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Misc Boxing/MMA Boxing Archive Preview: UFC 68
Written by Scott Swerbinsky

Scott Swerbinsky
UFC 68 is live tonight from Nationwide Arena dowm in Columbus, and is also on the tube tonight at 10 PM EST on pay per view. My violence-obsessed cousin is down there already, most likely releasing the mass amounts of adrenaline he's built up waiting for this event by chugging beers and emitting random primal screams. As always, he took some time out for us here to preview tonight's card, which is one of the most star studded in the history of this blossoming sport.  Saturday night in Nationwide arena in Columbus,Ohio one UFC fan's dream will become reality.

I always told myself that if I had a true oppurtunity to see a live UFC event, I would go no matter what. I honestly didn't think it would be in my own home state.

Saturday, I will be making the trek to Columbus from Cleveland.

What does the UFC have in store for me? Just possibly one of the biggest start studded cards of all time. What more could a fan ask for?

In the main event, Tim Sylvia will be putting his Heavyweight Title on the line versus UFC Hall of Famer and former Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight champion, Randy Couture. The champ has won five straight and a win would set him up for a showdown with UFC newcomer Mirko Cro Cop. Couture has come out of a short retirement and a win for him would give the UFC a more fan friendly megafight with the former Pride champ Cro Cop.

Sylvia might be the least respected champion in the UFC. He hasn't looked great in his last few fights but has done enough to pull out wins. He also feels slighted from Couture that he would come back to fight him. He took it as a slap in the face. A victory Saturday night would be a nice notch on his title belt.

Randy Couture on the other hand just might have picked the wrong guy to come back against. He has had trouble in the past with guys much bigger than him. Sylvia is 6 foot 8 and weighs 255 compared to Randy and his 6 foot 2 and 220 frame. Everyone knows that Randy is a world class wrestler and he will need to get the fight on the ground to win. He also might have to take some heavy shots to that. I think he will be willing to pay that price.

I for one have never been a Tim Sylvia fan and he continues to prove me wrong. That being said, I am thinking Randy Couture will not be denied. He has the heart of a champion and came back to prove a point. I look for him to win by ground and pound or even a possible submission.

Two former champions are also on the card looking to get back into the title hunt in their respected divisions.

Welterweight bad ass Matt Hughes will step into the octagon for the first time since losing his belt to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 65. He will be taking on Season 4 Ultimate Fighter runner up Chris Lytle. This is a bad spot for Lytle who is 2-5 in UFC matches. Hughes is mad as hell and wants to show the world he isn't washed up from the wars he has had. I see him taking out all his frustrations on Chris and winning via classic Hughes ground and pound. Should be a 1st round ref stoppage here.

The fight I am looking forward to seeing the most is Ohio native Rich Franklin versus Jason MacDonald. Franklin was beat as bad as you can be beaten in his last fight by Anderon Silva. He ended up losing his Middleweight title in that fight and also had his nose busted. Will he be the same as he was before the loss when he won seven straight UFC matches? Is Jason MacDonald just a journeyman as some have called him?

I am very excited to find out the answer to those questions. Rich Franklin is known as one of the hardest working and training fighters ever in Mixed Martial Arts. MacDonald is a newcomer to the UFC but has looked like a wizard with his ground game. If the fight stays on their feet, Franklin has a huge edge. If Jason can get Rich to the ground, he has a great shot at pulling off the huge upset. I really have liked watching Jason MacDonald, I just think the crowd will be too much with Rich, and he won't let them down.

All three of the above mentioned fights could be main events. I can't wait to get into my seat Saturday night.

Full fight card:

Tim Sylvia  vs. Randy Couture
Chris Lytle  vs. Matt Hughes
Andrew McFedries vs. Martin Kampmann
Rich Franklin  vs. Jason MacDonald
Jason Lambert  vs. Renato Sobral
Rex Holman vs. Matt Hamill
Jon Fitch  vs. Luigi Fioravanti
Gleison Tibau vs. Jason Dent  
Jason Gilliam vs. Jamie Varner

What a great night of fights that is in store for UFC and MMA fans everywhere. I personally want to thank the UFC and the city of Columbus for bringing me this event. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve and can't wait to see what is in store for me.

I know one thing is for sure, I will have a great time and soak it all in.

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