UFC 105

[Rappy Veteran]

Wanderlei Silva's (32-10-1 MMA, 2-5 UFC) first contest in the middleweight division will likely take place at UFC 105 in November.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the event that Silva is currently in negotiations to face Michael Bisping (17-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in the main event of the Spike TV-broadcast event. While bout agreements have not yet been distributed, company officials are hoping to officially announce the contest as soon as next week.

UFC 105 takes place at Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England. The card airs in the U.S. on same-day tape delay.

The bout will be Silva's first in the middleweight division after spending the majority of his legendary career competing at over 200 pounds. "The Axe Murderer" made the first step toward the 185-pond limit in June, dropping a unanimous decision to Rich Franklin in a catchweight bout at 195 pounds.

While Silva remains a worldwide fan-favorite, the 33-year-old has earned just one victory in his past six contests.

Bisping will be looking to rebound from a devastating knockout loss to Dan Henderson at UFC 100 earlier this month. The defeat, was just the second in Bisping's MMA, career, and it ended a three-fight win streak for "The Ultimate Fighter 3" winner.

As first reported by MMAjunkie.com, Dan Hardy, James Wilks and Ross Pearson are also expected to compete on the UFC 105 card.

[mma junkie]

Edited September 29, 2009 by Rappy

[TheElite]

He needs to beat Silva and then go on to beat Henderson aswell.

[Konstanov]

He needs to beat Silva and then go on to beat Henderson aswell.

So Hendo can get another one punch knockout and show him the mat?

[TheElite]

Hendo got lucky that time.

It's not like he was connecting with those type of punches earlier. He tried one and it hooked.

[Rappy Veteran]

I still think Bisping is destined to win a title one day in the UFC

[TheElite]

No doubt.

[strotee]

Hendo got lucky that time.

It's not like he was connecting with those type of punches earlier. He tried one and it hooked.

How is one "lucky" when throwing a punch that lands? Were Dan's eyes closed? He aimed for his jaw, it landed, Bisping went to sleep. No luck was involved.

He threw that bomb he calls his right hand many times in that fight, everyone knew this was Dan's power shot but Bisping circled right into it, despite his corner screaming to circle the opposite direction. I think it grazed Bisping a few times but the first time it landed flush, well, you know the results. The flying punch after he was already unconscious was just payback for all of Bisping's smack talking through TUF9 (Dan's words). I don't necessarily agree, but, what that old saying? "Paybacks are a <female dog>". hehe

IMO, Bisping is a good fighter, just not in the elite of his division. He's what one would refer to as a "gate keeper".

There's been speculation that Bisping's been beating "cans" for most of his career just to increase the UK viewership. Any time he faces elite competition (Evans, Henderson), he loses. He hasn't beaten a Top 10 guy, yet.

[TheElite]

Wow, a gatekeeper lost on split decision to a person who would go on to win the LHC. :|

[Rappy Veteran]

A planned bout between Michael Bisping (17-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and Wanderlei Silva (32-10-1 MMA, 2-5 UFC) that was likely to headline UFC 105 in Manchester, England, has been scratched.

In a recent blog post penned by Bisping on his official Web site, the British fighter said Silva's recent facial surgery will keep "The Axe Murderer" out of competition, possibly until 2010.

A source close to the event told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that officials hope to find a suitable replacement so Bisping remains in the main event of the overseas show.

UFC 105 takes place Nov. 14 at the Manchester Evening News Arena and airs (via tape delay) on Spike TV.

During festivities for UFC 101 earlier this month, UFC president Dana White said the organization had a "fight in mind" for the UFC 105 main event but that "it's not set yet." Just a couple weeks prior, MMAjunkie.com reported the Bisping vs. Silva fight was in the works but not signed.

Although Silva has not confirmed the procedure, the fighter is believed to have undergone surgery to remove scar tissue from his face. Other fighters such as Marcus Davis and Nick Diaz have undergone such surgeries in recent years with positive results. However, if true, the fighter will likely need extended time to heal.

As for Bisping, when he does return to the octagon, he looks to rebound from a devastating knockout loss to Dan Henderson at UFC 100 in July. The defeat was just the second in Bisping's MMA career, and it ended a three-fight win streak for "The Ultimate Fighter 3" winner.

Source: MMA Junkie

[trag3dy]

Hendo got lucky that time.

It's not like he was connecting with those type of punches earlier. He tried one and it hooked.

I don't think we watched the same fight then. There's no way the punch that took Bisping down was just "lucky".

[Rappy Veteran]

British website MMABay is reporting that the UFC is hoping to sign a new main event for UFC 105 in England. Sources close to the Nate Marquardt camp have apparently confirmed that the promotion has offered Marquardt a #1 contender fight between himself and Dan Henderson to headline the card.

Both Henderson and Marquardt are coming off of impressive victories which has the Dana White confused as to who should get the next crack at middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

Silva will take some time off to rest, although there are rumors circling that he had elbow surgery but his manager Ed Soares quickly shot down that rumor saying that Silva could be ready to fight again by November.

Interestingly enough Silva has defeated both of his potential challengers once already, Marquardt at UFC 73 and Henderson at UFC 82.

