Hopefully last week's UFC Fight Night was merely the calm before the storm. After Zuffa displayed one of the most action-packed events in some time with UFC 80, Wednesday's offering left much to be desired.

Of the four main televised fights, two were borderline fantastic and two were absolute stinkers. Nate Diaz's beautiful triangle submission of Alvin Robinson (Pictures) and Patrick Cote (Pictures)'s stoppage of Drew McFedries were the highlights. However, those fights were sandwiched between the horrendously tedious duels of Thiago Tavares (Pictures) versus Michihiro Omigawa (Pictures) and the typically reliable Mike Swick (Pictures) against Josh Burkman (Pictures).

Since few care much about Tavares' win over Omigawa, I'll leave that one alone and write only that it was lousy. Swick and Burkman, however, have some explaining to do.

It's always perplexing when two entertaining fighters match up well yet deliver a fight that's for the birds. The fans inside the Pearl were obviously disgusted, as they pelted both fighters as well as the three ringside judges with boos and jeering. I heard so much profanity following the fight that even Dana White would have blushed.

What happened? Burkman tried too hard to do one thing while Swick did everything he could not to lose.

When the taller Swick stuffed Burkman's repeated takedown attempts, the shorter fighter tried lunging punches and wild, desperate kicks. Conversely, Swick opted to stuff his opponent over and over and threw only occasional punches.

The most successful fighters in the fight game have always been the most exciting ones because let's face it: Fans want to be entertained. When fighters enter a battle and fight not to lose instead of trying to win, it leaves a sour taste in everyone's mouth. Also, when a fighter forces a game plan that's been thwarted from the start, the same sour taste inflames our taste buds.

It's easy to be hard on both Swick and Burkman, but in reality, both are still young contenders and have plenty of room to grow as fighters. At this stage in their respective careers, it's a bit selfish to expect them to fight like world champions with more than a decade of fighting the best. Besides, neither fighter has made a career of delivering lousy fights.

I thought Burkman won the contest, but it wasn't an outright robbery. Both expressed disgust in their own performances to me after the event, and both felt they had prevailed. Hopefully Burkman can figure out additional fight tactics and Swick will return to form soon.

Looking Ahead to Mir-Lesnar

Zuffa has a history of pulling off remarkable events after duds. UFC Fight Night was as close to a dud as they come, so it's expected from yours truly that Saturday's card from Las Vegas will be above average. What's also a bit peculiar about UFC 81 is that I'm actually intrigued about a heavyweight fight.

In the fight game, I will do whatever it takes to stay away from fights featuring "the big boys" unless I absolutely have to cover the bout. Why, you ask?

Heavyweight fights are horrible. I can't watch them. In fact, I'd almost prefer being subjected to the torture of watching "MASH" reruns than have to suffer through a heavyweight fight.

This time it's different, as the main attraction is a duel between former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir (Pictures) and former WWF superstar Brock Lesnar (Pictures). Though Tim Sylvia (Pictures) versus Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) is the "main event" because it's for the interim heavyweight title, the fight that matters most is Mir-Lesnar.

Many fans have groaned about how unfair it is that a former pro wrestler comes in with one MMA fight under his belt and receives more publicity and marketing than both a former UFC champ (Sylvia) and a former PRIDE king (Nogueira). But why wouldn't Lesnar command such attention?

After all, Sylvia has nobody to blame for his lack of fan attraction but himself. Almost half of his UFC fights have been among the absolute worst ever: Brandon Vera (Pictures), the rubber match with Andrei Arlovski (Pictures), Jeff Monson (Pictures), Assuerio Silva (Pictures). Ugh, when should I stop?

Big Nogueira is still an unknown here in the States. Even though I believe he is the second greatest heavyweight in the history of the sport, he has fought primarily in Japan.

With that said, Mir-Lesnar is the matchup most people are talking about. Lesnar brings in an entirely new audience (the mullet-headed pro wrestling crowd) and is an absolute monster. Mir is the good-looking former UFC poster boy who possesses some of the best submissions this side of the Mississippi.

It's a clever angle to take: Will Mir run out of gas within 90 seconds like he usually does, thus allowing Lesnar to capitalize? Will Lesnar take Mir down and fall right into an armbar 20 seconds in? Or will Lesnar and Mir both enter the Octagon in the best conditions of their lives, resulting in one hell of a heavyweight showdown worthy of being the main event of UFC 81?

He's been away from "sports entertainment" for quite a few years now, and his meeting with Mir is an appealing showdown between two former champs of two vastly different realms of combat: one authentic, the other scripted.

I hope the fight lives up to the intrigue, but I won't be shocked if a triumphant Lesnar has one of his pro wrestling buddies enter the Octagon to drop a snake on a fallen Mir's head.

Misc. Debris

While it's much too early in the young fighter's career to say it, it's not out of the realm of possibility to think that Nate Diaz will be better than big brother Nick. The elder Diaz -- one of my all-time favorite fighters to watch due to his sheer intensity and his inclination to become entrenched in all-out wars -- has always been a tad reckless. That recklessness has led to thrilling wars, but it seems that the tendencies that characterized Nick aren't that prevalent with Nate. The younger Diaz seems a little more patient at this point and that could lead to a greater career in terms of victories. …

Like Nate Diaz, it's still far too soon to proclaim Gray Maynard (Pictures) the next all-time great, especially considering he's had but five professional fights. However, "The Bully" fights like every great man to come out of Team Quest, including Matt Lindland (Pictures), Dan Henderson (Pictures) and Randy Couture (Pictures). He's relentless, powerful and he strikes with authority. As long as he continues to grow as a fighter and adapts to the various situations within the heat of battle, Maynard might just be the next champion out of the factory of Team Quest/Xtreme Couture. …

Tito Ortiz (Pictures) became the project manager on a recent episode of "The Celebrity Apprentice." While he didn't have the sort of business and marketing acumen of some former "Apprentice" contestants, Ortiz commanded his team to victory over the ladies' team, which was headed by Gene Simmons. Ortiz and former boxing king Lennox Lewis have yet to actually get some prime camera time on the show, as Stephen Baldwin and Piers Morgan are camera hogs. More on the photogenic Gina Carano (Pictures)'s "American Gladiators" appearance next week, by the way. …

You know you're a big-time celebrity when the paparazzi follow you around. Chuck Liddell (Pictures) was recently the subject on the unfortunately popular tabloid TV show "TMZ." My wife watches all that nonsense on the boob tube, and she called me into the room when "The Iceman" was spotted roaming the streets while club hopping with three blondes and a brunette. Ah, the life of a superstar fighter.

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