It's Official; Matt Hughes vs Renzo Gracie at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi
by Blackout612 on Dec 15, 2009 2:13 PM EST
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PrintIn an article published at Graciemag, not only does Matt Hughes confirm that he will, in fact, face Renzo Gracie in his UFC debut, but it has also been confirmed that the card will take place in Abu Dhabi at UFC 112.
"I didn’t know if I could say anything about my next fight, but I see that Dana has let the cat out of the bag. So I can tell you what I know, on April 10th I will be fighting Renzo Gracie in Abu Dhabi," wrote Hughes.
(Emphasis mine)
As for Renzo's take on the impending and highly anticipated bout between the two seasoned veterans;
At the top of his 42 years of age, Renzo, too, showed his excitement about his debut, voicing it in with his trademark philosophical aphorisms. "It’s the perfect matchup. The beat-down’s going to happen. And as Nietzchian as I can put it: better earlier than later," declared the black belt in an interview published on GRACIEMAG.com on November 12.
I, for one, have been looking forward to this fight. What is everyone's take on the outcome? And what are your feelings on a UFC card taking place in Abu Dhabi in April 2010?
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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Thank d00d
Was gonna link that too, but got caught up at work.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
I have already made my opinion known on doing a show in the United Arab Emirates. To me it is on par with doing an event in apartheid era South Africa. This is not a country where there happen to be millions of poor citizens who are willing to work for subsistence-level wages. This is one of the richest countries in the world who’s Kafeel sponsorship system allows them to legally keep the majority of the foreign workers in slave-like conditions. Here is an excerpt from an excellent article by Johann Hari on the UAE which sums up the conditions:
The people who really built the city can be seen in long chain-gangs by the side of the road, or toiling all day at the top of the tallest buildings in the world, in heat that Westerners are told not to stay in for more than 10 minutes. They were conned into coming, and trapped into staying. In their home country – Bangladesh or the Philippines or India – these workers are told they can earn a fortune in Dubai if they pay a large upfront fee. When they arrive, their passports are taken from them, and they are told their wages are a tenth of the rate they were promised. They end up working in extremely dangerous conditions for years, just to pay back their initial debt. They are ringed-off in filthy tent-cities outside Dubai, where they sleep in weeping heat, next to open sewage. They have no way to go home. And if they try to strike for better conditions, they are beaten by the police.
OK, I’m done preaching.
by John Nash on Dec 15, 2009 2:52 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
I doubt there will be ring girls, but who knows. As as westerner I could go to a beach where women were in bikinis, some topless.
It'll be a closed-door event, most likely hosted in a hotel
My understanding is that the hotels in Abu Dhabi are arranged in such a fashion that they cater for ‘western’ tastes and thus special dispensation will be given to the UFC. The matter of the Octagon girls might be a bit contentious but
Royalty from the UAE were present at UFC 105 so Dana, Lorenzo, Ratner and Zelaznik have invested a lot in getting a show off the ground there. It’s very likely that I’ll be sent to cover this show for ESPN; you can expect me to blog about the experience during and after my trip.
by VikingPhotography on Dec 15, 2009 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
Please do. And as a member of the press I hope you get a chance to get out of the tourist zones and see how 80% of the (non-citizen) Nation lives. I know I thought it was paradise until someone else pointed it out for me.
I't's unlikely
… that my schedule will afford me the time to get out and about beyond the realms of my usual coverage. Not to mention that my expenses come out of my own pocket first and are reimbursed six weeks later, so I try to keep a tight control of the cahsflow thing ;)
by VikingPhotography on Dec 15, 2009 7:37 PM EST up reply actions
okay guys, you’ve already said your piece…(and you may be right)
but let’s not make the topic veer further away like the last time. Thanks. :)
by Anton Tabuena on Dec 15, 2009 7:41 PM EST up reply actions
You’re right I said my piece and also said I’m done preaching so I will call it quits. Unless you want me to go on my diatribe about why this should have been held in Manilla : )
Meant to write Manila not Manilla (which is in Iowa). My cousins live outside San Mateo so that is inexcusable.
I’ve been to San Mateo a few times, but I’ve never been to Manilla. haha :)
by Anton Tabuena on Dec 15, 2009 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
Don’t worry aboutfeeling like youre preaching. Things like this aren’t presented to me in any of the news media sources I follow, so youre being informative. Not preaching. But of course people get sensitive when certain topics are touched, and esp when its a sports blog. But I, for one, thank you for the link and raw information.
by beersnbroads on Dec 16, 2009 2:44 AM EST up reply actions
You must be talking about the U S of A
ever heard of mexican migrant workers. Not to mention your slave like minimum wage
by Infinite_Jest on Dec 17, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry to be harsh but
You must be trying to be funny to make such an incredibly ignorant comment. While I have numerous complaints about the use and mistreatment of illegal migrant workers in the US of A, there is a world of difference between individuals and corporations taking advantage of people’s desperation and the government actually enforcing said mistreatment. In the US if a migrant worker is being mistreated they at least have the right to leave their job (or the right to flee and press charges if their employer is holding them against their will). The UAE is one of the few countries where running away from an abusive employer is illegal and punishable. Even returning to your country of origin requires your sponsor’s (employer’s) permission.
Many countries have their problem with desperately poor workers being taken advantage of, with the US being one of them (Mexico as well. Ask a Guatemalan immigrant in Mexico City or Merida). But the UAE is one of the few places where they not only turn a blind eye to the practice but it is actually protected by the laws of the land.
I ask that you read this article by Johann Hari and then tell me there is no difference between what happens there and the US of A.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html
Sorry Anton, I promise I’m done preaching for real this time. And man is it going to suck not watching this card.
not so sure there is a world of difference
between the government enforcing mistreatment and people/corporations mistreating people. That said, I agree that the UAE mistreats people and have read numerous stories about this previously to posting. The only reason I posted was to raise awareness that the line which separates the US from the UAE is thin at best.
by Infinite_Jest on Dec 18, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions
Is it 2005?
Back then I might have cared about this fight.
A Renzo submission
would be a pantshitting good time. I loved Hughes when all i heard from him were ten second sound bites about fighting. Everything else out of his mouth has been annoying.
"All I guarantee is violence" - Wand
This should bring in casual fans because of the Gracie name, and might put off some hardcore fans because it doesn’t really matter in the big picture (let’s be honest). But I’m assuming most fans of MMA will want to see this fight. If the UFC markets this right, it could bring in a huge viewership.
P.S. If there’s a way they can get Kimbo to go to the UAE for this card, I would do it. A Gracie/Hughes main event with a Kimbo/let’s say… Buentello if he goes back to HW, Drew McFedries if he stays @ LHW co-main event would be a huge success on Spike, and probably a pretty good sell on PPV. Just my 2 cents though…
"He wants to portray himself as the crazy one; I think he’s just portraying himself as the weird one. And we’re gonna know which guy’s more crazy when we get into the Octagon." - BJ Penn (about Diego Sanchez)
I’ve seen a rumor that the A. Silva/Belfort matchup will be on the 112 card as well.
"He wants to portray himself as the crazy one; I think he’s just portraying himself as the weird one. And we’re gonna know which guy’s more crazy when we get into the Octagon." - BJ Penn (about Diego Sanchez)
by itsallgood013 on Dec 15, 2009 9:39 PM EST up reply actions
bj is supposedly on this card
either against edgar, maynard or diaz.
if this is already known, please spare me the quips, zings and disses.
haha..
"i just want to be known as the greatest of all time, is that too much to ask?" - BJ Penn.
Hiss, growl!
Any sources on that info? First I’ve heard of it.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
my newspaper
i just read that ken-flo is fighting frankie edgar ufc 111. so i guess throw stillers name into the mix.
"i just want to be known as the greatest of all time, is that too much to ask?" - BJ Penn.
If BJ then fights Maynard on the same show, that’s one of the sickest cards I’ve ever seen.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
by Blackout612 on Dec 16, 2009 11:57 PM EST up reply actions
Won't happen
They’ll not load 111 with two title fights; they’ll save a Penn outing for the Memorial Day show I’m sure.
by VikingPhotography on Dec 17, 2009 7:53 AM EST up reply actions
They already have 2 title fights scheduled for 111: GSP-Hardy and the interim HW title fight (if they actually make it an interim title fight)
by Hardcharger on Dec 17, 2009 11:08 AM EST up reply actions
Look above
I’m directly responding to Omoplato who suggested he heard somewhere the BJ was fighting.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba
we're talking about 112
you are talking about 112 right blackout?
"i just want to be known as the greatest of all time, is that too much to ask?" - BJ Penn.
we're talking about 112
you are talking about 112 right blackout?
"i just want to be known as the greatest of all time, is that too much to ask?" - BJ Penn.
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