UFC 106 was looking fairly bleak after main event fighter (and current champ) Brock Lesnar pulled out of his scheduled title defense against Shane Carwin. Lesnar is supposedly ill (although tooting his own horn at Vikings games) and he may meet Carwin now at the UFC’s annual NYE show on January 2nd, 2010 at 108. With that being the case, original co-main event Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin has been promoted to 106’s main event.

After the switcheroo was announced, it left fans wondering how the organization would fill the main card void. With ticket holders already feeling somewhat shafted they’d need two fighters on the verge of contender status, fan favorites, who are always in fight shape. In steps Josh Koscheck (13-4) and Anthony Johnson (8-2) to help save the show.

Koscheck and Johnson make a good stylistic match-up with both having college wrestling background and solid stand-up skills. With both seeking a lofty spot on the welterweight ladder, this bout will prove to be a crucial turning point for one man. If Johnson can make weight and Koscheck remains healthy for the next few weeks, this is a diamond in the rough kind of fight that one can really get excited about.