With the much-anticipated fight between Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans taking place next Saturday, I decided to look back and think of other fights that had this much animosity between the two competitors. Here is my list of top five rivalries in the UFC since the Zuffa inception:

1. Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock – While the fights were pretty lopsided, you could always feel the heat and rage between these two. Tito was a showboat and Ken was mister intensity. They never really had a chance to be friends. The first fight really did a lot to help the UFC land a network television deal and bring more attention to the sport. Then, the two added to their rivalry with their coaching appearance on The Ultimate Fighter Season 3. Too bad for Ken he lost all three fights to Ortiz, but the rivalry was still classic.

2. Matt Hughes and Matt Serra – This rivalry is about two guys that want to be the Alpha Male. Serra is always playing the disrespect card and Hughes is an honest jerk. Hughes dominated the UFC Welterweight division for years and had no problems talking about how inferior his opponents were while Serra shocked the world a few years ago and Hughes called his title reign a “fluke”. These two also coached opposite one another in The Ultimate Fighter Season Six, which led to a fight at UFC 98 that Hughes narrowly pulled out. Still to this day, Serra has preached for a rematch and still proclaims his dislike for the future Hall of Famer.

3. Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz – This rivalry was once about two of the top stars in the sport wanting to be considered the best but has now come down to simply one guy hating the other. Liddell accused Ortiz of ducking him as champion years ago until both were ultimately defeated by Randy Couture. The two finally met at UFC 47 and Liddell KO’d Ortiz in dominant fashion. Liddell would go on to win the title, while Ortiz continued to cry for a rematch, and ultimately earned it at UFC 66. The result wasn’t much different, as Liddell again KO’s Ortiz. The two are currently in the twilight of their career and Ortiz is still looking to settle the score. They opposed each other as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter Season 11, but the planned fight after the show was scrapped when Ortiz had to leave the show. I’m sure the talking is far from over and the two will likely meet again.

4. Georges St. Pierre and B.J. Penn – You won’t find a guy that is more gracious in the octagon than UFC Welterweight Champion, Georges St. Pierre, but that is exactly why B.J. Penn hates him. The former champion of the welterweight and lightweight divisions has done all he could to soil GSP’s name. It all started at UFC 58 when St. Pierre won a controversial split decision over Penn. Penn immediately cried foul and wanted a rematch but ultimately dropped down to a lighter weight class. Still with GSP in his sights, Penn dominated the lightweight division while throwing snide remarks toward GSP, accusing him of steroid use and being a quitter. It all came to a head when the UFC matched the two up again in a champion vs. champion fight at UFC 94. St. Pierre left no doubt in that fight, dominating Penn for four rounds before Penn couldn’t continue. Instead of accepting defeat, Penn accused St. Pierre of “greasing” in order to make him slippery on the ground and nullifying Penn’s jiu-jitsu ability. Penn even took his claims to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but St. Pierre was never found guilty or punished. Still, Penn won’t stop talking about it and he has clearly become an enemy in St. Pierre’s mind, which is tough to do.

5. Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir – This rivalry started quietly as an intro fight for Lesnar into the UFC. Mir rejuvenated his career by beating Lesnar with a knee bar and the trash talk started from there. Lesnar vowed revenge while Mir was his usual, cocky self, talking about tearing off Lesnar’s skin, you know, the usual trash talk. In the rematch at UFC 100, Lesnar destroyed Mir and after the fight, instead of offering a hand of respect, Lesnar chose to scream at Mir like he was his child. Mir has elected to not learn his lesson, promising to end Lesnar’s life inside the octagon. I don’t think Lesnar will be intimidated, but these two truly hate each other.

Honorable Mention: Nick Diaz vs. Joe Riggs (Any time you fight in a hospital after your cage fight, that is some hatred), Frank Trigg vs. Matt Hughes (Always good for trash talk), Rampage Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva (brutal knockout wars), Tim Sylvia vs. Andrei Arlovski (Three fights and a girlfriend exchange).

My hands were sweaty, my face was red but I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass.

“Dana, could you tell me where you see Jose (Aldo) on your pound-for-pound list.”

The question was simple enough. I mean I ran it through my head a million times in a little over two minutes. The wording, the timing, the tone all needed to sound just right. After all, this question was directed at Dana White, President of the UFC and WEC.

Following Saturday’s WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber pay-per-view event, which was sponsored by AMP Energy, White and select fighters addressed the media. And there I was, covering my first MMA live event thanks to the people at AMP Energy.

