Georges St Pierre vs. Dan Hardy to Headline UFC 109 in February?
by Scott Haber on Nov 21, 2009 1:23 AM EST
70 comments
Promoted from the Fan Posts by Kid Nate.
With a potential middleweight title fight between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort looking less and less likely for UFC 109, on Super Bowl Weekend in early February in Las Vegas, the Zuffa brass have been struggling to find ways around the injury bug that has been plaguing the company lately and forcing an unprecedent number of feature fights to be re-shuffled. Although rumored fights featuring Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman and Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen, along with the participation of Matt Hughes, are likely to pan out for the UFC 109 main card, none of these make for a compelling main event. It now appears that the UFC will turn to their welterweight superstar and a rising British stud to fill that spot.
UFC President Dana White has been dropping hints lately, and if we put the pieces of the puzzle together, it appears that UFC 109 will be headlined by Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy for the welterweight championship.
Shortly after Dan Hardy dominated Mike Swick en-route to a unanimous decision win at UFC 105 last weekend, White confirmed that the Brit had earned the next title shot. A few days later, when asked about potential locations for the fight, White had this to say in an interview with MMA Weekly:
"I honestly don’t know where it will be, but it could end up being in Vegas," said White. "Brits have no problem going to Vegas. It’s packed every time Ricky Hatton fights there. We’ll see, probably Vegas though."
Yesterday, at a pre-UFC 106 Q & A session for UFC Fan Club members, White stated, according to Sherdog:
GSP-Hardy will be in February.
There are two February cards currently scheduled: 109 in Vegas on 2/6, and the promotion's Australian debut at UFC 110 on 2/21. Obviously, only of those cards is the Vegas location that Dana referred to in the response to MMA Weekly, so it looks like we'll be seeing GSP-Hardy at 109. If that assumption pans out, the card will likely look something like this:
Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy - welterweight championship
Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman
Matt Hughes vs. TBA
Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen
Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg
Demian Maia vs. Dan Miller
Rolles Gracie vs. Mostapha Al-Turk
Rob Emerson vs. Philippe Nover
Ronnys Torres vs. Melvin Guillard
With superstars and legends GSP, Couture, and Hughes all on the same Super Bowl weekend card, the event could have the potential to do huge PPV numbers. We'll keep you updated as more news develops, but 109 is starting to look very interesting...provided that the injury curse doesn't strike again.
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
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Great alves is a way better striker, and stronger than hardy, and gsp took him apart, and now they want us to believe hardy should have next shot. fitch, and alves would tear him apart. Dana really needs to make GSP vacate WW, and move up to MW, so he can at least be challenged. Their is no WW that poses any problems for GSP, and i dont think their will ever be. Maybe we can have GSP vs BJ part 3, i want to see bj quit again and start crying to his mommy
Why is Miller/Maia on the undercard?
I’d rather see that than Serra/Trigg.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Nov 21, 2009 1:34 AM EST reply actions
Nothing's on any card
it’s just my best guess at how Joe Silva would do things.
Miller, Maia, Trigg, and Serra are all coming off of losses, but although Miller-Maia is a more relevant matchup, Trigg and Serra are bigger names, so I’m assuming that one will end up on the main card.
You placed a space between the maia.miller and serra.trigg..
I think that’s why he thought you meant prelims, and main card.
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 21, 2009 1:42 AM EST up reply actions
oh wait.
that was intentional.. (doy!)
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 21, 2009 1:43 AM EST up reply actions
is the hughes fight sure already? has he said anything about it?
I have a feeling he won’t fight there..
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 21, 2009 1:44 AM EST up reply actions
They say March will be on Newark NJ..
We can expect to see a bunch of fighters who live there to compete on the card, like Frankie Edgar, Ricardo Almeida, the Miller Bros, and maybe even Renzo Gracie..
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
March is a tight turn-around for Jim Miller
from his January fight with Tyson Griffin, and the Dan-Maia fight at 109 was pretty well confirmed unless they just shift it.
Maia doesn’t hurt people anyway. :P
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 21, 2009 2:05 AM EST up reply actions
Just their pride.
Not that I condone facism or any ism for that matter. Isms are in my opinion, not good. A person shouldn't believe in an ism, he should believe in himself.
