Oh yeah, that will be for the light heavyweight championship.

Now that we know Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will be defending his title against Rashad Evans, it’s as good a time as any to preview the impending light heavyweight title bout.

Although company president Dana White has confirmed the championship matchup, the organization has yet to announce when the 205-pounders will collide.

In Shogun Rua and Rashad Evans, you have two of the most explosive fighters at 205-pounds, but striking might not be what ultimately decides who exits the Octagon with gold around their waist.

If we were to compare the two from a pure striking perspective, the edge has to go to Shogun simply because he has more weapons in his arsenal. The former Chute Boxe fighter can be wild at times, however is able to put together lethal combinations of punches, kicks and knees that most can’t match.

Some might argue that Evans is the far more technical boxer – and rightfully so – but this is MMA and that shouldn’t be the deciding factor when they meet. Team Evans would also argue that Rashad’s kicking game could prove to be the difference, but again the nod still has to go to Rua after putting on a clinic against Lyoto Machida at UFC 104.

Like he did this past weekend against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 114, the glaring advantage Evans will look to capitalize on will be his explosive wrestling skills.

On the flipside, Rua would have no problems showcasing his…

Can they avoid stumbling in the end again?

The Netherlands rallied through qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a perfect record, winning all eight of its qualifiers whilst scoring 17 goals and conceding only two. They finished 2009 ranked third in the FIFA World Rankings, but the concern is that this is a side that some times suffers inexplicable defeats.

In Euro 2008, for example, Netherlands looked almost unstoppable after winning their group games by scores of 3-0 over Italy, 4-1 over France and 2-0 over Romania. Yet in the quarterfinals they suffered a shock 3-1 loss to Russia after extra time. In 2009, there were no losses for the Dutch, however. They won six matches and drew four, scoring 18 and conceding only four goals.

The Netherlands are traditionally among the most technically proficient teams in the game and their passing can be a thing of beauty, but it’s the cutting edge they will be looking for in South African in 2010.

Assistant coach Frank de Boer, their second most capped player of all time, told the FIFA website: “We have a mission: that mission is to be champions of the world.” They have the players to do it. What they will need in South Africa will be consistency throughout the month-long tournament.

If there’s one clear advantage that the Netherlands has…

2010 WORLD CUP TEAMS
Can they avoid stumbling in the end again?
The Netherlands rallied through qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a perfect record, winning all eight of its qualifiers whilst scoring 17 goals and conceding only two. They finished 2009 ranked third in the FIFA World Rankings, but the concern is that this [...]

2010 WORLD CUP TEAMS
Can Switzerland’s stingy defense give them glory in South Africa?
Switzerland booked their place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup after topping a competitive qualifying group that also included Greece that went on to secure a place in South Africa, Latvia, and Israel. In 10 matches, they conceded only eight goals. Last year, [...]

2010 WORLD CUP TEAMS
Dominant. That’s what Spain is to football.
The world’s number one ranked team, Spain, had their 35-match unbeaten run shockingly ended in the semi-finals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup by team USA. That was the only loss they suffered during the year as they won the other 15 matches they played, totaling [...]

2010 WORLD CUP TEAMS
Can they keep up with the Brazilians and the Portuguese?
While Group G in the 2010 FIFA World Cup is headlined by Brazil, that group is known as the Group of Death because of the presence of Portugal and also because of the Ivory Coast, a team ranked 16th in the world that [...]

Holland is still looking for a real test.

Holland’s qualifying group wasn’t the most testing they could have received, but a record of played eight, won eight, scored 17, conceded two shows how ruthlessly they dealt with it. They’ve been rewarded with a 2010 FIFA World Cup Group they are expected to win. Their Round of 16 draw is likely to be favorable too.

Holland had one of the most impressive qualifying records of all the teams going to South Africa. Nonetheless, this tells only half the story as they were in one of the easiest groups in the European qualifying zone, with teams like Norway, Scotland and Macedonia never likely to pose them too many problems. They topped their group with eight wins from eight matches, entering the World Cup in superb form and high spirits. Dirk Kuyt and Klass-Jan Huntelaar topped the Dutch scoring charts in qualification with 3 goals apiece.

