UFC 93 in Dublin taking shape

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Monday made official several of the rumored bouts for its Jan. 17 event in Dublin, Ireland. UFC 93 is already known to be headlined by Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson in a light heavyweight bout and Mark Coleman versus Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

Part of the Monday's announcement is one of the more anticipated bouts on the fight card, Denis Kang facing Alan Belcher. Kang, one of the top middleweight fighters in recent years in Japan, will be making his Octagon debut at UFC 93. In Belcher, he faces a fighter with a mediocre 4-3 record in the UFC, but also a fighter that is known for the excitement he brings, win or lose.

Another fight that has fans salivating is the expected slugfest between ChrisLytle and Marcus Davis. These are two of the hardest hitting welterweights in the promotion, if not all of MMA, and both have wanted this fight for some time, even conspiring to call each other out after their respective bouts at UFC 89.

Other bouts confirmed by the UFC on Monday include: Antonio Mendes versus Andre Gusmao, Dennis Siver against Nate Mohr, Jeremy Horn and Rousimar Palhares, Tomasz Drwal versus Ivan Serati, and Tom Egan facing John Hathaway.

UFC 93 is already sold out. The full inventory of tickets was gone in a matter of weeks.

"This is our seventh successive sell-out in the British Isles since April of 2007," said UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik. "We now hold records in six of the biggest arenas in all of Europe. We have the most dedicated and passionate fans in sport and we are thrilled to be bringing some of the biggest names in the sport to the Emerald Isle early in the New Year."