Ultimate Fighting Championship action hits Dallas in a big way with UFC 103 on Saturday at American Airlines Center. Fans will get a whopping 13 fights in the octagon, led by the main event, Rich Franklin vs. Vitor Belfort. Other main-card matchups include Mirko Cro Cop vs. Junior Dos Santos, Martin Kampmann vs. Paul Daley, Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg and Tyson Griffin vs. Hermes Franca.

Preliminary card action will air on Spike TV. For the big stuff, you have to attend or cough up the pay-per-view charge ($45-$55).

For the uninitiated, mixed martial arts is part boxing, part kickboxing, part judo, part wrestling. It's fast, violent and sometimes bloody, and its popularity has evolved from underground buzz to huge mainstream appeal. The Oregonian reported that a recent event at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore., attracted more than 16,000 fans and $1.92 million in ticket sales. Rob Clark

A look at the main event. Info according to ufc.com.

RICH FRANKLIN

Stats: 6-1, 195 pounds. 34 years old. Hails from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Record: 27-4-0

Quotable: "I think Vitor's gonna come out and hope for an early knockout. He's gonna slow down as the fight goes on, and I'm gonna speed up."

VITOR BELFORT

Stats: 6 feet, 195 pounds. 32 years old. Hails from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Record: 18-8-0

Quotable: "The only thing I can promise and I can guess, is I'm gonna go there and give 100 percent in three rounds."

Saturday, doors open at 4:50 p.m. First bout at 5:20. Televised bouts start around 9 p.m. American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. $50-$450. ticketmaster.com. For pay-per-view info, check ufc.com.

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