The last few days of 2007 will ferature at least 3 major televised MMA events, all with a different spin to them. 

On Saturday, 29th, UFC will host their last PPV of the year, with Wanderlei Silva meeting Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes facing Georges St. Pierre in a rubber match.  This UFC will be typical of the promotion's 2007--very big names, a lot of promotion, and a danger of disappointment.  Technically, UFC 79 has already lost its main event--a well built-up grudge match for the welterweight title between Hughes and fellow TUF coach Matt Serra.  Although GSP is a great fill-in, and arguably will make for a stronger opponent for Hughes, I think UFC did too good a job at building the Serra-Hughes rivarly, so that most fans wanted to see that bout for one reason or another.  Silva-Liddell is highly anticipated, but my guess is that it will not live up to the hopes.  What I mean to say is that the match will go as expected--a few minutes of feeling out and then a quick knock-out--but that will be too little for the fans.  If you want to enjoy UFC 79, reduce the expectations of a bloodbath and enjoy the skills.  UFC features the best fighters and is the top dog (that's why it's always under the spotlight).  Hughes-GSP will be good; don't blink during Liddell-Silva; and start the night off by welcoming Rameau Sokoudjou to UFC (and perhaps seeing a wilder side of Lyoto Machida). 

Same night, IFL is having its Grand Prix Finals of 2007.  These are notable because HDNet is broadcasing them.  Mark Cuban and HDNet are vying to be a force in MMA, and they are working hard at it.  This event will also showcase IFL's best fighters, especially in the lower weight divisions (Chris Horodecki at 155 is probably one of the best individually known IFL fighters).  

Finally, on Monday, the 31st (at weird times), HDNet will host another event, this time its own: HDNet Fights: Fedor Returns.  The main event is the return of Fedor Emelianenko, against a freakishly large, but inexperienced, Hong Man-Choi.  The card also features a slew of lightweight fighters, many highly ranked (although JZ Calvancante had to withdraw due to injury).  This is yet another exposure event for HDNet, but it may backfire if the fans do not appreciate the throw away bout for Fedor, the fighter HDNet has been building up as the best pound for pound in the world (or worse yet, Fedor may lose, although I can't imagine that happenning).  Fedor needs to fight Couture, as everyone has been saying, or at least another top heavyweight.  So, in my opinion this event is rushed.  Nonetheless, the undercards should be fun to watch, and if you are a hardcore fan, you cannot miss Fedor's only action in a year. 

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