The UFC returns to Canada for its second time next Saturday night April 18th. UFC 97: Redemption will be held in Montreal's Bell Centre. The UFC's first foray into Montreal was a rousing success as it rode on the wings of headlining Canadian MMA superstar, Georges St. Pierre.

The UFC would be testing the waters this time by holding an event not being anchored by St. Pierre. The result? Still a second straight Bell Centre sellout with 20,000 people. This is a testament to how popular the sport has gotten in North America.

It's also a testament to how great a card it is. UFC 97 will feature co-main events, including one that fans have been salivating for for years.

Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell reigned supreme in the UFC's Octagon throughout most of this decade. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua dominated in the Japanese PRIDE ring during much of that time.

Rua and Liddell stand at 6' 1" and 6' 2", respectively. When the two face off they'll both weigh about 205 lbs and have a 76" reach.

This faultlessly chiseled Rua exemplifies the beauty of fighting. This is a man who in fact modeled for a Brazilian fashion magazine. Sharing a spread with two waif European models, he became a face of fashion designer Carlos Mieles' Spring-Summer 2008 collection.

Rua entered the arena at UFC 93 to the tune of a piano-laden Euro-trance song and danced to it in the Octagon as if he were in a disco.

During his dominant years in PRIDE, Rua's Muay Thai striking was nearly as perfect as his pose striking. The Brazilian Chute Boxe Academy member dispatched opponent after opponent cleanly and decisively through a variety of methods.

Enter the Iceman, Chuck Liddell. He makes commercials for steaks. The mohawk-wearing fighter draws points from children in public to "look at the scary man." Athletic yes. Chiseled no. The Iceman comes complete with a slight beer belly as well as head tattoo, as he enters the arena to a dark and gloomy DMX hip-hop tune.

The veteran Liddell has never developed a multi-faceted fight game, something many people feel is needed to compete in today's MMA. His one dimension has however been proven to work and appeals to both the John Wayne and Chuck Norris generations. That dimension, simply put, is slugging.

Chuck Liddell is America personified.

So close in size and stature, the two could not be more different in style both inside and outside the fighting arena.

The other co-main event of UFC 97 will feature arguably the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

Anderson "The Spider" Silva will be returning to the Octagon for the first time since showing off his skills to a Chicago audience at UFC 90 last fall. The UFC middleweight champion Silva is undefeated since he joined the UFC three years ago.

People shouldn't dismiss this bout as another one that he's destined to win. His opponent this time, Thales Leites may have just the skill-set needed to defeat Silva. Silva defeated strikers like Chris Leben, Rich Franklin, and James "The Sandman" Irvin by besting them at their own game. Silva displayed his ground skills by out grappling jiu-jitsu black belt, Travis Lutter, and Greco-Roman wrestler, Dan Henderson.

Leites may represent the right combination to solve the Silva puzzle. Not only is Leites a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, he is young, extremely athletic, and well conditioned.

Silva is known for his kicks. With one Silva high kick caught early in a round, Leites could be in the position to upend the longtime UFC champion. Silva may know this so fans should expect a patient and calculated striking game from Silva.

David Estrada Jr. is a Mixed Martial Arts columnist for the Port Arthur News. He can be e-mailed at DavidEstrada@DavidEstrada.com