UFC 111 Rumors/Discussion

[The HOFF]

Date: Mar 27, 2010

Location: Newark, N.J.
Venue: Prudential Center
Broadcast: Pay-per-view

MAIN CARD

• Champ Georges St-Pierre vs. Dan Hardy (welterweight title)
• Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir (interim heavyweight title)
• Thiago Alves vs. Jon Fitch
• Martin Kampmann vs. Ben Saunders
• Mark Bocek vs. Jim Miller

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Brown
• Thomas Drwal vs. Rousimar Palhares
• Fabricio Camoes vs. Kurt Pellegrino
• Ricardo Funch vs. Matthew Riddle
• Jared Hamman vs. Rodney Wallace

[The HOFF]

Nate Diaz (11-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) is expected to make his welterweight debut at UFC 111, where he could meet Rory Markham (16-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at the March 27 show, a source close to the event told MMAjunkie.com.

Although a few options are being discussed, Diaz vs. Markham is considered a frontrunner of the possible matchups.

[The HOFF]

Ultimate Fighting Championship executives today made official three additional bouts for the March 27 UFC 111 event in New Jersey, and one of them is set to air on the pay-per-view main card.

A welterweight bout of Martin Kampmann vs. Ben Saunders has earned guaranteed TV time.

Additionally, a welterweight bout between Ricardo Funch and Matthew Riddle, as well as a 205-pound contest between Rodney Wallace and Jared Hamman, are official for the night's preliminary card.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

speaking of Nate Diaz moving up to 170, Diego Sanchez time at 155 is over, he is also moving back to 170.

http://www.mmamania.com/2010/1/18/1257810/diego-sanchez-moving-back-to-170

[Kaladarus]

speaking of Nate Diaz moving up to 170, Diego Sanchez time at 155 is over, he is also moving back to 170.

http://www.mmamania.com/2010/1/18/12...ng-back-to-170

Maybe with 15 pounds of muscle Diaz will be able to do something to his opponents, instead of getting beat up for 15minutes or pulling off a submission. Kind of surprised about Diego though. He looks good in LW vs everyone except Penn.

[Busterflywheel]

Diego was exposed by Penn...

[knownone]

Diego is doing the smart thing, He looked stiff and slow at 155 and honestly he can't beat Kenny Florian or BJ Penn at 155 and he has more interesting match ups at 170.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

"The UFC has announced the return of "Primetime," a three-part series featuring an in-depth look at the upcoming UFC 111 welterweight title fight between current champion Georges St. Pierre (19-2) and number one contender Dan Hardy (23-6)"

http://www.mmamania.com/2010/1/19/1260725/ufc-primetime-returns-to-spike-tv

[urge2kill]

I wish Diego would fight Florian again before going back up to 170.

[Tree Rollins]

Diego was exposed by Penn...

I don't think he was exposed at all. He couldn't take down a guy who is virtually impossible to take down at 155. It's not like other guys can look at that fight and say "now i know how to beat diego, i'll just do what bj did". If it was easy for guys to have freakish athleticism, balance, flexibility, and evasiveness, then there would be a lot of bj penns.

[knownone]

I don't think he was exposed at all. He couldn't take down a guy who is virtually impossible to take down at 155. It's not like other guys can look at that fight and say "now i know how to beat diego, i'll just do what bj did". If it was easy for guys to have freakish athleticism, balance, flexibility, and evasiveness, then there would be a lot of bj penns.

He was exposed to an extent, BJ showed establishing the Jab and pressuring Diego nullifies his pace, A good striker will pick Diego apart just so happens #1 #2 in LW are very solid strikers.

[Pabinator]

Cant wait to see GSP back in Octogon

[The HOFF]

An intriguing welterweight matchup between veteran submission ace Ricardo Almeida (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) and slugger Matt Brown (11-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is now official for "UFC 111: St-Pierre vs. Hardy."

The UFC today officially announced the contest, which is slotted for the evening's preliminary card but seems an obvious choice for a potential Spike TV slot should the network elect to air a few undercard bouts.

[The HOFF]

The full fight card for the UFC's return to New Jersey is nearly complete as two more bouts were today officially announced for "UFC 111: St-Pierre vs. Hardy."

In a pair of preliminary card matchups, middleweights Tomasz Drwal (17-2-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) and Rousimar Palhares (10-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) face off, while lightweights Fabricio Camoes (10-4-1 MMA, 0-0-1 UFC) and Kurt Pellegrino (14-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) will also meet in the octagon.

[The HOFF]

Nate Diaz (11-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) moves up a weight class to fight Rory Markhman (16-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) next month on the preliminary card of UFC 111.

MMAjunkie.com first reported the likelihood of the bout last month, and UFC executives recently made it official.

