Main Event – UFC Welterweight Championship
Jon Fitch (170) VS Georges St-Pierre (170)Heath Herring (250) VS Brock Lesnar (265)
Roger Huerta (155) vs Kenny Florian (155)
Demian Maia (185) VS Jason MacDonald (185)
Robert Emerson (155) VS Manvel Gamburyan (155)Tamdan McCrory (170) VS Luke Cummo (167)
Dan Evensen (244) VS Cheick Kongo (235)
Andre Gusmao (205) VS Jon Jones (205)
Steve Bruno (170) VS Chris Wilson (170)
Ryan Thomas (170) VS Ben Saunders (170)
Everybody made weight
Props: UFC.com
If you missed it last night….or DVR’ed it and haven’t watched it yet. Go do that RIGHT NOW…that show was DOPE. I’m sure they will be re-airing it before the fights on Saturday night.
It appears that Rampage is his funny and regular self in the video. He mentions that he is already training again with new trainers. So I guess that gives credibility to the story that he fired his old trainer Juanito Ibarra.
UFC 87 will air live August 9th at 10pm EST on PPV. UFC 87 marks the beginning of some very talent laden cards for the UFC. This card has the UFC Welterweight title on the line, a LightWeight #1 contenders match, and a fight to see if Brock Lesnar is indeed for real.
The main card consists of the following matches:
Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch(UFC WW Title Match)
Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring
Roger Huerta vs. Kenny Florian
Manny Gamburyan vs. Rob Emerson
Jason MacDonald vs. Demian Maia
The only fight on the main card that I’m not really interested in is the Gamburyan/Emerson fight. I wish that fight was on the pre-lims because I don’t think it will be competitive at all. However, I guess they are trying to give Gamburyan some exposure so I’m not mad at that. Also on the under card, Cheick Kongo and IFL standout Andre Gusmo make an appearance.
This card should do well PPV wise…GSP has crossed over into the ’star’ category and Brock Lesnar will surely draw in some fans as well. The UFC 87 countdown show will air tonight on Spike TV at 11pm EST. The word is that a good portion of the show is dedicated to the Roger Huerta/Kenny Florian matchup. So be sure to check that out if you are not familiar with either fighter. That fight has fight of the year written ALL over it. I’ll be posting the results of the fights as they happen on Saturday night, so be sure to bookmark the site and check back with me then. Also, feel free to leave your predictions for each fight in the comments section.
“I’m talking with (UFC co-owner) Lorenzo (Fertitta),” said Silva, who’s English continues to improve since a move to Las Vegas. “They’re talking about December because it is the best event of the year. (Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira is going to fight (Frank) Mir for the belt for the heavyweights.
“This is the best event. It’s much more promotion. They told me to be ready to fight in December.”
“They gave me 10 (possible) names,” Silva said. “My division is the best division in the world. They have so many names. I think they’re going to give a good opponent to me.”
Last week there were rumors that Rampage Jackson would be Wanderlei’s next opponent. However, that was prior to the miscarriage suffered by a lady in the Jackson hit and run case. Wanderlei has been well received by UFC fans, and has become star. He is on the fast track to a title shot, so his opponent will be someone that will propel him in that direction. Here’s to hoping Rampage gets his situation situated, because I’d love to see part 3 of that saga.
Props: MMAJunkie
Melvin Guillard is coming off a KO win over Dennis Siver at UFC 86…Fisher is coming off a decision win over Jeremy Stephens at the TUF 7 Finale. This is an interesting matchup in that besides Fisher, Joe Stevenson is the only other high profile fight Guillard has had in the UFC. He was subbed by Stevenson in under a minute. Fisher’s trainer is upset in that he doesn’t think this fight does anything for Fisher…in that if he wins…he was supposed to. I would have to agree…and given that both like to stand and bang…there’s a 50/50 chance that Guillard could catch Fisher. UFC 90 is beginning to shape up nicely just as 87, 88, and 89 have done.
Props: MMAWeekly
That’s the word according to mmanews:
Rumors were circulating around the Expo that a possible lightweight matchup between Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk(32-3-1) and Tyson Griffin (12-1) could happen later this year. Multiple sources stated that the fight will take place in the fall, most likely either UFC 90 which takes place in October or UFC 91 which will be in November.
Hmm…on one hand I’m thinking this is a dope matchup, but then on the other hand…it has decision written ALL over it. However, it would go a long way in solidifying Tyson Griffin as the next #1 contender behind Huerta/Florian if he could pull off the win. I’m thinking this fight could take place at UFC 90 in Chicago, since Sherk couldn’t make the Minnesota card(UFC 87).
From Dailypilot:
“Huntington Beach woman who was more than 16 weeks pregnant and who police said was injured in a hit-and-run crash with mixed martial artist Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson on the 55 Freeway two weeks ago has had a miscarriage, her fiance said Friday.
Holli Griggs, 38, was driving her 2007 Cadillac Escalade in the left lane on the southbound 55 Freeway just south of Bay Street on July 15 when Jackson’s gray-and-green pick-up truck sideswiped her as he drove along the median lane at about 45 mph, California Highway Patrol officials said.
Prosecutors have yet to file charges against Jackson, a former light heavyweight champion for the Ultimate Fighting Championship who remains free on $25,000 bail. Prosecutors would not comment on any potential charges due to Griggs’ miscarriage.”
Right now there is no evidence of the miscarriage being a result of the accident. However, the former UFC LHW Champion will more than likely face a civil suit…if they can’t prove the accident caused the miscarriage. Which I don’t think they’ll be able to prove since the lady only suffered minor injuries, plus it’s been over 2 weeks since the accident. Nevertheless, a civil lawsuit would cripple Jackson financially so things are not looking good on the home front for him.
Being a new parent myself, my prayers go out to the couple that lost their unborn child.
Sherdog with the scoop:
The UFC’s parent company, Zuffa LLC, emerged with another victory Friday, as a Dallas appeals court granted the promotion a stay against a motion for summary judgment submitted by Mark Cuban’s HDNet Fights.
So basically this means that the Dallas Courts in Texas will not make a decision on Couture’s contract with Zuffa at this time. Thus, halting all progress in Texas for now…Mark Cuban is expecting to appeal the decision.
Basically, this just means it will take even longer for this lawsuit to unfold…as father time continues to tick away on the ageless one. Advantage Zuffa.
Sherdog Has The Scoop:
The legal chess match between UFC parent company Zuffa LLC and three-time heavyweight champion Randy Couture (Pictures) shows no sign of imminent resolution, as neither side appears willing to budge.
The four-time Olympic wrestling alternate resigned from the UFC last October in a move that shocked the mixed martial arts world and touched off a firestorm of controversy. Battle lines were soon drawn.
“From our interpretation, the fight contract expired on July 19 and we’ve entered into a 30-day, good faith renegotiation period with Zuffa,” Couture told Sherdog.com Thursday.
During this period, as outlined by his promotional (or fight) agreement, the company can attempt to renegotiate Couture’s deal with him.
Thus far, though, talks have not transpired, while Couture said Zuffa representatives have responded with their own reiteration that the fighter still has two outstanding bouts remaining on his agreement. It is their belief that the contract has no time limitation and that it remains functional until Couture fulfills his original four-fight obligation.
I have no idea how Couture feels that he can just walk away from a contract that he signed. The fact remains that he signed a contract for 4 fights, and has only completed 2 of those fights. It will be a year later this month since Couture last had a fight, and even if he wins this court case it will not be anytime soon due to the appeals process. Father time is ticking…and Couture lost a fan here by not keeping his word and honoring the contract that HE signed.