I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me". Good point there, after all he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. Wouldn't change the fact I have to bum rides off of people.
but seriously though,
It would suck if you’re right and Maia is relegated to the prelims.. If that happens, I’d rather see him fight on another card, this is looking to be pretty stacked card already anyway, if it does pan out like that.
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 21, 2009 2:09 AM EST up reply actions
Chances are, we only see 1 or 2 prelim fights.. and I do want to see Maia, Rolles, and Nover fight.. so hopefully the Hughes fight, or another fight gets moved.
He could Co-Headline another card that needs more star power. This is looking pretty damn good already even without him.
(unless… they show two fights on spike again.. then fine.. stack them up!)
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 21, 2009 2:12 AM EST up reply actions
Wow
The timing would be right – we’re just a little over three months away from the ’109 date so it would give both Hardy & GSP time for a ten or tweleve week fight camp.
Hardy came out of 105 with barely any injuries at all so there’s no reason for him to need more than a week or two for recuperation before getting back to training. GSP also mentioned that he’s already training six days a week and is working with a nutritonist and cook to get his diet right…. so both would be on track to square off three months from now.
With Anderson Silva possibly not being able to compete owing to his post-op recuperation not going to plan, this is a great way to put a main event back on the card that will satisfy the fans – not that the card was in any way deficient before, but it certainly would help to keep titles in contention.
by VikingPhotography on Nov 21, 2009 6:11 AM EST reply actions
Lame lame lame lame. I am sick of GSP giving these one sided beatings to people. He really needs a better challenge (move to MW). This is going to be like a rerun of GSP vs. Fitch.
for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.
1 sided GSP beatings are awesome if you’re Canadian.
Though to be honest, lots of things are awesome if you’re Canadian.
Keep firing Assholes!
The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint.
by Ubernoober on Nov 21, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Not being Canadian is pretty awesome too.
by nottheface on Nov 21, 2009 1:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
the truth is that even if GSP moves to MW, only one that could beat him is problably anderson, and the way GSP has been evolving, its only a matter of time before he schools anderson also. He can take anyone down at will, and he is way more athletic than anderson, and would also have a speed, and quickness advantage
Speed AND Quickness?
Surely one, but not both!
'He built his whole reputation as a waffle house chef. They’ve been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes' - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko
by Well Read Idiot on Nov 23, 2009 8:24 AM EST up reply actions
not saying Hardy has much chance against GSP but what are the chances hardy is better than he gets credit for?
Hardy’s wrestling could be way better than we give it credit for, but it won’t change the fact he’s going to be on his ass eating elbows all night.
Not that I condone facism or any ism for that matter. Isms are in my opinion, not good. A person shouldn't believe in an ism, he should believe in himself.
I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me". Good point there, after all he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. Wouldn't change the fact I have to bum rides off of people.
Yep, won’t matter a bit. Hope Hardy doesn’t waste a bunch of time working on his wrestling in advance of this, and trying weakly to convince us it’s improved so much that he thinks he can handle Georges. Might as well just go all out with his Muay Thai and Jits work, and try to come in as healthy as he can.
by Kwisatz Haderach on Nov 24, 2009 1:46 AM EST up reply actions
What a waste of a title fight. I wouldn’t be suprised if the opening line was GSP -1200 Hardy +900.
Hardy acknowledges that his wrestling and Jits need a lot of work, this is probably the worst possible match for him style wise. If it goes beyond 3 minutes i would be suprised.
Yeah, I can already see GSP’s game plan: take him down, beat him up. If he doesn’t finish through GnP and somehow Hardy manages to a) get up (not likely) or b) survive until the next round, GSP will then probably batter him on his feet after he’s been softened considerably.
I love me some Sexyama!
Who the hell is Randy Coleman?
"an excellent example of why most MMA "journalism" is a joke. Pseudonyms like "toxic" and shitty writing like that dopey article"--- Joe Rogan.
by toxic on Nov 21, 2009 10:14 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Sera vs trigg is a laughable fight.. Why does trigg still have a job in ufc
by kanodogg on Nov 21, 2009 10:59 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I don’t think it’s a laughable fight. I think this fight could be competitive. Trigg vs Kos was a laughable fight, but not vs Serra.
I love me some Sexyama!
by pud333 on Nov 21, 2009 11:09 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
provided that the injury curse doesn’t strike again.
