5 Oz. Exclusive Q&A with Jon Fitch: Welterweight title contender talks Lesnar, predicts the outcome of Serra vs. GSP, reveals that an AKA teammate could be on the verge of a UFC debut, and more!
In just under two weeks UFC welterweight title contender Jon Fitch will return to the Octagon at UFC 82 in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, March 1. Fitch, a former standout wrestler at Purdue University, had been scheduled to take on former PRIDE fighter Akihiro Gono. However, Gono was forced to pull out of the match after he was injured in training. In place of Gono, the UFC went out and signed IFL and... [Read More...]
Josh Koscheck talks Dustin Hazelett, UFC 82, Matt Hughes, thoughts on Swick’s debut at 170 and more in this new 5 Oz. Interview!
I recently had the chance to catch up with Josh Koscheck after a training session for his upcoming fight against Dustin Hazelett at UFC 82. We talked about the upcoming fight, his training camp, Koscheck’s thoughts on a possible fight with Matt Hughes, Mike Swick’s move to welterweight, and more. Adam Morgan: How is training going for the upcoming fight against Dustin Hazelett at UFC 82? Josh... [Read More...]
Yahoo! and the UFC announce formal Internet PPV partnership
The UFC and Yahoo! formally announced a partnership on Thursday that will entail Yahoo! serving as the fight promotion’s official distributor of pay-per-view events through the Internet. It may not seem like a big deal now, but with television sets and computers becoming increasingly compatible, there could come a time where everyone’s cable TV needs are met through their PC or lap top. If... [Read More...]
Evan Tanner Officially Signed; Kos May Not Be Televised
It’s official. Following rumors and speculation, UFC.com has listed a match between middleweights Evan Tanner and Yushin Okami at UFC 82. The event takes place Marh 1 in Columbus, Ohio. This adds to what is already a stacked card and the result is bad news for Josh Koscheck and Dustin Hazelett. The fight between the two welterweights will occur prior to the live telecast and will only appear... [Read More...]
Diego Sanchez Has New Opponent For UFC 82
Diego Sanchez has issued a bulletin from his MySpace page saying that he will be facing David Bielkheden at UFC 82 on March 1 in Columbus, Ohio. Sanchez previously announced that he would be facing Roan Carneiro at the same event. It is unknown why plans have changed. Bielkheden is from Sweden and will be making his UFC debut. He holds a12-5 record, including four knockouts and five submissions. He... [Read More...]
Diego Sanchez says he’s fighting Roan Carneiro at UFC 82
Diego Sanchez announced via a bulletin on his official MySpace account that his next fight will be against Roan Carneiro at UFC 82 on March 1 in Columbus, Ohio, reports MMAjunkie.com. The match announcement has yet to be confirmed by the UFC. Sanchez is coming off two consecutive losses, which served as the first times he had been defeated after starting his pro MMA career as 17-0. His first career... [Read More...]
Jon Fitch signs contract extension; signed to fight Akihiro Gono at UFC 82
MMA Mania has confirmed that top UFC welterweight Jon Fitch has signed a bout agreement to fight Akihiro Gono at UFC 82 and that he’s signed a contract extension with the UFC: Top welterweight contender Jon Fitch (15-2) has signed the bout agreement to fight Akihiro Gono (27-12-7) at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” on March 1 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, MMAmania.com (www.mmamania.com)... [Read More...]
UFC 82 Rumors: Heath Herring vs. Cheick Kongo
Though the UFC has not yet confirmed this, MMAMania.com is reporting more heavyweight action. It seems a bout between Cheick Kongo and Heath Herring will take place at UFC 82 on March 1 in Columbus, Ohio. Kongo has enjoyed four victories out of his five most recent bouts, all taking place in the UFC. His wins came against Gilbert Aldana, Christian Wellisch, Assuerio Silva, and Mirko “Cro Cop”... [Read More...]
Report: Luke Cummo to fight Luigi Fioravanti at UFC 82
From MMA Junkie: “The Ultimate Fighter 2” welterweight runner-up Luke Cummo (6-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) will meet UFC veteran Luigi Fioravanti (11-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) at UFC 82 — an event that takes place March 1 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Cummo posted the news on his official website early Monday morning, and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) recently confirmed the bout. Cummo has knocked out... [Read More...]
Dan Henderson thinks he’s a bad matchup for Anderson Silva and that he’ll win the clinch game
From Steve Sievert’s MMA Notebook at the Houston Chronicle: “Style-wise, I’m just a bad fight for him,” Henderson said. “He’s very tough, very talented, but he hasn’t fought anybody like me.” “My strength is the clinch game, and I don’t get out of position there to allow strikes,” said Henderson (22-5), who’s never been knocked... [Read More...]
