I wonder what Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping were saying to each other?

Wow, I didn’t expect that to happen. After Miller got the takedown and took round one rather easily, I can’t believe how gassed he was in round two and three. Michael Bisping seemed gassed too, but not bad enough he couldn’t beat on Jason Miller’s head quite a bit. (Here are the stats). Bisping scored a TKO win in the third round when Miller turtled up and just kept taking a beating. Some unfortunate dude on Sherdog forum supposedly put up a $7000 bet for Miller to win. Damn.

First of all, the main event of the night for me will be Bruce Buffer doing a 360 spin as he introduces the fighters.

I’d like to see Tom Lawlor kick CB Dollaway’s ass, but I’m not really thinking it’s going to happen. I feel basically the same way about Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar…I’d like to see Frank Mir win again, but I don’t really think he’ll be able to…but how shocking would it be if he somehow KO’s Brock Lesnar and leaves him unconscious?

Jon Jones is going to destroy Jake O’Brien. Jones seemed unstoppable last time he fought.

I have Jim Miller beating Mac Danzig..

MARK COLEMAN over Stephan Bonnar…WTF? The UFC website says this fight “May not be broadcast”…my ass.. it better be broadcast.

Alan Belcher will defeat Yoshihiro Akiyama.

I seriously hope Dan Henderson KTFO of Michael Bisping.. I predict Bisping running and backing up much of the fight, refusing to exchange punches.

Jon Fitch will win his match against Paulo Thiago.. and I just noticed we have two guys named “Jon” on this fight card.

I’d love to see Georges St. Pierre get a dominant win over Thiago Alves, and set up a future bout with Anderson Silva.

As I already said, I’d enjoy seeing Frank Mir get a tapout, or an unbelievable knockout over Brock Lesnar…I just can’t see it happening again, but I seriously hope I’m wrong.

No I’m not doing play-by-play, because I’m not watching the event LIVE, and I’m also too buzzed to do any kind of PBP. I’ve been careful not to read any spoilers for this non-live in the U.S. event…so this will just be random comments from me. First of all, go sign up on our UFC Forum and start a thread about something.

Joe Rogan is rockin’ a phenomenal Evan Tanner Tribute Beard tonight. I tried to grow one, but the best I can manage is some sweet sideburns and an awesome goatee/mustache, with patchy spots in between.

Goldberg said Paul Kelly and Marcus Davis are both freight trains (aka FRATE TRANE!).

I noticed this British referee for the Kelly/Davis fight says “let’s dance!” before the fight. I dig that. I’ve always said that THIS SONG would make great entrance music for a fighter.

Marcus Davis via Guillotine Choke, round 2.

If I don’t post for a few fights, it’s because I’m taking a break…and maybe went to get something to eat frmo the kitchen…or smoke.

Oh and BTW, I still hate those stupid ass Condom Depot ads on the fighters shorts. Ridiculous shit for a sport trying to go mainstream.

Damn, Sokoudjou is 1-2 now in the UFC. Luiz Cane by TKO.

TEKNO-VIKING POWER ON!!1! WAR JARDINE. I seriously hope Keith Jardine wins this fight versus Brandon Vera. Jardine does the pre-fight nipple tweak, made famous by Greg Jackson’s fighters. First round was pretty damn good. Ended with Jardine swinging bombs upside Brandon Vera’s head.

Well, that fight is over. If I were a judge, I’d give it to Jardine, but maybe I’m just prejudice because Brandon Vera has hyped himself up so much since he began his UFC career, and hasn’t really been super impressive, in my opinion. To quote Georges St. Pierre, “I am not impressed with your performance”. Neither were 2 out of 3 judges, because they gave a split decision victory to Keith Jardine.

Leben vs. Bisping: Chris Leben got picked apart in round one, imo. He moved forward the whole time, but ate a lot of punches and probably got his nose broke. I don’t think he can win this fight, he needs to land a KO bomb to win. LOL @ Chris Leben at the end of the fight. He is a bad mofo for sure, but he got his ass kicked tonight. Then in the post-fight interview, Michael Bisping said his game plan was to get a unanimous decision victory. I wish Leben would’ve KO’d him, but oh well… Leben says it was his favorite fight ever.

ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP®
THREE MORE FIGHTS ADDED TO UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben
SOKOUDJOU v LUIZ CANE
DAN HARDY v AKIHIRO GONO
SHANE CARWIN v NEIL WAIN

LIVE FROM THE NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA, BIRMINGHAM, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2008
Only 2500 tickets remain!

The Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (UFC(R)) has added three thrilling bouts to the organisation’s next UK super-show. It has been confirmed that Rameau Sokoudjou will collide with Luiz Cane in a battle of light-heavyweight strikers, Japanese submission expert Akihiro Gono will take on on highly-regarded British debutant Dan Hardy and steel-fisted heavyweight Shane Carwin will exchange bombs with England’s own Neil Wain.

These three mouth-watering match-ups join the hotly anticipated main event of Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping v Chris ‘the Crippler’ Leben in the UFC’s third British show of 2008, which emanates from the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, on October 18.

UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik said: “Fight for fight, UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN is already shaping up to be one of the best events of the whole year. There aren’t too many fights which you could place on a card headlined by Bisping v Leben and still expect that fight to have a chance of being fight of the night still. But Sokoudjou v Cane is one of those fights which – like our main event – you can practically guarantee is going to be a thriller.”

Zelaznik added: “We are also announcing that England’s Dan Hardy, who makes his UFC debut in his native Midlands, will match up with PRIDE and UFC veteran Akihiro Gono in what hardcore fans will know is a fantastic welterweight fight between two very innovative mixed martial artists.

“Plus, British fans will get a chance to see one of the most exciting heavyweight talents in the world, Shane Carwin, lock horns with Neil Wain, who brings his own unbeaten record to the UFC.”

Tickets for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN are priced £40, £50, £75, £125 and £225 and available from http://ticketfactory.co.uk or by calling 0871945 6000. Only 2000 seats remain for the NIA Arena.

After stumbling in his UFC debut last December, the man many know simply as “Sokoudjou” returned to his devastating best when he wiped out Kazuhiro Nakamura in one round at UFC 84 in May. Now, the 24-year-old Cameroon born “African Assassin” looks to continue in the form which made his the scourge of the PRIDE light heavyweight division.

The 5-2 puncher said: “Cane is a very good puncher and is aggressive like me. This could be the fight of the night but I am looking to build my UFC knockout streak. I fought once in Japan but this is the first time I am going to be fighting in Europe, and I am looking forward to really putting on an exciting fight for all the fans there. This a fight I am really looking forward to.”

Boasting a 9-1, 1 NC record and coming off a hugely impressive KO victory over Jason Lambert at UFC 85 in London, Luiz Cane returns to the UK for the second time in four months on a quest

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for the biggest win in his career.

He said: “I am very aware of the opportunity in front of me. I realise that success in MMA is judged not only by fighting in the UFC, but by who you are fighting and where and I want to thank (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva, Dana White and the UFC for trusting my skills. It is a great honour to fight a top 10 fighter and I will pay the UFC back by being in the best shape of my life, by being on the top of my game and by not only winning but winning a great fight. Make no mistake, I will be ready for Sokoudjou.”

Further exciting matches for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN will be announced shortly.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand is the world’s leading professional mixed martialarts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the UFC® organization produces approximately twelve to fourteen live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed through cable and satellite providers. In addition to its U.S. distribution, UFC fight programs are distributed throughout the world including broadcast on MAIN EVENT in Australia, Globosat in Brazil and Setanta Sports in the United Kingdom. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or www.ufcespanol.com.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.

THE EAGERLY AWAITED MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
Plus more exciting match-ups to be announced

LIVE FROM THE NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA, BIRMINGHAM, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2008

London, England – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization will storm into the British Midlands for the first time when UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN touches down at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, on October 18.

In a middleweight showdown, which has set mixed martial arts fans ablaze with anticipation, England’s own Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping will finally collide with Chris ‘the Crippler’ Leben. Two of the most explosively exciting strikers in the 185lbs division, Bisping and American Leben were originally set to face off in London at UFC 85 in June but, now, are set to do battle in Britain’s Second City.

