MMA Quick Hits 8/30/10: Shaquille O’Neal in MMA, Wanderlei Silva’s return
1. Huerta vs. Alvarez is official: Roger Huerta vs. Eddie Alvarez has been officially announced by Bellator Fighting Championships officials, and will headline Bellator 33 in Philadelphia, PA. “The Alvarez-Huerta fight should be one of the most electrifying bouts in the history of Bellator Fighting Championships, and to be able to host it in one of the greatest fights towns on earth, Philadelphia is spectacular,” said Bellator CEO, Bjorn Rebney. I’m excited to see this fight, and Bellator must be stoked. They wanted this fight to be for the title, but since Huerta lost in the tournament, this is the second best thing.
2. Jon Jones vs Lil’ Nog/Ryan Bader: According to Jon Jones’ manager, Maliki Kawa, on Twitter, Jon Jones may meet the winner of the UFC 119 bout between Ryan Bader and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. “Just so you guys know, [Jon Jones] did ask for any one of the guys you tweeted: Forrest, Franklin and Couture. Let’s see who’ll step up and do it,” Kawa Tweeted. “Right now it looks like winner of “Lil Nog” and Bader. All are great opponents and [Jon] would welcome the challenge.” I don’t see this happening, unless it’s Nogueira that beats Bader. There is no reason for the UFC to pit two rising stars together unless it’s for the title. Just like they did by keeping Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez from meeting each other before they got a title shot at Lesnar.
3. Shaq wants to fight MMA: Shaquille O’Neal told Jon Anik at ESPN that he’d love to take one fight in MMA. “I’d like to fight one guy. I’d like to call out, they say pick on someone your own size. That guy would be Hong Man Choi out of Korea. Seven footer fighting seven footer. That’ll probably be my one and only fight. At 38 it’d probably not be advantageous for me to get it in with these young animals… cause that’s what they are.” This will be nothing but a “freak show” spectacle. Would I watch? Yes. But it won’t happen in the UFC. DREAM might want to hold it though.
4. Yushin Okami vs. Vitor Belfort: According to a report from Dave Meltzer at The Wrestling Observer, a possible #1 contender’s bout between Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami will headline UFC 122, the UFC’s second trip to Germany. UFC 122 will take place November 13 from the Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, and will air in North America on Spike TV via tape delay. This fight makes sense since Chael Sonnen will be getting a rematch with Anderson Silva. The winner SHOULD get a title shot.
5. Wanderlei Silva to return in February: MMAJunkie.com talked to Wanderlei Silva at the UFC Fan Expo for UFC 118, and Silva stated that he expects a February 2011 return, and that he’d love to fight Chris Leben. “I saw Leben’s fight with Akiyama,” Silva said. “It was a great match. He’s a real tough guy. I think he’s a perfect opponent for my next fight… Respect is outside the Octagon. Inside, it doesn’t matter who the other guy is. [Leben] won’t pass the first round with me.” I would love to see this fight. Leben can take a beating and Wanderlei can dish one out. And after Leben’s impressive victory over Akiyama, I would give him a decent chance at pulling the upset.
2 Comments
you are right about bader and jones but they will have to throw one of them to a title shot in at least 3 fights meaning they will have to use couture, griffin,machida ,t silva, and some of their other LHW and risk a loss
as for the rest of the news bellator has an awesome main event lined up lets see if they can capitalize on it
and wand vs leben would be fireworks plus give them another challenger -does this mean anderson sonnen 2 is in the works they have just tied up any possible contenders with these two fights
I'm sure Jones and/or Bader will be getting title shots pretty quick, and they won't be fighting each other until that happens. They could use some of those guys, but Couture won't be one of them. He's one win away from the UFC giving him one final title shot. That = big money for the UFC.
And yeah, Dana said Silva/Sonnen 2 is pretty much a go.