Author: By E. Spencer Kyte

This year has been full of impressive debuts, entertaining fights, and new contenders announcing their presences, but Brian Ebersole might be the only man on the UFC roster to hit all three marks in the last 11 months.

An injury to Carlos Condit opened the Octagon door for the veteran of more than 60 fights. The Indiana native now based out of Melbourne, Australia stepped in to face veteran Chris Lytle at UFC 127 in February, and hasn’t looked back since.

After getting the better of Lytle in an entertaining contest that earned Fight of the Night honors in Sydney, Ebersole returned to action against in August, stopping Dennis Hallman in a bout that is more memorable for his opponent’s attire than Ebersole’s first round finish.

“I was in the Octagon when he came out,” said Ebersole of his UFC 133 meeting with Hallman and his barely-there trunks. “I didn’t see the shorts until he began stretching; I reckon he was peacocking out in the middle of the cage. I laughed, and thought, `he just made me famous’ because everyone would be talking about this fight.”

Hallman’s choice in attire definitely sparked a lot of conversation; it also raised the ire of UFC President Dana White, who awarded Ebersole a $70,000 “Getting those horrifying shorts off TV as soon as possible” bonus after the fight. The 31-year-old welterweight says he put the money to good use.

“I thought it fit nicely into my bank account.  My UFC 127 bonus money was getting lonely.”

Ebersole took a different path to the UFC, racking up more bouts by the time he was 30 than many fighters could accrue in two careers. This time last year, you’d be hard pressed to find many UFC fans who knew his name, let alone expected to see him on the fringes of contending in the welterweight division.

He concedes it has been an unlikely voyage from competing across Australia to contending in the UFC, but Ebersole says he hasn’t done anything that should be considered unexpected yet and is happy to be where he is at this stage of his career.

“I’m no Nostradamus and wouldn’t have placed a bet on that outcome, but I sure wouldn’t have thought it impossible. And really, I haven’t done anything `surprising’ yet; I mean, I was the favorite in the bouts at UFC 127 & 133.

“I think I could have won some bouts as a 20-something in the UFC, but I’m happy with the timing.  I have a real chance to finish my career on the UFC roster, which is how I’d want it, and anyone would want it — retiring on top.”

Retirement, however, is not what he’s been preparing for over the last few months.

First it was Rory MacDonald, the impressive young Canadian who has also put himself on the list of potential contenders in the UFC’s 170-pound division in 2011. Early last month, MacDonald was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an injury, forcing Ebersole to shift his focus to another Canadian, Claude Patrick.

“After I’d accepted the fact that I was competing [against] Rory, I had my mind focused on the task. Yes, the change came as a disappointment — for one day.  Then I had to realign my thoughts toward Claude Patrick and the new — though much the same — task at hand.”

That task is to walk into Toronto and put an end to Patrick’s 13-fight winning streak in his own backyard, a task that Ebersole is quite familiar with.

“I’ve done this many times, hence the nickname `Bad Boy’ I was given by an Australian promotion. I’m the guy that beats people up in front of their home crowd.”

He’s also the guy who steps into the cage with patterns and messages shaved into his ample chest hair.

After debuting “The Hairrow” to the UFC audience in Australia, Ebersole looked to switch it up heading into UFC 133, taking suggestions from fans through an online contest. As for what’s in store for this weekend, Ebersole won’t offer any hints other than he’ll be the one to determine the design.

“You’ll have to wait and see; got a bit going on there. I tried to turn over creative control at 133, but the fans sort of let me down a bit. I mean, they tried — they had a play — [but] some weren’t too serious with their entries; I could tell.

“In the end, there was nothing viable — nothing that would actually stick out enough to be recognized and that had a decent message.  Downward arrows, bow ties, and hearts did not sway me to stray from `The Hairrow!’”

Ebersole also isn’t offering any predictions on how things will play out with Patrick Saturday night in Toronto either, explaining he’s not a fan of all the pre-fight analysis and predictions.

“This is why we watch sports,” responded when asked how this weekend’s matchup breaks down. “Who cares about pre-fight banter?  Really?  I can’t stand watching former NFL players — and AFL in Australia — flop their bollocks all afternoon about how this team matches up with that one, about how this quarterback struggles on Monday Night games, this coach hasn’t won a game in ______ Stadium, and so on and so forth.

“It’s all a waste of effort, because the game has to be played. Right or wrong with your ‘predictions,’ it’s still a waste of effort. Go be productive, and just show up on game day with an open mind and an open beer.”

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have thoughts on what comes next and where a victory over Patrick would put him; they’re just not your typical pre-fight platitudes — they’re entertaining and original, just like Ebersole.

“It puts me at Niagara Falls with two Australians that I love, and leaves me wanting to enjoy the view, where a loss would see me wanting to take a barrel over the Falls.

“The next step? Enjoy Christmas and go home to coach my former high school.  It’ll be a good time on the mats at BBCHS this year.”

TJ Dillashaw entered the Ultimate Fighter house with a singular focus.

And as Saturday night’s live season 14 finale at the Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas approaches, the up-and-comer labeled a “draft dodger” by some of his teammates is one win away from reaching his goal.  All that stands in his way is Team Mayhem’s John Dodson.

“I went in there to win the competition, not just be on TV, be entertaining, and have people know me,” said the 25-year-old. “I want people to know me from past the show and what I’m going to do in the future. I went in there thinking `this is a competition; I’ve gotta think about myself a little bit here.’ There were a lot of guys there that were happy just to be there, and that’s where they made their mistake.”

Viewed as one of the favorites in the bantamweight competition, Dillashaw was criticized by his teammates for lobbying to face Roland Delorme in the quarterfinal round, leaving his teammate John Albert to face Dodson. For the talented Cal State Fullerton alum, it was all about sticking to his game plan, and working his way to the finals.

“I knew John Dodson was a very tough fight. He’s a very athletic, quick guy, so I knew he’d be a pretty tough fight. Looking at the other guys’ backgrounds and watching their fights, I thought some of them had some holes in their games and I wanted to take advantage of it.

“Yeah, I could have fought who I thought was the toughest guy right off the bat, but that’s just not the smartest decision. My quarterfinal fight was six days before my semifinal fight, and I wanted to make sure I was healthy all the way through this tournament.

“If I had a barnburner fight or I was to get cut and still win the match, I wouldn’t be able to compete any more. I learned from Melvin Guillard and Josh Burkman — two of the very best guys paired up in the first round.

“Burkman was a tough guy and he was like, `I’ll fight Melvin’ when no one else wanted to do it. He won the fight but breaks his arm in the process, and they’re both out of the tournament. Dana White was pissed about it.”

In addition to taking a strategic approach to his time in the house, Team Bisping’s representative in the bantamweight finals said he also benefitted from being a part of one of the top teams in the sport prior to entering the competition.

Dillashaw is a part of Team Alpha Male, the Sacramento-based camp that included Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, and Joseph Benavidez. Widely regarded as the best collection of lighter weight fighters in the sport, the undefeated TUF 14 finalist said that his teammates played a big part in his success on the show.

“They’re a huge part of where I am today. I’ve always known that I’m a good athlete and that I can compete, but then coming into a gym where everybody cares about how their partners are doing, and how well we improve each other has given me all the confidence in the world.

“I’m able to hang with these guys that are top of the world in my weight class,” he continued. “They’re world-class guys who are fighting for titles or have fought for titles; they know what to do to prepare for that. They prepared me for every fight I had before the house. I’ve prepared like a world champion, and that’s a huge, huge confidence boost.”

Those same teammates will be helping Dillashaw prepare to face Dodson in what is easily the biggest fight of his career.

Having thus far only competed at regional events in California, Saturday’s bout will be his first time stepping under the bright lights and in front of the cameras, but the confident prospect isn’t worried about Octagon jitters or getting swept up in the moment.

“I think going through those situations in the UFC already is going to help me out a lot,” he said of having cornered his teammates at previous UFC events. “Obviously I haven’t experienced it yet, but from what I’ve seen, I think it’s going to be easier because I know everybody that runs the shows.

“I know how everything works. I know how we’re going to get prepared, what we’re going to have to do in the locker room, and the bright lights and the crowds — obviously it’s not me out there competing, but I almost get more nervous when Urijah or one of the guys is competing than when I’m out there myself.”

It’s just another way training with the likes of Faber, Mendes, and Benavidez has helped prepare him for this weekend.

“Ultimately, this is entertainment; people want to see good fights and that’s what I want to bring. I want to go one hundred miles per hour the entire fight, and what happens happens. That’s why I don’t think I’m going to get nervous or too pumped up by the crowd; I’m just going to go out there and have fun.”

Of course, that’s not to say Dillashaw doesn’t have a plan for completing his mission.

“John Dodson has been talking a little bit of crap about me, and I just want to make him look like a fool. He wants to talk all this crap about how I’m dodging him and how I want to take the easier way and how I think that the world revolves around me; I just want to kind of put him in his place.

“I’m planning on finishing him and getting one of those bonuses as well. I’m going to make a statement on Saturday.”

