PORT ARTHUR —  It's hard to believe there will have been fifty major UFC events since the milestone UFC 100 event was held on July 11, 2009. It took sixteen years from the UFC's first event to reach the century mark.

 In just over three years since UFC 100, the UFC will be holding UFC 150 next Saturday night August 11. This short time frame shows just how much the sport is expanding domestically and internationally as major events are held more often.

 UFC 150 will be held in Denver, Colo., where the first UFC event started what would become the mixed martial arts sport of today. UFC 1 had no weight classes before the sport became regulated.

 UFC 100 featured the heavyweight showdown between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. UFC 150 will showcase the lightweight championship rematch between Ben Henderson and Frankie Edgar in what's become one of the UFC's glamour divisions.

 The UFC lightweight championship saga has a very odd distinction. The last six lightweight championship bouts have had the same two fighters fight each other back-to-back.

 In 2010 at UFC 112, Frankie Edgar upset BJ Penn in a close unanimous decision to take the belt. The UFC felt this warranted an instant rematch which was granted later that year at UFC 118. Edgar won again but more soundly.

 After those two battles with Penn, Edgar literally drew challenger Gray Maynard next. He fought Maynard to a draw at UFC 125 which led to another immediate rematch for the lightweight title. faced Maynard again at UFC 136 in Houston and ensured no rematch would be needed; he decisively claimed victory over Maynard by knocking him out.

 Next for Edgar was a defense of his crown at UFC 144 in Japan against former WEC lightweight champion Ben "Smooth" Henderson. Their battle was reminiscent of most of Edgar's previous title bouts. It went to a close judges' decision but this time Edgar lost.

 Now fans are seeing yet another instant rematch pitting new champion Henderson against Edgar again next Saturday night.     

 Watching a series of championship bout pairings can be interesting, but some detractors question the UFC for making instant rematches so often, especially in the lightweight division. Sure the bouts are close and rematches seem warranted, but the lightweight division is extremely deep, perhaps the deepest of the entire UFC.

 Other lightweights are banging at the doors to get a shot at the title and fans want to see them. Fighters such as Anthony Pettis, Nate Diaz, Clay Guida, and Jim Miller have arguably missed shots at the title while old battles are recycled.

 One's got to hope either Henderson or Edgar win decisively on Saturday. If not fans may see the first instant trilogy.

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