The Ultimate Fighting Championship is starting 2008 with a torrid pace. From January through April, the UFC is expected to hold five pay per view events and two UFC Fight Nights on cable television.

The first UFC Fight Night is going to be free on Spike TV (TWC 39, Dish 168, DTV 325) this Wednesday night.

UFC Fight Nights historically showcase young up-and-coming mixed martial

arts fighters. Wednesday night's lineup will be no different.

The main event will feature Houston native Mike "Quick" Swick. Swick appropriately earned his catchy nickname from his defeat of several of his opponents within the first few minutes and even seconds of his fights. Thank goodness he defeated his opponents so quickly because that nickname is just too good to pass up.

In contrast, Quick Swick will be fighting Josh Berkman, a fighter whose last four fights lasted the entire three round/fifteen minute distance to judges' decision. If Berkman has a fifth consecutive fight go the entire distance, he may be in danger of earning that moniker "Slow Poke."

Needless to say, it's going to be quite interesting to see what gives when these two clash.

The entire card has young fighters with promise trying to step up and become the stars of future. The UFC's model of showcasing these young fighters for free today and then adding the successful ones to pay per view events in the future is absolutely brilliant.

It's the equivalent to a Hollywood director establishing character development in a film.

There's been much debate over who was the MMA Fighter of the Year of 2007. One may wonder how do you define "Fighter of the Year?" Much like the NFL, NBA, and MLB's most valuable player awards, it's nice to leave the term purposely ambiguous.

What's the criteria? How do you define "valuable?" It all fuels the debate.

That said, here's our 2007 Fighter of the Year. Three fighters stood out above the rest.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson had a mainstream breakthrough. After having success overseas in PRIDE Fighting Championships, Rampage entered the UFC's Octagon last February and defeated Marvin "The Beastman" Eastman.

In May he won the UFC light heavyweight title when he defeated Chuck Liddell with a knockout, handing the Iceman his first defeat in three and a half years. Rampage then unified the UFC and PRIDE 205 pound titles with his decision victory over Dan Henderson.

If accomplishment were the sole criteria for Fighter of the Year, then Rampage would have it. If dominance were the determining factor, Anderson Silva would be the man.