You just had to go and say it, didn’t you? :)
I love me some Sexyama!
by pud333 on Nov 21, 2009 11:10 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Can’t ever take anything for granted in the world of mma, who knows, gsp could have bad recovery, reinjure groin during the fight and we’d have a new welter champ in hardy
by kanodogg on Nov 21, 2009 11:15 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
If GSP does reinjure his groin....
Do you think he will hit him with his groin?
for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.
I'd be happy to see Hughes's "TBA"
turn out to be Ricardo Almeida, if he recovers from his injury in time.
It’s not exactly one of the big-ticket fights Hughes has been talking about, but Almeida is an established old-school fighter unlike these up-and-coming AKA guys. And if Hughes wins, it would set up a grudge match with Renzo perfectly, especially since Renzo has recently been talking about Hughes being his second fight.
If Almeida wins, it makes a huge statement in his welterweight debut and establishes the potential of another welterweight title challenger, which the company desperately needs.
by Scott Haber on Nov 21, 2009 11:55 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Yep, that would be a great fight.
He’s not training yet, but he did say he will be back soon, so maybe he’d fit right in.
But that would be a very dangerous fight for Hughes IMO.
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 21, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions
what do you have in mind? My avatar and sig slots are already occupied as you might have had noticed.
but here’s my picks if you’re interested..
Forrest via UD
Johnson by KO
Amir by Sub
Cane by TKO
Thiago by Sub
Davis by TKO
Rosholt by TKO
Larson by Sub
Uno via UD
Sot by Sub
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 21, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
I got Tito taking the UD. So here are the terms I offer:
If Forrest wins, you get to take back your avatar and signature after enduring my taunting for only a week. If Tito wins you have to keep the avatar for another month, and change your signature to this:
Oh how I wish I were in Canada right now, freezing my nuts off.
It’s pretty much a double or nothing deal.
Keep firing Assholes!
The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint.
did you also offer this for the Kerry Vera fight? haha :P
but sure, i’m game with that. :)
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 21, 2009 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
I absolutely did not offer this for the Kerry Vera fight! Kerry Vera can actually fight, I ain’t picking against her.
Yer going down faster than Forrest running out of the Octagon.
Keep firing Assholes!
The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint.
Could be.. I'm not that confident in Forrest. but I just don't buy that tito is really "back" (no pun intended)
He’s been out for more than a year, and he initially wanted a tune up bout.. Forrest isn’t one..
There’s a bunch of unknowns with how forrest is dealing with that loss, etc etc.. but I think Forrest has improved a lot from their last fight.. He’s gonna have a lot of rust, and i doubt Tito would have the spring and cardio that he once had..
…..speaking of Kerry Vera, look at tatame’s title on their post about it.. “Couture defeats Vera at Strikeforce Challengers” hahaha.
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 21, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions
I’m taking this bet based on nothing but your horrible luck.
Keep firing Assholes!
Freezing my nuts off in Canada.
i really feel like the entire fight depends on what forrest shows up
Tito will do what he always does, possibly with more tenacity and better boxing, but Forrest could be slowing and in a steady decline or could be responding to the Silva loss well and coming back confident and crisp. i want to see forrest take it just by outworking Tito, a tko would be awesome but i don’t see it happening.
UPDATE:
look at this post from mmajunkie
on the UFC 110 Akiyama/Wanderlei bout being moved/shuffled:
“That might change,” White told MMAjunkie Radio on Friday night.
“All I said is that might change,” White said. “That’s my groundbreaking info on that fight. That one might change. We’re moving some things around and doing some stuff.”
on Hardy/GSP not being on 109, Because it will probably still be A.Silva/Belfort:
When asked by a fan when George St-Pierre’s (19-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) welterweight title defense with Dan Hardy (23-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) would take place, White said February appeared likely. But when asked by MMAjunkie.com Radio if that bout would take place on Feb. 6 in Las Vegas, White said that slot was already booked.
“No; Feb. 6 is Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort,” White said.
weoweoweo.deviantart.com -- @antontabuena
Due to the Questionable decision: "The only thing Fishbob does consistently is dissapoint."
Am I the only person that’s sick of seeing GSP dominate the oppostion yet totally neglect to actually finish fights? Whilst I am impressed by his technical superiority it is no longer entertaining me to see him attempt to frustrate his opponents to death, especially when they are such lesser competition. I expect gsp to take down & grind hardy en route to a rather boring (yet dominating) desicion..
