The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 Finale is set to go down from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, December 13. The television event airs LIVE on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET.

Remember: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE updates and blow-by-blow, round-by-round commentary of the main card action throughout the three-hour telecast. As usual, it promises to be a great discussion during an exciting line up of fights.

To get us pumped for the festivities, MMAmania.com Editor and Senior Writer Jesse Holland (that’s me) will be breaking down the main event matches and revealing each fighter’s keys to victory.

If you’re looking for an unbiased and objective examination of each contest, then I’m happy to report you will be extremely disappointed.

Why else do you think I would depose the former contributors and take this act solo like the selfish blowhard you already know me to be?

But enough about me, at least for the time being.

Let’s get cracking:

Ryan Bader (7-0) vs. Vinicius Magalhães (2-2)

Undefeated light heavyweight finalist Ryan "The Master" Bader was Coach Nogueira's number one pick for a reason. In addition to being a two-time All-American and three-time All-Pac-10 wrestler from Arizona State, he's undefeated in mixed martial arts and has KO power. He looked great in his destruction of Tom Lawlor during TUF 8 and effectively neutralized the jiu-jitsu of Eliot Marshall en route to a unanimous decision win in the semifinals. Unfortunately for "Darth", Vinny Magalhaes is not Eliot Marshall. In fact he's not even close. Frank Mir lauds Magalhaes as the best grappler in the entire UFC light heavyweight division. The three-time BJJ world champion in heavyweight, super heavyweight, and absolute divisions also holds a title in the Pan-American Grappling Championships and is a two-time Brazilian National Heavyweight Champion. He may be a little flashy when it comes to his technique, but I don't think it's a stretch to say Bader doesn't have a prayer on the ground. If you take away the wrestling of Bader, what are you left with? He's an average striker, and he may have been better on the feet than Vinny was during TUF, but things have changed a lot since then. Mags has been doing time at Xtreme Couture under the tutelage of Dan Henderson working specifically on stand-up. Vinny already knew how to kick hard and if he comes into his bout against Bader with some confidence in his hands, this one's going to be a first-rounder.

Keys to victory:

Bader: You're a great wrestler, but Vinny's guard is the last place you want to be. Re-watch Henderson versus Palhares and drop a couple of quarters in an old Street Fighter machine for a tip: Vega went down easily when you hit him in his pretty face.

Magalhaes: A couple of hard low kicks should keep him at bay. Like most money shots, he'll be aiming for your face so make sure you're a moving target. There's no shame in pulling guard - just make sure he's within ten feet of you before flopping on your back.

Prediction: Magalhaes by submission

Efrain Escudero (10-0) vs. Phillipe Nover (5-0-1)

At first glance Phillipe Nover is the favorite to win the title of "Ultimate Fighter." But let's not count Efrain Escudero out just yet. Escudero trains out of the very underrated Southwest MMA in Tempe, Arizona and in addition to his title of 140-pound state wrestling champion at Cibola High School in Yuma, he's finished nine of his ten victories via submission. He easily submitted Shane Nelson and Junie Browning during his stint on TUF, all while dealing with the loss of his father. He is tenacious and crafty, and it's not implausible to think he can win it all. Having said that, Escudero will need to be nearly perfect. Nover hits like a sledgehammer and can sink a submission without even using a slick technique. His first round Kimura over George Roop in the semifinals was all muscle and that has to be considered when planning a ground attack. I'm not sure Escudero will be strong enough to submit Nover but we haven't seen what Phillipe can do outside of the first round. He's only gone to the second round twice in his career and never seen a third, so it will be interesting to see what happens if Escudero can survive the early punishment and drag him into deep water. And don't discount the family tree - Escudero has boxing in his blood. One thing is for sure, this one isn't going to be boring.

Keys to victory:

Escudero: First things first: Survive round one. From what we've seen so far that may be a pretty tall order. We're talking about fighting a guy who snacks on aborted ducklings. Good luck.

Nover: Not that you need any further motivation, but just imagine that Escudero is a JCAHO officer who just cited your entire ward with violations. TUF Finale 8: When nurses attack!

