UFC on FOX: 8 Reasons Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson Steals the Show

Not only will this Saturday mark the emergence of the UFC on FOX, but it will also feature one of the most explosive matchups the lightweight division has to offer.

Clay Guida versus Ben Henderson.

Both fighters are competing for a title shot against lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, who recently dismantled Gray Maynard for the second time.

Guida, who's coming into Saturday's bout with career victories over Anthony Pettis, Nate Diaz and a split-decision with Diego Sanchez, will look to manage the game via wrestling and fast-paced action.

Henderson has the ability to knock off nearly anyone in the division, with key victories over Jim Miller, Donald Cerrone and Jamie Varner.  The former WEC champion will look to use his reach and athleticism to give Guida trouble.

However, Guida's popularity in and outside of the Octagon will never be valued more than this weekend, making the 29-year-old an instant fan favorite.

Based on how each fighter handles his business inside the cage, along with the fact that this fight will lead to a showdown with Edgar, Guida vs. Henderson may be one of the best fights of 2011.

Here's why.

The Hair

Ben Henderson and Glay Guida arguably have the best hair in the UFC.

Henderson looks like the MMA version of Troy Polamalu. and Guida simply resembles a caveman.

Come Saturday, when the UFC meets FOX's mainstream audience, these mop-tops will finally meet in the center of the Octagon.

The only question: Whose hair is going to be more messy and more bloody by the end of three rounds?

Guida's Chin

Simply put, Clay Guida gets hit in the face.  A lot.

However, just like Chris Leben, "The Carpenter" never refuses to stop.

He keeps coming, like a madman who feeds off pain and adversity.

As a fan, there's something intriguing about a guy taking multiple punches to the head and managing to continue fighting at a high level.

It shows heart.  It shows the mindset of an MMA fighter that never wants to lose.

Guida's chin is one of the main reasons why so many UFC fans cheer his name when he runs to the Octagon.

It makes him seem fearless.

Henderson's Striking

Ben Henderson is a very entertaining fighter.

His abilities standing and on the ground often allow him to stop his opponents before the judges have a chance to make a decision.

For his next fight against Clay Guida, one of the division's most sporadic and wild fighters, Henderson's striking will have to be in tip-top shape.

With a slight reach disadvantage, Guida could find it problematic to attack Henderson from the outside, allowing "Smooth" to push the fight at his own pace.

If Guida decides to stand and bang with a longer and more versatile striker, Henderson could eventually end the fight with a high sweeping head-kick or a devastating hook.

Non-Stop Intensity

It's a shame this fight is only scheduled to last three rounds because both fighters have enough intensity to last 25 minutes, maybe more.

Clay Guida's unmatched intensity is evident from his full sprints to ringside to his non-stop, in-your-face antics inside the Octagon.

These tendencies have made the fighter one of the most popular figures in the sport, also a reason why the UFC decided to put Guida on this card.

On the other hand, Ben Henderson is no slouch.

The 27-year-old sports a 14-2 MMA record and has never really been outclassed inside the ring.  Henderson's wrestling, slick submissions and unorthodox striking has allowed him to stick around in nearly every one of his professional bouts.

When these two fighters meet, considering all that hangs in the balance of the UFC's first taste of national TV, Guida and Henderson will be fighting for their lives from minute one to minute 15.

The Veteran vs. the Newcomer

Clay Guida is a straight-up UFC veteran.

He has compiled nine wins in his five-year career, out-lasting and out-working some of the world's best lightweights.

Guida's training, skills and heart are above and beyond many other MMA fighters, and for that, his status coming into Saturday's bout against Ben Henderson in no way comes up short of a gritty tenured professional.

Now, don't get me wrong, Henderson has a well-established MMA background that includes three victories in four WEC titles fights.

His wrestling proves to be too much for many fighters and his well-rounded standup game allows him to work his opponent from a variety of angles.

With that said, Henderson has only logged two fights in the UFC, raising some speculation as to whether he's truly ready to face a No. 1 contender like Clay Guida.

Heading into this weekend, as if this matchup wasn't already creating so much buzz, one of the UFC's most skilled veterans will be taking on a slightly less-experienced opponent whose recent merge with the company has allowed him to be here.

Who's the Better Wrestler?

There's no secret that good wrestling often prevails over other MMA disciplines.

The technique allows fighters to take down opponents, defend an opponent's shot, attack from unusual positions and potentially end the fight with vicious ground and pound.

Well, all of these abilities have been featured by not only Clay Guida, but Ben Henderson as well.

Both fighters are top-notch wrestlers and tend to use the skill to impose their will and manage the fight on the ground.

Come Saturday, a clash of two wrestlers could easily steal the show.

Both guys have a career take-down percentage of at least 41 percent, making this matchup full of technical positioning and quick transitions.

Whichever fighter decides to out-wrestle the other may have the advantage in securing himself a title fight with Frankie Edgar.

Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos

The heavyweight title bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos is arguably the biggest fight in UFC history.

Not necessarily on a talent level, but instead holding the future of MMA as a major sport in American culture.

Saturday's nationally broadcast championship fight has too many implications to fail. 

The average sports fans, who are finally sitting down to watch a UFC event because they don't like to spend $44.99 every two weeks, will be looking for an action-packed showdown.

And as we've seen in the past, not all title fights satisfy the needs of a casual fan.

Some end early via a knockout or quick submission, and others last all five rounds in a technical ground-game clinic.

While many of these contests prove worthy in the eyes of knowledgeable and loyal UFC fans, it may not meet the expectations of the average viewer.  For that reason, and that reason only, the outcome of Velasquez vs. Dos Santos could easily depict whether Clay Guida and Ben Henderson steal the show.

Lightweight fights are usually faster, more intense and more exciting, making it difficult for the heavyweight championship to steal the hearts of first-time watchers.

In their eyes, a 15-minute blood bath between two 155-pounders could easily outweigh a five-round stalemate between two giants.

No. 1 Contender Fight

The fact of the matter is both Clay Guida and Ben Henderson are fighting for a chance to face this man, UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.

Saturday's bout on FOX will truly be one of the most intense, fast-paced and athletically driven showdowns in recent memory.

Guida never seems to slowdown in the ring and should have no trouble dialing it up for three straight rounds.

Henderson has only had two fights in the UFC and is looking to make his name of the household kind with a win over one of the sports most popular mixed martial artists.

Considering this event holds the key for the UFC opening up its doors to the mainstream sports fan, Dana White and company wouldn't of booked this fight if they thought it was going to be boring.

With that said, alongside the magnitude of the national stage, Guida vs. Henderson simply won't fail.  It can't.

Follow me on Twitter @DHiergesell.