Some Absolutely Insane Rumours from InsideFighting

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

http://www.insidefighting.com/betweenRound...p.aspx?uid=2232

 

It’s the UFC event that people aren’t supposed to know about, not yet at least.

 

On October 3, Zuffa will hold its second live UFC event on Spike TV in Las Vegas, Nevada, most likely at the Cox Pavilion since the reported host is the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel. The fights are signed. The fighters are training. But nobody’s talking, not on the record, at least.

 

Exactly why Zuffa feels compelled to keep the event shrouded in mystery with exactly one month to go is unknown at this point. But that is hardly the only question surrounding the Monday night event.

 

What inspired Zuffa to schedule a card on such short notice? There were no whispers or rumblings of a Monday night event until the last few days. And the card’s main event, Evan Tanner versus David Loiseau, was set for UFC 55 as soon as a week ago. When InsideFighting spoke to Tanner and Loiseau earlier in the week, both of them mentioned UFC 55 as the date for their fistic encounter.

 

Oh yes, the fight card. In addition to Tanner-Loiseau, the card features two TUF Season One fighters taking major steps up in class as Stephan Bonnar faces the brutally tough James Irvin in a light heavyweight bout and Josh Koscheck faces ground specialist Drew Fickett. The card also will mark the arrival of highly touted heavyweight prospect Brandon Vera in the UFC, something hardcore fans will great with tremendous interest.

 

According to our sources, the full fight card includes the following bouts (and possibly two more):

 

Stephan Bonnar versus James Irvin

 

Josh Koscheck versus Drew Fickett

 

Chris Leben versus Edwin Dewees

 

Pierre Guillet versus Spencer Fisher

 

Brandon Vera versus Fabiano “Pegaleve” Scherner

 

Brock Larsen versus Thiago Alves

 

 

Zuffa President Dana White was unavailable for comment on Saturday evening, so the matchups remain unofficial, although more than one source involved with putting the ink to the bout agreements listed the fights for InsideFighting.

 

Okay, back to the questions.

 

What is the purpose of having an event in Las Vegas four days before UFC 55, which is all the way across the country at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut? Granted, it will serve as tremendous marketing for the Friday night pay per view, but is also the question of saturating the market. Although that is certainly a risk that this writer feels is acceptable.

 

Why Monday night and not Friday or Saturday night? The obvious answer is that Spike dictated the time of the event, probably in retaliation to the WWE RAW debuting on USA Network on precisely the same day. This could be an attempt by Spike to retain some of the viewers who it fears will follow the WWE to USA, possibly hurting the ratings for The Ultimate Fighter, one of Spike TV’s golden eggs.

 

Zuffa will undoubtedly answer the above-mentioned questions and more in the coming days. For now, fans can begin salivating over a card that is absolutely exquisite for something created so quickly – hats off to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, who truly earned his keep with this one, unofficially, of course, because once again, nobody is talking.

 

--Franklin’s first title defense, the return of the Muscle Shark, more unconfirmed UFC fights

 

It looks like Nate Quarry will be the first fighter from TUF Season One to receive a title shot he appears to be the man chosen for Rich Franklin’s first UFC Middleweight Championship defense at UFC 56 in November.

 

At first blush, many may question Quarry’s legitimacy as title challenger. After all, the reality-show veteran has yet to face or defeat a top-rated middleweight in his brief UFC career. Consecutive wins inside the distance over Lodune Sincaid, Shonie Carter, and Pete Sell is impressive, but hardly number-one-contender material.

 

Nevertheless, the fight makes perfect sense from a business perspective. Quarry is arguably the best known name in the division after his exposure on Spike TV. So why not toss him to Rich Franklin? Not only does it leverage Quarry’s marketability among the casual fans who watch the UFC solely because of TUF thus creating heightened interest among the masses for UFC 56, but it also gives Franklin a showcase-type matchup after his tenure as a coach on TUF Season Two.

