The Nationwide Arena in Ohio will be the venue for the next big mixed martial arts event, which is no less than UFC 82: Pride of a Champion.

The main event of UFC 82: Pride of a Champion will be a title unification between UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva vs. Pride FC Welterweight champion Dan Henderson. The Welterweight division of Pride FC hits 183 lbs. while the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship hits 185 lbs. Whatever it’s called - what matters is that the two top MMA fighters at 185 lbs. - Anderson Silva and Dan Henderson - are going to put their titles on the line with the sole winner going to be the champion of both.

After all, both Silva and Henderson are familiar faces in both Pride FC and UFC.

Anderson Silva of Brazil has had 5 fights in Pride FC between 2002 to 2004, before becoming a regular at Cage Rage fights, and even becoming the Cage Rage middleweight champion. Anderson Silva debuted in the UFC back in 2006 with UFC Ultimate Fight Night 5. He won his UFC debut match against Chris Leben before winning the middleweight title from Rich Franklin in only his second UFC match. Anderson Silva has successfully defending the title three times, though one match wasn’t made into an official fight for the title since Silva’s opponent, Travis Lutter, did not make the weight and was not given a shot at the title as was planned. Nevertheless, Lutter lost to Anderson Silva via submission with a triangle choke. Anderson Silva’s last title defense was a rematch with Rich Franklin, whom Anderson Silva won the title from. Different fight, but same result with Silva winning by TKO.

Dan Henderson has had most of his success in the Pride FC events, gaining a huge reputation there as one big bad-ass, who has participated in over 1 dozen Pride FC fights, even winning the Pride FC welterweight title from Pride’ FC’s Maurillo Bustamante and also winning the Pride FC middleweight tile after beating Wanderlei Silva with a KO. Dan Henderson debuted in the UFC during UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion, and lost against Quinton Jackson. Henderson hopes to finally book his first UFC win in UFC 82 when he goes up against Anderson Silva.

MMA odds makers have listed UFC 82 betting odds of Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson as:

Anderson Silva 2/3

Dan Henderson 6/5

To find out the latest UFC 82 betting odds, or to bet on Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson and other UFC 82 fights, then visit the MMA and UFC Fights Sportsbook.

UFC 81 Betting Results: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira chokes out Tim Sylvia!

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira made history in UFC 81 Saturday night by beating Tim Sylvia with a guillotine choke early in the third round in front of 10,583 fans in Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira became the first mixed martial artist to become a champion in both the UFC and Pride heavyweight divisions. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira record now stands at (31-4-1, 1 NC)

Tim Sylvia with a record of (24-4) professed his desire before the fight to be the first man to knock out the former Pride heavyweight king, and Tim Sylvia came within a punch or two of doing so. Tim Sylvia cracked Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira early in the first round with a right hand that sent the 31-year-old Brazilian Antonio Nogueira to the canvas.

The opening round ended with Antonio Nogueira, nearly 25 pounds lighter than Tim Sylvia, scoring a nifty takedown. Brazilian Antonio Nogueira’s success in the second ended when Sylvia staggered him again with a sizzling right hand. The Pat Miletich-trained Tim Sylvia followed up with the same punch, but Antonio Nogueira managed to ride out the round.

Going in to the third round, Antonio Nogueira pulled guard just as American Tim Sylvia landed another right hand. With Tim Sylvia on top, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Antonio Nogueira swiftly swept him and scooted to complete side-control. Sensing time was running out, Tim Sylvia desperately scrambled to return to his feet. As he did, Antonio Nogueira locked his arms around his adversary’s neck and applied an arm-in guillotine. Tim Sylvia tapped almost immediately while Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Antonio Nogueira applied a tremendous amount of leverage.

“He is a true heavyweight,” Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Antonio Nogueira said of Sylvia. “He’s a giant. I got many hard punches in this fight. I was waiting for a good opportunity to put him on the ground.”

The next big main event in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts will be a fight between Kimbo Slice vs. David “Tank” Abbott for Elite XC MMA in Miami, Florida, on February 16.

To bet on Kimbo Slice vs. Tank Abbott, visit the UFC and MMA Sportsbook.

Click here for Elite XC MMA tickets, or Kimbo Slice vs. Tank Abbott tickets.