The UFC finally makes its long-awaited return to Denver, the city that hosted the very first UFC event. The promotion hasn't operated in the Mile High City since 1995 and this will be the first event held there since Zuffa became the owners. So what do you do when you've made fans wait 16 years for an event? You reward their patience by bringing an exciting card to the Pepsi Center. Rising superstar and newly crowned light-heavyweight champ Jon "Bones" Jones will attempt to make his first title defense after dismantling former champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128 in New Jersey. The challenger, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, has won two in a row and seems more motivated to compete than he has in years.

Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt

Rothwell has won 15 of his last 17 fights, losing only to former champ Andrei Arlovski and current champ Cain Velasquez. He's 31-7 overall and he did win his last fight, a unanimous decision over Gilbert Yvel. Big Ben hasn't been very active of late but he's experienced enough that it shouldn't be much of a factor. Rothwell holds notable wins over Roy Nelson and Krzysztof Soszynski.

Hunt got himself a much needed victory at UFC 127 over Chris Tuchscherer. Prior to that win he had been on a 6 fight slide. Don't be fooled by such a losing streak though. The Super Samoan was up against some of the best fighters in the world and although his mma record is just 6-7 he's no stranger to fighting good fighters as he holds decision wins over Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Wanderlei Silva. He's also 30-13 as a pro kickboxer.

Analysis and prediction:  Hunt is obviously capable of pulling off this win but as with many kickboxers, he's shown to be susceptible to submissions on the ground. Rothwell can stand and bang but it's not likely that he'll risk that against a striker of Hunt's caliber. Look for Big Ben to get this fight to the floor and lock up an arm for a tap.

Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi

Diaz is back at lightweight once again and still in search of a big win over a big name. What he doesn't need to find is an exciting fight though. The Cesar Gracie protege knows how to entertain a crowd. Six of his last ten fights have ended in performance bonuses and at one time he'd scored the extra cash for five in a row. His 13-7 record might sound somewhat pedestrian if you only look at the numbers but Diaz has finished all but one of those wins and has only been finished himself once, almost five years ago.

Gomi is looking for a groove himself. He came to the UFC with a 31-5 record and has gone 1-3 since then. In defense of the Fireball Kid, Zuffa wasted no time in warming him up. He was thrown right to the top of the division with a fight vs. Kenny Florian. He did earn a nice KO over Tyson Griffin but was then choked out by Clay Guida. Gomi has seen his share of success in big fights over the course of his career. He just needs to find his way in the UFC.

Analysis and prediction:  Both guys need a win badly. I don't see this fight going well for Diaz early but the fact that he's so difficult to finish...