 

There is no question that Franklin will open as a tremendous betting favorite over Quarry, a fighter he should be able to beat. But the fight could be extremely fan-friendly, as Quarry will likely stand and bang with the champ. And that is just as important for Zuffa properly capitalizing on Franklin’s new-found TUF fame as giving him a legitimate number-one contender from a pure business standpoint.

 

A loss to any fellow 185-lb contender basically crushes his marketability, so risking him against an unknown contender makes little sense. Yet, a loss in a championship fight might not hurt him at all if he is competitive at any level. If so, it also lends some much-needed street cred to the TUF fighters, another win for Zuffa.

 

Even if he gets blown out, it doesn't hurt the allure of the reality show because one of its stars just lost to the best in the business. And if the stars lined up perfectly and he was able to snatch victory from the air, then things get very interesting for the UFC's new television marketing machine on Monday nights.

 

What is more interesting than Franklin-Quarry is the unconfirmed news that Sean Sherk will make his UFC return in November against Georges St. Pierre.

 

It’s been two-and-a-half years since Sherk last fought in the Octagon, a loss to Matt Hughes at UFC 42. Since that time, Sherk is undefeated in 11 fights, but he hasn’t fought since last November.

 

After a brief retirement, Sherk hired top MMA manager Monte Cox to resurrect his career. Cox did just that by landing Sherk a return to the UFC against the division heir apparent, again assuming Zuffa formally announces the fight. A win over St. Pierre would all but guarantee a title shot for the fighter known as the “Muscle Shark.” A loss could mean a quick trip back on the UFC exile list, but for a man struggling to get top fights, that is certainly an acceptable risk.

 

Other bouts said to be signed, sealed and delivered for UFC 56 include Jeremy Horn versus Mike Van Arsdale, Matt Hughes versus Karo Parisyan, and Tim Sylvia versus Assuerio Silva.

 

Again, Dana White was unavailable for comment and other Zuffa officials failed to comment on the above-mentioned fights. Nevertheless, October and November are shaping up to be two more unbelievable months for stateside mixed martial arts!

[Guest Brian]

I though they were doing Hughes/Parysian at Ultimate Fight Night? I like it better if the coaches are in the crowd/working the corner instead, so having Hughes fight at UFC 56 is a better deal IMO.

 

Otherwise, the news sounds awesome.

[LooseCannon25 0]

Good stuff, RRR. That monday night event is shaping up to be a very solid card. Leben better work on his sub defense

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Is Sherk good enough to upseat GSP? He better not be. And even though I'd enjoy a Karo/GSP rematch Hughes better whoop some Armenian ass in that fight because GSP vs Hughes is THE fight to see right now.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Lemme put it this way: I fear for Rush.

 

But then again, I feared for him against Trigg. Trigg is probably a higher ranked fighter than Sherk, but Sherk -stylistically- is a great tune-up opponent for St. Pierre before his fight with Hughes. If St. Pierre handles Sherk, it would be a good indication of where he stands against Matt. Sherk is the only guy to take Hughes 5 rounds, but that fight was more of a mauling and I believe Hughes didn't even prepare very hard for it, whatever that means.

[Guest Big_Jay101]

I have been hearing different reports that the UFC isn't throwing in Nate Quarry just yet and are talking to Anderson Silva and "Lightning" Lee Murray.

[LooseCannon25 0]

I have been hearing different reports that the UFC isn't throwing in Nate Quarry just yet and are talking to Anderson Silva and "Lightning" Lee Murray.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Don't hold your breath on Lee Murray. Everytime they try to get him in an event he has continuing visa problems back in England. I gave up hope of seeing this guy in the UFC again.

[Guest CurryMan]

According to MMAweekly.com

 

- Evan Tanner vs David Loiseau

- Stephan Bonnar vs James Irvin

- Josh Koscheck vs Drew Fickett

- Chris Leben vs Edwin Dewees

- Thiago "Pitbull" Alves vs Spencer Fisher

- Brandon Vera vs Fabiano Scherner

- Brock Larson vs John Fitch

- Johnathon Guillet vs Jay Hieron

 

MMAweekly says that insidefighting has the card wrong, could be intressting to see RAW against UFC monday night wars once again.