Strange and outlandish perplexities are astir at the tail-end of Wanderlei Silva's career.  Within that cold and dark place lies a motley host of vile and uncouth letters; all bearing the same appalling shape, all rearing their disgustingly putrid heads in near-perfect unison, all portending the proverbial kiss of death for the waning career of a historic warrior.

Losses, and a lot of them, surround the recent footprints that Silva has left leading into his clash with Michael Bisping at UFC 110 tomorrow night.  The man who was once considered unstoppable at 205 pounds, the killer who emerged without a loss after 20 consecutive fights in Pride against the likes of Mirko CroCop, Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba (in his prime), and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, has lost 5 of his last 6 fights.  The days are dark indeed for Wanderlei Silva and his steadfast followers.

Needless to say, I get a little dramatic when it comes to Wand, and this will not be a fair and unbiased piece.

The main card of UFC 110 features three battle-hardened Pride stars, all of whom are hoping to maintain the pulse of their storied careers by turning in convincing performances.  The seasoned veterans are taking on dangerous up-and-comers who want to make their mark and prove they're for real, and there is no better way to accomplish that than to knock-off of a veritable legend.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira represents everything honorable and classy about the sport, and he's rightfully earned the title of the world's second best heavyweight right behind the immortal Fedor Emelianenko.  He bears the distinguished honors of being the first Pride heavyweight champion, and also the first and only fighter to hold belts in both the UFC (interim heavyweight title) and Pride.

There is just something special about this guy.  He is MMA's original "comeback fighter" who has dazzled the world time and time again with dramatic, storybook-like submission victories after suffering prolonged beatings that caused even his most loyal and devout fans to outwardly cringe and call for the referee to stop the fight.  Although Demian Maia, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, and a handful of other fighters have entered MMA with a more gaudily decorated background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira still sits proudly atop the heap as the undisputed king out of all the best submission fighters to ever compete.

The UFC has announced some last-minute changes to tomorrow's UFC 110 card in Sydney, Australia. 

Hometown favorite Elvis Sinosic has suffered an injury to his shoulder that will force him out of his scheduled bout with fellow Australian Chris Haseman, and the fight has been scratched from the event altogether.  In a premiere match-up on the main card, Miletich monster Ben Rothwell contracted an illness and is unable to compete; but the bout will be saved by the big balls of  Australian Anthony Perosh, who first refused the fight against such a dangerous opponent without proper preparation, but later agreed, citing inspiration absorbed from a Dana White speech.

Getting ready to head down to AC for Lou Neglia's Ring of Combat XXVIII tonight. Another great card featuring some of the area's top talent. Lou's shows have paved the way for many UFC stars, including former UFC champion Matt "The Terror" Serra, who recently crushed Frank Trigg with an amazing first round KO.

I'll be recapping the event in the next couple of days, so stay tuned. Complete card after the jump.

Oh no he didn't!  Oh yes he did.

Shane Carwin is training hard for his fight with Frank Mir for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 111 in Newark, NJ on March 27.  Shane hasn't fought since last March and last night I asked him about the long layoff and about Mir's penchant for trash talk.  He didn't seem phased by either.  In fact he believes the layoff is helfpul in some ways, saying, "For a guy like me who is limited on ring time and experience it has been a good thing.  Anytime I can train and spar at a high level and advance my skills while taking little to no long term damage I feel I get better. Don't get me wrong I go home with black eyes, sore jaw, but I do feel like I am getting better."

Since Shane's style is similiar in some ways  to Brock Lesnar's, both men being masters of the "ground and pound," I asked him if there was anything he learned about Mir from watching Frank's last fight with Lesnar.  Shane  replied that there were "a few things that we will look for but Frank is a smart guy and I suspect he will have transitioned some since that fight.  I think I have what it takes to win the fight standing or through ground and pound.  He is going to be looking for mistakes and openings for his submissions. It will be a true honor to test myself against Frank."

The Junkie reports that Bellator FC champion and top Dream lightweight Eddie Alvarez will be matched with feisty scrappy Josh Neer in a Bellator event that will take place sometime in May.  The bout is set for a catchweight of 160 pounds.

As the Bellator FC promotion gears up for another year of events featuring the tournament format, they plan to pit their current champions against worthy, name opponents both under and outside the Bellator banner.  After tearing through the organization's lightweight tournament last year with three consecutive submission victories, Alvarez was shipped back across the pond with the blessing of Bellator to fight soaring DEEP lightweight champion Katsunori Kikuno at DREAM 12, which was the Japanese stronghold's first trial application of a cage instead of a ring.

Antonio Big Nog Nogueira is ready for his fight this weekend at UFC 110 against Cain Velasquez.  A win here could put him in line for a title shot against Brock Lesnar. Check out the video interviews after the jump.