UFC
UFC NEWS: Some rumors for April 17th event struck down, but UFC still gearing up for Spike event
Mar 5, 2010 - 5:14:19 PM UFC NEWS: Some rumors for April 17th event struck down, but UFC still gearing up for Spike event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

With last night's news breaking that the UFC is planning to counter-program Strikeforce's next CBS event on April 17th with a card of their own on Spike, there has been a lot going today in the planning of this card. Nothing is set in stone for the card as of yet, but the rumors are running rampant as far as what the UFC may be bringing to this card, and where it might be coming.

For starters there are some rumors that have been debunked already, the first of which is that one of the originally reported bouts, a welterweight tilt between Matt Serra and Mike Swick, will not be taking place on the card. Swick has an injured arm and confirmed his lack of participation in the event on Twitter, though he was offered the fight. His arm injury may require surgery and he's unable to take the fight.

Another bout, between Wanderlei Silva and Yoshihiro Akiyama, may not take place on the card either, as MMAFighting.com reports that Wanderlei is looking to fight on his birthday, July 3rd, on the Las Vegas UFC 116 event.

One thing is for certain with this card, however, and that is Kimbo Slice's involvement. Considering his last fight on Spike brought over 5 million viewers that should come as no shock. Though rumors and speculation have pegged this as the debut fight for James Toney, the more likely scenario is Slice's bout with Matt "Meathead" Mitrione getting moved up from May's UFC 113 card.

Though no location has been locked down for the proposed event, one location in particular has been brought up a few places, and it just so happens to be in the same city that Strikeforce is running, just miles apart. That venue would be Vanderbilt University's Memorial Gymnasium, which is in Nashville, TN. Strikeforce is running at the venue formerly known as the Sommet Center.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told MMAJunkie.com that they have the option of moving their event to the 24th, going head to head with the WEC's first pay-per-view, but the feasibility of that move may be in question. While Coker says CBS would be willing to move the event to the 24th, the prevailing opinion is with Showtime's Super Six boxing tournament airing that night and their boxing crew and MMA crew being essentially the same group for broadcasts that it would make things overly difficult on that end.

So as it stands nothing is set for the UFC's move, but there are plenty of cogs moving at the moment and plenty of phone calls being made and deals being worked out. More is still to come this week.

MORE ON THIS STORY: To read Penick's assessment of some of the early rumors for the event, click here.

[Kimbo Slice photo courtesy of Spike TV]