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Latest on UFC 85

Tiny by Michael Rome on in News

MMA Mania reports that in addition to Leben/Bisping, the card may be on Spike TV a la UFC 75:

A 185-pound showdown between Michael Bisping and Chris Leben -- a match up we teased earlier this afternoon -- is expected to headline the show. In addition, James Irvin has agreed to step up and replace Liddell to take on Evans.

In addition, and this is the shakiest bit of information we are passing along, the show will possibly air on SpikeTV for FREE similar to UFC 75: "Champion vs. Champion."

Well, here's the thing.  They are much, much more worried about alienating the thousands of fans who have bought tickets than alienating some fans with a letdown of a show here (see UFC 78).  With all the money they have pumped into the expansion, they don't want to ruin the good will they have built up by providing a middling card to people who paid good money to see Chuck Liddell.

Throughout the day I've heard they are making efforts on a variety of fronts to add names that matter to this card.  However in multiple cases the guys they have approached have been unable to fight.  They are still trying though, and I wouldn't be surprised if they add another.

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Re: Latest on UFC 85
I appreciate them tryin spruce the card up since Liddell got hurt...but I need to see this one on Spike.

by Tha Realness on Apr 22, 2008 11:07 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Latest on UFC 85
I think it will end up there.  It may just really help the buyrate for Forrest/Rampage if this is on Spike, and Liddell around later in the year may be a good bonus.  I always thought this show might bomb 2 weeks after the May show and in the UK.

by Michael Rome on Apr 22, 2008 11:28 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Latest on UFC 85
Will Bisping be a draw in the U.K.? He was booed pretty heavily after the Hammill decision...

Have the Brits forgiven him already?

by AnonymousA on Apr 22, 2008 11:35 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Latest on UFC 85
They are only a few hundred seats short of sold out apparently.  

by Michael Rome on Apr 22, 2008 11:36 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Latest on UFC 85
This is GREAT news because no fight that includes Rashad Evans is worth paying for. Sorry, but I think he is lame.

by nitro on Apr 22, 2008 11:43 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Latest on UFC 85
This london card is two weeks prior to the TUF finale that will also air on Spike..... I know Spike has nixed carrying some of the Int'l cards in the past because of not wanting to flood the market with product and weaken the ratings..... I'd like for it to be on free tv but think it might not be for this reason....

by robnashville on Apr 22, 2008 11:57 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Latest on UFC 85
Kind of a lame justification if you ask me.  Especially for a channel that shows Star Trek in syndication every day and CSI every night (I've seen every CSI episode probably five times by now).  

I don't think TNT worries about flooding the market with almost nightly NBA coverage now that its playoff time.  

by Popetastic on Apr 23, 2008 12:22 AM EDT   0 recs

They should have ...
Replaced Liddell with Henderson. Eh. Oh well.

My Fave Five: Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Demian Maia, Jon Fitch, Wagnney Fabiano

by FlyByKnight on Apr 23, 2008 2:34 AM EDT   0 recs

Re: Latest on UFC 85
I think most people that buy tickets to see Liddell will not be so eager to buy them on the next card he is on, because of things like this.

by DirtyML on Apr 23, 2008 2:50 AM EDT   0 recs

Re: Latest on UFC 85
I think they're committed to keeping Henderson at 185 now, he should probably be fighting Franklin in the summer.

In the past when Spike has refused it it has been because it was within 1 week of a big show.  Maybe 2 weeks will be enough.

by Michael Rome on Apr 23, 2008 2:52 AM EDT   0 recs

Re: Latest on UFC 85
Henderson has said he wants to fight at 205 not 185. So, who knows.

My Fave Five: Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Demian Maia, Jon Fitch, Wagnney Fabiano

by FlyByKnight on Apr 23, 2008 5:21 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Latest on UFC 85
Hendo won't be on the card. As much as the hardcores appreciate him, right now he's 0-2 in the UFC since returning and not only is he 0-2 but he's 0-2 in big time fights. Right now he wouldn't really spruce up a buyrate any more so than Bisping.

I like the free on Spike idea with Bisping-Leben headlining but then again if I had paid to see it live I would be pretty upset. I can see the UFC signing a decent main event on short notice. A few possibilities:

GSP vs Fitch
Silva vs Okami
Arlovski vs Nogueira
Huerta vs Florian

Also, does this mean we'll get to see Liddell vs Shogun at the end of the summer now? That is way sweeter than Liddell vs Rashad.

by dropkick101 on Apr 23, 2008 10:14 AM EDT   0 recs

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