Maarten Stekelenburg, the Ajax goalkeeper, was the man who took over the gloves following the retirement from international football of Edwin van der Sar. 27-year-old Stekelenburg only conceded two goals in qualifying and will enter the tournament full of confidence and behind a defence heavy on experience.

Giovanni van Bronckhurst has a wealth of experience and will be important to his country’s hopes, but it is PSV Eindhoven’s André Ooijer who will be charged with marshalling the defence in South Africa. Dutch defensive unit was rarely tested in qualifying and Ooijer will know that tougher times lay in wait this summer.

Wesley Sneijder was forced out of the Spanish club to…

Can Switzerland’s stingy defense give them glory in South Africa?

Switzerland booked their place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup after topping a competitive qualifying group that also included Greece that went on to secure a place in South Africa, Latvia, and Israel. In 10 matches, they conceded only eight goals. Last year, the Swiss played nine matches, won four of them, drew four, and lost only one.

Their star player is striker Alexander Frei. He is also captain of the Switzerland national team and carries much of the burden of their hopes in South Africa. By the end of 2009, he had scored an outstanding 40 goals in 73 internationals. It is a record that places him in elite company. For instance, a player like 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 22 times in 68 internationals.

The Swiss are coached by Ottmar Hitzfeld, who has won 18 major titles during his coaching career. Most of that time was spent coaching German giants Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich but, interestingly, he got his start in coaching in Switzerland with FC Zug in 1983. He coached in the country until 1991, also taking charge of FC Aarau and Grasshoppers Zurich.

”If my father had known I’d be this successful as Switzerland coach – not as Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund coach – he’d have been overjoyed. It’s the place we call home, you see,” Hitzfeld said.

A slightly different opponent for Spain, the Swiss are…

Dominant. That’s what Spain is to football.

The world’s number one ranked team, Spain, had their 35-match unbeaten run shockingly ended in the semi-finals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup by team USA. That was the only loss they suffered during the year as they won the other 15 matches they played, totaling 47 goals and conceding only 12 along the way. Those excellent results earned Spain the title as FIFA Team of the Year heading to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The current European champions are blessed with talent and depth at every position. The vast majority of their players ply their trade in Spain, which helps when it comes to preparation.

Spain’s play is composed and assured – one of the results of winning becoming a habit. Their defense is solid and unyielding, their midfielders talented as a unit and able to create opportunities, and their strikers have a cutting edge. They are, in a word, complete.

The only thing standing between the Spaniards and their making a big impact in South Africa is their previous failures in big FIFA tournaments, but many would argue that those days are now over following their victory in Euro 2008.

Since that time they have continued to wrack up victory after victory and there has been no sign that they will slow down any time soon. Their team is sprinkled with experience, but overall they are astonishingly young, although many of their youngsters have played for some years on the big stage of the…

Can they keep up with the Brazilians and the Portuguese?

While Group G in the 2010 FIFA World Cup is headlined by Brazil, that group is known as the Group of Death because of the presence of Portugal and also because of the Ivory Coast, a team ranked 16th in the world that features some top class talent, including one of the world’s best strikers.

The Ivorians, with the quality of their squad and their experience of African conditions, are certainly a dark horse team to beware of, even though their group includes two of the world’s top five nations.

The undoubted star of their team is striker Didier Drogba, who has proven himself with Chelsea on the biggest stages in Europe to be one of the world’s leading strikers and certainly one of the most difficult to contain. The 32-year-old has compiled a staggering 43 goals in 66 national team appearances, including six goals in five World Cup qualifying matches this past year.

Drogba’s form has carried the Ivory Coast ever since he first appeared for his country in 2002 and, in order for the Elephants to compete in the group stage and beyond, their emotional leader and best player must be at his greatest.

His Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou provides excellent wide support up front. While Didier Zokora of Sevilla and Yaya Toure of Barcelona, arguably the best pair of defensive midfielders in the tourney, head their line as they compete against the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, and Felipe Melo.

Continuing the stifling defensive mentality of the Ivorian midfield is…