At 27, I have been a dedicated MMA fan for seven years. Having seen the early days of Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock, I was re-introduced to the UFC with Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture at UFC 43 and have been hooked since.

But I am not just a fan, I am a sports writer, and have been for about 10 years now.

I knew that the opportunity of covering MMA for Bullz-Eye.com and The Scores Report was one I wanted to be a part of because I knew that I could do it objectively and with the respect and knowledge that MMA fans want from their writers. I’m not just a fan. Still, even having interviewed some of the top athletes in the world, my eyes were locked in with White’s as he awaited my question.

As any MMA fan knows, if White thinks you asked him a stupid question, he will let you know and he will probably sprinkle in a few expletives to describe his feelings.

So I asked my question.

“There is no doubt that (Aldo) is one of the best in the world, period,” White responded. “That is of all fighters, not just in his weight division. He’s definitely on the pound-for-pound (best fighters) list.”

My heart slowed down as White moved on to the next question. I conquered my fear. Shoot, I conquered many fears on this memorable trip, and they all added up to me realizing that this could be the first of many questions I would ask of White in my lifetime.

AMP Energy provided me with a first hand look at what goes on at a MMA pay-per-view event this past weekend. I got to see many fighters I have watched for years at their most vulnerable moments. The moments that aren’t caught on camera, and what I took away is that they are just people like you and me. We all have our oddities and quirks. I saw Ben Henderson just moments after the biggest win in his career, having defeated Donald Cerrone for the WEC Lightweight Championship, running sprints in the halls of Arco Arena.

I saw Cerrone, disgusted with his loss taking the tape off his hands with his head down. He had just spent three months of his life training every day for Saturday night, only to see himself lose in a matter of minutes.

I saw Leonard Garcia and Chan Sung Jung sitting across from one another backstage, both bloodied and beaten after having had a 15-minute war in the cage that I will never forget. The two were even laughing with each other about the beating they gave one another.

I saw a number of fighters like Jake Shields, Chael Sonnen, Chuck Liddell, Nate Diaz and many others like White, announcer Bruce Buffer, and even the ring girls dedicate time to taking pictures with fans to show their appreciation for their unwavering support of the sport.

And that is just what I saw.

I got to meet AMP Energy fighters Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez, who were both tremendously gracious and respectful despite being asked to do yet-another interview. Faber alone had just stepped off the scales to qualify for his title fight, yet made it a point to speak with the media members that AMP had brought to Sacramento.

Later that same day, as Faber headed home to host a pre-fight barbecue, he signed countless autographs and took countless photos with fans as they flocked his car while he left Arco Arena. Faber’s teammates Mark Munoz, Danny Castillo, and Justin Buchholz gave us a tour of Ultimate Fitness. The three allowed me, as a reporter, to get a better understanding of what fighters are thinking heading into the cage.

All of these interactions were amazing, but being live in Arco Arena during the PPV was incredible.
The sheer passion and energy in the crowd was unforgettable. The chorus of cheers as Faber entered the arena was as loud as anything I have ever heard and felt. (Believe me, I have had the unfortunate experience of covering competitive cheer, so I know loud.)

My body was shaking through the vibrations of the stadium due to the volume of the roar. The same could be said about the “boos” for Aldo as he followed Faber into the cage. Each punch, knee, and kick can be clearly heard and almost felt in person. You truly gain a new respect for the sport being there live and I am thankful for that experience.

The travel was long, stressful, and tenuous, but the time in Sacramento made it all worth it. I was a fan of MMA before, and now I will always be a fan. But, more importantly, I hope to continue to be an objective reporter for the readers and offer fresh perspectives and behind-the-scenes glimpses of every event I attend in the future.

Who knows? Maybe next time I won’t feel like I’m going to crap my pants when Dana White is staring daggers at me from the podium.

With UFC 100 a week away on July 11, I decided to look back at what got the UFC to this point. Here is my take on what I believe are the 10 most significant fights in UFC history, helping the company become what it is today.

1. Stephan Bonner vs. Forrest Griffin – Ultimate Fighter Finale 1: This fight was not only the most memorable fight to watch, but may also be the fight that really pushed the UFC into the next level of mainstream popularity. Following the debut season of The Ultimate Fighter, a show which UFC President Dana White and co-owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta funded out of their own pocket, the finale took place live on Spike TV, which was airing live fights for the first time in the history of cable television. The UFC knew it needed something big to happen to not only keep a cable television deal, but earn future advertisers, and also prolong its reality show for future seasons. Bonner vs. Griffin delivered just that. The two fought to the very end and both were so even, it was impossible to decide a clear winner for most fans. The fight at one point drew 10 million viewers, which was just what the UFC needed. The back-and-forth, non-stopped action gave the UFC an identity to fans that had never seen it before and got the ball rolling that has allowed the UFC to snowball into what it is today.

2. Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture 2 – UFC 52: Just a weeks after the Griffin-Bonner classic, the UFC followed up with The Ultimate Fighter coaches facing off for the light-heavyweight title. The PPV drew in more fans than ever before due to the success of the reality show and the finale, and the knockout win for Liddell pushed him into being the face of the organization. Liddell’s success would lead to new sponsorship for fighters, making him the first U.S. based millionaire in MMA and begin a new trend for fighters earning money outside the octagon. Liddell would also earn television roles, movie roles, a book deal, and land the cover of ESPN The Magazine during his reign as UFC champion.

3. Royce Gracie runs the table – UFC 1: Obviously UFC 100 couldn’t take place without UFC 1. While the fighting style in the opening PPV is nothing like you will see today, you still have to look at this event and note the historical ramifications. Jiu-jitsu black belt Royce Gracie seemed to be out-sized and out-matched in the eight-man tournament, but the smaller Gracie submitted all of his opponents, using technique and patience as opposed to power and force. Gracie’s success inspired others to train jiu-jitsu and helped create the fighters of today.

4. Matt Hughes vs. Royce Gracie – UFC 60: As I just explained, Royce Gracie was the first legend, but his fighting style wouldn’t survive in today’s UFC, which focus more on all-around ability as opposed to excelling at one aspect. This much was proven at UFC 60 when then-welterweight champion Matt Hughes quickly disposed of Gracie in the first round, putting a stamp on the elder generation of fighters and ushering in the new generation of amazing and athletic fighters.

5. Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock 1 – UFC 40: Up until this point, the UFC was still searching for an identity in the sports world. Dana White and the Fertitta brothers had recently purchased the UFC and needed a marquee fight to really draw the attention of fans. Shamrock and Ortiz would do just that, as the established names of both fighters presented a “dream fight” to many fans and outside spectators. The two would get plenty of media attention prior to the fight, appearing on Fox Sports Best Damn Sports Show as well as ESPN. The weigh-ins for the fight were aired on television for the first time in UFC history as well. This fight would be the prelude to the big MMA explosion that would come years down the line.

6. Forrest Griffin vs. Quinton Rampage Jackson – UFC 86: This light heavyweight title fight may not stick out as significant to some, but in my opinion, this fight really exemplifies what the UFC has created with its reality show The Ultimate Fighter. At UFC 86, Griffin, the winner of the first season, became the first cast member that has never fought in the UFC prior, to win a UFC championship. Griffin’s win proved that the reality show was developing future UFC stars. It is hard to look at a UFC PPV card these days without seeing it littered with former Ultimate Fighter cast members. Griffin’s legitimized all of the fighters that have been on the show and proven that they were not just reality stars.

7. Rampage Jackson vs. Dan Henderson – UFC 75/ Henderson vs. Anderson Silva – UFC 82: Again, you may wonder why these fights are on the list, but the historical significance is huge. This was the first time that a UFC champion faced a Pride champion to unify the two titles. The argument for years was which organization was better, UFC or the Japan based Pride Fighting. Well, with Pride going under and the UFC purchasing some of the roster, we were finally able to answer some of these questions. The fights themselves may not have lived up to the hype, but crowing a undisputed champion is something for the history books.

8. Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz 1 – UFC 47: Again looking to hit a home run, UFC 47 presented the Chuck vs. Tito fight that UFC fans were craving for years. The fight wasn’t for a title, but got the media attention of one. Celebrities like George Clooney and Juliette Lewis attended the live fights, which was the first time the UFC drew fans of that caliber to their live shows. Liddell’s knockout win was the beginning of his career boost, but still not as important as his win over Couture.

9. Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture – UFC 91: In this fight Lesnar won the UFC heavyweight title in just his third UFC fight. The reason I put this fight on the list is because Lesnar has been a huge draw for the UFC. His presence on UFC cards has drive up PPV buys each time he fights. Lesnar jumped to MMA after a career in professional wrestling, and his presence in the UFC brought a whole new fan base from his backing in the WWE. Lesnar has quickly become one of the most popular fighters in the world for that very reason and has started a trend of pro wrestlers looking to get into MMA, which could mean big things for the UFC. Already, Bobby Lashley has made a similar jump and has looked like he could be a future UFC fighter.

