Mike Chiappetta • E-mail

Chris Leben has never had a problem playing the bad guy, which will be a trait that comes in handy when he finds himself nearly drowning in a chorus of over 10,000 boos on Saturday night at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England.

Leben will be facing the UK's greatest MMA fighting export, Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC 89. These days, Leben is far from the immature kid who turned himself into the man we loved to hate on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. In fact, because of his hammerlike fists and never-say-die attitude, he has won over many of the same fans who once rooted against him. But on Saturday night, he returns to villain status as he tries to derail the hometown hero from bringing down the curtain in style.

So how will UFC 89 go down? Let's take a look at Bisping-Leben, as well as some of the other key bouts.

Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben

Bisping's record: 16-1

Bisping strengths: Well-rounded, excellent conditioning

Bisping's quotable: "I feel great at this weight. I've said this a million times, I think middleweight has always been my natural weight class; I was just too stupid to realize it."

Leben's record: 18-4

Leben's strengths: Dynamite hands, huge heart

Leben's quotable: "There's nothing cooler than when you can make thousands of people scream, that's cool. But when - come the 18th - when I make them all go dead stone quiet, that's going to be, that's going to be something real special."

Keys to the fight: Bisping must circle away from Leben's left hook and vary his attack, using leg kicks and jabs to keep him at bay, and even trying the occasional takedown. Bisping has very good head movement that will serve him well in avoiding Leben's power striking. Leben must try to devolve the fight into a brawl. If he tries to fight a technical fight, Bisping is slightly better equipped and will likely outpoint him. He has to continually come forward and try to rile up the crowd and hope Bisping lets his emotions get the better of him. Bisping has been very strong in his two middleweight fights, but Leben has retooled his attack and conditioning.

What's at stake: Bisping has had only two fights at middleweight. He is one of the biggest names at 185 yet to take on Anderson Silva, and should Silva get past Patrick Cote at UFC 90, Bisping could get the next crack. Leben is still re-establishing himself in the division, winning two straight after back-to-back losses. Bisping is closer to a title shot.

Likely outcome: Bisping has faster hands, while Leben has heavier hands. Bisping's always shown a good chin, so a knockout seems unlikely on other side. This one looks like it'll go to a judge's decision, and a long fight favors Bisping.

Brandon Vera vs. Keith Jardine

Vera's record: 9-2

Vera's strengths: Excellent striking, supreme confidence

Jardine's record: 13-4

Jardine's strengths: Unorthodox attacks, unpredictable

Keys to the fight: Vera has a strong muay thai background, which could give Jardine fits if he can get inside, where Jardine has been susceptible to damage. Vera is a good-sized light-heavyweight who should be better at that weight after experiencing the weight cut already. He should also use his underrated wrestling skills to put Jardine on his back, and ramp up the aggressiveness that led to his early career win streak. Jardine needs to keep the fight at a comfortable distance. He's been KO'd by Wanderlei Silva and Houston Alexander when they got inside, and Vera poses that same danger. Leg kicks will be important, and he'll have to try to get in, unleash a combo, and get out of harm's way. Vera also tends to be excitable, so if Jardine can set a tempo that frustrates him, it could play to his advantage.

What's at stake: Both fighters have lost two of their last three fights, but Vera had his slate wiped clean after moving to 205. His first win at the weight was a lackluster decision, so he needs to impress to reassert himself as one to watch. Jardine is sort of in a no man's land, holding two huge wins over Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell, but then suffering two devastating knockouts inside of one minute each. He's got to show some consistency or risk being a gatekeeper for the rest of his career.

Likely outcome: Both fighters have to feel like they're at a bit of a career crossroads. It's hard to guess how that pressure will affect them, but Vera is the fighter with the better physical tools and the one who has the most to gain. Vera by late TKO.

Other key fights
Luiz Cane (8-1) vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2)
This should be a fan's delight. Both men are strikers at heart who love to stand and trade, so mark this one off as a potential show-stealer. Sokoudjou came to the UFC with a big reputation, but flamed out in his first match with Lyoto Machida before rebounding with a TKO win over Kazuhiro Nakamura in May. Cane could very well be unbeaten but suffered a disqualification loss in his UFC debut before taking out Jason Lambert. The 205-pound division is so stacked this won't have much of an impact on it, but will count for something down the line.

Shane Carwin (9-0) vs. Neil Wain (4-0)
Surprisingly, this fight isn't guaranteed to be on the TV broadcast, but there's a very good chance you'll see it, as neither man has been to a second round in their respective careers. Carwin has big power but also has some submission ability. The amazing thing about Carwin is he does it all despite having a full-time job as a mechanical engineer.

Marcus Davis (14-4) vs. Paul Kelly (7-0)
This one should be fight of the night. Davis is coming off a loss which snapped an 11-fight win streak, so you know he'll be hoping to impress. Meanwhile, Kelly is another UK local who loves to play to the crowd and brawl, so this one could turn into a crowd-pleasing slugfest despite Davis' pre-fight statements to the contrary.

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