UFC on Versus: Eight Prelims Official, One Main Card Spot Open

by Scott Haber on Feb 24, 2010 3:34 PM EST in MMA Events

When news broke that Anthony "Rumble" Johnson had to pull out of his upcoming fight with John Howard on the March 21st UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones card on Versus, many assumed that the UFC would bump one of the prelim fights up to the main card, while Howard would be relegated to the prelims to take on newcomer Daniel Roberts. Howard vs. Roberts has indeed been moved down to the prelims with the UFC officially confirming the fight's existence, but none of the other prelims have been moved up to the televised card, which currently stands at three fights.

Earlier rumors indicated that Spencer Fisher vs. Duane Ludwig was likely to be promoted, but MMA Junkie is reporting that instead, the UFC will insert a newly-booked fight the main card into the fourth spot on the main card, while the prelims will stay at a record-tying eight fights (UFC 103 also had eight preliminary fights). There aren't any rumors currently floating around about possible participants in the new main card fight, but with future cards rapidly filling, it will be interesting to see what the UFC puts together.

The UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones card now includes:

- Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera
- Junios Dos Santos vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
- Paul Buentello vs. Cheick Kongo
- TBA vs. TBA

- James Irvin vs. Alessio Sakara
- Spencer Fisher vs. Duane "Bang" Ludwig
- Shannon Gugerty vs. Clay Guida
- Eliot Marshall vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
- John Howard vs. Daniel Roberts
- Chase Gormley vs. Brendan Schaub
- Rob Kimmons vs. Mike Pierce
- Jason Brilz vs. Eric Schafer

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awesone freakin card

by #1 piggy on Feb 24, 2010 3:27 PM EST reply actions

Cro Cop vs. Rothwell would fit nicely in there.

by Nick Thomas on Feb 24, 2010 3:30 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I wonder if he could make such a tight turn-around

then again, the guy did fight in one-night tournaments in Pride.

by Scott Haber on Feb 24, 2010 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

Well its not like Perosh did any damage.

The man known simply as "Christmas Cheesesteak"

by Neil Manich on Feb 24, 2010 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

He did enought to earn himself a 4 fight deal.

I guess punching bags are at a premium these days.

by truck on Feb 24, 2010 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

Pretty sure that was for accepting the fight on such short notice.

Bolts from the Blue // "He looks like a catfish" - Nick Hardwick on Brandon Siler
Bloody Elbow // " looks like your comment violated rule #4. and it’s a heck of a rule, rule #4" - Kid Nate

by Richard Wade on Feb 24, 2010 6:07 PM EST up reply actions

That was absolutely a “thanks for stepping in on one day of notice against a guy in a higher weight class and lasting for 10 minutes so it didn’t look like a total squash match” contract.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Feb 25, 2010 6:03 AM EST up reply actions

Exactly what I was coming down here to suggest. Good Call…

"I fight because I can’t sing, I can’t dance, and it beats working all day. Now ask me a question that doesn’t sound so fucking stupid." – Phil Baroni

by midwestbred on Feb 24, 2010 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

damn mirko

lay off the studel

by woooburn on Feb 24, 2010 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

was thinking the same exact thing.

by JaTinkles on Feb 24, 2010 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

Holy shit, don’t get my hopes up here guys.

by ufc4 on Feb 24, 2010 4:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Still no word on where this will air in Canada eh?

by truck on Feb 24, 2010 3:34 PM EST reply actions

I think they reported on the MMA show on Sportsnet that it would be airing on their channel.

by TheChairman on Feb 24, 2010 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

yep

http://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/2010/01/26/showdown_mma_news_and_notes/

Rogers Sportsnet To Broadcast UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs Jones

Last week on the show we told you to circle March 21 on the calendar as the UFC will invade Broomfield, CO, for UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones. I have great news as this stellar event will be airing exclusively on Rogers Sportsnet

by pinchet on Feb 24, 2010 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

AWESOME, recc’d and thanks for posting that info guys!

by pr0cs on Feb 24, 2010 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

FWIW, I also see on the UFC’s official TV calender that they will have a UFC Countdown show for this card.

That’s a first for a free card, IIRC. But if any free card deserves a Countdown show, this would be a top candidate.

by Hardcharger on Feb 24, 2010 3:35 PM EST reply actions

Anderson vs Irvin had a Countdown special.

by rabrown on Feb 24, 2010 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

Yup, good call, I had forgotten about this one.

Still, I think it’s great for this card to have a Countdown, so fans can see behind the scenes and training camp footage of young guys like Jon Jones and JDS, as that seems to help the star power of fighters down the road.

by Hardcharger on Feb 24, 2010 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Crocop vs Rothwell.

by mmalogic on Feb 24, 2010 3:41 PM EST reply actions

And to think...

during the years of the UFC’s depauperate heavyweight division, did we ever think we’d get a live card that was 75% heavyweight fights?

by Scott Haber on Feb 24, 2010 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, 3 out of 4 fights on the main card being HW is insane… I still get the chills when I think about Arlovski vs Sylvia 3 though – Probably take years to shake that off.

by mmalogic on Feb 24, 2010 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

It’s nice to see that TBA finally moved up to the big leagues. Strikeforce just doesn’t have the schedule to keep him busy.

by TheChairman on Feb 24, 2010 3:44 PM EST reply actions 9 recs

He could have given Lashley a hell of a beating if he hadn’t pulled out of that fight

by StevenGiles on Feb 24, 2010 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

Actually

Lashley’s management turned down TBA as “too experienced” to be fighting a 4-0 prospect.

Not sure why, the guy pulls off fights almost as frequently as James Irvin.

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-Randall Munroe

by pdl on Feb 24, 2010 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

He probably got tired of Strikeforce giving him the Heiron treatment.

The man known simply as "Christmas Cheesesteak"

by Neil Manich on Feb 24, 2010 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

Irvin/Sakara, Fisher/Ludwig, Guida/Gugerty, and Schaub/Gormley would be perfect for a Spike Fight Night card

That’s how stacked this card is.

The Seattle Times linked to my website in June 2009. I wasn't aware of this until January 2010.

by SSreporters on Feb 24, 2010 3:56 PM EST reply actions

I suspect part of it is that they want to put guys on TV that they think they can continue to build, that the exposure will help them down the road. In the case of Irvin/Sakara, for example, it would probably be an awesome fight but maybe they don’t think they really want to waste the attention on those guys, cruel as it sounds…

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by GregS123 on Feb 24, 2010 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

Good call. I’d wager that the UFC is baking on their young, upcoming stars in Jon Jones and JDS to come out of this card looking better than ever. And this exposure will allow the UFC to use both of these guys in co-Main or Main events on PPVs thereafter. Heck, either could be fighting for a title rather soon (JDS the sooner of the 2, in all probability).

by Hardcharger on Feb 24, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions