UFC part deux

[Mad]

In those videos Hughes doesn't appear as ripped as he usually is for these matches. It also looked like GSP was extremely prepared for Matt's game plan. Now, Hughes will have to study the tapes and learn from it, if he can in such a short period of time.

[Gooch]

UFC buys a competitor: WEC

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Both the Wrestling Observer and numerous independent MMAWeekly.com sources have confirmed that the Ultimate Fighting Championship has purchased, or is in the final stages of purchasing, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).

The Zuffa-owned WEC is expected to continue to hold shows under the WEC name and would use a UFC Octagon. Additionally, MMAWeekly has learned that WEC president Reed Harris and matchmaker Scott Adams are expected to remain with the company, and that the first WEC show to be produced under UFC ownership is an event tentatively planned for January 2007.

The Observer reports that the UFC is buying the WEC for many reasons, one of which is to serve as a venue in which to groom up-and-coming talent, and another is so that they can attempt to secure a high-profile national television deal for the WEC in a strategic maneuver to impede the chances of other MMA promotions (specifically the IFL or Pride) to secure a national TV deal in the United States.

There are only so many TV deals available for an MMA company in the United States. If a TV deal could be secured for the WEC, Zuffa would have the UFC on Spike TV, perhaps the UFC on HBO at some point, and the WEC on another network besides HDNet.

If the UFC were able to secure a deal for the WEC, this would leave any other MMA company with very limited options in terms of securing their own TV deals, with no possibility of signing with Spike TV, HBO (assuming that the UFC is able to secure some sort of deal with the premium network), Showtime (because of their agreement with Pro Elite, Inc.), and the network that would sign the WEC.

According to Ron Kruck, a broadcaster at WEC events and producer/host of WEC Exposed on HDNet, “We [HDNet] are in ongoing talks with the WEC about renewing their contract, but at this point, nothing has been signed.”

So, it appears that the HDNet deal is up in the air at this point and that the UFC may already be seeking a different outlet for their latest product.

There is definitely a higher priority being put on the television production of WEC events. Christian Printup of the Tachi Palace recently stated on WEC.tv that at least 50% of the WEC shows in 2007 are moving to the Tachi Palace’s new indoor venue, even though it is somewhat smaller than the outdoor venue where most WEC events have been held. His reasoning: “The new capacity is 1,450, and the [indoor] venue is better designed for a television audience... the [outdoor venue] was 1,800 capacity.”

As previously reported by MMAWeekly, Zuffa co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta and president Dana White were sitting in the audience at WEC 24 on October 12th. Now, with the purchase of the WEC, it has become pretty clear why they were in attendance.

[Gooch]

UFC also Buys WFA

Rampage Jackson and other WFA fighters now under contract to UFC


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[diceisgod]

UFC buys Cro Cop, babay!

Tonight's Diego-Riggs fight should be interesting

[Gooch]

Crocop is a go per two MMA sites.

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UFC:


Makes a syndication deal:
UFC Wired, hosted by Joe Rogan
(tentatively planned to be a mixture of UFC Unleashed and Inside the UFC)
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2007:
Dana in interview alludes to HBO deal. WEC acquisitions/league might be on Spike. WEC will be run independently from UFC, thus compete with it. (no crossover, but maybe "superbowl" fights down the line)

Has many offers to big talent (CroCop maybe just the beginning)

April 17th, GSP vs Hughes 3 in Canada (first Canadian show)

Trying to open up new areas like Canada, Mexico, Texas and Florida for fight venues.

2007...trying to make UFC/MMA a household name and MMA to take the place of boxing (Showtime will make announcement of a competing MMA fight show later this week).

[Gooch]

Diego sure made quick work of Riggs.

Karo vs Drew Thicket was a really good fight. Shonie Carter got his comeuppance.

[Hybrid]

i hate diego sanchez.

[Gooch]

Fuckin TUF morons are all saying Diego should get a shot at GSP...which is bullshit. BJ Penn should be next for Diego...b/c as much as I hate him, the fucker is talented. I'd also like to see Karo and him have a rematch.

[Hybrid]

i'd like to see a nick diaz/diego sanchez rematch.

[diceisgod]

Diego called out Matt Hughes. I don't think that will happen because Hughes said he won't fight anyone else until a GSP rematch happens (which is happening next april in canada assuming that he beats serra which seems like a sure shot that he will). That's what I heard anyway.

[Mad]

Serra better work on his stand up or it's game over.

[Gooch]

This coming Saturday is the highly anticipated UFC 66

Main Card Bouts:
-Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz
-Andrei Arlovski vs. Marcio "Pe de Pano" Cruz
-Forrest Griffin vs. Keith Jardine
-Michael Bisping vs. Eric Schafer
-Chris Leben vs. Jason MacDonald





Also: looks like the rubbermatch of GSP vs MAtt Hughes in Canada in April has been changed....

GSP vs Diego Sanchez is the new rumor.

