"Godzilla" looks to Conquer Paul Kelly at UFC 123--then maybe Tokyo

Gabe Ruediger has been the butt of every joke since his formal leave from the UFC in 2006.

He debuted in the organization against lightweight standout Melvin Guillard at UFC 63: Hughes vs Penn II, and after a spirited first round where he was able to control “The Young Assassin” on the ground, searching for a rear naked choke, he was knocked out with a body punch in the second.

Ruediger earned a second shot with the promotion when he entered season five of the famed “The Ultimate Fighter” series–though it wasn’t without its own controversy.

Gabe came into the contest well over the required 155-pound weight limit in order to compete in the competition. He struggled to make weight against his first scheduled opponent, Corey Hill and was subsequently kicked off the show and had little hope of returning to the UFC.

Some 9 fights later, and a 3 year stint on the regional circuit, and “Godzilla” made his way back at UFC 118 when he stepped up on short notice to replace Terry Etim in a lightweight bout against fellow cast mate Joe Lauzon, in Boston. A rude welcoming did Gabe receive, when he was pummeled from the get go, and was eventually arm barred two minutes inside of the first round.

While his return to the UFC wasn’t so glamorous, he will have a third chance to prove himself worthy when he meets the scrappy, Paul Kelly at UFC 123, in Auburn Hills, Michigan this November.

“Telly”, who trained with the Wolfslair gym for several years before broadening his horizons and teaming up with Team Kaobon in the UK, has received mixed results since dropping down to the lightweight division in June of 2009. Since his bout with Roli Delgado in his 155-pound debut at UFC 99, in which he was victorious by way of split-decision, Paul has gone 1-2 in his last three bouts and most recently lost to wrestling standout Jacob Volkmann by unanimous decision at “UFC Live: Jones vs Matyushenko”, last August.

Both Ruediger and Kelly are in need of a win, and will both most likely be fighting to keep their jobs inside the worlds largest mixed martial arts promotion.

So, MMA fans, what do you think of either man’s chances come fight time? Ruediger, though he didn’t display it in his fight with Lauzon, has a legitimate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and will surely look to utilize it against the wrestling savvy Englishmen. Who do you think takes it? Let your opinions be heard in the comments section below.