Does the Current UFC 103 Card Mean it Will Air on Spike?

by SSreporters on Jun 23, 2009 1:11 AM EDT

This is is really early....actually almost 3 months before UFC 103 kicks off in Dallas, TX. With Hermes Franca now confirmed to fight Tyson Griffin we have 3 fights confirmed, all likely to be main card material. There are two other fighters that are also scheduled to be on the card against a TBD opponent that are just getting their UFC careers started. So far the current card looks like this:

Chances are that the Simpson and Steinbeiss fights will be on the preliminary card. Steinbeiss would be making his UFC debut and Simpson would only be in his 2nd UFC fight. Escudero vs. Miller is a battle of lightweight contestants from The Ultimate Fighter, with the former having won it all in TUF 8 finale, and the latter losing in the quarterfinals to Joe Lauzon in TUF 5 but winning against Andy Wang in TUF 5 season finale. Escudero hasn't fought professionally since that night, a unanimous decision victory over Phillip Nover last December. Cole submitted Junie Browning by guillotine choke in UFC Fight Night 18.

Koscheck vs. Trigg........ugh. Frank Trigg fighting puts me to sleep unless Matt Hughes viciously beats him via RNC. It should be noted he hasn't fought in UFC since GSP also won by rear naked choke against him in 2005. Kos was knocked out by Paulo Thiago in UFC 95.

Tyson Griffin has been on several live Spike fight nights and also notably gave Urijah Faber his first loss in his MMA career. Griffin is coming off a victory over Rafael dos Anjos in UFC Fight Night 18.

So to summarize, you have 2 fighters who are just getting their feet wet in UFC (Simpson and Steinbauss), 3 contestants from TUF (Kos, Miller, Escudero), and someone who is lucky to still have a working neck (Trigg).

Unless there is a huge main event that Dana plans to put on that isn't Kos vs. Trigg, there is no possible way that UFC 103 even rates as a possible PPV card. Heck this is at best a good Fight Night event.

Considering over half of the fighters confirmed for UFC 103 have been on Spike TV for the majority of their time either on TUF and/or Fight Night, I could see this being the first ever US-hosted major UFC event on free TV. Spike's last two free major events were broadcast on tape delay overseas.

As I said, it's early, but the way things are shaping up we could be seeing UFC 103 live on Spike TV. If not, then Dana White better make some magic work over the next month or so because this would be the sorriest UFC event ever to go on PPV.

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Comments

Let’s worry about UFC’s 100 to 102, before complaining about a card that is not even half complete.

by Raker on Jun 23, 2009 1:16 AM EDT reply actions

Well as I said

It’s 3 months early. But with the fight lineup so far that could be Spike material.

I mean, Spike TV is airing UFN 19 that Thursday in Oklahoma City so it’s entirely possible they could be airing two events in a few days or have 103 on PPV but minimize the travel.

Andy Reid is the only coach in NFL history that uses the pass to set up the pass.

by SSreporters on Jun 23, 2009 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I’ll be shocked if Koscheck/Trigg is the main event. Shocked. Something else awesome will be put on top of this card.

by Derek Suboticki on Jun 23, 2009 1:41 AM EDT reply actions

Torres vs Brown

A man can wish can’t he?

by Riney on Jun 23, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Fedor vs. Brock? If you’re gonna dream then dream big.

Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot

by ufc4 on Jun 23, 2009 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Rich Franklin vs Wanderlei Silva 2?

Vitor’s debut fight if he doesnt get an immediate title shot, maybe Okami for #1 contender

Cain, Dos Santos, GG, and Carwin all need fights

by Flyghtt on Jun 23, 2009 2:08 AM EDT reply actions

also…
Luiz Cane
Diego Sanchez
Sean Sherk
Tyson Griffin
Hermes Franca
Chael Sonnen
Mike Swick
Matt Hughes
Dan Hardy
Carlos Condit
Brock Larson
Martin Kampmann
Joe Stevenson
Clay Guida
Frankie Edgar
Gray Maynard

by Flyghtt on Jun 23, 2009 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Diego vs Maynard (or even Sean Sherk) would fit as would a Condit vs Larson rematch. Swick vs Kampmann would also be interesting.

by who me on Jun 23, 2009 3:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Scratch these two....

Dos Santos is fighting McCully, and Gonzaga is fighting Tuchscherer at 102.

by Lewish on Jun 23, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

What the oughta do

Is make it free and put Wanderlei-Leben as the main event. If Wanderlei wins, he can fight Vitor for the #1 spot as Okami loses to the winner of Marquardt/Maia.

by Derek Suboticki on Jun 23, 2009 2:18 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Leben is fighting Rosholt at UFC 102

just a few weeks before this card, so he certainly wouldn’t be ready in time.

by Scott Haber on Jun 23, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Okami would

beat Maia easily, and probably eke out a decision against Marquardt.

If you’ve ever seen Okami’s ADCC match against Maia, then you’ll notice him taking Demian down at will, controlling position, and powering out of any sub attempts. Add Yushin’s GnP, and likely better standup, and I could easily see him taking a lopsided decision or possible (T)KO.

Marquardt would be a harder fight, but I tend to think that Okami would be able to outwrestle him and do fine in the standup for a close decision, but it would be a very tough fight.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Jun 23, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Fight Night 19 is Wednesday the 16th of September (lead in for TUF 10) so I doubt they will be having another free card on Spike on Saturday the 19th. They just haven’t added a main event for this card yet. The welterweight and heavyweight belts are on the line in July, the lightweight belt is on the line in August (and Anderson Silva is fighting Forrest Griffin) and the light heavyweight belt is on the line at UFC 104 so whatever they headline with it won’t be a title fight.

by who me on Jun 23, 2009 2:35 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

You can add Shane Carwin and Wanderei Silva to that list. They are both fighting in Dallas.

by TheAlphaNerd on Jun 23, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions

I thought I’d heard Carwin, but that’s the first I’ve heard silva. That’d be a pretty fast turnaround for him. Drew McFedries turned a lot of heads with that brutal KO at 98. He’d assure a fast, brutal fight, but maybe too much of a risk to KO Silva if the UFC is protecting him.

Carwin vs Herring makes a ton of sense for Dallas, but again not a real ppv headliner.

by Stanlee on Jun 23, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Ok I’m calling it now

Wanderlei Silva vs Vitor or Franklin for the main event
Carwin vs Herring or Cain at the top of the undercard

by Flyghtt on Jun 23, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

carwin v herring makes sense in the 2 spot,

I dont see silva v vitor or franklin tho.

by Gerrymanderer on Jun 23, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I cannot see Vitor fighting in September if he is fighting for Affliction in August. Franklin v. Liddell would sell if they could get chuck back— an interesting fight, although not very meaningful as far as rankings go. Then again, the last two to beat Chuck received title shots for the efforts.

by Bazz1119 on Jun 23, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Carwin and Cain aren’t fighting anytime soon.

Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot

by ufc4 on Jun 23, 2009 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions

September would put Carwin at around a 6 month layoff between the Gonzaga fight and 103. The time fits very nicely. I wonder if they are waiting to see how the Lesner/Mir fight goes next month to decide where Carwin will fight.

by Stanlee on Jun 23, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions