UFC 136 may be their most competitive card to date. Here’s why:

MAIN EVENT

UFC Lightweight Championship: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard III - This fight is definitely going to have that epic feel to it. That feeling that gives you goosebumps when the first competitor’s music hit and you know that this match seconds away from starting. These two first met in 2008 with Maynard handing Edgar the sole defeat of his career. The two met once again this past January with Edgar defending his title for the second time. That fight went to a Draw. The two were then set to meet in May but after both men suffered serious injuries in training, the fight was delayed. Until now. 10 months later, for the third and final time. Maynard looks to finally take the title and Edgar looks to hand Maynard his first professional defeat.

UFC Featherweight Championship: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian - Featherweight Champion, Jose Aldo is on a 12 fight win streak. The heavy handed Brazilian JiuJitsu Black Belt is a threat in every area of the game. Kenny Florian has competed in four weight classes in the UFC, but has never found success in the upper echelon of competition with his four UFC losses coming in Title matches and in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter Season 1. Will Florian finally achieve championship glory?

Middleweight Contender’s Match: Brian Stann vs. Chael Sonnen - This match is going to determine the next contender for the Middleweight Championship. Sonnen has been longing for a rematch since he handed the Champion a one-sided beating for 24 of the 25 minutes of his match before being submitted. However, Sonnen has been out of action for just over a year and in that time, Brian Stann has moved from 205 to 185 and after a string of impressive wins, earned himself a spot in the top 5. Neither of those two is going down without a fight.

Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon - Both of these men have had quick rises in the division and both men have tasted defeat and have since risen even higher in the ranks. This match will determine who continues to move forward and who still has to level their game up. This fight is going to end in a finish, don’t miss it!

Nam Phan vs. Leonard Garica II - These two first met last December in an outstanding back and forth match that clearly saw Nam Phan getting the victory. Only the judges disagreed, awarding Garcia the Split Decision. The two have been wanting to face each other again but injuries have prevented the rematch from taking place. Until now.

PRELIMINARY FIGHTS (Facebook)

Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago - Maia is still widely regarded has one of the best Middleweights in the division, and is a world class BJJ specialist. But after a timid fight for the title, he’s had to work his way back up. His biggest area of improvement was put on display in last fight where he nearly knocked out rising prospect Mark Munoz in the opening round. Jorge Santiago has competed all around the world, but hasn’t found much success in the UFC. A win Saturday night for either of these men will place them right into top competition.

Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens - Anthony Pettis once found himself in line for a title shot, but after Edgar vs. Maynard II ended in a draw, the WEC champ had to postpone his title shot. Unfortunately, he faced the super aggressive Clay Guida and lost a decision. Now he faces UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens. A win for Pettis will keep his position in the top of the division. Neither of these two men know how to have a slow or boring fight. Start writing the Fight of the Night checks and throw this in as a contender for Fight of the Year!