VAN ARSDALE: Wrestler Mike Van Arsdale is a three–time All-American for Iowa State, a 1988 NCAA champion, 1996 Olympic Trials competitor and 1997 World Cup winner. The American Kickboxing Academy fighter is 9-1-1 in MMA and last appeared in the UFC in 1998.

Van Arsdale had his first exposure to MMA at the International Wrestling Forum: The Contenders event in September of 1997 where he faced then Lewis/Pederneiras team member Renato Verrisimo. Mike won the match on points. That was a submission-only event similar to Abu Dhabi and featured a card of matches between wrestlers and martial artists. The wrestlers dominated that day (winning four of seven matches) making Dan Gable proud, and virtually every athlete in the event made his way to the sport of MMA. Some of the match-ups would’ve made exciting MMA bouts too, including Frank Shamrock versus Dan Henderson.

Van Arsdale was an unorthodox fighter and brought a mix of supreme wrestling skills on the ground and a very street-style stand-up game to the IVC and UFC in 1998. He traveled to Brazil and competed in the IVC 4 tournament under the guidance of UFC heavyweight champion and PRIDE GP champion Mark Coleman and blew through the tournament with relative ease. He hardly even struck his first opponent, Francisco Nonato, working him over with pure wrestling skills and submitting him via keylock. Mike threw hands in the second bout, displaying his loose change-of-pace stand-up style that made him distinctive. Once on the ground, Van Arsdale opened Marcelo Barbosa up with elbows to the face. The final against Dario Amorim was a bit of a game on the feet but an orthodox slam from Van Arsdale caused Amorim to land on his shoulder and tap instantly.

Following that trip, Mike was lucky enough to be part of probably the best card ever assembled by the old regime, UFC 17. He faced Royce Gracie prodigy Joe Pardo and toyed with him for 11 solid minutes, mercifully ending the bout with a keylock. Mike’s next stop in ’98 was back in Brazil against Wanderlei Silva at IVC 6. From the bell, Silva pushed off Van Arsdale’s first takedown attempt and they grappled on the feet. Van Arsdale’s wild striking only opened the opportunity for Silva and a well placed knee from Silva signaled the beginning of the end. Wanderlei followed Mike’s retreat, knocked him to the floor with a right hand from behind and soccer kicked him in the back of the head. Van Arsdale has fought three times in seven years (3-0) and just once a year since 2002. He beat UFC veteran Christopher Haseman at WFA 3 and went on to win two bouts by submission leading up to his return.

MARSH: Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter John Marsh is 12-4 in MMA and has trained with former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez and both Royce Gracie and Rickson Gracie. “The Bull” is managed by Ricco Chiaparelli and is trained by Ricco, Beau Hershberger and Mitch Tavera.

Over his seven year MMA career, Marsh has fought in Neutral Grounds, Extreme Challenge, Superbrawl, the IFC and PRIDE. His most recent bout came against Wesley Correira in the Rumble on the Rock show. “The Bull” surprised everyone and dominated the big man, easily winning a unanimous decision.

Marsh battled both Travis Fulton and former UFC heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett in the Superbrawl 13 tournament. He heel hooked Fulton but Barnett was too much, too soon and he found himself submitted in the first round. John faced middleweight stud Jeremy Horn in a Neutral Grounds bout that went the distance. Marsh lost the fight and went on to lose two more bouts by decision including both his UFC and PRIDE debuts. The fight with former training partner Ricco Rodriguez went the distance and before that he took on Vladimir Matyushenko in the IFC. Marsh has been scheduled to fight two members of the Lion’s Den in the form of Ken Shamrock and Tra Telligman (at UFC 50) but neither match-up took place.

MY PICK: Van Arsdale. I’m not sure why just yet but I have faith in Van Arsdale to light up the cage the way he did back in May of ’98. Mike’s unusual style made him fun to watch and hopefully he will pick up where he left off. With just a handful of bouts over the last few years (three for Mike, one for John), neither fighter is burning up the division. I feel it will be Van Arsdale by submission from strikes in the second round.