Breaking down the UFC 101 card

The Ultimate Fighting Championship makes its Pennsylvania debut Saturday night at the Wachovia Center with an 11-bout card. Preliminary bouts begin at 7:15 p.m. with the main card bouts starting at 10 p.m. for pay-per-view broadcast. Weights are approximate, pending today's official weigh-in at the Wachovia Center.

PRELIMINARY CARD

WELTERWEIGHT BOUT

Jesse "The Ox" Lennox

Age: 27

Height: 5-9; Weight: 170

UFC record: 0-0; MMA record 14-1

Fighting out of: Bettendorf, Iowa

Last fight: Won by TKO over Blas Avena in a World Extreme Cagefighting bout (Jan. 25).

Punch list: Lennox will get to showcase his wrestling abilities in his first UFC fight. Originally trying MMA for "the fun of it," Lennox never imagined competing but said: "The UFC is the big stage and is the organization everyone wants to be in. I earned my way in here and am proud of that, but it's all about what I accomplish now that I am here."

vs.

Danillo "Indio" Villefort

Age: 25

Height: 6-1; Weight: 170

UFC record: 0-0; MMA record: 9-2

Fighting out of: Coconut Creek, Fla.

Last fight: Won by TKO over Mike Campbell in a World Extreme Cagefighting bout (Jan. 25).

Punch list: From the now defunct IFL to the WEC, this will also be Villefort's first UFC bout, but the jiu-jitsu black belt hopes it's not his last.

LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT

George Sotiropoulos

Age: 32

UFC record: 2-0; MMA record 9-2

Height: 5-10; Weight: 155

Fighting out of: Las Vegas

Last fight: Won by TKO over Roman Mitichyan at UFC Fight Night (April 2008).

Punch list: Sotiropoulos is considered a seasoned veteran, but his cardio and his ability to go the distance makes him a menace for fighters young and old. Technically sound, Sotiropoulos' standup and ground game make him an extremely tough nut to crack.

vs.

George Roop

Age: 27

Height: 6-1; Weight: 155

UFC record: 1-1; MMA record: 9-5

Fighting out of: Las Vegas

Last fight: Won by split decision over Dave Kaplan at UFC 98.

Punch list: With a brutal standup game and a long reach to his advantage, look for Roop to most likely turn his third UFC match into a slugfest.

WELTERWEIGHT BOUT

Matthew Riddle

Age: 23

Height: 6-1; Weight: 170

UFC record: 2-0; MMA record: 2-0

Fighting out of: Las Vegas

Last fight: Won by unanimous decision over Steve Bruno at "UFC Fight Night" (Feb. 7).

Punch list: Originally from Allentown, Riddle boasts a solid wrestling background as a high school national champion and a tough grappler at East Stroudsburg University. His deft striking abilities have made him a rising - and thus far undefeated - star in the UFC.

vs.

Dan Cramer

Age: 23

Height: 6-2; Weight: 170

UFC record: 1-0; MMA record: 1-0

Fighting out of: Bethel, Conn.; Coconut Creek, Fla.

Last fight: Won by split decision over Matt Arroyo in UFC 94.

Punch list: It's too early for a book on Cramer, who boasts just a single win by split decision in mixed martial arts. According to the UFC Web site, Cramer is considered aggressive, competitive and versatile. The perfect brew for an up-and-coming fighter.

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT

Thales Leites

Age: 27

Height: 6-1; Weight: 185

UFC record: 5-2; MMA record: 14-2

Fighting out of: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Last fight: Loss by unanimous decision to Anderson Silva in UFC 97.

Punch list: With a top-notch ground game, Leites proved he is a force in the UFC after going toe-to-toe for five rounds in the loss to Silva in April.

vs.

Alessio "Legionarius" Sakara

Age: 27

Height: 6-0; Weight: 185

UFC record: 4-4; MMA record: 17-7 (one no contest)

Fighting out of: Miami

Last fight: Won by knockout of Joe Vedepo at "UFC Fight Night" (Sept. 2008).

Punch list: With a big solid upper body, Sakara's main threat is his ability to knock the stuffing out of whatever he hits, proven in his last fight – a first-round knockout of Vedepo.

WELTERWEIGHT BOUT

Tamdan "The Barn Cat" McCrory

Age: 22

Height: 6-4; Weight: 170

UFC record: 3-2; MMA record: 12-2

Fighting out of: Cortland, N.Y.

Last fight: Won by TKO over Ryan Madigan in UFC 96.

Punch list: Judging by McCrory's wiry frame, you'd never guess the youngster brings deceptive strength and a solid technical game to the Octagon.

vs.

John "Doomsday" Howard

Age: 26

Height: 5-7; Weight: 170

UFC record: 1-0; MMA record: 11-4

Fighting out of: Boston

Last fight: Won by split decision over Chris Wilson in UFC 94.

Punch list: Howard brings a bruising standup game, which aided his first UFC victory in January.

LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT

Shane "Sugar" Nelson

Age: 25

Height: 5-9; Weight: 155

UFC record: 2-0; MMA record: 13-3

Fighting out of: Hilo, Hawaii

Last fight: Won by TKO over Aaron Riley in UFC 96.

Punch list: Heavy hands and solid jiu-jitsu skills have Nelson standing tall with a 2-0 UFC record going into his rematch with Riley. Trains with BJ Penn's camp.

vs.

Aaron Riley

Age: 28

Height: 5-8; Weight: 155

UFC record: 1-3; MMA record: 27-11-1

Fighting out of: Seattle

Last fight: Loss by TKO to Shane Nelson in UFC 96.

