The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Manchester, England for UFC 105 this Saturday and MMARising.com has a complete preview of the card, which is headlined by a light heavyweight bout between former two-division champion Randy “The Natural” Couture and Muay Thai standout Brandon “The Truth” Vera.

In other action, Mike “Quick” Swick meets British star Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy in a welterweight contender’s bout and England’s Michael “The Count” Bisping looks to rebound against Denis “Super Korean” Kang.

Randy “The Natural” Couture vs Brandon “The Truth” Vera

On paper, Vera (11-3-0) should streamroll through the aging Couture (16-10-0) with a quick stoppage that announces his presence as a force within the UFC once again. However, Couture has made a career out of defying the odds and can never be counted out.

In listening to Couture’s pre-fight comments on the fight, it is clear that his game plan hinges solely on outwrestling Vera and using the same strategy that has made him the legend that he is. He will aim to clinch and take Vera down to neutralise Vera’s Muay Thai kicks and knees.

By contrast, Vera will look to keep the fight standing so that he can add Couture to his highlight reel, but Vera is also skilled in jiu-jitsu and works well off of his back. He struggled when taken down by Fabricio Werdum, but Werdum held a significant size and strength advantage that Couture will not possess.

While it never gets tiring watching Couture pull off miracle upsets, his heavyweight losses to Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira seemed to be a telling sign that the end is finally near for Couture and this may be it.

Vera will pick up the biggest victory of his career here and will watch as his wife repeats the same feat in less than a week when she puts an emphatic end to the ridiculous hype train that follows Couture’s far less talented ex-wife, Kim.

Back-to-back knockouts will set November 2009 as the best month in the Veras’ lives.

Prediction:

Vera by TKO in round two.

Mike “Quick” Swick vs Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy

Swick (14-2-0) was one step away from a title shot until a concussion in training forced his withdrawal from UFC 103 and a #1 contender’s bout with Martin Kampmann. Fortunately for him, he’s getting another chance against the always dangerous Hardy.

Brash and outspoken, Hardy (22-6-0, 1 NC) has gained many fans with his three UFC wins thus far, including his one-punch knockout of Rory Markham and hard-fought decision over arch-rival Marcus Davis.

This is a very dangerous fight for Swick, as he has a tremendous amount to lose if he comes up short against Hardy. For Hardy, he has little to lose and everything to gain if he is able to pull off the upset.

While both fighters possess excellent striking and knockout power, this is likely to go the distance. Swick is an overwhelming favourite to win, and it would come as no surprise if his hand was raised after the final bell, but Hardy has been a dark horse since his arrival in the Octagon.

Though his chances of dethroning UFC Welterweight Champion Georges “Rush” St. Pierre sit somewhere between slim and none, Hardy will shock many by pulling off an upset here in front of his hometown fans.

Prediction:

Hardy by Unanimous Decision.