When the format and coaches for the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter were announced, the U.S. vs. U.K. aspect got most of the press while the coaching match-up took a backseat.  Michael Bisping has been known to get under the skin of opponents in the past but Dan Henderson has never been one to buy in to that kind of pre-fight talk, until now. 

It seems that during the taping of the reality show these two have developed a genuine dislike for each other and they've taken advantage of the opportunities given to let everyone know about it.  Henderson has repeatedly referred to Bisping as a "douchebag" and has talked a lot about the pleasure he'll get from the chance to knock him out.  Bisping has laughed at the idea of being knocked out by Henderson and openly criticized the way Henderson and the Americans trained during the show.  While we can't quite annoint this rivalry in the Matt Hughes - Matt Serra category just yet, the extra incentive they're carrying into the cage has been enough to get the fans jazzed about it.

Henderson is a bonafied MMA legend whose list of former opponents reads like a who's-who in mixed martial arts.  He's compiled a 24-7 record in more than twelve years of fighting and has done so in several different weight classes ranging from 180-pounds all the way up to heavyweight.  His most recent win was over a very tough Rich Franklin at UFC 93 and he'll be looking to use Bisping as another step toward getting a rematch with middleweight champ Andersen Silva.  A very accomplished wrestler, Henderson can get opponents to the mat where he's an expert at pounding them out and finishing fights.  He also has knockout power on his feet and a very solid chin, but trying to box Michael Bisping would probably turn out to be a mistake.

Bisping's strength is definitely in his hands and feet, eleven of his seventeen pro wins have come by way of knockout.  He's not exactly a chump on the ground though, he does have a few submission victories and his wrestling, while not on Henderson's level, is somewhat underrated.  His takedown defense is more than adequate and when he is taken down, he does a good job of avoiding serious punishment.  He may not pull off a sweep or a reversal against Henderson but he has shown in the past to be adept at escaping and getting back to his feet. 

Both of these guys bring plenty of motivation to this fight.  The pride of their respective countries still lingers after the U.K. squad swept the show and a win for Bisping would probably place him next in line to take on Silva for the UFC middleweight title.

Coming soon, part four of our UFC 100 five-part preview: Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago.