Fight Announcements and Rumours

Dmac · 08-10-2009, 09:37 PM

Put all news and rumours for fights in this thread for all oganizations, UFC, Strikeforce, DREAM etc.

Just to keep this a little more oganized.

King TE · 09-12-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMAWeekly.com

It appears that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the brother of former Pride and UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, will make his Octagon debut at UFC 106 against Luis Cane. A report by Loretta Hunt of Sherdog.com citing sources close to the negotiations said the bout has been verbally agreed to. MMAWeekly.com sources confirmed the report.

Nogueira (17-3) has been on a five-fight winning streak that began following a loss to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Pride 33 in early 2007. He has kept busy traveling across the globe fighting in Japan, the United States, and Canada since the closure of Pride.

Cane (10-1) has quickly risen to contention in the UFC light heavyweight division defeating Sokoudjou, Steve Cantwell, and Jason Lambert. His only stumble since entering the Octagon was a disqualification loss to James Irvin at UFC 79 due to an illegal knee to the head while Irvin was down.

UFC 106 is scheduled to take place on Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas. UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar is expected to defend his title against Shane Carwin in the main event and Tito Ortiz returns to the Octagon to face Mark Coleman.

Dammit...hard fight for my current CFL captain. 'But good fight as a MMA fan. Good to be back on the forums.

King TE · 09-12-2009, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir is set to return to the Octagon to face French striker Cheick Kongo. Sources close to the situation confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Thursday that the fight is verbally agreed to, but bout agreements have not been signed.

Though recent reports suggested the bout could headline UFC 105 in Manchester, England, MMAWeekly.com sources indicated that it would take place on Dec. 12 at UFC 107 in Memphis, Tenn.

Mir (12-4) recently got knocked off the rails of a three-fight winning streak, losing his interim heavyweight champion designation in a title unification bout against champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 100. It was a rematch of their fight at UFC 81, where Mir welcomed the former WWE superstar to the Octagon by submitting him with a kneebar. He then won the interim designation when he became the first man to stop Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Kongo (14-5-1) was widely considered to be a step away from a UFC heavyweight title shot before he was unable to get out from under a smothering Cain Velasquez at UFC 99, losing a unanimous decision. Kongo has amassed a 7-3 record during his tenure with the UFC, winning three straight fights prior to the loss to Velasquez.

A bout pitting Ultimate Fighter 10 coaches Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans against each other was the original headline bout for UFC 107. That fight was recently supplanted by a UFC lightweight title defense, pitting champion B.J. Penn against Diego Sanchez.

Originally counting on Jackson’s hometown popularity, the TUF coaches were removed from the card when Jackson’s acting commitments to a Hollywood remake of popular 1980s television show “The A-Team” conflicted with the bout.

This has been rumored for awhile of course, but this is the first article officially stating it I've seen from a major MMA news source. Mir better get this fight to the ground.

King TE · 09-14-2009, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMAWeekly.com

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A light heavyweight match-up between five-time UFC champion Randy Couture and Brandon Vera is targeted for UFC 105.

The news was first reported by British website Telegraph.co.uk. According to MMAWeekly.com's sources, both fighters have verbally agreed to the fight and are expected to receive bout agreements shortly.

UFC 105 is set for Nov. 14 at the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England.

Couture (16-10) appeared last month at UFC 102, losing a unanimous decision to former Pride and interim UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a bout considered by many to be an instant classic. Following the bout, Couture hinted at a possible drop to 205 pounds, where he fought for nearly three years, thrice winning title honors.

Vera (14-3) fought alongside Couture on the Pacific Northwest card last month, winning a unanimous decision victory over Krzystzof Soszynski. Once a heavyweight himself, Vera has notched a 3-1 Octagon record as a light heavyweight.

o.o

Dmac · 09-14-2009, 09:13 AM

Saw that yesterday, not excited about it really, I like Vera but he wont be able to beat Randy, I just can't see it at all.

This will just be a confidence booster fight for Couture.

Tomas · 09-14-2009, 04:57 PM

The Fight's been confirmed by the UFC apparently

Quote:

Source MMAScoops.com
UFC HALL OF FAMER COUTURE RETURNS TO 205lbs DIVISION TO FACE CONTENDER VERA

September 14, 2009, London, England

In his first fight outside the USA in nearly nine years, legendary five-time UFC champion Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture will headline UFC 105 at the MEN Arena, Manchester, in a fascinating light heavyweight collision with Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera on November 14.

Tickets go on general public release this morning (Monday September 14) and are available via ticketmaster.co.uk and the MEN Arena box office from 10AM. Both Michael Bisping and Dan Hardy will be signing autographs at the MEN Arena box office from 5:30pm on this evening.

The most successful division-jumper in the history of mixed martial arts, Couture, 16-10 in MMA, has already reigned twice as light heavyweight champion of the world in addition to his three triumphs in the heavyweight category. Now the Hall of Famer will storm into Manchester to renew his quest for an unprecedented sixth world championship.

“I would love to be a six-time UFC champion, to set the bar very high in that regard, and that’s what I want to accomplish at 205lbs,” said the Natural. “That is my immediate goal. I am very intrigued by the current light heavyweight division, there are some great matchups for me here, and I believe I have to tools to win back the 205lbs title.”

In his first bout in the light heavyweight class since the climax of his iconic trilogy with Chuck Liddell in February 2006, Couture meets the formidable challenge of Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera.

Couture said: “Brandon Vera is the first of these challenges at 205lbs. It would have been very nice to be the big guy in the Octagon(TM) for the first time in years but, having trained with Brandon and competed against him in wrestling many years ago, I know that he is as big and as powerful as I am.

“He’s looked very sharp, very dangerous, in his last few fights. His stand up is very good, he is very fast and accurate with his kicks and he can hurt you to the legs with those weapons. He also proved he has the power to hurt big heavyweights, and that he can be patient and take advantage if you make a mistake.

“He is known for his stand-up in the UFC, but I know from experience that his wrestling is outstanding. He represents some interesting tactical problems, but I feel physically as good as ever and am ready to throw my name into the 205lbs title picture with a great performance.”

Fighting out of San Diego, California, Filipino-American Vera, 11-3 in his mixed martial arts career, is in the form of his life.

Fighting just two weeks ago on the same card where Couture waged his instant classic war with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Vera snapped the six-fight winning streak of the highly-rated Krzysztof Soszynski. Before that, Vera had dismantled Michael Patt with some of the most vicious leg-strikes seen in the Octagon.

Now Vera says he is ready to take on a living legend and continue his ascent towards the light heavyweight title. He said: "It will be an honour and a privilege to fight a living legend like Randy Couture. He has been someone that I have looked up to and I can't wait to get in there in November.

“Even after my first UFC win back in 2005, I was begging the UFC to put me in with a legend like a Chuck Liddell or a Randy Couture. I always knew those are the sorts of guys who would bring the best out of me and, finally, I have my chance to prove myself against a true legend in the sport.”

Already announced for UFC 105 is a fascinating middleweight (185lbs) showdown between British hero Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping and Denis Kang, as well as a welterweight (170lbs) battle between Dan ‘The Outlaw’ Hardy and Dong-Hyun Kim. Further exciting bouts for UFC 105 will be announced shortly.

UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik added: “Once again, the UFC has delivered for the British fans. We’ve been blown away by the interest in this card and, with the addition of a legendary fighter like Couture in such an interesting and potentially explosive fight with Vera, we are confident this will be the hottest ticket this winter.

“Randy hasn’t fought outside the United States since February 2001, but he wanted to fight in England after the Manchester fans gave him such a warm reception at UFC 70 back in 2007. If they went crazy for him just being Octagonside, I can’t wait to hear how they react when he walks into the arena meaning business.”

UFC 105 will be screened LIVE on ESPN in the UK and Ireland.

Catch the terrestrial network debut of UFC: Main Event tonight at midnight on channel FIVE, featuring the recent Couture v Nogueria fight of the year candidate.

James Deuce · 09-14-2009, 05:01 PM

I'm excited for it, mainly because it is free.

Dmac · 09-14-2009, 05:03 PM

It's a huge flaw of Vera's that he doesn't know his limits, I'm sure people would understand if he turned down a fight that he's not going to win because who here thinks that he can win this?

King TE · 09-14-2009, 06:17 PM

I actually think Randy is going to be too slow for the Light Heavyweight division. Though I hate Vera he's very fast and has good striking. He could very easily catch Randy but I see Randy grinding out a decision.