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Opinion & Analysis
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UK Scene - Park
UK SCENE: UFC 120 shaping up with UK reader feedback on the event, Daley not going to Bellator, UK news in brief
This week the London O2 Arena was confirmed to play host to UFC 120 by none other than UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik. The show will see the organisation return to England after almost an entire year absence.
As the card began to take shape with rumoured bouts such as Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit, John Hathaway vs. Dong Hyun Kim & Kurt Warburton vs. Spencer Fisher, to mention just a few, there were less rumours regarding the main event and who it could involve – until now.
With Wanderlei Silva injured, a rematch with Michael Bisping was off the cards for the immediate future, but “the Count” potentially could have still headlined this show with the returning Vitor Belfort being touted as the guest of honour.
Yoshihiro Akiyama was another possibility, but after his submission loss to Chris Leben - who Bisping holds a win over - a trip to London for Akiyama would have seemed unlikely.
This week reports suggested that Michael Bisping would in fact square off against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 120 and surprisingly, despite Akiyama’s recent loss, the fight is earmarked to be the headline for the London return.
While the match up itself may well be a tremendous fight, its status as potential main event has been met by indifferent responses from UK fans. While Bisping remains the MMA poster boy in England, and has huge popularity on these shores, the fans clearly wanted to see him fighting a better known fighter than the rebounding Akiyama.
MMATorch reader Raheel Murtaza from Manchester, said: “I was gonna go down for this card, but if this is the head-liner; I'm saving my money. It would cost me over £1000 for transport, food, hotels, tickets etc. I was willing to spend that for Bisping vs. Belfort, but Akiyama? That's just disappointing. They are only here once a year right? So why not make us one of the best cards? From what I see the UFC have let the UK down - big time.”
While I agree that bringing Akiyama in for the main event is a little unexpected, I am really looking forward to the fight itself. In fact all of the fights that have so far been reported look very strong.
The last time the UFC was in London, Diego Sanchez and Joe Stevenson headlined UFC 95 on a card that, on paper, looked more like a “Fight Night.” After similar frustrations from fans over the level of main event, that card turned out to be a show long highlight-reel of knockouts and submissions as the fighters put on a real show for the fans.
MMATorch reader Jamie Kennedy from Redcar added: “I've been to practically every UK UFC card, and in my opinion UFC 95 and 105 were the best, and the most star studded fight (Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera) was the only s*** fight on either card! I like good fights and [those reported so far] will be pure wars, I'm not [looking for] autographs, I want good scraps; simple."
While there is no Vitor Belfort or Rampage Jackson on this card, like Jamie I look more at the quality of the fights being made, and so far these all stand out as great match-ups.
Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit will pit two extremely tough welterweights who never know when they are beaten.
In Hardy’s last outing he survived two submissions from Georges St. Pierre that had many of the Brit’s fans covering their eyes. Carlos Condit was last in action when he took on young Canadian Rory MacDonald at UFC 114. After clearly dropping the first and seconds rounds, Condit came back to dominate, and demolish MacDonald, to earn a TKO victory with only seconds of the fight remaining. Only time will tell how things will work out when these two square off in what is likely to be the co-main event.
Most events that take place in England, Germany, or any other European destination for that matter, will air for free in America due to the time difference. With that difference it would be unlikely that these events could command high PPV buy-rates in America at such times.
When the UFC hit Australia earlier this year the event took place at midday on a Sunday afternoon to come in line with the usual prime time Saturday night slot in the States. The event was then broadcast at the normal time and was available for viewers to purchase the PPV.
A similar theory could be put into practice in the UK, which may resolve this fan frustration of cards not getting filled with big names. Chris Done, from Wales, suggested the following: “I intended on being at UFC 120 but it's in the balance now. The PPV is a big factor which I understand, so why not hold the next UK event at 2am (UK time?) You can still PPV it in the States - subject to a decent card! - and the Brits would still pack out any domestic stadium. - Everyone’s a winner.”
I have to completely agree with Chris on this one; all UFC events are broadcast live on ESPN UK from 2am onwards, so a live UK event at that time would be fantastic. Any Arena in the England would be a sell out, and if this was the key to unlocking the top names on the roster then I’m sure all UK fans wouldn’t think twice about buying their tickets.
