The UFC returns to Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena for a New Year's bash featuring a rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, this time with Edgar's lightweight belt on the line. Also on the card, "The Crippler" Chris Leben returns to face Brian Stann and Brandon Vera looks to bounce back from his recent loss to Jon Jones as he takes on hard-hitting Brazilian Thiago Silva. The main card rounds out with a welterweight bout between Nate Diaz and Dong Hyun Kim and the lightweight battle of Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi.

The UFC will also provide three preliminary contests on free TV for many parts of the world. At many events, these fights would be main card attractions but the talent show on Saturday has Phil Baroni vs. Brad Tavares, Josh Grispi vs. Dustin Poirier, and Marcus Davis vs. Jeremy Stephens all relegated to prelims. They'll be seen on ION Television in the United States, ESPN in the UK, FUEL TV in Australia, and Rogers Sportsnet in Canada.

Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi

Guida's record in the UFC is a pedestrian sounding 7-5 but he's 5-2 in his last 7 and those losses led to his opponents becoming number one contenders. He's now won back to back fights and as his time with training guru Greg Jackson continues, he's looked better and better. Guida has the tools to be a top contender. He's a high motor guy with a great gas tank and a very solid chin. If he's had a weakness it's been on his feet but his camps have focused on that and you can always expect a solid game plan from a Jackson fighter.

Gomi was signed last year to contend for a title. After a rough start in his UFC debut against Kenny Florian, the Fireball Kid bounced back like a grown man with a first round knockout over Tyson Griffin, improving his pro record to 32-6. This guy's a fighting legend in Japan, mostly for his classic wars during the height of Pride's time in the spotlight. Success in other promotions doesn't guarantee success in the UFC cage but Gomi appears to be getting himself on track.

Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim

After a stretch of losing 3 of his last 4 fights as a lightweight, Diaz is now at 170lbs. where he feels more comfortable and has won consecutive fights. Diaz is a finisher. Of his 13 pro wins only one has come by decision and whether winning or losing, his fights are exciting. Six of his last eight have ended in some kind of performance bonus. Diaz is scrappy and will be comfortable anywhere in the cage. While he might never be accused of being a great technical boxer, he uses his long reach well and his striking is effective. The Stockton, California native is also a brown belt in Cesar Gracie jiu-jitsu and does some great work from his back, which is likely where he'll end up at some point in this fight.

Kim is undefeated. He was originally handed his first loss to Karo Parisyan at UFC 94 but it was later turned to a no contest when Parisyan tested positive for a banned substance. The South Korean Kim is a 4th degree black belt in judo and knows balance and leverage as well as any fighter in the sport. He also...