[GonzoStyle]

rumors!!!!!!!!!!

[BirdyP]

Dirty Sanchez will get his ass rocked.

I am actually thinking that Ortiz vs. Liddell 2 may not only Rival the first match, but also shit on every Ortiz - Shamrock fight.

Just my opinion.

[Gooch]

Just wait...even if Liddell wins, Rampage Jackson (the man who kicked Liddells ass in PRIDE) will be gunning for him in 2007. Rampage gets his first fight in the UFC in Jan or Feb.

[diceisgod]

there's so much mma goodness on the horizon, can't wait til saturday night!

[Gooch]

Free PPV locations...

The Dec. 30 event, which would usually cost $39.95 on pay-per-view, can be viewed for free at the following locations.

However, if you plan to watch the event at one of these locations, be sure to call them in advance to confirm they’ll actually have the pay-per-view event available.



NY:

McCanns Pub Astoria NY 718 278-2621
McCanns Pub # 2 Massapequa NY 516 798-1496
Playwright New York NY 212 262-9263
Gooch's apartment


NJ:

Delilahs Den Pleasantville NJ 609 383-0666
Fox & Hounds @ Edison Edison NJ 732 452-9100
Hollywood Cafe Woodbury Height NJ 856 251 0011
Hooters @ Hackensack Hackensack NJ 201 488 9229
Hooters @ Maple Shade Maple Shade NJ 856 482 9007
Hooters @ Paramus Paramus NJ 201 986 1530
Hooters @ Princeton Lawrenceville NJ 609 520-9464
Hooters @ Union Union NJ 908 964 5317
Hooters @ Wayne Wayne NJ 973 837 1876
P.J. Whelihans Pub @ Cherry Hill Cherry Hill NJ 856 424-8844
Prime Time Sports Bar South Amboy NJ 732 721-6555
Pub 46 Clifton NJ 973 473-8184

[Gooch]

though already reported and rumors flying..its being reported once again....



Breaking News: "Cro Cop" to Fight in UFC


The Ultimate Fighting Championship is expected to introduce Croatian heavyweight Mirko Filipovic as its newest acquisition during the Dec. 30 UFC 66 pay-per-view card, Sherdog.com learned Wednesday afternoon.

A star in the competitive PRIDE Fighting Championships' heavyweight division from Nov. 2001 through Sept. 2006 — when "Cro Cop" captured PRIDE's Open-Weight Grand Prix crown — Filipovic is slated to make his Octagon debut against Southern California's Eddie Sanchez, a source close to Sanchez said.

Widely recognized as the best heavyweight mixed martial artist in the world behind Russian Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures), "Cro Cop" has amassed in impressive 21-4-2 record, including recent triumphs over Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) and Josh Barnett (Pictures) in the GP to cap off his Fighter of the Year-caliber performance.

Undefeated in six fights, Sanchez made his UFC debut on short notice as part of the Hughes-Penn II undercard and stopped Mario Neto. The heavyweight's other contests, all of which he won before the bell, took place in King of the Cage and Total Combat

[Gooch]

Two big boys signed to UFC...


Heath Herring & Crocop signed to Heavyweight Div of UFC.

There is always speculation regarding “the big announcement” leading up to an Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view event. Well, for UFC 66, headlined by Chuck Lidell vs. Tito Ortiz 2, there could be multiple announcements. The UFC’s parent company, Zuffa LLC, has been busy purchasing other companies of late, the World Fighting Alliance (WFA) and World Extreme Cagefighting among them, but it will be the fighters acquired that garner most of the attention.

The biggest of those announcements is expected to be the UFC’s acquisition of Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, the 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix champion. Sherdog.com reported that Filipovic’s signing will be revealed on the pay-per-view with his first opponent slated as Eddie Sanchez. MMAWeekly sources have indicated that the fight will take place on February 3rd on the UFC 67 fight card, which is already slated to feature two title fights, and most likely Quinton Jackson’s UFC debut.

In addition to the Filipovic signing, MMAWeekly sources have confirmed that Heath Herring has signed a five-fight deal with the UFC. Herring was one of the fighters whose contract with the WFA was purchased by Zuffa. His first fight for the UFC is scheduled for January 25th on a UFC Fight Night card to be televised live on Spike TV. Herring’s first opponent in the UFC will be Jake O’Brien.

At one time Herring was ranked near the top of the heavyweight division, vying for the championship in Pride. The fight with O’Brien will be his first in nearly a year. He last saw action when he knocked out Gary Goodridge at the K-1 Hero’s show in March of 2006.

O’Brien is a strong up-and-comer out of Indianapolis, Indiana. While he doesn’t have the experience that Herring does, O’Brien is undefeated and has two wins under his belt in the Octagon. While he’s no walk in the park for Herring, it will likely be the toughest test yet for the former Purdue wrestler.

[BirdyP]

I watched a bunch of CroCop fights a couple weeks ago and I have to say that he is a vicious dude. He may have the best kick game I have ever seen in any fighting.