Dana on: UFC 100 and 99, WW and LHW title shots

[cowboyronnie]

MMAjunkie.com

On the eve of "UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson" in London, UFC President Dana White is also busy finalizing the details on several other cards in the near future.

In an interview earlier today with Setanta Sports, one of the UFC's European-based television broadcast partners, White confirmed several rumored matchups over the next few months.

White spoke freely as he relayed the details of UFC 100, a future German card, plans for Georges St. Pierre, B.J. Penn and several other potential future matchups.

First on the list was the much-discussed, though as-yet-unannounced, UFC 100, rumored for a July 11 date in Las Vegas.

"Other than, 'How do I get a job with the UFC, that's the second-most asked question: When is UFC 100, and what are you going to do for it?'" White joked. "I had been putting it off for so long. We were doing so many fights (that) I couldn't focus on 100."

Now that he has time to focus on the historic event, White said he is planning on putting together a card sure to excite the MMA community.

"UFC 100 is going to deliver," White said. "People are going to be really pumped about that card."

When questioned on rumored matchups for the event, White confirmed that champion St. Pierre would put his welterweight title on the line against Thiago Alves, while "The Ultimate Fighter" coaches Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping would also meet at the event.

White said there would also be one other marquee bout on the card.

"There's going to be three major fights on the card," White said.

The U.K.-based broadcasters also asked White what a win would mean for Bisping, and the answer was a title shot -- possibly on his home soil.

"If [Bisping] beats Dan Henderson, not only will he break into the top five, I think if he wins that fight his next fight will be a title shot against Anderson Silva -- which hopefully would be here in the U.K.," White said.

White also discussed the UFC's German debut, currently rumored to be UFC 99 on June 13.

"B.J. (Penn) is probably going to defend his 155-pound title against Kenny Florian, and I'm thinking maybe it's going to be in Germany," White said. "Wanderlei (Silva) will probably fight on that Germany card, too. Not sure yet, but possibly."

White did not commit to a specific date for the German card, stating only that it would take place in June or July. Croatian striker Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic was also discussed as a potential competitor for the German event.

"I talked to Mirko probably about a month ago," White said. "He said he's ready to come back.

"He wants to come back in the UFC and he'd love to fight in Germany. I'm talking to his agent right now, and we're trying to figure out what we can do."

White also confirmed that Brock Lesnar will be facing Frank Mir in May to unify the heavyweight titles, that 205-pound contender Lyoto Machida will "probably have his title shot this summer," and that there will be a title on the line when the UFC returns to the U.K. this summer.

White also mentioned Scotland, France and Dubai as future host for the UFC's worldwide expansion, as well as the potential for future WEC events outside of the U.S.

[cowboyronnie]

So no re-match between BJ and GSP, Alves gets his shot. Lyoto gets a LHW shot next, but not until this summer.

[CPT]

I'll believe the Lyoto title shot when I see it.

I still think it's gonna be Rashad vs. Rampage at UFC 100

[RockTHECasbah]

its a big card, but not that big

[2009NBAChamps]

For the Germany card, it's going to be Franklin vs. Wanderlei in a catch weight.

Hope Silva still has something left for that fight.

[jTF2]

Germany's gonna be awesome. Its always refreshing to see the UFC go overseas.

Canada's still undisputed tho .

[spree8]

yea so far it's..

Ufc 98:

Brock vs Mir 2
Hughes vs Serra
Sherk vs Edger
McFedries vs Ervin


Ufc 99:

Penn vs Florian
Franklin vs W. Silva


Ufc 100:

Evans vs Rampage (if he beats Jardine)
Gsp vs Alves
Hendu vs Bisping

[Chach]

I've heard nothing about the Rampage fight. I heard rumors that Rampage was getting first shot at Evans and then a month later, he gets Jardine. I guess you could fit it in but that's going to be a short turn around for Rampage and Evans to prepare for a title fight. Dana says in that article that Machida will probably get his title shot this summer so I would take that to imply if the LHW crown is on the line at UFC 100, it's going to be Evans Machida and the winner faces Rampage in the fall. mahalo
~Chach~

[spree8]

I've heard nothing about the Rampage fight. I heard rumors that Rampage was getting first shot at Evans and then a month later, he gets Jardine. I guess you could fit it in but that's going to be a short turn around for Rampage and Evans to prepare for a title fight. Dana says in that article that Machida will probably get his title shot this summer so I would take that to imply if the LHW crown is on the line at UFC 100, it's going to be Evans Machida and the winner faces Rampage in the fall. mahalo
~Chach~

How so? If Rampage wins March 7th, July 11th is like 120 days after that...4 months later which is 1/3 of the year away...more than enough rest for Quinton and a title fight. I know Dana said Machida might get a shot this summer, but it is also a fact that Rampage WILL definitely get a title shot if he beats Jardine, so is he going to have to wait like 8 months for one after Machida and Evans fight? And is Machida and Evans really that good a fight to headline UFC 100? No. It wil be Rampage-Evans God willing.

[CPT]

BJ Penn wants some time off (big surprise), so I don't think Penn vs. Florian is happening at UFC 99.

There won't be 3 title fights at 100, so that means 101 at the earliest. Sucks for Florian. It's almost at the point where they should make an interim LW title. Penn hasn't defended since May 24, 2008. I don't think they waited that long for Serra or Couture.

[Posey H8er]

Couture Accepts UFC 101 Bout with Nogueira

A long-rumored bout between former UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture and former UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira appears set to take place.

According to multiple sources from Couture’s camp, he has agreed to face Nogueira at the yet-unannounced UFC 101 sometime in August. The event may take place in Portland, Ore.

The UFC is now awaiting a response from Nogueira’s camp.

Previously, Couture was offered a fight with Nogueira in the first half of 2009, but his role in Sylvester Stallone’s “The Expendables,” set to film in late March, got in the way.

Couture was also rumored to be under consideration for UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany on June 13, but a source indicated he would be unable to complete a proper 8-week training camp and would not take the fight.

Nogueira was last seen at UFC 92, where he lost his interim heavyweight title in a TKO loss to current interim champ Frank Mir.

Couture – who has fought for or defended a title in 15 of his 19 UFC fights – lost the undisputed heavyweight title when he succumbed to strikes against Brock Lesnar at UFC 91.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=y ... &type=lgns

[Chach]

**** !

Spree, you can make the same argument for Machida. He fought before Rampage so if Evans and Rampage fight at UFC 100, then Machida is going to have to wait 9 months to fight and that's if the winner comes out with no real injuries, which is possible if Rampage and Evans fight. Someone is getting screwed either way.

Could someone provide some links to clear up the Rampage thing for me because I've found it confusing. What I remember was after he beat Wandy, Dana said Rampage would get first crack at Rashad. I've heard rumors that Rashad turned down a Rampage first in the first half of 2009, hence the Jardine fight. Was there an actual offer made to Rashad or did Dana pair up two relatively name fighters to headline a relatively weak event? There is a chance you could see Evans/Machida at UFC 99 now that Penn doesn't want in and then you could see a Rampage/winner fight in late Septemeber. It's a bit of a wait for Rampage but he could always fight that rematch with Forrest he wants in the meantime. THAT might be one of the big matches Dana is talking about for UFC 100. He said there would be three big fights on the card, just like UFC 92. GSP/Alves, Bisping/Hendo, Rampage/Forrest would count. mahalo
~Chach~

[spree8]

**** !

Spree, you can make the same argument for Machida. He fought before Rampage so if Evans and Rampage fight at UFC 100, then Machida is going to have to wait 9 months to fight and that's if the winner comes out with no real injuries, which is possible if Rampage and Evans fight. Someone is getting screwed either way.

Could someone provide some links to clear up the Rampage thing for me because I've found it confusing. What I remember was after he beat Wandy, Dana said Rampage would get first crack at Rashad. I've heard rumors that Rashad turned down a Rampage first in the first half of 2009, hence the Jardine fight. Was there an actual offer made to Rashad or did Dana pair up two relatively name fighters to headline a relatively weak event? There is a chance you could see Evans/Machida at UFC 99 now that Penn doesn't want in and then you could see a Rampage/winner fight in late Septemeber. It's a bit of a wait for Rampage but he could always fight that rematch with Forrest he wants in the meantime. THAT might be one of the big matches Dana is talking about for UFC 100. He said there would be three big fights on the card, just like UFC 92. GSP/Alves, Bisping/Hendo, Rampage/Forrest would count. mahalo
~Chach~

Dana said Machida MIGHT get a shot. To be honest he definitely is one fight away from a shot imo, and what Dana was saying with "might" is that if Rampage doesn't beat Jardine then Machida would fill in. Bottom line...Rampage-Evans at Ufc 100 is much better than Machida-Evans, and Dana knows that... Sorry.

[Chach]

Cut me some slack, I'm a Lyoto nuthugger. I can't help myself.

A Rashad-Rampage title fight would absolutely be the appropriate fight at UFC 100. What about Lyoto against Forrest? If he beats Forrest, there is NO way that you can deny he deserves a title shot and then one of Rampage and Rashad would be out of the way. And then you have four big time match-ups and because the world will be watching UFC 100, if Lyoto wins in convincing fashion then it's not going to be a big reach to promote him for a title shot. mahalo
~Chach~

[CPT]

Cut me some slack, I'm a Lyoto nuthugger. I can't help myself.

A Rashad-Rampage title fight would absolutely be the appropriate fight at UFC 100. What about Lyoto against Forrest? If he beats Forrest, there is NO way that you can deny he deserves a title shot and then one of Rampage and Rashad would be out of the way. And then you have four big time match-ups and because the world will be watching UFC 100, if Lyoto wins in convincing fashion then it's not going to be a big reach to promote him for a title shot. mahalo
~Chach~

That's a pretty good idea, but I don't think Griffin will be back from injury by then.

It's too bad, because I was just going down the list, and really it would be the only fight that makes sense for him at UFC 100, because I don't know if the UFC 97 guys (Liddell, Shogun, Cantwell, Cane) will be ready by 100. He could fight one of them at UFC 101 though. Or Jardine at either show, assuming he loses to Rampage.

Maybe he will just sit on the title shot.

[spree8]

Cut me some slack, I'm a Lyoto nuthugger. I can't help myself.

A Rashad-Rampage title fight would absolutely be the appropriate fight at UFC 100. What about Lyoto against Forrest? If he beats Forrest, there is NO way that you can deny he deserves a title shot and then one of Rampage and Rashad would be out of the way. And then you have four big time match-ups and because the world will be watching UFC 100, if Lyoto wins in convincing fashion then it's not going to be a big reach to promote him for a title shot. mahalo
~Chach~

lol i see that. if he were to take on Forrest or someone of his caliber then yea he definitely would deserve a title shot.

[RockTHECasbah]

Mir Lesnar LOL

UFC could be pressuring Mir to be 100% so they can get this card up (as in better)

[Nemesis21]

Herring forced to not fight on UFC 99 card vs Velazquez.


http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=19832

[Nemesis21]

Kongo to replace Herring, will fight Velazquez



http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=19838


Kongo vs Velazquez will be a good fight, also will be a big test for Cain

[CPT]

Ah. I was wondering if they would put Cro Cop in there. Kongo makes sense too, especially with it being a card in Europe.

Looks like they are cashing in on Kongo's hype now, because Velasquez is going to ruin him.