Silva, Maia is also notable for triangle choking Chael Sonnen back before triangle choking Sonnen was cool. I love to see the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu masters apply their craft and, when Maia performs, we are all getting the opportunity to see one of the world's best Martial Artists create another one of his masterpieces.

What I am not going to do tonight is make predictions. Prior to 117, on Facebook and twitter, I presented my picks for all the matches on the main card. With some fortune (and a late applied choke by the Spider), I managed to pick correctly the winners for all five of the matches.

However, prior to 117, I also “felt it” due to familiarity with all the night's fighters. That is not the case with 118; I am definitely encountering some uncertainty. So I will save from prognosticating, save to say that I do believe, in the end, Penn claims the revenge he seeks against Edgar via victory – of what sort I am also unsure.

Finally, other than to tell you just how little I am interested, I am not even going to talk about the Couture / James Toney fight. I am, indeed, very little interested. As this is the co-Main Event, this may also be a reason contributing to my lack of enthusiasm for the card as a whole.

Since becoming a fan, I have watched the UFC at bars in Tampa and Orlando, Florida; Georgia, Colorado, and, via DVD, in Kuwait, South Korea, and Iraq. However, 118 is presenting me the opportunity to enjoy my inaugural, of many I hope, UFC cards in Washington, D.C.

If anyone has any suggestions as to festive locations that have a good environment for catching a card within the Nation's Capital, please leave the establishment's name here, as I am open to suggestions.

Thanks. And enjoy!