One week before the Ultimate Fighting Championship lands in Germany for UFC 99, there's a mixed martial arts battle occurring back in the USA that may not be as significant, but will surely be every bit as exciting as Franklin vs Silva.

WEC's Faber vs Brown II is a rematch from the November match in which Faber, the charismatic champion, was viciously TKO'd by Brown, the no-frills fighter training out of American Top Team. To say it was an upset was an understatement, since Faber hadn't been beaten in three years, with even that loss being at the hands of the much larger Tyson Griffin. Brown may have been 19-4, but Faber, having just beaten Jens Pulver, was considered one of the best 145lb fighters on the planet.

Brown - a state champion wrestler in his youth - goes into Sunday's bout with a natural size advantage, given that he cuts from over 160lbs to make 145. But Faber has home-town advantage given that the bout is being held in his home city of Sacremento, California.

If Faber is to reclaim his title, he can't afford the reckless abandon that his made him a favourite among hardcore MMA fans. In the first match-up, he threw a wild Anderson Silva-esque side elbow at Brown, who countered against his unprotected opponent with a huge right hand that virtually finished the fight. Faber will need to be smarter this time around, and use his speed to be elusive and pick up points - watching tapes of the recent Rashad Evans vs Lyoto Machida bout should help.

But with power, wrestling ability, and punching power on his side, it's difficult to look past the champion on Sunday.

But whatever happens, it should be an explosive affair.