Today has been a day full of important MMA match up announcements. As Tim Groves, my fellow FiveKnuckles man reported, Dana White announced the headliner for the New Years card this afternoon.

What a match up it is pairing Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. Fans have been clamouring for both Lesnar and Overeem to get into the Octagon, so what better than to pair them up. This match up brings flashbacks to the early days of style versus style, and is my personal favorite of wrestler vs striker. These two are both arguably the best at their given styles at heavyweight.

Moving on to another potential #1 contender match, Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida has been added to the UFC's first FOX broadcast card on November 12. The two top lightweights have verbally agreed to fight each other over the past week and sources close to the match up confirmed that they are just waiting for contracts to be signed to make it official.

"Bendo" earned this contender match up by upsetting highly regarded lightweight contender Jim Miller, who was himself considered the number 1 contender when they squared off. Henderson dominated Miller like no one has, putting him right in the mix. Guida is coming off a decision win over Anthony Pettis, whom many thought would be fighting for the title by now.

Also added to the UFC on FOX card is Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto vs Darren Uyenoyama.

UFC 140, scheduled for December 10 in Toronto's Air Canada Centre, is also taking on great match ups. UFC officials announced matches pairing rising star Rory MacDonald vs. Brian Ebersole.

Ebersole is a tough veteran who is known by the newer fans for his Hairrow, and for gaining a bonus against Dennis Hallman that Dana deemed the "getting those horrifying shorts of TV as soon as possible" bonus.

MacDonald has been touted as "the next GSP", and has amassed an impressive 12-1 record thus far.

The other match up announced for UFC 140 today pits TUF 11 alumni Rich Attonito and Claude Patrick. Attonito looked good coming off the show, but had a minor set back against David Branch.

He has since rebounded with a decision win over Daniel Roberts back at UFC Live 4, and looks to keep rolling in December. At 14-1 and on a 12 fight winning streak, Patrick might have something to say about that. Patrick is a submission expert, with 9 of his 14 wins coming via tap out.

The fall and winter for Zuffa is getting more and more exciting by the day. Free heavyweight title fight on FOX, free bantamweight title fight on Versus, number one contender fights galore. Ridicule Dana White or Zuffa for their business practices, or White's brashness, but there is no denying that they are putting on the fights that the fans want to see.