Report: Herring plans to accept match vs. Kongo
UFC heavyweight fighter Heath Herring has been offered a match against Cheick Kongo on March 1 at UFC 82 in Columbus, Ohio, MMAjunkie.com is quoting a source close to Herring as saying. According to Junkie’s report, Herring has not officially signed a bout agreement but has every intention of doing so. It’s not known whether Kongo has agreed to the bout. Kongo’s immediate future has... [Read More...]
Report: Evan Tanner vs. Yushin Okami at UFC 82
According to a report at MMA Mania, Evan Tanner will be making his return to the Octagon on March 1st, 2008 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio against UFC middleweight contender Yushin Okami. So much for warm-up fights. Okami is among the best middlweights in the world right now and is a huge challenge for a guy, in Evan Tanner, who hasn’t fought in over a year. Why would the UFC give... [Read More...]
UFC fights that should and can happen in ’08
The UFC increased the frequency in which they held fight cards in 2007 and 2008 is looking as though it will be just as active of a year, if not more so. January will feature two cards, UFC 80 in New Castle, England on January 19 and UFC Fight Night 12 on Jan. 23. February will kick off with UFC 81 on February 2 in Vegas and will be proceeded by UFC 82 on March 1 in Columbus, Ohio. March could be an... [Read More...]
Rich Franklin Injured, Out Until June
MMAJunkie.com is reporting that Rich Franklin’s fight camp has informed them that Franklin has a torn meniscus in his right knee. According to this report, the news of the injury came only day after Franklin allegedly signed on to fight Travis Lutter in a co-main event bout at UFC 82 in Columbus, Ohio. This may have something to do with Franklin’s Myspace announcement a couple of days... [Read More...]
UFC 82 fight card
UFC 82 is turning into the Battle of the 185-ers. Here’s the finalized UFC 82 fight card. MAIN CARD Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson (for the UFC Middleweight Title) Heath Herring vs. Cheick Kongo Alessio Sakara vs. Chris Leben Yushin Okami vs. Evan Tanner Chris Wilson vs. Jon Fitch PRELIMINARY CARD Jake O’Brien vs. Andrei Arlovski Luigi Fioravanti vs. Luke Cummo Dustin Hazelett vs. Josh... [Read More...]
UFC 82: Franklin vs. Lutter a Done Deal
Dave Meltzer is reporting, in a recent print edition of The Wrestling Observer, that Rich Franklin and Travis Lutter will be squaring off in the Octagon as a part of UFC 82 in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to this, Meltzer is also reporting that the fight will be a co-main event along with the UFC middleweight title between champion Anderson Silva and PRIDE 183-pound champion Dan Henderson. Keep checking... [Read More...]
Evan Tanner to return at UFC 82 in Columbus, Ohio?
MMA Mania is reporting that Evan Tanner will be returning to the Octagon at UFC 82 in Columbus, Ohio. No opponent has yet been named. The addition of Tanner back into the mix at middleweight is a welcome one. The real question will be if he’s physically and mentally in shape enough to get back into mixed martial arts on a full time basis. Tanner has said numerous times that he feels he knows... [Read More...]
Rich Franklin vs. Travis Lutter at UFC 82?
With the UFC planning another card in Ohio for March 1, 2008, it looks like Rich Franklin may be making another appearance in the Octagon in his home state. MMAJunkie is reporting that Franklin has recently inked a new six-fight deal with the UFC, and is considering a fight offer that would put him in a the Octagon with Travis Lutter. Franklin has been a little tied up with shooting a film called... [Read More...]
Josh Koscheck vs. Dustin Hazelett a Possibility for UFC 82
MMAMania, knowing all things AKA, had the knowledge last week of a possible fight between Dustin Hazelett and Josh Koscheck at UFC 82 on March 1. Apparently Koscheck was on the list of possible replacements for Matt Serra for UFC 79, but since that is not going to happen, a fight with Hazelett is a real possibility. No paperwork has been filled out yet, but a source close to MMAMania.com is confirming... [Read More...]
Report: Josh Koscheck to return at UFC 82
MMA Mania is reporting that Josh Koscheck will make his return to the Octagon at UFC 82 in March: Welterweight contender Josh Koscheck (9-2) will return to action at UFC 82 at the Nationwide Arena on March 1, joining American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) teammate Jon Fitch on the Columbus, Ohio, fight card. Opponents have been discussed to face the former NCAA Division I wrestling champion, but no bout... [Read More...]
