I'm really excited about that possible Hendo/Silva matchup. Plus, UFC 82 is in my hometown, so that should be great.

Any news on the thing you said, DM? I thought you said awhile ago that you may be able to get me in for UFC 82...just wondering if that's still a possibility.

Yeah...I doubt BJ will do any press...he usually is pretty quiet. But you may be able to get something from guys like Stevenson, Taylor, or Davis.

Oh, and UFC 80 is in Newcastle, not UFC 81. UFC 81 is the Super Bowl card and is in Vegas...

lol..no prob. i think that they are announcing too many shows at once. it's hard to keep them all straight.

From the Dayton times an intresting column on UFC 82:

Theres a hodgepodge of items in todays MMA Insider column for the Dayton Daily News, including a quick look at UFC 82s Andrei Arlovski vs. Jake OBrien fight that could be finalized as early as today.

However, with such limited room in the column, I didnt get the chance to discuss one very peculiar storyline shaping up for the event, which takes place March 1 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Seeing how Columbus is only an hour or so away from Dayton, were treating UFC 82 as a local event and plan to amp up the coverage over the next few weeks.)

As a few astute MMAjunkie.com readers pointed out over the weekend, UFC 82 may actually be too full of talent as far as the televised main card goes, anyway. The UFC traditionally guarantees that five fights on a nine-fight card will be broadcast. However, at UFC 82, that means at least one pretty big name is going to be buried on the preliminary card.

If the broadcast does indeed include five fights for UFC 82, and assuming the rumored fight card doesnt change much more, one of these six fighters wont get guaranteed TV time: Anderson Silva, Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Diego Sanchez, Andrei Arlovski or Cheick Kongo.

Obviously, Silva (who fights Dan Henderson in the nights main event) is a lock. Assuming the UFC finds a new opponent for Fitch, he, too, would have to be a guaranteed addition (if youre 7-0 in the UFC, youre going to get TV time; its as simple as that). Additionally, I just cant imagine the UFC not putting Koscheck and Sanchez TV stars with widespread appeal on the main card. Although Sanchez has lost back-to-back fights, hes never been on a UFC preliminary card, and in fact, hes actually headlined three events. The same goes for Koscheck; hes always a main-card fighter, and since hes fighting an up-and-comer who just happens to be a local guy (Dustin Hazelett), its hard to imagine them not getting TV time.

So, I think it comes down to two fights: Arlovski vs. OBrien, or Kongo vs. Heath Herring.

As I discussed in yesterdays Fabricio Werdum column, the UFCs heavyweight division is starting to fizzle out. The organization desperately needs to build up and market some of its heavyweights, so any other time, these two fights would be showcased prominently. However, at UFC 82, the organization will need to make a choice: Arlovski or Kongo?

Right now, Arlovski is the bigger name. Hes a former champ, a headliner, and a fan favorite. Even though hes been shut down for eight months, Arlovski has remained relevant and well-publicized thanks to his marketing team. However, he could also be on his way out of the UFC. Arlovski has just one fight remaining on his current deal, which expires April 15. After his next fight, Arlovski is expected to shop the free-agent market. The UFC always remains a possibility, but there are a few key organizations that could really use a heavyweight. M-1 Global needs opponents for Fedor Emelianenko, EliteXC needs some competition for Kimbo Slice and Antonio Silva, and Strikeforce has new champ Alistair Overeem awaiting a challenge.

Would the UFC dare showcase Arlovski, only to increase his value when he hits the open market?

Or, would the UFC instead showcase Kongo on the UFC 82 main card? Despite a 4-1 record in the UFC, the French kickboxer still hasnt convinced most fans hes a legitimate contender. Even with a victory over the once-indestructable Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic, Kongo still has a number of question marks surrounding him and his ground game. However, hes now fighting Herring, a veteran with real name recognition and an impressive resume. If Kongo defeats him and does it in front of a pay-per-view audience the UFC will have at least one solid contender to market for a future title shot.

So, there you have it. As weve seen many times before, UFC fight cards can change drastically at any time. However, if UFC 82s doesnt change much more, one big name is going to be left out. And dont be shocked if its Arlovski.

The current announced fights for UFC 82 in Columbus, Ohio...my hometown.


Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs. Dan "Hollywood" Henderson (MW title unification)

Heath Herring vs. Cheick Kongo (heavyweights)

Yushin Okami vs. Evan Tanner (middleweights)

Dustin Hazelett vs. Josh Koscheck (welterweights)

Source: UFC.com

The following fights are rumored to be a part of the card and could be announced any day:


Jon Fitch vs. Chris Wilson (welterweights)

Andrei Arlovski vs. Jake O'Brien (heavyweights)

David Bielkheden vs. Diego Sanchez (welterweights)

Chris Leben vs. Alessio Sakara (middleweights)

Luke Cummo vs. Luigi Fioravanti (lightweights)

Jorge Gurgel vs. Jon Halverson (lightweights)

Source: MMAJunkie.com

Indeed the card has bee announced.  If you want Arlovski to re - sign putting him on the undercard maybe not the best decision??  Also, i'd have had Leben/Sakara on the main card over Sanchez's can fight.

A heavyweight fight between Andrei Arlovski (11-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) and Jake OBrien (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will not be aired live as part of the UFC 82s pay-per-view broadcast, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) learned over the weekend.

UFC 82 takes place March 1 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva meets Dan Henderson in the nights main event.