BELLATOR BATTLE FOR THE BRIT:
This week reports surfaced that exiled former UFC star Paul “Semtex” Daley would make his return to America later this year as a contracted Bellator welterweight.
Daley was released from the UFC earlier this year for throwing a left hook at Josh Koscheck after their number one contender fight had finished. The incident took place at UFC 114 in Montreal, and UFC President Dana White made an example of the Brit by vowing to “never” have him back.
While many have used past examples of Dana White changing his mind, it would appear a return for the Team Rough House member is completely off the table as White has rebuffed any possibility.
This Saturday night Daley will be in action when he tackles Daniel Acacio in the co-main event at the IFC show in Australia. The fight is the first for Daley since the incident and will be his chance to tout himself to other organisations.
When Daley was released by the UFC it was widely assumed that he would be fighting on a Strikeforce Card within 3 months. After Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker distanced himself from any such deal, the door has been left wide open for the fledgling Bellator Fighting Championship to swoop in for their man.
With Daley’s teammate Jimmy Wallhead already on the Bellator payroll, this deal makes a lot of sense all around, but Paul Daley has spoken out to pour cold water on the reports.
A blog recently posted on semtex.tv stated: “I have not signed with Bellator, this is bulls****. As it stands I am a free agent, and I am in talks with a few promotions. But I doubt I will sign with Bellator anytime soon."
I personally feel Paul Daley is holding out for Strikeforce, but Bellator are no joke as they continue to grow, and they could be the perfect place for Daley to rebuild his career.
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OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF:
-UFC 120 is not the only card with British interest coming up, as Paul Taylor looks to make the third time the charm in his attempt to debut in the lightweight division. After withdrawing from his first fight with John Gunderson at UFC 112, many worried for Taylor and what the effects of weight cutting were having on him.
The fight was re-scheduled before Taylor once again withdrew, although this time through injury. The rumour this week is that Paul Taylor will now face Sam Stout at UFC 121 in Anaheim, California, on the undercard to Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez.
Both fighters are coming off defeats, and both like to stand and trade, so this has the potential to be an absolute war and it is very disappointing that it won’t be on the card in London.
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-IFC will stage the comeback fight for Paul “Semtex” Daley, as well the battle of legends as Ken Shamrock faces Pedro Rizzo this Saturday night, live from Australia.
The event will be broadcast on British PPV channel Primetime (Sky channel 480), beginning at 10pm and will also feature the likes of Denis Kang, Murilo “Ninja” Rua and Maurilo Bustamante. The event will cost £9.95, and to subscribe viewers should call 0871 200 4444 or visit www.primetimelive.co.uk
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-Ross Pearson vs. Cole Miller has now been set, as the UFC have officially announced UFC Fight Night 22. The event, which will take place in Austin, Texas on September 15, will be headlined by Alan Belcher vs. Damien Maia.
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-After his TKO loss to Travis Browne last month, James McSweeny is making an attempt this week to revive his UFC career. McSweeny was eliminated by Roy Nelson in the semi-final of The Ultimate Fighter: The Heavyweights and has since gone 1-1.
With the recent loss to Browne, and the considerable size disadvantage McSweeny suffered, the Brit has decided to cut down and announced in his Twitter that he plans to fight in the light heavyweight division.
It would appear that an opponent has already been lined up as Wolfslair debutant Tom Blackledge looks to try to open his UFC account in style with a victory in this Battle Of Britain.
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It was quite an eventful week as far as UK interest in concerned. I must admit I have a lot of faith in some of the fights that have been mentioned, and I urge all fans to get behind the UK fighters and support this UFC 120 event.
I can, however, understand the frustration towards Akiyama being in line to headline, but this really could end up being a great fight. If this was a “Fight Night” then everyone would be more than happy with the card, so what’s in a name? Just enjoy what will be a fantastic show; after all, it’s the fights that count.
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Chris Park is the MMATorch UK Specialist and guest columnist at ESPN.co.uk. Please email any comments or questions to Chris at; mmatorchuk@gmail.com or look us up at http://www.facebook.com/mmatorchuk2 our new MMATorch Facebook home for UK Fans!
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