“This is one of the most exciting fights we could have made in the middleweight division,” said UFC President Dana White. “Bisping has looked a monster since dropping down to 185lbs, and he’s dominated Charles McCarthy and Jason Day inside a round already this year. And Leben is coming into UFC 89 with a ton of momentum, too, having just knocked out Terry Martin and Alessio Sakara; two of the biggest wins of his career.”

White added, “That these two guys were willing to fight each other in London with six weeks’ notice shows you the kind of warriors they are. But now we will see this fight probably as it should have always happened, with both guys getting plenty of notice and coming in 100% ready for each other.”

Tickets for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN are priced £40, £50, £75, £125 and £225 and will be available from 10AM on July 2 to UFC Fight Club members, from 10AM July 4 to UFC Newsletter members and then they go on sale to general public at 10AM on July 6 at http://ticketfactory.co.uk, call 0871945 6000

UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik said “We’ve wanted to come to Birmingham for a long time, and we’re delighted to finally be bringing the world’s most exciting sport to Britain’s Second City. In the coming weeks we will be announcing a stacked UFC card for the National Indoor Arena and I know the Midlands are very excited to be able to see Bisping v Leben live.”

The winner of season 3 of the Ultimate Fighter, Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping, 17-1 in MMA, has fought his way to super-stardom in his native England. An attack-minded striker with lightning fast fists, feet and knees, Bisping has been in devastating form since moving down to the middleweight division. The Clitheroe, Lancashire native will be stepping into the Octagon™ for the third time in less than six months when he faces Leben.

Bisping said: “I cannot wait for this fight. Chris Leben is an extremely dangerous fighter, and he will keep coming until you nail him to the floor. Fans were talking about this as a great match-up long before Chris’ name was even mentioned to me as a potential opponent, and I think this fight will more than live up to the anticipation.

“I believe I am now showing what I can really do in the UFC – dominate opponents and get them out of there inside one round. Leben will be swinging every second of the fight, I know, but I don’t plan on anything different happening in this fight.”

Born in Portland, Oregon, and fighting out of Hawaii, Chris ‘the Crippler’ Leben is a human highlight reel of a fighter. Possessing chilling one-punch power, a cast-iron jaw and fiery fighting spirit, Leben has an 18-4 MMA record, including victories over Mike Swick, Patrick Cote,
Jorge Rivera, Terry Martin. Most recently, Leben blasted Alessio Sakara to a Knockout of the Night defeat at UFC 82: Pride of a Champion on March 1, 2008.

Leben said: “I think me and Bisping fighting is the fight everybody wants to see. I really do think this is going to be a Fight of The Year candidate. Michael Bisping is never an easy fight, never an easy win, and he never has been. And it’s the same with me. This is definitely one fight you’re gonna want to watch. It’s a challenge for both of us to see who is going to rise to that elite level.”

And ‘the Crippler’ – added: “I’m super excited about fighting in England. I don’t mind being the bad guy at all, so I’ll go over there, represent the United States, and get some boos.”

Further fights for UFC 89 will be announced shortly. For further information on the UFC visit www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or www.ufcespanol.com

FIGHTERS INCLUDE BJ PENN, MICHAEL BISPING, URIJAH FABER, CARLOS CONDIT

Las Vegas, NV – In late June, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization and World Extreme Cagefighting® (WEC™) will send UFC and WEC superstars BJ Penn, Michael Bisping, Urijah Faber, and Carlos Condit across the globe to meet and greet the troops of the United States Military stationed in Afghanistan. The fighters will have the honor of visiting with various units during this trip, and Penn, Bisping, Faber, and Condit will tour a total of six military bases.

“We are honored to send UFC and WEC fighters to visit the men and women of the United States Military,” said UFC President Dana White. “We are pleased to be giving back to such a great cause; many of our fighters have served in the military and understand what a great contribution our troops are making overseas.”

“The U.S. Military admires the sport of mixed martial arts. We will be pleased to welcome UFC and WEC legends to our bases in Afghanistan. Their presence will certainly help boost the morale of the soldiers which is so important during their duties overseas,” said Special Sergeant Bart Murphy of the 101st Airborne Division.