10. Lyoto Machida vs. Rashad Evans – UFC 98: The Machida-era started just a little over a month ago as the undefeated fighter beat previously unbeaten Evans by knockout in the second round for the UFC light heavyweight title. Machida is the lone UFC fighter to have a truly karate style approach to fighting. Machida is elusive and defensive in his fighting, but accurate and deadly with his strikes when he throws them. The reason I consider this fight to be so significant is because Machida’s win breathes new life into karate. Already people have started to look more into karate for a form of fighting. Karate is no longer something your kids just do for self defense, it is now becoming an effective fighting technique thanks to Machida. Machida could start a new trend of fighters and be a revolutionary fighter in UFC history.

–Written by TSR MMA contributor Drew Ellis

- Quinton “Rampage” Jackson scored a unanimous decision victory over Keith Jardine at last Saturday’s UFC 96. After the fight, Jackson was offered an opportunity to challenge Rashad Evans in late May for the light-heavyweight title that used to belong to him, but nagging injuries will keep him out of action until later this year. Instead, undefeated Brazilian contender Lyoto Machida will be the challenger for Evans’s first title defense.

- Charles “Mask” Lewis, co-founder of the MMA apparel/lifestyle company TapouT, died in a car accident late Tuesday night in Neport Beach after colliding with another car. The other driver survived, though he was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving.

For a photo tribute to Charles Lewis, click here to head to COMBATLIFESTYLE.COM.

- Following a positive steroid test after his last fight, MMA legend Ken Shamrock has been suspended from competition for one year and will not be able to take on Bobby Lashley later this month at the Roy Jones Jr.-promoted “March Badness” card. He will be replaced by Clay Guida’s ne’er-do-well brother Jason.

- New York Assemblymen Jonathan Bing and Rob Walker told us why MMA belongs in New York State, while grumpy old man Bob Reilly told us why it’s bad for society.

- UFC lightweight champ BJ Penn filed a formal complaint with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, claiming that Georges St. Pierre cheated during their UFC 94 fight though improper usage of Vaseline, and speculated that he may have ingested a substance that made his body slippery.

- The cast of “The Ultimate Fighter: U.S. vs. U.K.” was announced.

- Even legendary boxing promoter/double-murderer Don King wants a piece of the MMA action.

- At a press conference on Thursday, it was announced that former EliteXC welterweight champ Jake Shields and former EliteXC middleweight champ Robbie Lawler will face off in a non-title fight at Strikeforce’s May event. Also, Nick Diaz gave Frank Shamrock the finger.

- Could we try to go one week without an MMA fighter getting arrested? The latest cage-fighting jailbird is Kimo Leopoldo, a UFC old-schooler who got caught impersonating a Long Beach police officer while carrying around “a small amount” of methamphetamine.

- MMA hottie/former American Gladiator Gina Carano took some sexy new photos for Maxim.

- At last Friday’s Wargods event, UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock armbarred some fat dude, while Tank Abbott scored a brilliant KO via illegal rabbit punches.

- BJ Penn has put his frustrations about his slippery loss to Georges St. Pierre into a charming little conspiracy-video. Meanwhile, legendary UFC ref John McCarthy says that the greasing thing has “always been an issue” in MMA.

- The UFC’s new action figures will armbar the crap out of your little Ninja Turtles.

- Montreal will allow the UFC to return to their city as long as there’s none of that barbaric foot-stomping going on. You can check out the fight lineup here.

- UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson goes down tomorrow night in London. Swing by CagePotato.com for our liveblog of the tape-delayed Spike TV broadcast at 9 p.m. ET/PT, and prepare thyself by checking out this roundup of the fighters who will be making their Octagon debuts, our occasionally-helpful betting advice, and our interviews with main-card fighters Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen.

When asked about why was he so talented at promoting his fights, Shamrock responded:

“That’s just me, that’s my character. I find something that irritates me about somebody and I try to dig on them about it. I guess that generates into some good viewing, but it gets me ready for a fight.”

Shamrock went on to add that his training and preparation for this fight have been good, and for the first time in four or five years he will enter the octagon without being hampered by a lingering injury. Shamrock understands he cannot take Slice’s punching ability for granted, because if he gets lazy in his defense it will a short evening for him. Coverage of the Elite XC card begins at 9 PM Saturday on CBS.