The Ultimate Fighting Championship travels to American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas featuring a battle between former champions in the main event. Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort (18-8) returns to the UFC to face Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin (27-4) in a 195-pound catch weight match at UFC 103: Belfort vs. Franklin.

BetUS currently lists Franklin as a slight $1.40 ‘chalk’ (bet $140 to win $100) over Belfort, the $1.10 underdog (bet $100 to win $110).

Belfort was the UFC’s light heavyweight champion back in 2004, but dropped his next two fights to Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture and Tito ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ Ortiz before leaving the octagon. This marks the Brazilians return to the UFC since he dropped a three-round split decision to Ortiz at UFC 51: Super Saturday.

‘The Phenom’ enters this contest riding a four-fight winning streak after knockout victories over Terry Martin and Matt ‘The Law’ Lindland in Affliction. Belfort is known for his incredible striking and quick hands, and appears to be recharged at just 32 years old.

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Franklin was the UFC’s middleweight champion in 2005 and 2006 before getting steamrolled by Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva. The Ohio native is fighting his second-consecutive fight at 195 pounds after beating Wanderlei ‘The Axe Murderer’ Silva by unanimous decision at UFC 99: The Comeback.

‘Ace’ is in a tough position because he’s a dominant middleweight fighter who was beaten badly by Anderson Silva twice, limiting his use in that division. Franklin figures to permanently move up to the light heavyweight division and make a charge at that title.

“I’m fighting a tough opponent here,” stated Franklin. “He’s a big-named opponent, and it’s going to be an exciting fight.”

There is also an important heavyweight fight scheduled for UFC 103, pitting Brazilian Junior ‘Cigano’ Dos Santos (8-1) against Croatian Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic (25-6-2). BetUS lists Dos Santos as the slight $1.35 favorite over Filipovic, the $1.05 underdog.

The winner of this fight moves into the upper echelon of the heavyweight division, while the loser tumbles into the middle of the pack of this quickly improving weight class. Dos Santos has fought just twice in the UFC, recording a pair of first-round knockouts.

‘Cigano’ upset fellow Brazilian Fabricio Werdum at UFC 90, needing just 80 seconds to end the contest. The 25-year-old followed that victory with a technical knockout over Stefan Struve at UFC 95.

‘Cro Cop’ is making his second run in the UFC after going just 1-2 during his first three-fight contract. The 35-year-old made a name for himself in Japan’s Pride with numerous highlight-reel knockouts with his leg kicks, but he was on the opposite end when he lost to Gabriel ‘Napao’ Gonzaga at UFC 70. The Croatian striker followed up that loss with another setback to Frenchman Cheick Kongo at UFC 75.

Filipovic then fought a couple of times in Japan’s Dream and then spent some time recovering from knee surgery before beating Mustapha al Turk with a first-round TKO at UFC 99. ‘Cro Cop’ won that fight with a barrage of punches after an accidental eye poke. It should be noted that he did not throw one leg kick during that victory, appearing overly cautious to avoid injury.