Both the UFC and WEC have a strong commitment to the men and women of the armed forces. On December 13, 2006 the UFC held a spectacular event at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in front of 3,000 soldiers. The organization also has a long running agreement with the Armed Forces Network and consistently visits the troops at various bases across the United States.

The UFC and WEC will provide more information following this military tour.

It is being reported by reliable sources that Chris Leben has been sentenced to 35 days in jail after recently turning himself in to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office for a probation violation. Leben expected to simply turn himself in and be out of jail by now, with plenty of time to train for his upcoming fight against Michael Bisping. Supposedly, Chris Leben will be released on May 27th, 2008, just days before his fight is scheduled at UFC 85 in London, England. I don’t know if that will be enough time to train properly for the fight, but he should be knocking out a bunch of push-ups and sit-ups in jail, anyway.

Georges St. Pierre got his revenge on Matt Serra‘s upset victory last year by defeating him in the rematch by TKO in round 2 at UFC 83 tonight. GSP controlled the entire fight, opting to use his quick takedowns and wrestling to keep the fight on the ground and pound Matt Serra out. The final blows were some nasty looking knees to Matt Serra’s ribcage, and the referee stopped the fight because Serra quit defending.

The co-main event of the night was Rich Franklin vs. Travis Lutter. I was hoping for Lutter to win this fight, but evidently he has problems finishing armbars, because he had Franklin in what looked like a good armbar, but lost it. Travis Lutter just completely ran out of gas, and Franklin went to work, scoring a TKO victory in round 2.

Charles McCarthy vs. Michael Bisping went the way most people expected it to, with Bisping striking his way to victory. He looked really quick with his strikes, and McCarthy seemed to just cover up with his arms and wait for Bisping to quit striking, in return, I think McCarthy forearm got trashed. He was unable to continue after the completion of round 1.

The other main-card results were:

Mac Danzig def. Mark Bocek by submission (RNC) – Round 2
MIchael Bisping def. Charles McCarthy by TKO (injured arm) – Round 1
Nathan Quarry def. Kalib Starnes by Unanimous Decision – Round 3
Rich Franklin def. Travis Lutter by TKO (strikes) – Round 2
Georges St. Pierre def. Matt Serra by TKO (strikes) – Round 2

Here are the results from the UFC 83 Preliminary Fights:

 Jason MacDonald def. Joe Doerksen by TKO (strikes) – Round 2
 Jason Day def. Alan Belcher by TKO (strikes) – Round 1
 Demian Maia def. Ed Herman by submission (triangle) – Round 2
 Rich Clementi def. Sam Stout by split decision
 Cain Valesquez def. Brad Morris by TKO (strikes) – Round 1
 Jonathan Goulet def. Kuniyoshi Hironaka by TKO (strikes) – Round 2

Who will be left to give him serious competition? Has Michael Bisping been given an opponent yet for his first middleweight fight? If so, I haven’t seen it. Although I imagine the UFC will set up Michael Bisping to fight the winner or loser of Silva/Henderson, but other than that, are there any other light heavyweights that could move down to 185lbs to fight Anderson Silva? Or are there any welterweights that could move up to middleweight to challenge him? I know in the past, Matt Hughes has expressed interest in fighting Silva, but I can’t see that happening at all, and I don’t see Matt Hughes having a chance at victory in a fight like that. I don’t see Bisping being able to compete on the level of either Silva or Dan Henderson yet, either. Maybe one day.

I’m of course interested in seeing how Evan Tanner performs Saturday night against Yushin Okami. Circa 2004, Evan Tanner would have beaten Anderson Silva.

I’m sure Rich Franklin still fits in the middleweight picture somewhere, but I don’t think a 3rd time would be a charm for him. However, I do think Travis Lutter deserves another fight with Silva.

What about other organizations? Are there any prospects the UFC could throw some money at and bring over to fight Anderson? Paulo Filho? Chael Sonnen?

In my opinion, if Dan Henderson doesn’t beat Anderson Silva, the best chance anybody would have is Matt Lindland (which won’t happen), or Jeremy Horn… yes, I said Jeremy Horn. I know he just got his ass kicked by Nate Marquardt, but I’m not using MMA math. Depending on how he performs Saturday night, I might include Evan Tanner.