Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Lesnar/Coleman Match-Up Set to Answer Some Important Questions

The announced UFC 87 match-up between pro-wrestling crossover Brock Lesnar and UFC 10 champion Mark Coleman is set to answer some important questions - namely, can the UFC create the bigger MMA spectacle and can Lesnar establish himself as "the man capable of beating anyone who hasn't fought in the UFC since 1999"? Obviously hungry for a bigger piece of the "spectacle pie", and still reeling from the promotion's failure to stop the rival EliteXC from building a name off the notoriety of bare-knuckle sensation Kimbo Slice, the UFC has shifted its focus from being the "Superbowl of Mixed Martial Arts" to "Please buy our pay-per-views and ignore those free events on CBS". Will it work? And will Lesnar, who got handled by Frank Mir in his UFC debut, find victory against one of the sport's pioneers? Only time will tell. But you can bet that these important questions will be answered at UFC 87 in August.

What's Next for Anderson Silva? Two Fighters at Once!

Hot on the heels of Anderson Silva's destruction of top contender Dan Henderson at UFC 82, the California State Athletic Commission announced today that it will allow the UFC to match its invincible middleweight champ against two fighters simultaneously. According to sources within Zuffa, Silva will face off against both former champ Rich Franklin and TUF 3 winner Michael Bisping in a title bout slated for UFC 88 (tentatively called "Double Team") in Sacremento, California. In the unlikely event that Franklin and Bisping win, they will split the belt. Said the Zuffa source, who spoke on the condition that he remain anonymous: "We're really out of options. If Silva beats two guys at once, what are we going to do? Have him fight a rhinocerous? Hey, wait a minute..."