5. Dan Henderson (Pictures) to Middleweight
While one has to admire the attrition displayed by Dan Henderson (Pictures) at 205 pounds, genetics (and athletic commissions) agree: "Hollywood" is at his most potent when fighting at 185 pounds.

Though he resisted the drop, UFC brass finally convinced Henderson to move to that division for a March 1 showdown with champion Anderson Silva. With the two meeting, the UFC will host its second unofficial world unification bout, and Silva will receive his most formidable test to date. It's one of the few matches with real, seismic implications in the industry, and the UFC should be applauded for making it happen.

Now, if only they'd find Matt Lindland (Pictures)'s number.

4. At Last, Silva-Liddell
Some of the luster has dulled, but that hasn't dissuaded the UFC from promoting a fight that fans have been talking about for eons: the Chuck Liddell (Pictures)-Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) bout, a meeting that promises unholy violence.

With each fighter suffering consecutive losses, there must have been temptation to shuffle the chess pieces and try to build to a showdown between the two with title resonance. Unfortunately, that kind of matchmaking results in disappointment -- Liddell, at 38 years of age, might not be able to endure any further losses.

The fight would undoubtedly have been the biggest in the sport just 18 months ago, but why cry over un-spilled blood? Better late than never.

3. Bonus Pay
Observers lambasting the UFC for its sketchy compensation to undercard athletes have largely been muzzled thanks to the promotion's bonus system, which rewards fighters based on performance.

Marcus Davis (Pictures), an otherwise unheralded combatant, told Real Fighter magazine in December that he received a stunning $104,000 purse for his armbar victory over Paul Taylor (Pictures) at September's UFC 75. In addition to his salary, he nabbed $40,000 for Fight of the Night and $40,000 for Submission of the Night.

Undercard workers on the last "Ultimate Fighter" finale were making an average of $16,000 for a win, a far cry from the food stamps handed out at smaller shows. Credit the accountants at the UFC for recognizing the value of their performers and making pay equitable with the promotion's surge of success.

2. Cooperating with FEG
While the UFC's disposition toward other promotions remains skeptical, if not downright insulting, there are signs to point that some change could be on the way.

WEC featherweight contender Rani Yahya (Pictures) will be facing K-1 standout "Kid" Yamamoto in Japan on New Year's Eve. While Zuffa has little to lose in the equation -- Yahya is neither a champion nor a high-profile athlete -- it marks one of the few times the UFC has allowed a contracted athlete to play in another sandbox.

Optimism says that some of K-1's more intriguing stars -- "Kid," Denis Kang (Pictures) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (Pictures) -- could be considered part of an international exchange program. And if the UFC is willing to cross-pollinate, perhaps it's not out of the question that they'd see the value in cooperating with M-1 for a Fedor-Randy Couture (Pictures) blitz. Be sure to ask Santa.

1. Free Fights
In the month of December alone, Zuffa aired 13 live bouts involving names like Filho, Faber, Pulver, Guida, Huerta and Danzig.

Thirteen fights. For free.

It's only sporting to knock the UFC for some of its feeble-brained decisions, but fair's fair: No other MMA promotion comes close to providing the quality and quantity of entertainment they do, particularly when it comes to basic cable offerings. Between the live events and syndicated highlight shows, you can make a respectable attempt to follow the sport without spending a dime.

You'd have to be a Scrooge to find any fault in that.

For comments, e-mail jrossen@sherdog.com