Everyone knows that Urijah Faber wants another chance to wrest the UFC bantamweight title away from his nemesis, Dominick Cruz.

“The California Kid” thought he had done enough to accomplish the feat at UFC 132 in July.  Over 25 minutes, Faber and Cruz went back and forth, combining to deliver one of the most entertaining fights of 2011 as the first bantamweight duo to headline a UFC Pay-Per-View in the organization’s history.

When the scorecards were read, Cruz’s hands were raised as Faber threw his head back in disbelief. Four months later, the charismatic former WEC featherweight champion is one win away from earning a place opposite Cruz inside the Octagon once again.

“I think it’s pretty high up there,” said Faber of where a trilogy bout with Cruz rests on his personal “To Do” list. “He has the belt and that’s what I want; that’s the pinnacle of this sport, to be UFC champ, and that’s where I want to be. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get back in with him, but I’ve got to earn it, and that means beating Brian Bowles.”

Tucked into the third position on Saturday night’s UFC 139 event, the pairing of Faber and Bowles matches two former WEC champions hungry to once again stand across the cage from the current 135-pound king.

Despite his championship pedigree, Bowles isn’t as well known as some of the other fighters in the bantamweight division — a former world champion who currently competes in anonymity in the UFC. While his own star shines brighter than most amongst the lighter weight fighters, Faber knows that fan recognition isn’t going to be a factor in determining Saturday night’s outcome.

“The thing that matters most is that I entertain, I dominate, and I show my skills. I wish that it made a difference that nobody knows who Brian Bowles is, but it doesn’t. He doesn’t care about that. He’s going to go in and fight tooth and nail, and that will make for a great fight.

“It’s going to be best man wins, and I believe that’s going to be me, and I’m going to do it in a dominating, exciting fashion. That’s what it’s about for me — putting my best foot forward, having fun doing it, and making sure everyone else has fun while I’m doing it also.”

As much as he’s itching for a chance to face Cruz for a third time, Faber isn’t overlooking Bowles, not in the least.

“I know he’s got a strong skill set. He’s a dangerous guy because he goes for broke, which are the kind of fighters I like. He’s got a heavy overhand right, solid standup all around, and a lot of good chokes. He’s pretty good at everything, but I think I’m going to have an edge in every area.

“The one thing that you have to do is be respectful; respecting what he has to offer. He can knock guys out, he can choke guys out, and as soon as you think you’re above that — that it can’t happen to you — that’s when you see black belts like Wagnney Fabiano and Miguel Torres getting submitted by our guy, Joseph Benavidez.

“You’ve got to respect the fact that if somebody knows how to do something, you’ve vulnerable to it. That’s why I don’t get caught in anything; I’ve fought a lot of black belts and heavy punchers, and awareness is the key.”

In addition to being aware of Bowles’ abilities inside the cage, Faber also knows there are some who question his potential quick return to a championship bout.

Just four months after losing to Cruz at UFC 132, the 32-year-old leader of Team Alpha Male will earn another kick at the championship can with a win on Saturday night, a much faster return to title contention than is afforded to most contenders. To Faber, there is a simple explanation.

“It’s not really my concern, but what it comes down to is how many guys can beat me? I had a one-sided fight against Mizugaki. I had a one-sided fight against Eddie Wineland. I have the #2 guy in the world, Joseph Benavidez, as one of my training partners.

“Who else do you give that to? You give it to somebody that can beat me and you give it to guys that have a chance like Eddie Wineland or Brian Bowles, and the winner gets a title shot, and I’ve been winning those. Any opportunity they give me, I’ll take it, and they’re usually hard earned.”

Securing the chance to face Cruz for a third time is about more than hoping to win the rubber match in their personal battle; it’s about filling the one gap that remains on Faber’s resume.

“Getting that UFC title is a big goal on my list, and it’s what I’m shooting for, what I’m working for. I see improvements all the time, and especially now at the new weight, I have every advantage to win, so I’ve just got to make it happen.”

He was successful the last time he was in this position, earning a victory at UFC 128 and channeling YouTube celebrity Antoine Dodson while offering Cruz a warning in his post-fight interview.

Saturday night, Faber hopes history repeats itself, with a win over Bowles bringing him the chance to settle things once and for all with the UFC bantamweight champion. The only difference is that this time, he’s chosen to offer his warning to Cruz in advance.

“Dominick, I can hurt you, you can’t hurt me; we both know it. Run tell that, homeboy.”

After suffering consecutive losses for the first time in his career, Miguel Angel Torres knew he needed to make a change.

The first lost cost him the WEC bantamweight title; the second derailed his hopes of regaining the belt quickly. Both defeats put the holes in his ultra-aggressive style under the microscope, prompting Torres to begin working with Firas Zahabi and the team at the TriStar Gym in Montreal, Quebec, home of UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

Six month later, Torres returned and the impact of Zahabi’s guidance was easily recognized. The lanky former champion was using his jab far more than ever before, and reined in his “go forward at all costs” approach, replacing it with a more tactical, structured game plan.

Back-to-back wins over Charlie Valencia and Antonio Banuelos had Torres back on the right track, and set up an exciting pairing with Demetrious Johnson at UFC 130. Contested almost exclusively on the ground, Johnson came away with the victory, earning a unanimous decision that remains hotly debated.

The loss hit Torres hard, and still stirs frustration in his voice when he talks about the fight six months later.

“It was one of those things where I went into the fight with a game plan — I was going to use my jiu-jitsu right away, force him to shoot right away, and use my jiu-jitsu to beat him. I thought I did that. My sweeps and my submission attempts, I thought I had him on defense the whole time; I thought I did the job.

“After about five minutes it sunk in, and I felt like I got robbed. I felt very upset. It was an awkward feeling because I’ve never been put in that situation before. I know I was on bottom, but I know I was working.

“It was an awkward thing, but I look back, and it was my fault — I shouldn’t have let it go to the judges. I tried fighting a technical fight and a safe fight; I thought I did what I had to do, but I let it go to the judges. When you let that happen, things like this happen — decisions don’t go in your favor — and so I totally take the blame for that.”

With his road back to the top of the bantamweight division once again encountering a roadblock, Torres continued to fine-tune his approach in the cage. He spent a month training in South Florida with Tyrone Spong and the rest of the team at Imperial Athletics, then headed back to Montreal to spend the last two weeks of his camp with Zahabi.

 “I’ve been working with The Blackzilians in Fort Lauderdale, working with Tyrone Spong on my striking, and he’s an ultra-aggressive striker. The only thing that he wants me to do is KO people. In that sense, I’ve been working a lot on that aggressive, old style that I had, but at the same time, I totally appreciate and understand and love the way that Firas wants me to fight.

“The big thing is to find a balance in the middle. Firas wants me to be aggressive, but he wants me to be smart and be safe. I can see the points of both styles, but I’ve got to find a balance in the middle.

““I went from one extreme of being an ultra-aggressive striker and grappler to being a fighter that’s using strategy and game planning, and it’s a whole other extreme.”

Torres will get the opportunity to try and find that balance inside the cage Saturday night at UFC 139 when he meets Nick Pace.

After headlining numerous WEC events and splitting his two previous UFC appearances between the pay-per-view main card and Spike TV, Torres is in unfamiliar territory this time, fighting on the untelevised preliminary portion of the card for the first time.

Torres is taking the demotion in stride, using it as a reminder of what he needs to do when the cage door closes.

“It should give me a push and it should make me angry, but it doesn’t. I’ve done a lot for the sport, especially for my weight class — I’ve headlined a lot of cards, and I’ve been at the top of the billboard a lot, and to get pushed all the way down like this is one of those things where people are forgetting who I am and what I’m all about. I’ve got to go out there and make an example of my opponents, and make people realize who I am again.

“When I found out where I was fighting, I wasn’t upset. It was one of those things like when you know your girlfriend is cheating on you and you just have to get even, and that’s what I’m planning on doing.”

For Torres, that means putting the things he’s been working on over the last six months into practice; showcasing the skills that made him a world champion in the WEC, and starting another climb towards the top of the bantamweight division.

“I’ve got to go out there and take care of business. I can’t let it go to the judges’ hands, and I don’t want to go out there and just win this fight by decision; I want to show the world who Miguel Torres is again.

“I’m still young in my career; I still have a long way to go. The world hasn’t seen the best Miguel Torres yet.

“I’m on a personal quest to be the best fighter I can be, and be the best fighter in the world. I’m not going to quit until I reach my goals. Every goal that I’ve ever set for myself I’ve accomplished; I don’t know what it’s like not to accomplish goals. So for me, I’m going to get to the top of the mountain; it’s just a matter of time.”

As the inaugural contest to be broadcast on network television, Saturday’s UFC heavyweight title fight between champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos on FOX has already earned a place in the history books.

The very real possibility exists that it finds a place in the organization’s annals because of the events that transpire inside the cage as well.

The champion and challenger stand as the undisputed top two heavyweights in the UFC — dominant forces with matching 7-0 marks within the confines of the Octagon. Both have climbed to the summit of the sport’s marquee division, sweeping aside a combined 14 challengers, only three of whom survived until the final horn sounded.

