UFC 139: Wanderlei Silva and a Star Lineup with Something to Prove in the UFC

If UFC on Fox made for great viewing, then UFC 139 promises to blow the roof off the San Jose arena with its star-studded cast of faces from both the past and the present.

The inaugural event of UFC on Fox went national on Nov. 12, permeating the homes of both the hardcore fans and the casual.

In the long run it will turn out to be a financial coup for Dana White and the Fertitta brothers.

The main event featuring former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and the Brazilian hitman Junior Dos Santos lasted all but 64 seconds, with the latter the victor.

Back to UFC 139, there’s a lot at stake for the fighters heading into this event—a loss could signal the end of an illustrious career or a drop in ranking, and out of title contention altogether.

Still, the worse could happen—defeat could necessitate seeking employment elsewhere (is there really any other place of note for these fighters to ply their trade other than the UFC?)

Expect UFC 139 to emulate Guy Fawkes Night—bright lights, sparks and explosions.

Needless to say, some sparks will fail to ignite whilst others will set the night alight with explosive intent.

Let’s see who’s walking the red carpet at UFC 139.

Maurício Rua

Maurício Rua vs. Dan Henderson

The former UFC light heavyweight champion had his title ripped from his grasp via violent blitzkrieg courtesy of one Jon “Bones” Jones at UFC 128.

After such a pasting at the hands of the young phenom, I take my hat off to Maurício Rua for stepping back into the Octagon five months later to take on the equally dangerous Forrest Griffin at UFC 134.

A fight that Shogun won via first round KO.

Make no bones about it (no pun intended), but Shogun wants his title back, and he’ll do whatever it takes to at least get another shot at UFC glory.

Standing in his way is new Strikeforce import and former UFC employee Dan “H-Bomb” Henderson.

Henderson whose last fight ended in a knockout win over former Pride heavyweight champion and living legend Fedor “The Emperor” Emelianenko,” is riding a three-fight win streak.

And my guess is that Henderson will want to take that streak to four.

I’ll also surmise that Shogun will have a lot to say about that streak come fight night.

Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson vs. Maurício Rua

Dan “H-Bomb” Henderson makes his eagerly awaited return to the Octagon since he last put Michael “The Count” Bisping to sleep with his trademark moniker at UFC 100.

The former Pride and Strikeforce middleweight champion is coming off one the biggest upsets in recent MMA history—he sent the once thought of indomitable Fedor “The Emperor” Emelianenko to sleep, if only for a few seconds to win their heavyweight clash.

After relinquishing his Strikeforce light heavyweight title and ironing out some minor differences with UFC head honcho Dana White, the H-Bomb is back.

This will be Henderson’s third stint in the UFC since his contract expired following his demolition of The Count.

At this point in his career the 41-year-old Henderson wants the best available matchups.

White kindly reciprocated by handing Henderson Maurício “Shogun” Rua as his first opponent.

Shogun is a man on a mission, a man with something to prove, but more importantly a man who wants his UFC lightweight title back around his waist.

I guess that’s White’s idea of a warm welcome to hell.

The Henderson vs. Shogun bout will most definitely be like hell in a cell.

Nevertheless, if all else fails, Henderson can always count on his H-Bomb to detonate if the opportunity presents itself.

Urijah Faber

Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles

UFC 139 will be the former WEC featherweight champion’s third fight for the Zuffa-based company.

Initially everything was going according to plan for the Urijah Faber hype train—former WEC bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland fell as he was more or less supposed to, even if it was via unanimous decision.

Next up was his former victim and current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.

In March of 2007 when these two combatants threw down, it was Faber who walked away with the honours—winning via guillotine choke and retaining his WEC featherweight title.

If Faber had thought that he was the new sheriff in town, he was in for a rude awakening—four years on from his submission win over Cruz, he was upended by said fighter via unanimous decision.

At the moment, the Faber hype train has been put on hold.

For another shot at UFC glory and maybe a trilogy matchup with Cruz, “The California Kid” needs to take care of another former WEC champion in the mould of Brian Bowles.

Bowles lost his WEC bantamweight title to Cruz in 2010 but has gone on to register wins over Damacio Page and Takeya Mizugaki a rear naked choke victim of Faber.

This is no easy fight for the California Kid, and he’ll have to pull out all the stops if he wants to continue his ascendancy to the top.

Cung Le

Cung Le vs. Wanderlei Silva

The actor, kickboxer and former Strikeforce middleweight champion makes his debut in the Octagon at UFC139.

Vis-à-vis MMA, Cung Le’s overall record is 7-1—all seven wins via stoppage.

Eight of those fights took place under the recently Zuffa acquired company Strikeforce.

“The Human Highlight Reel” is an accomplished kickboxer (16-0, 10 KO’s) with an amateur wrestling background and good submission skills to boot.

In his last fight he avenged the only loss on his record by defeating Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith via a Spinning kick to the body, followed by strikes to end proceedings.

Le’s most notable win, however, was against former UFC light heavyweight champion and legend Frank Shamrock back in March of 2008.

Le won the fight via TKO, after breaking Shamrocks arm with a string of leg kicks.

Win or lose on Nov. 19, Le has still got his acting career to fall back on (Le relinquished his Strikeforce title after securing a major film deal), but I expect him to make an emphatic statement of intent once the gate to the Octagon is closed.

Ryan Bader

Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz

How the mighty have fallen—Ryan “Darth” Bader now finds himself warming the hot seat on UFC 139’s Preliminary card television slot.

Not so long ago he was touted as being the future of the light heavyweight division.

Needless to say, at present, Bader doesn’t have a future in the top tier of the light heavyweight division.

His last two losses to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones and the ancient Tito “The Huntingdon Beach Bad Boy” have put paid to that.

Right now Bader is on that slippery slope of Dana White’s three-strikes and you’re out policy.

It’s up to him to step up and prove that he can still hang with the best that the UFC’s light heavyweight division can offer.

That opportunity presents itself in the form of Jason Brilz.

Brilz is in the same precarious predicament as Bader, so I expect the former to give his all against the latter.

Now, if for some reason Bader fails get past the 36-year-old Brilz, then it’s the high road for the once heir apparent to the UFC’s light heavyweight throne.

Wanderlei Silva

Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le

“The Axe Murderer” heads into UFC 139 knowing only a win might suffice if he’s continue to his tenure in the Zuffa-based company.

Since his return to the UFC fold, Silva has amassed a less than impressive 2-4 record.

Two of those losses came via violent KO’s—Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and most recently Chris “The Crippler” Leben.

A trio of monikers that would strike fear into any mere mortal let alone the combatants who had the displeasure of coming face to face with all three.

I just thought I’d mention that.

Silva has had some epic battles in his 15 years as a mixed martial artist, but Cung Le is a battle he must win.

Most MMA purists have known for some time that Silva’s best fighting days are behind him—he’s a shadow of the fighter that once terrorised Pride and the MMA world.

Also, the new breed of fighter is the total package—Silva has failed to evolve and the sport has left him behind.

Nevertheless, he needs to prove to himself that he’s still got what it takes to hold court with the upper-echelon middleweights of the UFC.

It’s a crying shame but I see UFC 139 as his swan song—it will bring the curtain down on the once violent storied career of one Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva.

And if he decides to continue, I expect Uncle Dana White will be forced to have a quiet word in his ear à la Chuck Liddell.