Report: UFC and Spike TV close to deal for UFC 89; Anderson Silva could defend title
July 22, 2008 by Adam Morgan
MMA Junkie is reporting that a deal with Spike TV to air UFC 89 live from England is close to being finalized. As of right now, the main event features Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben in a middleweight clash but according to the report, a new main event is being talked about:
After this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night 14 event in Las Vegas, UFC President Dana White said that UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, who defeated James Irvin in the event’s headline bout, will likely next fight Patrick Cote. (Yushin Okami had been next in line for the title shot, but he recently suffered a broken hand while training.)
White said that if Silva fights in September at UFC 88, that it would likely be against Cote.
However, one source close to the fighter tells MMAjunkie.com that Silva, largely considered the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, could instead be added to the UFC 89 fight card in Birmingham to bolster the nationally televised line-up. (And UFC 88 would instead feature its originally scheduled pay-per-view main event of Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans.)
This could be very big for the organization because they can now begin to make a star out of Anderson Silva. We’ve known for a long time now that Silva is one of the most devastating fighters on the planet and is widely considered the best pound for pound fighter in the world but because he doesn’t speak English and because a lot of new fans have never been exposed to him and his style, he is yet to be a big draw on pay-per-view.
A knockout win over Patrick Cote, a fighter than fans are familiar with from TUF and other UFC Fight Nights, on national television would go a long way toward building Silva’s status as a true star in the minds of fans.
First time having a title fight on national television? Wrong.
What about UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion?
Maybe I’m misreading the statement…
but Rampage vs Henderson was on Spike the same day (just tape delayed) — so if the A. Silva fight is tape delayed, this wouldn’t be anything new.
“Not only that, but it would mark the first time that the UFC has ever shown a live title fight on national television”
Rampage vs. Hendo
UFC 75: Henderson vs Jackson for the unified LHW Championship was on SPIKE the same day via tape delay, so it wouldn’t be the first time for that Adam.
All I know is that my interest in Silva vs. Cote is nil.
I’m already excited about Bisping/Leben. Watching Cote get knocked out can only add to the night.
More Anderson Silva on free tv is a damn good ideal.
What I think is sad is jon Fitch and patrick Cote is all the UFC has to offer as competition with all that money they make.
Im pullin for a cote upset
Oh my. I forgot about Hendo and Rampage. My bad, fellas. Honest mistake.
As mush as I like Cote, stylistically this is about the worst possible fight he could be in for. Someone who does exactly what he does a whole lot better….Only way Cote takes this is if he can expose Silva’s lack of wrestling and grind out a GnP win…I highly doubt that. He has power so of course he has a puncher’s chance. But so did Irvin, Franklin (2) and Leben.
Silva in how many seconds??
Man that would be an awesome addition for the card for us guys in the UK. I’m not gettin my hopes up yet tho after the huge disappointment of not gettin to see Chuck fight live at UFC 85, but this would certainly help me get over that, sort it Dana please!!
what about BISPING VS SILVA? might be good!
#8 - I agree that it is sad that Cote is all that is left for Anderson Silva to fight, but that is what happens when a Champion is so dominate. If Bisping takes out Leben, it looks like they are building for the Bisping vs Silva fight early next year. I’m not sure what your problem with Fitch is, he is the obvious #1 contender, he is 8-0 in UFC, hasn’t lost a fight since 2002, and has wins over Sanchez, and Alves. Who else would you like to see fight GSP?
Overall you can’t complain about free MMA on TV, espicially with Anderson Silva defending his title
“A knockout win over Patrick Cote, a fighter than fans are familiar with from TUF and other UFC Fight Nights, on national television would go a long way toward building Silva’s status as a true star in the minds of fans.”
If you are a fan, you already know who Silva is and what he has accomplished. Knocking Patrick Cote out (first round by the way) is not going to move Anderson up anybody’s list of “true stars”. How does a lopsided victory over a mediocre (at best) opponent improve Anderson’s status?
i feel that they’re moving silva to this card becuz no one is gonna wanna pay money to see silva knock cote’s ass out
“A knockout win over Patrick Cote, a fighter than fans are familiar with from TUF and other UFC Fight Nights, on national television would go a long way toward building Silva’s status as a true star in the minds of fans.”
can’t say the same..
i don’t think Cote’s anywhere near the level that Nate, Hendo, or Franklin are.. so, i’m about as much worried about this one as many were about Silva/Irvin..
in fact, i’m still amazed that he even has a title shot..
but, oh well, it’ll be nice seeing A. fight again.. that’s all i like about this one..
Anderson Silva needs to continue his quest to conquer the light heavyweight division. That will garner him more starpower. Destroying another middleweight will not