Be like water..
by theredoctober on Nov 21, 2009 7:37 PM EST via mobile reply actions
hmmm
Five round wars are the ultimate test. GSP had Alves’ back in the first round, had he submited him there, we wouldn’t know today just how much better than Alves he really is. Five round wars is all that you deserve if you have the nerves to climb in that octogon with GSP. I think I saw BJ cry when he got put to the test. Now let’s see how long Hardy can withstand the riddum before he starts to fall apart or even worse, abandon. I’m interested to see that, Hardy is no can.
I think you need to refresh your memory about GSP’s recent fights.
His last five bouts were against Thiago Alves, B.J. Penn, Jon Fitch, Matt Serra, and Matt Hughes.
He finished three of these opponents: B.J. Penn threw in the towel after four rounds, he TKO’d Serra, and submitted Matt Hughes with an armbar. That leaves Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves as opponents GSP might have dominated positionally but “totally neglect[ed]” to finish.
First of all, it’s strange that you would be so sick of this when it’s only happened twice in his last 5 fights. It’s also strange that you would refer to Alves and Fitch as “such lesser competition” when each man was widely considered the #2 welterweight in the world when GSP fought them.
Let’s consider Jon Fitch. How many times has he been finished in his career? Twice. By KO to Wilson Gouveia in 2002, and by submission to Mike Pyle in his first career fight. When GSP fought him, Fitch was on a 16-fight win streak, not having been finished in nearly six years. Yet somehow it frustrates you that GSP was unable to finish him.
Then there’s the Thiago Alves fight. You may recall that GSP injured his groin in that fight. But you seem to have forgotten how he injured it. He injured it after attempting to armbar Alves. An armbar is, by definition, at attempt to finish the fight. Hey, I wanted him to finish the armbar too, but it seems strange to hold it against him that he didn’t, particularly when he continued to dominate the fight with an injury.
Are you the only person that feels this way? No, I’ve heard other people say similar things. But I wish you were, because it’s a completely absurd viewpoint that admits of no reasonable justification.
by JRN on Nov 22, 2009 10:37 PM EST up reply actions 8 recs
I'm glad you wrote all that! Rec'd
And it is SPOT ON. I, being more impatient, would have resorted to obsceneties to tell him how wrong he is, and risked the possibility of being banned.
'He built his whole reputation as a waffle house chef. They’ve been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes' - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko
by Well Read Idiot on Nov 23, 2009 8:30 AM EST up reply actions
the reason it seems that way to some people is that GSP’s finishes aren’t really flashy… he takes you down and pounds you out over time.
THat isn’t the same as say… a left hook from rampage putting your ass to sleep… or the Spider going Matrix on your ass.
People like to see things thatmake you go “OH SHIT” and GSP rarely delivers that. He delivers calculated, one sided, safe, beat downs.
(not my opinion… saying what others see. I personally don’t like watching gsp fight, but i do recognize he finishes opponents)
people just don’t like wrestlers and for good reason
by mr. gogoplata on Nov 23, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
Cause they keep beating “true” martial arts practitioners?
Keep firing Assholes!
Freezing my nuts off in Canada.
by points i wish they’d come in with a gameplan that includes finishing fights like grapplers and strikers. note: generalization
by mr. gogoplata on Nov 24, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions
with that said i hope Hardy can pull off a K.O. because gsp is just too good……. go fight anderson yasswhole
by mr. gogoplata on Nov 23, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions
I’m a GSP fan, but I hate when champs seem untouchable. Makes the division seem weaker than it is. I want Hardy to KO GSP cold (even though I like GSP, I want a Brit champ and one defense would be nice), I want someone to wax Anderson (I don’t buy the humble bs, he’s arrogant and annoying). Really want Shogun to beat Machida, then Nogueira, then lose to Rampage. Lesnar needs to go to sleep by Carwin’s hand. BJ, even though arrogant and annoying, can stay where he is.
Welcome to the Machida Error.
by slapjaw ackrite on Nov 24, 2009 12:46 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Or maybe not
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=10096&zoneid=13
The UFC could be planning a second trip to the Garden State.
MMAWeekly has learned that the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., is under consideration for UFC 111 on March 11, 2010, according to a source close to negotiations.
The event would feature welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre’s fourth title defense against Dan Hardy.
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