Punch list: An experienced, technically sound fighter, Riley knows what to expect out of Nelson - the second time around.

MAIN CARD

LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT

Josh "The Dentist" Neer

Age: 26

Height: 5-11; Weight: 155

UFC record: 4-4; MMA record: 25-7-1

Fighting out of: Des Moines, Iowa

Last fight: Won by submission (choke) over Mac Danzig on Spike TV's "UFC Fight Night" (Feb. 7).

Punch list: Neer brings a fierce standup game but will also battle it out on the ground as he is always looking for the submission.

vs.

Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino

Age: 30

Height: 5-8; Weight: 155

UFC record: 6-3; MMA record: 19-4

Fighting out of: Point Pleasant, N.J.

Last fight: Won by submission over Rob Emerson on Spike TV's "UFC Fight Night" (Feb. 7).

Punch list: Pellegrino is a seasoned pro whose wrestling abilities and mastery of Brazilian jiu-jitsu make him tough to put on the mat and an even tougher task once you get him there.

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT

Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove

Age: 26

Height: 6-6; Weight: 185

UFC record: 5-2; MMA record: 12-5

Fighting out of: Maui, Hawaii

Last fight: Won by TKO over Jason Day in UFC 96.

Punch list: Imposing size, a dominant standup game due to his long reach, and tons of heart. Grove is 2-for-2 since a TKO loss to Jorge Rivera at UFC 80 (January 2008).

vs.

Ricardo "Big Dog" Almeida

Age: 32

Height: 6-0; Weight: 185

UFC record: 3-3; MMA record: 10-3

Fighting out of: Hamilton, N.J.

Last fight: Win by unanimous decision over Matt Horwich on Spike TV's "UFC Fight Night" (April 1).

Punch list: Boasting a solid ground game, Almeida's two other UFC wins came by submission, choking out Rob Yundt in UFC 81 and forcing Eugene Jackson to tapout in UFC 33.

WELTERWEIGHT BOUT

Amir Sadollah

Age: 28

Height: 5-11; Weight: 170

UFC record: 1-0; MMA record: 2-0

Fighting out of: Richmond, Va.

Last fight: Won by submission (arm lock) over CB Dollaway in "Ultimate Fighter 7" finale.

Punch list: Considered a technically well-rounded fighter who is proven in the amateur ranks at both 185 and 205 pounds.

vs.

Johny Hendricks

Age: 25

Height: 5-9; Weight: 170

UFC record: 2-0; MMA record: 5-0

Fighting out of: Las Vegas

Last fight: Won by unanimous decision over Alex Serdyukov in a World Extreme Cagefighting bout (March 1).

Punch list: Hendricks packs a punch and is considered a tough wrestler. Proven in the WEC, UFC's division for lightweight up-and-coming fighters. When asked his favorite technique for success, Hendricks quipped: "Punching people in the face."

CO-MAIN EVENT

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT

Anderson "The Spider" Silva

Age: 34

Height: 6-2; Weight: 205

UFC record: 9-0; MMA record: 24-4

Fighting out of: Curitiba, Brazil

Last fight: Unanimous decision over Thales Leites in UFC 97.

Punch list: Arguably the most technically advanced pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, Silva is a threat regardless of weight class. His undefeated UFC mark boasts wins by way of knockout (2), technical knockout (4), submission (2) and his latest, a five-round basting of Thales Leites in April.

vs.

Forrest Griffin

Age: 30

Height: 6-3; Weight: 205

UFC record: 7-3; MMA record: 16-5

Fighting out of: Las Vegas

Last fight: Third-round loss by TKO to Rashad Evans in UFC 92.

Punch list: If any fighter in the UFC poses a threat to handing Silva his first loss, it's this former UFC light heavyweight champion. Don't let the TKO loss to Evans fool you; Griffin is one smart fighter, patient and an excellent striker with fists or feet. Just look at what he did to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson's already hobbled knee with one swift kick in their main event bout at UFC 86.

CO-MAIN EVENT

LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE BOUT

BJ "The Prodigy" Penn

Age: 30

Height: 5-9; Weight: 155

UFC record: 9-4-1; MMA record: 13-5-1

Fighting out of: Hilo, Hawaii

Last fight: Fourth-round TKO loss to Georges St. Pierre in UFC 94.

Punch list: Considered the best 155-pounder in the UFC, Penn is also the self-proclaimed "most decorated jiu-jitsu athlete in America." A bold statement backed by his current title and the distinction of being the former UFC world welterweight champion. Before the loss to St. Pierre at UFC 94, Penn had won his last three bouts: a TKO of Sean Sherk in UFC 84 and two by way of submission, the first by choking out WEC star Jens Pulver in the Ultimate Fighter 5 finale on Spike TV and a second-round smothering of Joe "Daddy" Stevenson at UFC 80.

vs.

Kenny "Kenflo" Florian

Age: 33

Height: 5-10; Weight: 155

UFC record: 9-2; MMA record: 13-3

Fighting out of: Boston

Last fight: First-round win by submission over Joe "Daddy" Stevenson in UFC 91.

Punch list: Between his clinch game and his spider-like jiu-jitsu skills, "Kenflo" is as smooth as they come. After a loss to Sean Sherk in UFC 64 (October 2006), he has been undefeated, with three of his six wins coming by submission. He also works as an MMA analyst for ESPN and was its lead analyst for UFC 100 last month in Las Vegas, putting to use his communications degree from Boston College.