The Ultimate Fighting Championship is returning to its roots in more ways than one with Wednesday’s Ultimate Fight Night 13. The UFC began in 1993 from Denver, Colorado and held UFC 1, 2 and 8 inside that Rocky Mountain state. Wednesday’s fight night marks the octagon’s first action in Colorado since 1995 when the sport was still unsanctioned.

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UFC Fight Night’s typically showcase former fighters from the popular television show The Ultimate Fighter, and this card is no exception. Ultimate Fight Night 13 will pit lightweights Kenny Florian (8-3) against Joe Lauzon (16-3) for its main event. Florian was a member of the first TUF, while Lauzon appeared on Season 5.

Florian has been installed as the $2.20 ‘chalk’ (bet $220 to win $100) over Lauzon, the $1.80 underdog (bet $100 to win $180). This figures to be an interesting ground war between two submission specialists. Florian has six submission victories, winning his last three fights after dropping a lightweight title matchup with Sean Sherk. The 31-year-old beat Din Thomas his latest effort with a rear-naked choke in the first round at UFC Fight Night 11.

Lauzon has recorded 13 submission wins during his mixed martial arts career, and has continued to train with lightweight champion BJ Penn since filming TUF 5. Lauzon hasn’t lost since early 2006, winning his last six matchups. His biggest victory was his UFC debut when he knocked out Jens Pulver at UFC 63: Hughes vs. Penn. The 23-year-old followed that effort by submitting Brandon Melendez with a triangle choke, and Jason Reinhardt at UFC 78: Validation with a rare-naked choke.

There is also an intriguing welterweight matchup between Karo ‘The Heat’ Parisyan (18-4) and Thiago ‘The Pitbull’ Alves (13-3). Parisyan is listed as the $1.85 favorite according to Sportsbook.com, while Alves is a $1.55 underdog.

Parisyan has posted a 9-2 record inside the octagon, and had a title shot against then champion Matt Hughes called off when he was injured. His two losses occurred to Georges ‘Rush’ St. Pierre and Diego Sanchez, but he has won his last three fights. However, ‘The Heat’ has been criticized for not finishing fights. Six of his last seven outings have been decided by unanimous decision, not a good way to move up the rankings in a highly competitive division.

Alves is 6-2 with the UFC, and has won his last four fights after knocking off Chris Lytle at UFC 78: Validation. His two losses have occurred to Spencer Fisher and Jon Fitch. Alves has won eight times by knockout, once by submission along with four decisions.

Another marquee matchup pits Houston ‘The Assassin’ Alexander (8-2) against James ‘Sandman’ Irvin (13-4) in a light heavyweight contest. Both fighters pack quite a punch, but it’s Alexander who is listed as the $2.60 ‘chalk’ over Irvin, a $2.00 underdog.

Alexander quickly became a fan favorite with amazing first-round knockouts of Keith Jardine and Alessio Sakara. However, the Nebraska native’s lack of a ground game was exposed when he was knocked out in the first round against Thiago Silva at UFC 78: Validation. His last five fights have failed to see the second round.

Irvin also has a couple highlight-reel knockouts, but has had to deal with various injuries that have limited his impact on this division. ‘The Sandman’ beat Luis Arthur Cane by disqualification at UFC 79: Nemesis after getting kneed in the head while he was on the ground. Irvin dropped his previous fight to Thiago Silva when he suffered a knee injury in the first round.

Brad Young can be reached at byoung@vegasinsider.com.