Prediction: Nover by TKO

Junie Browning (2-0) vs. Dave Kaplan (2-1)

This is a compelling match-up because it finally answers the question about which fighter can actually walk the walk. For the entire eighth season all we heard about was how Junie Browning is so talented and has so much potential and blah, blah, blah. Then he barely squeaks past Roli Delgado and gets choked out by Efrain Escudero in the semifinals. Kaplan is no better. He was marching through the TUF mansion like the town crier, ringing his bell and promoting his granite chin. Then he gets laced by Phillipe Nover and then taxied to queer street in the upstairs bathroom by Tom Lawlor. Now I've heard Kaplan is the real deal who executed a piss-poor gameplan (homage to the fruit platter), and he claims to have trained with international names like Ivan Hippolyte, Ernesto Hoost, Gilbert Yvel and Remy Bonjasky. He also studies jiu-jitsu under Lloyd Irvin. The question is, can he execute? I haven't seen anything from Junie Browning that leads me to believe he's ready to take the next step and if he sleepwalks his way through Saturday's fight it may be the last we see of him. That said, I'm hoping he realizes this opportunity and brings a sound strategy. This fight has the potential to be Fight of the Night if both men live up to the promise they both claimed they have since day one. Here's to hoping.

Keys to victory:

Browning: I know guys with a tracheotomy that suck wind less than you do. You may be tough, but if you can't breathe after the first two minutes then what good does it do? Train like you were fighting in PRIDE, where the first round was ten minutes long and you might have a chance.

Kaplan: Enough about the chin already, you're not Bobby Fibonacci. Brawling is nothing in the face of technique. You repeatedly claim to have it, now can we please see it?

Prediction: Kaplan by TKO

Wilson Gouveia (11–5) vs. Jason MacDonald (21–10)

Jason MacDonald has been keeper of the gate in the middleweight division ever since he fell to Rich Franklin at UFC 68 back in 2007. Since then he's been a mediocre 3-3 and if you include the fight against Chris Leben at UFC 66, wins every other fight. Using that amazingly scientific logic, MacDonald will lose this fight since he just beat Jason Lambert at UFC 88. Now before the haters rush furiously to the comments section, let me remind you the real Nostradamus used pretty much the same logic. MacDonald has great submissions (winning 17 of 21 via sub), but despite his moniker "The Athlete," has been known to gas in the later rounds. Wilson Gouveia on the other hand is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt that likes to strike. He has heavy hands and great leg kicks and is 5-1 in his last six fights. Like Medium Mac, he can taper off as the fight drags on. It's hard to imagine this fight going the distance since both fighters have seen the judges scorecards only once in their last ten fights, but I don't see either of them being able to finish the other. Expect MacDonald to keep it interesting on the ground while Gouveia outpoints him on the feet. A slow first round will pick up in the second and return to a crawl in the third. Move along folks, nothing to see here.

Keys to victory:

Gouveia: Since it's trendy for jiu-jitsu black belts to stand and strike (Jorge Gurgel, Andy Wang - yes, I went there), there's no point in going all Jack Ryan and focusing on the sub. You have great leg kicks and quicker hands so use them early and often.

MacDonald: Just like MMAmania after one Coors Light, you're guaranteed to end up on the ground. Forget about the submissions and blast him with elbows like you did against Rory Singer and Joe Doerksen.

Prediction: Gouveia by split-decision

Kevin Burns (7-1) vs. Anthony Johnson (5-2)

How angry is Anthony Johnson? "Rumble" took an eye poke back at UFC Fight Night 14 in July courtesy of an errant Burns uppercut. Referee Steve Mazzagatti was out of position and didn't see the gouge and stopped the fight after Burns followed up with an onslaught. Johnson filed an appeal to have the decision overturned and was denied. Add that to his eye surgery and you have one angry welterweight. And a big one at that. After giving Tommy Speer a near-death experience at Fight Night 13, Johnson reminded both UFC fans and officials just how scary his striking can be when he’s locked in. While at first glance he looks to be the favorite, I can’t shake the sight of him tapping to Rich Clementi at UFC 76. Like Mr. "No Love" himself, Burns has a capable submission offense and should not try to stand and bang with Johnson. Why should he? "Rumble" has yet to finish a fight that has gone past round one. His goal here should be to survive the first and let Johnson burn himself out looking for the knockout. From there he needs to pick his spots and wait for the overeager Johnson to make a mistake. Like any good striker, there is very little margin for error, so working from the guard may be Burns’ best chance. Hopefully he’s there by choice, and not because he can’t feel his legs.

Keys to victory:

Burns: Fists of fury? Count on it. Put your head down and weather the storm until "Rumble" gases out and then it's easy pickins'. Bring him to the floor and make him tap. Assuming you haven't been dropped in the first ten seconds.

Johnson: Ease off the throttle. Stop running around like the Stygian witches screaming about your lost eye. You're a deadly striker and if you attack methodically it's enter sandman.

Prediction: Johnson by KO

That’s a wrap, folks. For the complete Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale fight card click here . Remember to come check us out after the show for the latest results, recaps and thoughts on Saturday’s fights.

What do you think? Now it’s your turn … let’s have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale.