The NHL is back! (Sound of crickets.)

For those of you who are going to boycott hockey (for now), 2013 for mixed martial arts is going to start off with a bang.

This Saturday night, Strikeforce puts on its final event before closing up shop. It’s been coming for a long time. I, like many others, have been writing the obituary for months. The promotion has put on some entertaining events in the past, but 2012 was not a banner year. One thing is certain, some great talent will be coming out of the San Jose-based promotion and making an appearance in the UFC Octagon later this year. So turn on Showtime this Saturday night and keep an eye on Daniel Cormier, Nate Marquardt, Gegard Mousasi, Tarec Saffiedine and many more because they will be guys you will hear a lot more about in the Octagon.

UFC doesn’t have any pay-per-view events for January, but there are two free cable shows that look delicious. On Jan. 19, UFC on FX takes place from Sao Paulo, Brazil with a main event between Vitor Belfort and Michael Bisping. UFC president Dana White has said that if Bisping comes up with the victory he could be next in line to take on Anderson Silva.

The following Saturday on Jan. 26, UFC on FOX 6 is live from Chicago, Ill. with an entertaining title fight. Demetrious Johnson looks to defend his flyweight title against John Dodson. Quinton Jackson will fight for the final time in the UFC when he takes on the dangerous Glover Teixeira. Donald Cerrone will battle Anthony Pettis. In fact, this entire card, preliminaries and all, is stacked with explosive fights.

In February, the pay-per-views start to roll with Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo for the UFC Featherweight Championship at UFC 156. Ronda Rousey makes her UFC debut later on in the month when she defends her women’s title against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157. In between those two big pay-per-view events is Maximum Fighting Championships 36, when Nanaimo’s own Graham Spencer fights for the MFC lightweight title.

Take my word for it, you can put NHL hockey on the back burner, just like where they placed you, and still have some bone-crushing entertainment to keep you warm over the next few Saturday nights.

For more MMA coverage and latest news, head to MMASucka.com. Trevor also contributes to Sportsnet.ca.