Arlovski, the UFCs former heavyweight champion and arguably its biggest star during his reign as a title-holder, is currently on the last fight of his UFC contract, which expires April 15. Rather than sign an extension, he will finish out his contract and then shop the free agent market. Although they havent ruled out a return to the UFC, Arlovski and his management team could likely command big money from other organizations such as EliteXC, M-1 Global and HDNet Fights.

So, is his spot on the preliminary card punishment for Arlovskis decision not to re-sign with the organization? Only the UFC knows for sure. However, keep in mind that Arlovski hasnt been in an un-televised fight since UFC 40 which was five years and nine fights ago.

UFC 82 contains a number of main-card-worthy fighters. In addition to Arlovski, The Ultimate Fighter 1 stand-out Josh Koscheck will also be stuck on UFC 82s un-televised preliminary card. Koscheck meets Ohio fighter Dustin Hazelett at the event. (With Arlovski and Koscheck relegated to the preliminary card, a fight between Diego Sanchez and David Bielkheden has been placed on the televised main card.)

The full card now includes:

MAIN CARD

• Champ Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson (for middleweight title)
• Heath Herring vs. Cheick Kongo
• Yushin Okami vs. Evan Tanner
• Jon Fitch vs. Chris Wilson
• David Bielkheden vs. Diego Sanchez

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Andrei Arlovski vs. Jake OBrien
• Luke Cummo vs. Luigi Fioravanti
• Dustin Hazelett vs. Josh Koscheck
• Jorge Gurgel vs. John Halverson
• Chris Leben vs. Alessio Sakara

The O2 in London in June, so just down the road from you MiB.

Becasue his opponent hasn't been confirmed yet. None of the card has.

Being as this is the MARCH event and not the JUNE event which Brock will be on, this is the UFC 82 event final card. Brock will be on UFC 85.

No, becasue it is a 'real' sport they all have to be submitted to the medical associations and can end up with suspensions for cuts, abrasions, injuries etc. Also, it takes aboiut 8 weeks to prepare for a fight, with training etc. so they normally feature every three months or so.

Also, it takes aboiut 8 weeks to prepare for a fight, with training etc. so they normally feature every three months or so.Sometimes even more than 8 weeks.

Wrestling may be hard on the body but it makes a big difference when someone is actually trying to hurt you.

Darth Mattitude wrote:

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Indeed the card has bee announced. If you want Arlovski to re - sign putting him on the undercard maybe not the best decision?? Also, i'd have had Leben/Sakara on the main card over Sanchez's can fight.

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Seems Im a genius....

A once-rumored middleweight bout between Alessio Sakara (12-6 MMA, 3-3 UFC) and Chris Leben (17-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has been signed and announced by the UFC, and itll appear on the televised UFC 82 main card, bumping a David Bielkheden vs. Diego Sanchez fight to the nights un-televised preliminary card.

The UFC today confirmed the bout on its official website.

UFC 82 takes place March 1 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva meets Dan Henderson in the nights main event.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first passed along news of the Leben-Sakara bout early last week. UFC 82 now boasts 10 total bouts rather than the usual nine.

With Leben vs. Sakara now promised TV time, three major names in the organization will be stuck on the un-televised preliminary card: Andrei Arlovski, Josh Koscheck and Diego Sanchez.

Leben, who earned his way into the UFC through the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, snapped a two-fight losing streak (to Jason MacDonald and Kalib Starnes) with a September victory over Terry Martin. In the televised fight, Leben was on the verge of being knocked out himself. After eating a series of punches, his legs began to wobble, and Leben began to stumble in the third round. However, with just a minute to go in the fight, he cracked Martin with a left hook for the KO.

The Crippler will now take on Sakara, whos won two his past three fights. Sakara, a former light heavyweight who will make his debut at middleweight, defeated Victor Valimaki with a first-round TKO at UFC 70 before suffering a 61-second TKO to Houston Alexander at UFC 75. Back in January, though, Sakara disposed of James Lee in just 90 seconds at UFC 80 to push his UFC record to 3-3.

The full UFC 82 card now includes:

MAIN CARD (Televised)

• Champ Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson (for middleweight title)
• Heath Herring vs. Cheick Kongo
• Chris Leben vs. Alessio Sakara
• Yushin Okami vs. Evan Tanner
• Jon Fitch vs. Chris Wilson

PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-televised)

• Andrei Arlovski vs. Jake OBrien
• Luke Cummo vs. Luigi Fioravanti
• Dustin Hazelett vs. Josh Koscheck
• David Bielkheden vs. Diego Sanchez
• Jorge Gurgel vs. John Halverson

 

Leben Sakara has potential to be a brilliant punch up, it wont go long. Hopefully it will be leben looking up at the doctors pen light too.

I fully understand why Arlovski is off the main card as he is on his last fight with the UFC before becoming a free agent, so why advertise a potential draw away from a UFC card? If Arlovski decides to resign then it will change quickly. Plus Arlovski's last two fights hav been total crap. Who wants to watch a boring match on PPV?

It's not rumored...that's actually happening.

Im still on the fence somewhat with this one. Either Silva is going to win quick in the first two rounds or else Hendo will grind out the 5 rounds points decision.

I'm swaying more towards Silva at the mo though. What odds you been given?

Have I missed this one? FUCK! Does anone know if they repeat them on bravo?

Didnt miss much with the arlovski fight, have a look on Daily Motion or somewhere akin to that for it.

Beginning of April.