UFC 90 is just around the corner and mixed martial arts fans are just waiting in anticipation over some of the brawls that will transpire at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.  The event, which will commence on October 25, will feature middleweight champion Anderson Silva facing off against Patrick Côté in the main event.  While that fight alone is enough reason to tune in to UFC 90, there's another explosive match up fans are looking forward to: Marcus Aurelio versus Hermes Franca.

Both from Fortaleza, Brazil, Aurelio and Franca have many similarities between them.  They are both masters in jiu-jitsu, they both presently live in Florida and they are both in their mid 30s.  But perhaps the biggest connection between these two fighters is the fact that Franca was a student and Aurelio was his teacher.

While this is not the first student-teacher brawl in the history of UFC, this is certainly a rare feat.  As if it were a Hollywood screenplay, the teacher will now meet the student inside the Octagon. Despite the odd circumstance, Aurelio is not one to trash his former pupil before they fight, out respect for the sport.

"I'm not here to talk about Hermes Franca," Aurelio said.  "I'll only talk about my training and preparation for this fight."

Evidently, Aurelio and Franca has an ongoing feud and this news is no stranger to the rest of the American Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.  It has also been reported that most of the group members have a big problem with Franca and don't particularly like him much after the events leading to his leaving the team.  Amidst the controversy, Aurelio maintains that he is not focusing on the feud.  Instead, he's setting his mind on getting into UFC's cream of the crop.

Aurelio is coming off from a loss against Tyson Griffin in UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin, which was held in July, while Franca is also coming off from a loss against Frank Edgar in UFC: Silva vs. Irvin, which is referred to by the media as UFC Fight Night 14.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: UFC.com
(Image courtesy of Pridefc.com)