Execs says Versus to air UFC Fight Night-type events; move to NBC possible?
(mmajunkie.com)The two Ultimate Fighting Championship events that air on Versus in 2010 will likely be UFC Fight Night broadcasts similar to those on Spike TV, UFC president Dana White today said.
In a media conference call, White and Versus executive Marc Fein today discussed the finer points of a deal announced earlier this week. It calls for two 2010 UFC events to air on Versus, which also airs shows from the UFC's sister promotion, World Extreme Cagefighting.
No UFC events have been selected for Versus just yet, nor have company executives determined which days of the week the events will air.
However, White assured it won't be a second-rate event.
James Toney Still Wants to Fight in the UFC, Still Out of His Damn Mind
(cagepotato.com)“I met up with Dana. He was cool and said we could do business. We exchanged numbers and I texted him all night, ‘Don’t forget chicken ****!’ But I was sitting behind Chuck Liddell and I could tell he was uncomfortable with my presence. …I think I can break records with the UFC. I would fight Kimbo Slice, Chuck Liddell, or Randy Couture. Brock Lesnar, too. He could get it and we would do a ton of buys.”
Palhares: “I can do even better”
(tatame.com)Winning for the third time in the UFC, Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares finished the fight against Lúcio Linhares with his favorite move: attacking the foot. “The fight was good, I won, what’s most important”, Rousimar celebrates, on United States, talking to TATAME.com by phone.
Spike TV To Air 10 Prelim PPV Teasers In '10
(mmajunkie.com)After three successful broadcasts in 2009, Spike TV officials today announced the cable station will air a total of 10 preliminary-card specials prior to UFC pay-per-view events in 2010. The one-hour specials, now dubbed "UFC Prelim," feature between two and four bouts from the un-aired preliminary cards of each pay-per-view event. The first 2 installments will be prior to UFC 108 & UFC 109, the rest TBA.
TUF 10 Finale Drug Tests: All Clean
(mmajunkie.com)The TUF 10 Finale was officially a drug-free zone. NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer today announced that 9 fighters on the event were tested for drugs after the event, and all passed. Both main event fighters, Roy Nelson and Brendan Schaub, were tested, as were undercard fighters Matt Hamill, Jon Jones, Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson, Frankie Edgar, Matt Mitrione, John Howard and Mark Bocek.
Cain Velasquez Has Too Much Respect For Big Nog
(mmamania.com)And the fast-rising UFC Heavyweight even says so. In a recent newspaper interview on his UFC 110 fight against Minotauro Nogueira, he's quoted as saying "It's going to be a tough fight. Minotauro is one of the best. He is always hard and you can never underestimate him. Even while he is losing, always finds a way to invert the situation and finish the bout. I have too much respect for him. I watched The Ultimate Fighter in which he was one of the coaches and I respect him as a person and for the legend he is in this sport."
Brandon 'The Truth' Vera Vs Jon 'Bones' Jones At UFC Fight Night 21, March 31, Denver, Colorado
(mmajunkie.com)An ankle injury has forced recent UFC addition Antonio Rogerio Nogueira out of a planned bout with fellow light heavyweight Brandon Vera (11-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) on Feb. 6 at UFC 109.
While the latest bout cancellation in the UFC – which was first reported by Sherdog.com – may cause many fans to groan, the potential replacement contest may result in the complete opposite.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the organization that the UFC is targeting Vera for a potential headlining contest against Jon Jones (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) at an as-yet-unannounced UFC Fight Night 21 event on March 31 in Denver, Colo.
Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir in the works for interim heavyweight title at UFC 111 in March
(mmajunkie.com)While UFC president Dana White recently said the status of UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar would be decided in the next four to six weeks, things are apparently progressing much faster.
MMAjunkie.com has learned from sources close to the organization that the UFC is targeting an interim heavyweight title matchup between top contender Shane Carwin and former UFC champion Frank Mir.
If both parties agree, the contest may take place at the increasingly attractive UFC 111 event on March 27 in Newark, N.J.
little Nog out of 109
(sherdog.com)
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has withdrawn from his co-headlining light heavyweight contest against Brandon Vera at UFC 109 on Feb. 6 in Las Vegas due to injury, Sherdog.com has learned from multiple sources
Personally I feel this is Jon Jone's big chance to step up into the big picture.
Yvel glad to finally get his shot in the UFC
(mmaweekly.com)Gilbert Yvel has finalized a seven-fight deal with the UFC that kicks off with a main card showdown with Junior Dos Santos at UFC 108.
Santos was originally scheduled to face former contender Gabriel Gonzaga on the Jan. 2 card, but was forced to withdraw due to a staph infection.
It was an unusual road to the Octagon for the Dutch striker, but he’s happy to have made it.
Ricardo Almeida likely for UFC 111 in March, bout with Thiago Alves possible
(mmajunkie.com)While a knee injury forced grappling ace Ricardo Almeida (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) out of a planned UFC 106 bout with Jon Fitch, "Big Dog" apparently won't sit out for long.
And while Almeida couldn't comment on the potential contest when contacted by MMAjunkie.com, additional sources have indicated Brazilian slugger Thiago Alves (16-6 MMA, 9-3 UFC) may be in the running to face the 33-year-old.
UFC 107 Medical Suspensions
(mmaweekly.com)The Tennessee Athletic Commission has announced the medical suspensions from UFC 107. 18 fighters in all got suspensions, but most were in the range of 3-45 days. Only Clay Guida and Matt Wiman got 60+ day suspensions unless they are medically cleared ahead of time.
Thiago Alves To Return At UFC 111
(mmaweekly.com)Former welterweight contender Thiago Alves will make his return to action at UFC 111 on March 27, 2010.Alves suffered a PCL tear in training for a bout with Jon Fitch at UFC 107, but has recently begun training again, according to his manager, Malki Kawa of First Round Management.An opponent for the American Top Team standout is not confirmed at this time.
Sonnen Brings in Okami to 'Anchor' his Training Camp for UFC 109 Fight Against Marquardt
(cagepotato.com)We got men and women at war right now – they got real problems – so me complaining about where I come out on the card would be very arrogant. But with that said, there are guys that I’m opening the show for that would never fight after me had Okami not been my dance partner. They call him Yushin “Thunder” Okami, I call him Yushin “Anchor” Okami; he pulls people down, whereas if you get a fight with me – if you get me on the docket, I’m going to pull you up. I’m going to get exposure and attention and people to care about the fight and “Anchor” Okami’s got the opposite effect. So was it annoying? Yes.
Replacement John Gunderson gets Rafaello Oliviera at UFC 108
(mmajunkie.com)UFC newcomer John Gunderson (22-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC) replaces Sean Sherk (33-4-1 MMA, 7-4 UFC) and meets fellow lightweight Rafaello Oliveira (9-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) next month at UFC 108.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) learned of the change overnight. The bout was first reported by MMAWeekly.com.
UFC 108, a fight card ravaged by injuries, takes place Jan. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and airs on pay-per-view (main card) and Spike TV (two preliminary card bouts). Gunderson vs. Oliviera is part of the night's preliminary card, though it's unlikely to be part of the Spike TV broadcast.
The UFC has not officially announced the fight.
UFC Fan Expo Set for Memorial Day Weekend, May 28th-29th
(aroundtheoctagon.com)This past July, the first-ever UFC Fan Expo took the sports world by storm, as fans celebrated the past, present, and future of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. So by popular demand, the UFC, in partnership with Reed Exhibitions, has announced that the second UFC Fan Expo will take place May 28-29, 2010, back in Las Vegas, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
The jam-packed two-day event, occurring during Memorial Day Weekend 2010, will provide fans with the opportunity to experience a number of special events, fighter appearances, autograph signings, and training & development sessions with elite fighters and industry leaders.
Over 200 leading companies are expected to exhibit, covering 200,000 gross square feet of space, and will feature apparel, electronic gaming, food & beverages, fight gear, fitness equipment and supplies, nutritional supplements, lifestyle products, and much more...
Shane Carwin would happily fight fellow UFC heavyweight contender Frank Mir
(mmajunkie.com)With the Ultimate Fighting Championship's heavyweight division in a bit of disarray due to a rash of fighter injuries and champion Brock Lesnar's mysterious but obviously serious illness, one fighter is openly contemplating options for future fights.Shane Carwin, who was next in line for a title shot until Lesnar was sidelined with injuries, initially opted to fight through his own ailment but has since decided to take time off to rehabilitate and to prepare for the birth of a child.When he returns, though, he's open to a fight with fellow contender Frank Mir.
Dos Santos wants to knock Gilbert Yvel out
(tatame.com)“I was training to fight with Napão, but happened that he couldn’t fight so they putted Gilbert Yvel, who’s a very though guy, he’s coming from victory by knock out in front of Pedro Rizzo and has a very good Muay Thai”, said the fighter, who can still show an unknown side to UFC fans. “I think that his weak spot is the ground. We’ve trained to make a work with intelligence and a good fight and I’m training a lot on the ground, but I won’t want to take it down soon, I’ll want to feel the fight standing up... I know that he’s good but I believe in me and I know that I can represent danger standing up“.
*scary fight..don't look down on Evil Yvel..both like to bang..so it's gone be a stand up war...
UFC to Twice Air Live on Versus in 2010
(mma.fanhouse.com)Versus, home of the WEC since June 2007, will begin carrying live UFC events in 2010 as part of a renewal agreement with Zuffa that will bring a total of seven WEC and two UFC events live to cable sports network next year, according to VERSUS.com.
Spike TV had previously been the exclusive cable channel for the UFC and the first UFC on Versus event will be the first time the UFC has aired an event live outside of Spike TV since the two partnered for The Ultimate Fighter in 2005.
Details of the first UFC event on Versus are to be announced.
The new agreement, which will also allow Versus digital media rights to stream preliminary WEC fights on VERSUS.com, can essentially put to rest rumors of Zuffa folding the WEC and sending its fighters to the UFC at least for the near future.
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