UFC 131 fight card: Previews, predictions and a complete guide for 'Dos Santos vs Carwin'

For fans of mixed martial arts, this past week has been a slow crawl of steadily rising anticipation for tonight's "Dos Santos vs. Carwin" event, going down at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

UFC 131 will feature heavyweight knockout kings Junior dos Santos and Shane Carwin squaring off for the right to face Cain Velasquez for the heavyweight title later this year.

"The Engineer" is a late replacement for Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13 coach Brock Lesnar, who was forced off the card thanks to a second flare-up of diverticulitis that required major surgery.

In addition, Kenny Florian makes his featherweight debut against Diego Nunes in a pivotal 145-pound match-up, while middleweight mashers Mark Munoz and Demian Maia will hit the mats earlier in the evening.

It's been a flurry of non-stop news, analysis, quotes, predictions and previews for the past week and it's certainly understandable if you missed out on a few stories.

But don't worry, Maniacs, we've got you covered. 

In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines heading into tonight's broadcast.

In we go:

UFC 131: "Dos Santos vs. Carwin"

Fight card and line-up

Results and live fight coverage

UFC 131 Predictions and previews:

UFC 131 predictions from the man himself, Nostradumbass

UFC 131 prelims preview and predictions

Fight preview: Junior dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin

Fight preview: Kenny Florian vs. Diego Nunes

Fight preview: Demian Maia vs. Mark Munoz

Fight preview: Jon Olav Einemo vs. Dave Herman

Fight preview: Donald Cerrone vs. Vagner Rocha

Fight card: Donald Cerrone and Vagner Rocha fight for footing in crowded lightweight division

Fight card: Dave Herman and Jon Olav Einemo would like to introduce themselves

Fight card: Demian Maia vs Mark Munoz put their skills to the test in Vancouver

Fight card: Kenny Florian the featherweight battles unknown top contender Diego Nunes

Fight card: Junior dos Santos vs Shane Carwin promise fireworks with Brock Lesnar scratched

UFC 131 press conferences:

Pre-fight press conference

Post-fight press conference

Staredown pics from the pre-fight presser

UFC 131 weigh-ins:

Weigh-in results

Weigh-in photos gallery

Weigh-in video highlights

Staredown pic and videos

UFC 131 odds:

Junior dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin

Kenny Florian vs. Diego Nunes

Demian Maia vs. Mark Munoz

Jon Olav Einemo vs. Dave Herman

Donald Cerrone vs. Vagner Rocha

UFC 131 news:

MMAmania interview with Mark Munoz

MMAmania interview with Dave Herman

MMAmania interview with Dustin Poirier

Dos Santos vs. Carwin CompuStrike preview and comparison

UFC 131 tickets cannibalized by Vancouver Canucks and NHL finals

UFC 131 poster for 'Dos Santos vs. Carwin'

Conference call live blog and updates

Vancouver Commission approves video monitors for cageside judges

Vancouver Athletic Commission taps CCES for implementation of UFC 131 drug testing

Hatsu Hioki vacates his Shooto belt and will be in da howse at UFC 131

UFC 131 editorials:

Road to Vancouver: Junior dos Santos makes his mixed martial arts debut

Road to Vancouver: Junior dos Santos suffers his first and only defeat

Road to Vancouver: Junior dos Santos punches his ticket to UFC

Road to Vancouver: Junior dos Santos makes quick work of Gilbert Yvel and Gabriel Gonzaga

Road to Vancouver: Junior dos Santos finishes off Stefan Struve and Mirko Cro Cop

History in the Making: Junior dos Santos debuts in UFC and knocks out Fabricio Werdum

History in the Making: The short and brutal UFC career of Shane Carwin

Ultimate Submissions: Demian Maia submissions streak reaches five with win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 95

Hey man, nice shot: Gabriel Gonzaga is fed to Shane Carwin and Junior dos Santos\

You should be a lot more excited for Junior dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin

Shane Carwin ready to treat the fans to a vicious knockout of Junior dos Santos

Is Shane Carwin going to try to take JDS down?

Dude, why is Shane Carwin even fighting?

Shane Carwin is an easier opponent than Brock Lesnar

Shane Carwin hoping to avoid a repeat of his last fight

Shane Carwin feels he belongs in this fight against JDS

Junior dos Santos is going to knock Shane Carwin out in the second round

Junior dos Santos expects his fight against Shane Carwin to end by knockout

If Demian Maia trades punches with Mark Munoz he will lose

Kenny Florian is fighting at featherweight for Jose Aldo but he's not done at lightweight

Firas Zahabi helping Kenny Florian train for featherweight debut

Kenny Florian getting hurt was a blessing in disguise

It will be difficult for UFC to sell fights with two guys coming from WEC

Will Kenny Florian's lack of a practice cut come back to haunt him?

One way or another Kenny Florian is going to take out Diego Nunes

Hey (expletives), Donald Cerrone has a message for you

Dominant win over Yves Edwards will prove Sam Stout is a lightweight contender

UFC 131 videos:

Dana White video blog episode one

Dana White video blog episode two

Countdown to UFC 131

Extended preview for "Dos Santos vs. Carwin"

UFC 131 trailer for "Dos Santos vs. Carwin"

Extended trailer for "Dos Santos vs. Carwin"

UFC 131 preview with Dana White on ESPN's First Take

Prelims preview for "Dos Santos vs. Carwin"

UFC 131 preview on ESPN's MMA Live

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight trailer

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight episode one

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight episode two

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight episode three

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight episode four

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight episode five

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight episode six

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight episode seven

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight episode eight

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight episode nine

Shane Carwin training camp behind the scenes video for JDS fight episode 10

Junior dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin fight breakdown with Bas Rutten

Shane Carwin will feel no remorse when he knocks out Junior dos Santos

Junior dos Santos will use his speed to knock out Shane Carwin

Junior dos Santos knockout video of Gilbert Yvel at UFC 108

JDS vs. Carwin could end at any time

Shane Carwin absolutely wants to fight Brock Lesnar again

Junior dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin prediction from Randy Couture

Demian Maia vs. Mark Munoz prediction from Randy Couture

Kenny Florian vs. Diego Nunes prediction from Randy Couture

Kenny Florian is taking a huge risk fighting Diego Nunes

Kenny Florian wants to send a statement to Jose Aldo with dominating win over Diego Nunes

Kenny Florian expecting "Fight of the Night" against Diego Nunes

Kenny Florian is going to be a force at 145-pounds

Demian Maia video blog for Mark Munoz fight

Mark Munoz expects to see fireworks flying when he fights Demian Maia

Demian Maia vs. Mark Munoz will be a grappling match at some point

Mark Munoz comfortable with his ground game but looking for the KO against Demian Maia

The Shoot! Mark Munoz will beat Demian Maia with his five D's

Dave Herman vs. Jon Olav Einemo fight preview

Donald Cerrone vs. Vagner Rocha fight preview

Joey Beltran video blog for Aaron Rosa fight

That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being.

What has been the biggest story heading into this event? Brock Lesnar backing out due to sickness and being replaced by Shane Carwin? Kenny Florian cutting off a leg to make featherweight? Something else?

Sound off, Maniacs.