Josh Oliveira - In a somewhat complicated turn of events Pat Barry (5-1, 2-1 UFC) will now reportedly meet Mirko "Cro-Cop" Filipovic (26-7-2, 3-3 UFC) at UFC 115 in Vancouver, while Barry's original opponent at that event, Gilbert Yvel (36-14-1, 0-1 UFC), will face "Cro-Cop's" intended opponent at UFC 110, "Big" Ben Rothwell (30-7). An eventual fight between the two winners is almost certainly a given and would create a fairly legit contender for the UFC.
It all started when Rothwell withdrew from his fight with Mirko "Cro-Cop" at this past weekend's UFC 110 event. That meant Mirko had to face a lesser opponent who agreed to step up at a moment's notice. After the event, Dana White said point blank that he still intended to match Rothwell against "Cro-Cop," but it seems that they like these match-ups more and, I have to say, I agree. Pat Barry is a squat, smallish heavyweight just like Mirko and both have top-shelf, K-1 tested, striking. Yvel and Rothwell, meanwhile, are both tall, scary dudes who are coming off of losses and both like to set up big shots from outside the pocket, which should make for an interesting fistic tango.
With the addition of these two major heavyweight fights, and rumours circulating of a showdown between Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1), the Vancouver fight card for June 12th is beginning to take shape.
Full UFC 115 Rumoured Card:
Possible Main Event:
Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz III
~or~
Wanderlei Silva vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
Main Card & Under Card:
Carlos Condit vs. Rory MacDonald
Tyson Griffin vs. Evan Dunham
Pat Barry vs. Mirko Filipovic
Gilbert Yvel vs. Ben Rothwell
James Wilks vs. Peter Sobotta
Mike Pyle vs. Jesse Lennox
MMACanada.net
Looks like Martin Kampmann vs. Paulo Thiago is on, and so is Matt Wiman vs. Mac Dazig. The card just keeps getting better and better.
It now looks possible that we may see Randy Couture vs. Rich Franklin for the main event. Given the options, for my dollar I'd like to see the Akiyama vs. Silva main event in Vancity, but really who will be complaining wither way?
that sounds about right, except sherdog and mmaweekly are reporting chuck/franklin.
i woudln't doubt that tito did something to sour his relationship with the ufc... again.
v1y - that sounds about right, except sherdog and mmaweekly are reporting chuck/franklin.
i woudln't doubt that tito did something to sour his relationship with the ufc... again.
Tito is in the hospital for undisclosed reasons...
Mike Russell -v1y - that sounds about right, except sherdog and mmaweekly are reporting chuck/franklin.
i woudln't doubt that tito did something to sour his relationship with the ufc... again.
Tito is in the hospital for undisclosed reasons...
Mike...
Sounds serious. Is TUF shooting still going on? Wonder how this affect it.
I heard he had to step away from the show, but it's just a rumor at this point. Check out his twitter. He mentioned having the flu a few days ago. Maybe it's an infection.
From Fiveouncesofpain.com:
A storm of speculation has surrounded the reasoning behind Tito Ortiz‘ recent removal from his expected bout with Chuck Liddell along with a recent coaching gig on the eleventh season of The Ultimate Fighter, and it now appears as though we may have our answer.
Sources close to the situation have recently indicated to FiveOuncesofPain.com that multiple herniations in the neck of Ortiz prompted his removal from both the taping of The Ultimate Fighter Season 11, and his anticipated clash with fellow coach Liddell at the conclusion of the most recent season.
It had long been rumoured that a middleweight contenders’ bout between Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-1) could go down at UFC 115 in Vancouver’s GM Place on June 12th, but, according to a report today from FightersOnlyMagazine.co.uk, that now appears highly unlikely.
Read more..... http://mmacanada.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=851&Itemid=49
Chris Parry makes a very insightful observation,
Will councilor Ray Louie drive the UFC to abandon Vancouver - for Calgary?
http://communities.canada.com/VANCOUVERSUN/blogs/groundandpound/archive/2010/03/25/will-councilor-ray-louie-drive-the-ufc-to-abandon-vancouver-for-calgary.aspx
Bodhichill - The Vancouver Athletic Commission gave conditional approval Wednesday for an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at GM Place on June 12.
Note, that in Bodhichill's article, that the VAC is not a legal entity, so therefore it is still the council that has the final decision. This is still on the back of the council which is dragging it's heels. If they don't do it properly the articles makes a case that the UFC will move to calgary, which the WEC is having an event the very next weekend (June 20th).
I would be all over the UFC in calgary BTW!
jkennedy - I heard Fitch vs Alves was the main event now.Fitch vs. Alves II confirmed for Vancouver; Liddell vs. Franklin seems likely
jkennedy -Wanderlei Silva signs next fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama July 3 , UFC 116 in Las VegasBodhichill -jkennedy - I heard Fitch vs Alves was the main event now.Fitch vs. Alves II confirmed for Vancouver; Liddell vs. Franklin seems likely
Fitch vs. Alves makes sense due to a lack of contenders in that weight class but I have no interest in seeing Rich vs Chuck. If this is what the UFC is selling as the 'main event' I think they've misread the Canadian Market.
Hopefully Wanderlei vs Sexyama is signed as the main event.