[Tree Rollins]

Nate Diaz (11-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) moves up a weight class to fight Rory Markhman (16-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) next month on the preliminary card of UFC 111.

MMAjunkie.com first reported the likelihood of the bout last month, and UFC executives recently made it official.

I'm a Nate Diaz fan, but it's hard to see him ever doing big things in the ufc. Any time he fights a guy who he can't take down, or who won't take him down, he's f'd. He has good boxing skills but not a lick of power. I keep wondering why he doesn't employ more kicks and knees?

[RobbReport]

odds?



if Nate would bulk up and gain pure muscle he would be better, and train with pure wrestlers.

[Kaladarus]

odds?



if Nate would bulk up and gain pure muscle he would be better, and train with pure wrestlers.

Nate is bulking up he's going to 170. His brother Nick is getting some serious power and his striking has allowed him to finish all his recent fights. With the extra 15 pounds and some strength training, his striking could be deadly. Can't wait to see him at the 170 division.

[kahnner]

Can't wait to see the carwin, mir match should be very interesting!

Who do you guys like in that one?

[Kaladarus]

I'm fairly confident Mir will win this one, but you can never be too sure with Carwin's power. Going to be betting Mir though.

[Busterflywheel]

I'm fairly confident Mir will win this one, but you can never be too sure with Carwin's power. Going to be betting Mir though.

Gonna be good one overall...Carwin is strong though...

[Tree Rollins]

I'm fairly confident Mir will win this one, but you can never be too sure with Carwin's power. Going to be betting Mir though.

It's hard to see Carwin winning this fight. He wouldn't even be in the conversation with the top HW's if Dana White would have had a better matchup for brock at the time. Carwin is a good fighter, and maybe he belongs in title talk, but a flash KO of Gonzaga isn't enough to prove it. A victory against Mir on top of the Gonzaga KO would put any doubt to rest.

[The HOFF]

I think Mir will take it. The only way I see Carwin winning is a flash KO like Gonzaga. I really became a Mir believer when he destroyed Kongo. I still hate the guy though.

[clarkd32]

Nate needs to watch his brothers strategy and throw 150 punches per round. One or two punches of his won't hurt anyone.

[The HOFF]

A welterweight bout and long-awaited rematch between Jon Fitch (21-3 MMA, 11-1 UFC) and Thiago Alves (16-6 MMA, 9-3 UFC) officially has been added to next month's UFC 111 event and completes the March 27 fight card.

[brooks85]

I dont like nates move to 170, more wrestlers/grapplers with sub D, the achilles heel for the Diaz bros with the way fights are scored. And, if he thought clay guida was bad, wait until he meets up with the guidas of 170, that acutally have gnp.

The markham fight is a great matchup for nate, but it would only be a fight or two before he had to face a wrestler.

[Tree Rollins]

I dont like nates move to 170, more wrestlers/grapplers with sub D, the achilles heel for the Diaz bros with the way fights are scored. And, if he thought clay guida was bad, wait until he meets up with the guidas of 170, that acutally have gnp.

The markham fight is a great matchup for nate, but it would only be a fight or two before he had to face a wrestler.

I'm hoping he's moving to 170 because he's planning to put on a significant amount of muscle. He has decent boxing but no power. Overall, he's physically weak, as far as ufc fighters go.

[The HOFF]

UFC welterweight contender Martin Kampmann (16-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) has withdrawn from a UFC 111 bout with Ben Saunders (8-1-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC), and Jake Ellenberger (22-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has agreed to take the fight with a little less than seven-weeks' notice.

MMAjunkie.com learned of the change from sources close to the bout, though the UFC has yet to make an official announcement.

[brooks85]

graphic material below

[The HOFF]

Bodog:

Thiago Alves -110
Jon Fitch -120

Matt Brown +105
Ricardo Almeida -135

Tomasz Drwal +215
Rousimar Palhares -275

[shady610]

this looks like a great show

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

Heres LockSmith's underdog special at UFC 111

Rousimar Palhares -275
Tomasz Drwal +215 (BoDog)

[The HOFF]

As expected Spike TV returns with a "UFC Prelims" broadcast next month and airs UFC 111 fights of Matt Brown vs. Ricardo Almeida and Nate Diaz vs. Rory Markham.

MMAjunkie.com previously reported that UFC and Spike TV officials planned to showcase the two preliminary-card fights during the live broadcast, and Spike TV today made it official.

[The HOFF]

Ricardo Funch has been forced off next month's UFC 111 preliminary card, and undefeated UFC newcomer Greg Soto is expected to take his spot on the preliminary card against Matthew Riddle.

Sources close to the event today alerted MMAjunkie.com of the change, though the reason for Funch's withdrawal was not immediately known.

[illmatick]

fukin Matthew Riddle

that is all.