March 1 marks the date of one of the most significant matchups in the history of mixed martial arts.

In Columbus, Ohio, in the main event of UFC 82, former two-division Pride champion Dan Henderson (Pictures) will climb into the UFC Octagon to try and wrest the UFC middleweight title from champion Anderson Silva.

But there's an even more important aspect of the event: The Great Sherdog Debate's all-time wins leader and the argument's greatest champion in terms of winning percentage will clash for the first time in what seems like eons. Yes, bring on Sloan vs. Fridley VI!

Mike Sloan: Wow, like Aaron Crecy on the Sherdog Radio Network, you have returned out of the blue! Welcome back, Fridley. I see you are no longer backing away from the ledge of perfection and have decided to put your unblemished GSD record on the line. Funny, too, that nobody else from this site has the intestinal fortitude to challenge you to a debate.

With that said, I'm sorry to inform you that your 5-0 record will turn into a gruesome 5-1 disaster. People know how much I salivate while watching expert strikers at work, and Anderson Silva is, in my opinion, the greatest striker in the history of MMA. His speed, technique, power, balance, smoothness, accuracy and patience are second to none. Not even the great Bas Rutten (Pictures) stacks up to "Spider" (here comes the flame mail again), but his striking won't be enough on Saturday.

You see, when Silva burst on the UFC scene a few years ago with his destruction of Chris Leben (Pictures) (which I called dead on, BTW), fans of the sport were already hailing him as the next great fighter. They were right, especially when he pummeled Rich Franklin (Pictures) en route to becoming the UFC's middleweight champ. Amid the chaos and admiration for Silva, I pointed out in quite a number of columns that while Silva is spectacular, there are two guys he won't beat: Paulo Filho (Pictures) and Dan Henderson (Pictures), provided they'd ever come to the UFC.

Well, the time has come for me to put my money where my mouth is because Henderson is about to make me look like a genius yet again. He's never been knocked out, won't be stupid enough to stand and trade with Silva and he'll eventually score some takedowns. From there he'll plow away with the Team Quest ground-and-pound. By the time the fourth round nears its end, the referee will be rescuing Silva.

Henderson will become the second fighter in history to capture both a Pride and a UFC belt, toppling a former Pride veteran and reigniting the old and tired "Pride > UFC" debates on the forums.

Henderson hung tough with the much bigger "Rampage" in his last UFC entrance, and let's not forget the ruthless beating he gave to Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) one year ago. Henderson's the real deal. His TKO win over Anderson Silva in your hometown will kick off a UFC career that will mimic former teammate Randy Couture (Pictures)'s, albeit at a smaller weight.

So long, Fridley, and your perfect record. Better luck next time, chump.

Mike Fridley: Welcome to the rebuttal segment of this debate, Sloan. Or in layman's terms, the first words that our visitors will read on this whole page since they surely scrolled down to ignore your stale arguments.

Though I must admit, it's quite nice to have you back in the big leagues. You spent some time in the minors beating up on my boys TJ De Santis and Steven Curtis for several months. It's obvious that it has done wonders for your fragile ego, but it's time for a reality check, homeboy.

Repeat after me, Sloan. Anderson Silva will dispatch of Dan Henderson (Pictures). And he will do it in brutal fashion, just as he did to the other challengers Joe Silva wheeled out on a sacrificial wagon.

Henderson won't suffer through an unwilling Octagon rhinoplasty like Rich Franklin (Pictures) and Nathan Marquardt (Pictures), but the end of UFC 82's main event will be reminiscent of that special brand of caged carnage that only "The Spider" can deliver.

My mentor and friend Josh Gross is dead-on in his analysis of this fight. The clinch is where this fight will be won or lost for both fighters. Henderson's dirty boxing and trip takedowns versus Silva's teeth-ejecting Thai plum. For those who enjoy mixed martial arts at its highest level, it simply doesn't get any better than this wonderful match to be played out in the heart of Buckeye country.

Henderson was just shy in his bid to capture light heavyweight gold against Quinton Jackson (Pictures) last September, and pending a very unlikely drop to welterweight, that's as close as he's going to get to possessing a UFC title.

The advantages for Silva far outweigh any edge that Henderson may own in his wrestling game. On the feet, this won't even be a contest. Anderson is a technician that operates with surgical truculence, while Henderson is a threat only when putting weight behind that piece of granite that we call a right hand.

On the ground, Silva's long-legged guard and dexterity will be more than enough to deal with Henderson's tight positioning and control. Don't be surprised if Silva catches his opponent in a near submission early in the fight. This could set Henderson on a path that strays from his game plan, thus speeding up the inevitable.

At the beginning of the third round, bleeding and breathing hard, Henderson will give in to desperation and make a critical mistake that will cost him the UFC middleweight crown. Frustrated from Silva circling away from his power and attacking the legs, Henderson will throw caution to the wind and open up with his hands.

Unmatched precision will follow, as Anderson will tie up Henderson's head and proceed to knee his body and face until he folds to the canvas. A stiff kick to the downed fighter's body and several crisp punches will seal the deal.

This will make you 0-6 against me, Sloan. Hillary Clinton has a better shot of climbing out of the cellar than you.

I advise you not to take this beating too harsh, Mikey. It's just one small step toward Anderson Silva's permanent mixed martial arts legacy -- to hold onto his starry middleweight belt as long as "the hunter" holds his own strap in the constellation Orion.