Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem and the Top 10 Can't-Miss Fights in December

The 2011 MMA year is set to end with a bang when former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar returns to the Octagon for the first time in over a year to take on former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

For what should be one year's most anticipated bouts, it couldn't come at a better time in just one day before the new year.

Before the year-end event, there are plenty of MMA bouts to keep fans occupied, including a UFC light heavyweight title bout and No. 1 contender matchups.

These are the top 10 can't-miss fights in December.

No. 10: Mark Hominick vs. Chan Sung Jung

Canada's own Mark Hominick (20-9) will return for the first time since his loss to Jose Aldo to take on Chan Sung-Jung (11-4) at UFC 140.

Although Hominick put on a fight of the year candidate with Aldo, it was Jung who earned a submission of the year victory when he submitted Leonard Garcia with the first-ever twister submission in March.

Both are top-10 featherweights, and even if a title shot isn't on the line, this is a guaranteed fight of the night and a great pay-per-view opener for the event in Toronto.

No. 9: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Vladimir Matyushenko

One of the UFC's most promising prospects in Alexander Gustafsson (12-1) will take on one of MMA's best veteran fighters in Vladimir Matyushenko (26-5), who enters the bout having knocked out Jason Brilz in just 20 seconds in his last fight.

Gustafsson fights out of Sweden and is 4-1 in the UFC, with his only loss coming against Phil Davis.

His victories include those over Jared Hamman, Matt Hamill and James Te-Huna.

Matyushenko is 5-1 in his last six, with his only loss coming against Jon Jones.

No. 8: John Dodson vs. T.J. Dillashaw

John Dodson (11-5) and T.J. Dillashaw (4-0) will fight to determine the bantamweight winner of the fourteenth season of the Ultimate Fighter.

Dodson won two of his fights by KO to earn a spot in the finals, while Dillashaw won one fight by submission and one by TKO.

In a division that is shallow of contenders, this is an important fight for the winner in taking one big step toward a title shot.

No. 7: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Tito Ortiz

In a must-win fight for both fighters, Tito Ortiz (16-9) will take on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5) in a light heavyweight matchup at UFC 140.

Ortiz enters the bout having only won one of his last seven fights.

His UFC 132 submission victory over Ryan Bader was a win that kept his UFC career going and earned him a shot at Rashad Evans at UFC 133.

He lost the rematch via TKO in the second round.

Nogueira is currently riding a two-fight losing streak, so he will be more motivated than ever to get through Ortiz.

No. 6: Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez (19-2) might only be one fight away from getting into the UFC when he faces Jorge Masvidal (22-6) at a Dec. 17 Strikeforce event in San Diego, California.

Melendez walked through his last opponent when he knocked out Tatsuya Kawajiri with a brutal elbow assault.

Masvidal surprised many when he stood up to KJ Noons and won a dominant unanimous decision after three rounds.

Melendez knows this is an important fight for him, as it may be his last fight before coming into the UFC.

Expect him to put on a show against Masvidal.

No. 5: Jason Miller vs. Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping (21-3) and Jason "Mayhem" Miller (24-7) will settle their differences at the Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale in an anticipated and important middleweight bout.

Miller will enter the fight having not fought in the UFC since losing to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 52.

Since then, he has gone 12-3 with seven submission victories.

His latest win came against Kazushi Sakuraba, whom he submitted in the very first round.

Bisping is currently riding a three-fight win streak and may only be one fight away from getting his shot at Anderson Silva.

If not the champion, he could face Chael Sonnen if he is to emerge victorious.

No. 4: Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira II

In a heavyweight rematch, former champions Frank Mir (15-5) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6-1) will meet once again at UFC 140.

Nogueira lost the first fight when Mir knocked him out for the first time in his career at UFC 92.

That loss would be the first of two in his last four bouts.

His victories have come against Brendan Schaub and Randy Couture.

Mir has shown considerable changes in his style and physique since the last time he fought Nogueira, and victories against Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo showed a more motivated version of one of the elite heavyweight submission artists.

No. 3: Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz

Donald "The Cowboy" Cerrone (17-3) will fight for the fifth time this year when he takes on Nick Diaz (14-7) in the co-main event at UFC 141.

Cerrone enters having finished four of his last six opponents.

Of his 17 career victories, 13 have come by submission.

He will get his toughest test in the UFC when he takes on Diaz, who has never been finished despite having lost seven times.

Diaz recently submitted Takanori Gomi at UFC 135. That victory broke a two-fight losing streak, which took place at welterweight.

No. 2: Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (14-1) is considered by many to be the best fighter this year, and he will have to put his reputation on the line against Lyoto Machida (17-2) in the main event at UFC 140.

Jones won the title when he stopped Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in March.

That victory, along with wins over Quinton Jackson and Ryan Bader, have made his 2011 one of the most standout years of any fighter.

Machida only won one fight since losing his title to Rua last year, but it came in spectacular fashion against Randy Couture at UFC 129. He knocked out the Hall-of-Fame fighter with a jumping front-kick.

No. 1: Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (5-2) will welcome Alistair Overeem (36-11-1) to the Octagon on Dec. 30, and it might be the biggest fight of the year.

Lesnar hasn't fought since losing his title to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 last October.

Before that, he had accomplished winning the championship and defending it with less than five professional fights.

Overeem is currently riding a 10-fight win streak with victories over Brett Rogers, Fabricio Werdum, Todd Duffee and Kazuyuki Fujita.

Among his accomplishments are winning the Strikeforce heavyweight championship and being a K1 kickboxing champion.

Both know what they have to do to win, and it might not last very long.