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UFC 83: Serra vs. St-Pierre 2 is one of the most highly anticipated Ultimate Fighting Championship cards in the sport's history. Taking place Saturday, April 19 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, it is expected to a be wild event headlined by the welterweight championship.
The main event is, unquestionably, the welterweight championship bout between current champ Matt Serra and former title-holder Georges St. Pierre. The pair fought last April, where Serra scored a shocking victory to claim the title. Due to injury he was forced from action, and St. Pierre claimed the interim title belt. On Saturday they'll do battle to decide the undisputed middleweight champion of the world. St. Pierre – regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound mixed martial arts fighter in the world not named Anderson Silva – will have a frenzied crowd backing him, as he's a Quebec native. Ultimate Fighting Championship is extremely popular in Quebec and the Bell Centre is expected to host over 21,000 spectators. It's hard to believe there will be a single soul in the building pulling for Serra; this is “GSP” territory.
There's plenty else to get excited about on UFC 83's card. Former middleweight champ Rich Franklin will square off against former Ultimate Fighter winner Travis Lutter. Travis “The Serial Killer” Lutter is 2-3 in UFC action, having lost to Silva in his last bout via triangle choke and elbow strikes in the second round. “Ace” Franklin, meanwhile, is undefeated in his last 12 bouts – save for two losses to Silva, who took Franklin's belt.
Michael Bisping and Charles McCarthy will do battle in another middleweight fight. “The Count” Bisping is 15-1 all-time as a mixed martial arts professional, though his loss came in his last bout, a split decision to Rashad Evans. McCarthy, also known as “The Chainsaw”, is 10-4 including his Ultimate Fighter 4 championship win over Gideon Ray (armbar submission).
In a scrap between a couple of lightweights, Mark Bocek will face Mac Danzig. Bocek is inexperience with just six MMA events to his name (5-1), though as a Canadian he'll likely have the crowd's support. Danzig, on the other hand, is 17-4 during his career and was last seen winning Ultimate Fighter 6.
Kalib Starnes and Nate Quarry round out the main card with another middleweight fight. Starnes – yet another Canadian entry – was a contestant on Ultimate Fighter 3, though he was defeated in the semifinal after a verbal submission thanks to a dislocated rib. He most recently fought at UFC 77, where he suffered a TKO (cut) at the hands of Alan Belcher. Quarry, another Ultimate Fighter contestant, is 9-2 for his career. In his last fight he earned a knockout victory over Pete Sell at UFC Fight Night 11.
All in all, it should be a great evening. Matt Serra and Georges St. Pierre has been one of the most-talked about fights in recent memory and Canada will host its first Ultimate Fighting Championship event. It all adds up to a crazy night in Montreal for UFC 83: Serra vs. St-Pierre 2, so check the betting lines and get in on the action!
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