With the potentially historic encounter rapidly approaching, here’s a look back at five other epic heavyweight encounters from the past.

Randy Couture vs. Ricco Rodriguez
UFC 39 (September 27, 2002)

Six months after losing the UFC heavyweight title to Josh Barnett, the then 39-year-old Couture and budding star Rodriguez were paired to battle for the vacant championship in the main event of UFC 39: The Warriors Return.

Couture got the best of things early, but tired in the championship rounds. Losing on the scorecards at the time, Rodriguez took Couture down in the fifth and began dropping elbows on the former two-time champion, breaking his orbital bone and forcing a verbal submission from Couture to claim the vacant UFC heavyweight title.

It was the first time in UFC history a bout was finished in the fifth round, a result that has only been repeated two additional times since — BJ Penn vs. Diego Sanchez, UFC 107 and Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen, UFC 117.

Tim Sylvia vs. Frank Mir
UFC 48 (June 19, 2004)

At the time, Sylvia was a perfect 16-0 and looking to reclaim the UFC heavyweight title he had been stripped of nine months earlier. Mir had just turned 25 the month prior, was riding a three-fight winning streak, and had the right combination of skills, charisma, and looks to become a huge star as the UFC’s popularity continued to grow.

This one may have only lasted 50 seconds, but its place in the history books can’t be denied. Mir caught Sylvia in an armbar, and when the former champion went to pull free of the hold, the heavyweight jiu-jitsu player torqued on his arm a little more, prompting referee Herb Dean to step in and signal the end of the bout.

Everyone thought Dean had acted prematurely, but replays — and later x-rays — showed he made the right call; Sylvia’s arm was broken.

Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture
UFC 68 (March 3, 2007)

Sylvia was once again on top of the heavyweight mountain, having reclaimed the title from Andrei Arlvoski at UFC 59.  After a pair of successful — though uneventful — title defenses, “The Maine-iac” was short on challengers.

Enter Couture.

Nearly 13 months after announcing his retirement following his loss to Chuck Liddell at UFC 57, Couture returned to the Octagon, fighting at heavyweight for the first time since UFC 39.

In one of the most unexpected and memorable performances in UFC history, Couture dropped Sylvia right out of the gate, and continued to dominate the heavily favored champion for the duration of the bout’s five rounds.

Couture earned a unanimous decision win, claiming the UFC heavyweight title for a third time, the fifth and final championship victory of his illustrious career.

Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir
UFC 100 (July 11, 2009)

After winning his MMA debut, former WWE superstar Lesnar joined the UFC heavyweight division, and was paired with Mir for his Octagon debut.

The former champion submitted the athletically gifted MMA neophyte 90 seconds into the opening round of their bout at UFC 81. Though Lesnar showed promise, his inexperience cost him.

Later that year, both men would stake a claim to being the UFC heavyweight champion. Lesnar followed up his victory over Heath Herring by beating Randy Couture at UFC 91, while Mir stopped fellow TUF 8 coach Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira for the interim title a month later at UFC 92.

Originally scheduled for UFC 98, their second meeting would headline UFC 100, the biggest event in the organization’s history at the time. Both men entered with titles, but only would emerge as the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

Mir had no answers for Lesnar’s raw power and brute strength. Clinched along the cage, Mir attempted a jumping knee, but Lesnar still managed to secure the takedown. He proceeded to pin Mir against the cage and rain down a torrent of unanswered blows, leading to the fight being stopped 1:48 into the second round.

Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin
UFC 116 (July 3, 2010)

A year after unifying the UFC heavyweight titles at UFC 100, Lensar returned to the cage following a career-threatening battle with diverticulitis to face another interim champion, unbeaten Shane Carwin.

With a perfect 12-0 record and a 4-0 mark in the UFC, Carwin had spent just over seven minutes in the Octagon. His victory over Frank Mir at UFC 111 lasted longer than his previous three bouts combined, and his explosive knockout power was something Lesnar had not yet experienced in his young career.

Carwin rocked Lesnar early, relentlessly pounding on the returning champion throughout the first round, with referee Josh Rosenthal looking like he could stop the fight on a couple different occasions.

The bout continued, however, and took a turn in the opposite direction in the second frame.

After surviving the opening stanza, Lesnar gave Carwin a smile at the start of the second round. Carwin was spent, and Lesnar capitalized, easily taking him down. Lesnar forced Carwin to tap to an arm triangle choke at 2:19 of the second round, handing him the first loss of his career and unifying the heavyweight title for the second time in his career.