Wanderlei Silva vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama and Sam Stout vs. Joe Lauzon Rumored For UFC 108

It looks like two fairly significant fights are going to be added to UFC 108.  First from BloodyElbow.com Editor in Chief Luke Thomas' Twitter:

I'm hearing that Wanderlei Silva is fighting Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 108. Stay tuned for confirmation.

Also, from MMAMania:

Joe Lauzon is set to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon much sooner than expected when he collides with Sam Stout in a lightweight showdown planned for UFC 108 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 2, 2010.

Sources out of Las Vegas tell MMAmania.com that bout agreements have been distributed, but are unsigned at this time.

Silva/Akiyama is the kind of fight that conjures up images of old PRIDE events when Wanderlei was on top of his game and running through the next "Great Japanese Hope" every show.  We should learn a lot about where each guy stands in the division following this.

As for the 155 pound fight it will be interesting to see how Lauzon is doing following having very significant knee surgery which he seems to have recovered extremely quickly from.  Stout is 1-2 in his last three fights and would have to be the underdog coming in here but his solid striking always presents a threat.