Here?s an excerpt from the aforementioned report: MMABay can EXCLUSIVELY reveal that UFC middleweight contender, Nate ?The Great? Marquardt has been offered the main event slot at UFC 105 in Manchester, England opposite former two-time PRIDE champion, Dan Henderson.

.

[Rappy Veteran]

Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera Possible To Headline UFC 105

Following weeks of searching and speculation, it appears that the UFC has finally secured a main event for UFC 105 in Manchester, England. A light heavyweight matchup between Randy Couture and Brandon Vera is in the process of being booked for the November 14 event, according to BloodyElbow.

MMAFrenzy.com reported just a few days ago that the headlining bout would be Dan Henderson vs. Nate Marquardt, however when negotiations stalled, an alternative had to be found. Matt Hughes had even agreed to move up to middleweight and challenge title-holder Anderson Silva, but Silva would not agree to the bout, according to Inside Fights.

Randy Couture is a long time staple of the UFC, and will be moving back down to light heavyweight for this bout. He was just in action in a unanimous decision loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a heavyweight matchup at UFC 102 on August 29th. Couture will be looking to end a two fight skid in Manchester, while trying to fight his way back into contention in the light heavyweight division, a division in which he previously held the championship belt before losing it to Chuck Liddell in April of 2005. He has since held the UFC heavyweight belt, which he lost to Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 in November, 2008.

Vera was also last in action at UFC 102, where he earned a unanimous decision victory over Krzysztof Soszynski. In his matchup with Couture he will be looking to continue a two fight win streak, since suffering defeat to Keith Jardine in October of 2008. Vera started out strong in the UFC with first round victories over Justin Eilers, Assuerio Silva, and Frank Mir and even claimed he would one day hold the belt at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. However, since his victory over Mir, Vera has only gone 3-3 and hasn?t looked nearly as impressive as he did in those first three UFC outings.

UFC 105 is expected to air on Spike TV and also features Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang and Dan Hardy vs. Dong Hyun Kim.

[Rappy Veteran]

A 10-bout lineup, including a five-fight main card, today was officially announced for November's UFC 105 event.

The Nov. 14 event takes place at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England, and airs via same-day delay on Spike TV in North America.

Randy Couture meets Brandon Vera in the night's main event, and Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang, Dan Hardy vs. Mike Swick, and bouts with "The Ultimate Fighter 9" winners James Wilks and Ross Pearson are also part of the televised main card.

The Swick vs. Hardy bout is a late addition to the card. Swick filled in for an injured Dong Hyun Kim earlier this week, and the bout could now determine a No. 1 contender to fight current welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in early 2010.

The headliner for "UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera" was also somewhat of a late booking. Initially, Michael Bisping was expected to get his title shot at the event, but those plans flamed out when he suffered a knockout loss to Dan Henderson in July. (Additionally, champ Anderson Silva is now out until early 2010 for what UFC president Dana White said will be minor elbow surgery). Then, a potential Bisping vs. Wanderlei Silva bout was scrapped when Silva, too, went under the knife.

While UFC newcomer Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was briefly considered for the headliner slot, UFC officials announced a couple weeks ago that Couture and Vera would instead take the spot and fight at light heavyweight.

Also worth noting is that a planned preliminary-card bout between "TUF 9" runner-up DaMarques Johnson and Peter Sobotta has been scrapped. A source close to the event told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) Sobotta was forced off the card due to military commitments. (And Johnson will be shifted to a later card.)

The full and official UFC 105 lineup now includes:

MAIN CARD

* Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera

* Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang

* Dan Hardy vs. Mike Swick

* Matt Brown vs. James Wilks

* Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Terry Etim vs. Shannon Gugerty

* John Hathaway vs. Paul Taylor

* Nick Osipczak vs. Matthew Riddle

* Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jared Hamman

* Roli Delgado vs. Andre Winner

MMA Junkie

[Rappy Veteran]

not a bad main event for the UK!

[Lovell]

This is probably the first British card I'm looking forward to Ross Pearson, Paul Taylor, Paul Kelly, Dan Hardy and Randy Couture are always entertaining, just a shame Paul Daley isn't fighting as well, and Bisping if he's come back to reality.

[Rappy Veteran]

[Rappy Veteran]

Tonight!

[acnpt]

It's on ESPN now. I'm using Sky Sports iPhone app to watch it(3 month free trial).

[Zoom7000]

Very good finish for Bisping! Although he got caught quite badly in the first round.

It's on ESPN now. I'm using Sky Sports iPhone app to watch it(3 month free trial).

Sky Sports iPhone App Rocks! :D

[Rappy Veteran]

I hope no one from America comes in here :p spoiler tags will be asked for :p

but yeah good win for Bisping!

[Zoom7000]

Final round and Randy doing ok but looking a shadow of his former deadly self. Looks very unlikely that the Fedor fight will ever happen! :(

[Rappy Veteran]

well Randy wins it on points...but not sure if that will push him anyway =\

[buckboii]

it was a pretty good fight i think. well not the most exciting but good, Couture had Vera on lock down but when he out he landed some good kicks.

[rajputwarrior]

I think the judges at it right for the Couture fight. The even was actually pretty good overall. Wilks vs Brown fight was great (Brown is a beast). Pearson was impressive and i can't beleive that ****ing git Bisping won. I hate that guy...Kang had him out but just couldn't finish.