June 6 - MMA Update - UFC Eyes Atlanta
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Brian Knapp
MMA Editor
POSTED: June 7, 2008 - 12:51 am
CATEGORIES: MMA
The UFC will touch down in Atlanta for the first time in September, and former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell will likely headline the event, provided he has recovered fully from the torn hamstring that sidelined him. ESPN the ****zine reported the Las Vegas-based promotion's plans through an interview with UFC president Dana White.
"The fight is going to be in Atlanta, Georgia - that's something we haven't said publicly yet," White told ESPN the ****zine. "There's something no one else has heard."
Speculation surfaced on Friday of a potential bout between Liddell and reigning UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, a man who appears to have no peer at 185 pounds. The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported that UFC officials "have talked with Anderson Silva about being on the card and fighting at light heavy[weight]," and that Silva "was not opposed to it."
Liddell (21-5, 16-4 UFC) has re-emerged as a force in the 205-pound division after back-to-back losses to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Keith Jardine. He roared to a unanimous decision victory over longtime nemesis Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79 in December and fought a brilliant tactical fight against the Brazilian, mixing in several takedowns along with his patented strikes.
At 38, Liddell carries with him one of the sport's most impressive resumes, which includes a pair of knockout wins over both UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz. A third of his 21 career victories have come at the expense of current or former champions, including Murilo Bustamante, Vitor Belfort and Alistair Overeem.
Silva (21-4, 6-0 UFC), meanwhile, has become the most dominant pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. The 33-year-old Brazilian submitted two-time Olympian Dan Henderson - believed to be his last legitimate challenger at 185 pounds - at UFC 82: Pride of a Champion in March. All six of his wins inside the UFC have come by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Silva's list of victims includes former middleweight champion Rich Franklin (twice) and veteran Nate Marquardt.
image
Brian Knapp
MMA Editor
POSTED: June 7, 2008 - 12:51 am
CATEGORIES: MMA
The UFC will touch down in Atlanta for the first time in September, and former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell will likely headline the event, provided he has recovered fully from the torn hamstring that sidelined him. ESPN the ****zine reported the Las Vegas-based promotion's plans through an interview with UFC president Dana White.
"The fight is going to be in Atlanta, Georgia - that's something we haven't said publicly yet," White told ESPN the ****zine. "There's something no one else has heard."
Speculation surfaced on Friday of a potential bout between Liddell and reigning UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, a man who appears to have no peer at 185 pounds. The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer reported that UFC officials "have talked with Anderson Silva about being on the card and fighting at light heavy[weight]," and that Silva "was not opposed to it."
Liddell (21-5, 16-4 UFC) has re-emerged as a force in the 205-pound division after back-to-back losses to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Keith Jardine. He roared to a unanimous decision victory over longtime nemesis Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79 in December and fought a brilliant tactical fight against the Brazilian, mixing in several takedowns along with his patented strikes.
At 38, Liddell carries with him one of the sport's most impressive resumes, which includes a pair of knockout wins over both UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz. A third of his 21 career victories have come at the expense of current or former champions, including Murilo Bustamante, Vitor Belfort and Alistair Overeem.
Silva (21-4, 6-0 UFC), meanwhile, has become the most dominant pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. The 33-year-old Brazilian submitted two-time Olympian Dan Henderson - believed to be his last legitimate challenger at 185 pounds - at UFC 82: Pride of a Champion in March. All six of his wins inside the UFC have come by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Silva's list of victims includes former middleweight champion Rich Franklin (twice) and veteran Nate Marquardt.
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