It seems like it has been forever and a day since UFC 103(it really has been), so we finally get to witness UFC 104 this weekend.  This card has looked rather lackluster for me for some time now for some reason, but lately I'm looking forward to it more and more.  Probably because there's a lot of intrigue with this card in regards to questions getting answered about certain fighters, and movement within the respective divisions.  As always, I wanted to point out some talking points and possible story-lines to be on the lookout for in the aftermath of UFC 104.  Check it:

-Shogun Rua vs. Lyoto Machida: Of course this is the main event of the evening with the UFC LHW title on the line.  How will the former #1 LHW in the world fare against the current #1 LHW fighter in the world is the question going into the bout.  However, afterwards we could be praising the likes of the re-birth of the 2005 version of Shogun Rua, or we could be wondering if there's anyone out there left that could defeat Lyoto Machida.  Be on the lookout for the breakdown of this fight as I make the case for Rua possibly winning this fight.

UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun coverage

-Ben Rothwell vs. Cain Velasquez: All the hype is centered around Velasquez and rightfully so with the skills he possesses at this stage in his young career.  However, Rothwell will be a VERY stiff test for the youngster and the hype train could come to a screeching halt afterwards if Rothwell has his way.  With a win over a prospect like Velasquez would Rothwell be considered a legitimate contender?  Could Velasquez survive a loss and come back even better?

-Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida: Johnson is considered by many to be the biggest threat to GSP's title in the future, but he'll be up against a gamer in Yoshida.  However, the storyline coming out of this fight will be centered about Johnson provided he wins this one against a tough opponent.  A win for Johnson here moves him from prospect status in my opinion, and talks of him taking on someone from the lower half of the top ten welterweights could start surfacing.

-Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen: Big fight on the undercard here between two top ten middleweights.  The storyline on this fight will be centered around Okami and if he deserves a re-match against Anderson Silva with a win.  If Sonnen wins, then that destroys the Okami hype train and pGuts him into a good position to fight another top opponent.

-We also have the UFC debut of Chase Gormley, who is a huge undefeated heavyweight fighter.  Gormley was originally scheduled to take on Ben Rothwell on the last Affliction show that never happened and was picked up by the UFC.  Gormley hasn't fought in over a year and a half, but anytime a big heavyweight makes a splash on the scene it gets people talking.  He'll be facing the human sky scraper in Stefan Struve, who got destroyed in less than a minute against Junior dos Santos before getting his first UFC win at UFC 99.

Are there any bouts in particular you are looking forward to this weekend?