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The heat-up for UFC 123: What fight is really the main event?
By Zach Arnold | November 19, 2010
It’s been very interesting to see how the press coverage for the show in the Detroit area has played out. I would say it’s 60/40 (if not 65/35) focused on the BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes fight (ESPN & Detroit Free Press) more so than the main event (an eliminator bout between Rampage Jackson & Lyoto Machida). Rampage’s big headline in the Free Press yesterday dealt with his criticism of too many fighters who fight for points now in MMA (one Jackson bashing another Jackson) and that this reason turned him off from boxing so he hopes it doesn’t become a permanent fixture in MMA. As for his fight against Machida, Gareth A. Davies notes that Michael Bisping has advised Rampage to push the pace and get in Machida’s face rather than play counter-puncher. The Detroit News has photos from the media session at the Detroit Athletic Club. Rampage’s rival, Rashad Evans, will be in Asheville, North Carolina at a local MMA show to watch John “Buck Nasty” Buck.
BJ Penn said that he has considered training with Matt Hughes before UFC came to him with the fight offer for the trilogy fight. How much does Penn’s legacy hinge on the outcome of the fight?
The most important fight on the card is George Sotiropoulos vs. Joe Lauzon. If George wins, he’s right near the top of the division and could conceivably face the winner of the Edgar-Maynard winner/Pettis-Henderson winner unification bout. Jack Encarnacao has an excellent article on Joe Lauzon and his MMA career. Very good reading. Sotiropoulos has found himself answering questions about his fight gear and whether or not it gives him an advantage in fights.
On the undercard, Phil Davis has become a sort of media celebrity heading into his fight where he is heavily-favored against Tim Boetsch. The main media storyline for the Aaron Simpson-Mark Munoz fight is that neither guy is really that interested in fighting each other. Also, big prospect Edson Mendes Jr. makes his UFC debut. Paul Kelly says that if he loses tomorrow that he’ll likely get cut by the UFC.
UFC Undisputed is now available on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
Other news
Meet Jesse Gonzalez, a parolee who will appear on Animal Planet’s ‘Pit Bulls and Parolees’ show as a feature profile on how he’s trying to change his life around with the help of his new dog, Bella, and also some training at Big John McCarthy’s UTA in Southern California.
Here’s a of a story for you in the UK — The ex of Katie Price has been arrested due to charges linked to a ‘Mephedrone drug ring’ that allegedly involves fighters for the KnuckleUp promotions group.
The Orange County Register reports that the trial for the driver charged with vehicular manslaughter in the death of Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr. will start shortly.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Was the line about Lauzon-Sotiropoulos being the most important fight on the card supposed to be funny? Because if so, you succeeded.