Clean and Sober, Evan Tanner Poised for Summer Return |
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Career record: 1012-567
Season: 19-5 (#178)
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One-time UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner (32-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC), just a few weeks removed from a disappointing UFC 82 loss to Yushin Okami, has agreed to a summer return, and he's already accepted an opponent.
Tanner posted the news on his official website, evantanner.net, stating that he and UFC matchmaker Joe Silva had just spoken about the fight. However, he didn't reveal an opponent or a return date for the summer event.
Tanner stated that it's "good to have a fight scheduled" again because "the last two weeks have been really rough." Tanner suffered a second-round knockout via knee at UFC 82, which soured his long-awaited return from a two-year layoff.
Soon after the loss, Tanner wrote an inspiring blog entry about overcoming his alcohol addiction, saying he was both thankful and relieved that the defeat didn't cause him to relapse. The addiction, which prompted the break from MMA, had previously caused him to become malnourished, and his teeth even began to loosen.
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Post #1 3/17/08 1:51:10PM
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wolfman
On the Banned Team...
Career record: 218-101
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Florida
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Good for him, I wish him the best. 
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Post #2 3/17/08 1:52:48PM
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whardin19
MMA Sensei
Career record: 679-438
Season: 9-4 (#1536)
Location: The Bend, Indiana
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I'm wondering who his opponent will be. Good for him that he got his life together though. It's also good to have him back in the UFC.
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Post #3 3/17/08 2:29:03PM
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RampageOwnedYou
Banned
Career record: 246-144
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Canada
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Thats good he didnt go back to the alchol, thats a fight in itself!
Good to see he like others are fighting and defeating this addiction everyday!
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Post #4 3/17/08 2:39:28PM
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jae_1833
Heavyweight Champ
Career record: 918-569
Season: 20-4 (#327)
Location: Cali
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There are a lot of guys he could fight right now in the UFC...Cote, Groves, Leben, just to name a few. I don't think sobriety will be a problem for him in the future....so long as he continues one day at a time!!!
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Post #5 3/17/08 2:56:00PM
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Twenty20Dollars
Heavyweight Champ
Career record: 847-533
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location:
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Sakara, Grove, Dean Lister, Belcher
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Post #6 3/17/08 4:37:45PM
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It's dark and hell is hot
Career record: 887-591
Season: 20-4 (#475)
Location: Denver, Colorado Birthplace of the UFC
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right not I would give him someone like Jorge "El Conqustedor" Ravira the guys metioned might still be up there Tanner needs some low level comp to get back together he has a huge name if they can get him back in cage fighting shape
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6-3 av bets
He's been known to cure narcalepsy by just walking into a room. His orgin donation card list his beard. He is a lover not a fighter but he's also a fighter so don't get any idea's he is SpiderSilva
I'm the baddest man alive
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Post #7 3/17/08 4:43:56PM
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BlazinSaddle
Banned
Career record: 32-13
Season: 0-0 (#-)
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he was my only loss at UFC 82, that was one of the fights i really wanted to get right, oh well now we get to see Anderson whipe the floor with Okami's face, good luck to Tanner come on joe silva give him a can for a win to build up
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Post #8 3/17/08 6:08:43PM
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Banned for cheating
Career record: 309-149
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: south shields
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I want to see him fighting grove.
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Post #9 3/17/08 6:13:11PM
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ThaAxeMurderer7
MMA Sensei
Career record: 768-498
Season: 15-9 (#1167)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
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You've gotta root for the guy, he's been to hell and back. If it's going to be a summer return then I can definately see him fighting Grove, Cote, or Sakara. I know the middleweight division is considered by many as the weakest division in the UFC, but there are plenty of intriguing match ups. Silva vs. Okami, Franklin vs. Henderson, The two ultimate fighter winners of the same season Grove vs. Bisping, Cote vs. Leben, etc.
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Post #10 3/18/08 1:41:00AM
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CornishMMA
BANNED
Career record: 220-137
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Cornwall, UK
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Posted by SpiderSilva
right not I would give him someone like Jorge "El Conqustedor" Ravira the guys metioned might still be up there Tanner needs some low level comp to get back together he has a huge name if they can get him back in cage fighting shape
Jorge already has a fight with Kampman at 85
They need to give Evan one of the very bottom guys in the division, Grove would be ideal  but i doubt they would do that, i say Sakara
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Post #11 3/18/08 7:29:15AM
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sinister_16
Banned
Career record: 27-24
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Crossville,Nevada
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Im happy he overcame his addiction but i dont think he should have came back for a little while longer because when he used to fight he looked excited and pumped but i knew he wouldnt win by the look on his face at UFC 82 he didn't look like he wanted to fight at all maybe his next fight will have a better outcome than the one at 82
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Post #12 3/18/08 9:17:29AM
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casey64
BANNED
Career record: 208-123
Season: 0-0 (#-)
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Posted by sinister_16
Im happy he overcame his addiction but i dont think he should have came back for a little while longer because when he used to fight he looked excited and pumped but i knew he wouldnt win by the look on his face at UFC 82 he didn't look like he wanted to fight at all maybe his next fight will have a better outcome than the one at 82
Yeah he didnt look excited at all
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Post #13 3/18/08 9:21:20AM
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silverbullet
Shrimpin' ain't easy
Career record: 133-74
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: VA
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How in the world would fighting a can do anything for Evan Tanner? He just had a title shot, give him somebody strong/decent. The guy is not 25 years old, he does not have that many fights left in him. He's gotta beat some top competition if he ever wants to fight for the title again.
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Post #14 3/18/08 3:06:27PM
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wolfman
On the Banned Team...
Career record: 218-101
Season: 0-0 (#-)
Location: Florida
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Posted by silverbullet
How in the world would fighting a can do anything for Evan Tanner? He just had a title shot, give him somebody strong/decent. The guy is not 25 years old, he does not have that many fights left in him. He's gotta beat some top competition if he ever wants to fight for the title again.
Yeah, but how long ago was that? I agree, he needs to beat top competition to get back to the title. Same thing goes for every fighter, yet the guy is coming off a two year lay-off and a devastating loss to a contender. Therefore, he needs to fight his way back to the top. So, I don't think who he fights next needs to necessarily be a contender...
Last edited 3/18/08 5:37PM by wolfman
Edit note/reason: n/a
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Post #15 3/18/08 5:35:45PM
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