“UFC 78”
The great (?) state of New Jersey has been the home to some of the UFC’s more legendary and important fights: Pedro Rizzo v. Josh Barnett; the first Matt Hughes v. Georges St. Pierre fight; BJ Penn’s UFC and MMA debut; and one of the sport’s most amazing heavyweight title fights, a five round, back and forth war between Randy Couture and Pedro Rizzo. Saturday, November 17, 2007, the UFC will continue that grand tradition as it presents UFC 78: Validation, headlined by Rashad Evans and Michael Bisping.
Wait, what?
OK, so I’d guess ya’ll have heard by now that this PPV isn’t exactly the most top-heavy card the UFC will broadcast. Truth is, Evans-Bisping may be the single weakest headlining fight in the Zuffa-era of the UFC. It’s also no secret that many hardcore fans have been talking up the undercard as possibly being one of the year’s best. UFC 78 is in the odd position of being one of those shows that few will watch, but of those few, most will walk away happy.
The building of this card has been a roller coaster of a process. Excitement immediately began upon the announcement that lightweight standouts Spencer Fisher and Frank Edgar would square off. Both have already been in fight of the year caliber bouts, Fisher against Sam Stout and Edgar against Tyson Griffin, so they’re locking horns is an almost guaranteed great fight. Fisher-Edgar is a bit like seeing a donut floating in a pool of chocolate and jumping in after it: miss the donut and you’re still swimming in chocolate.
Then came the rumors that the anticipated Tito Ortiz v. Rashad Evans rematch would take place. Now, we’ve got one great undercard fight and one true PPV headlining fight. Next, talks that never got above a whisper said that the UFC was also looking for BJ Penn to challenge Sean Sherk for the lightweight title on the show. Two big main-events and a no-doubt-about-it-gonna-rock lightweight undercard fight.
Things happen. Whenever Ortiz is booked on a show there always seems to be some sort of snag, so he was out. And Sherk’s well documented issues with steroids, athletic commissions, denials, yelling, kicking, screaming, biting, clawing, pinching, yelling, accusing (“J’accuse!”) and the like meant he was a no-go too.
At least we still had Fisher-Edgar.
The card took shape over the next few weeks. Karo Parisyan was penciled in to face world-class Judoka Hector Lombard. Unfortunately, despite having moved to Australia, Lombard’s passport still said, “Cuba.” Fearing another Bay of Pigs-like mess, Lombard was denied a visa. PRIDE veteran Ryo Chonan got the call instead, so it wasn’t a total waste. With Chonan’s willingness to entertain during fights, he and Parisyan are a solid match-up that’s likely to produce fireworks.
Ed Herman got the call to face David Terrell. However Terrell, who has literally had more injuries than fights in the past two years, did his best Humpty Dumpty impersonation so he was scratched. Joe Doerksen, always a professional and thus always in shape and ready to fight, moved in to give Herman a rematch of a contest Doerksen won in October of 2004. This fight should be extra special for Doerksen as it’s his 50th professional fight!
Joe Lauzon and Jason Reinhardt looks like a decent lightweight showcase for Lauzon. Chris Lytle and Thiago Alves lock horns in a fight likely stay on the feet and deliver excitement. Marcus Aurelio, who once tapped out Takanori Gomi, returns to the Octagon after his disappointing performance against Clay Guida. Aurelio will take on Luke Caudillo. And Chonan isn’t the only PRIDE veteran making an appearance as Akihiro Gono debuts in the UFC against Tamden McCrory. So, the dark matches all looked solid as well.
Zuffa then announced that one of 2007’s most talked about “newcomers” Houston Alexander would be fighting. He’ll take on the much-hyped, and thus far living up to said hype, Thiago Silva. Silva is a jiu-jitsu black belt from the famed Chute Boxe academy. Like his stable-mates, Silva likes to stand and trade with his opponents, even though the ground is his forte. Alexander, well, he just likes to fight. At least, one suspects he likes to fight. When you’re entire UFC career has spanned two fights lasting a total of less than two minutes, it’s tough to really gauge. Still, the man who is currently raising six kids on his own has displayed a true charisma and his domination of Alessio Sakara and Keith Jardine has gotten many folks talking. In a light heavyweight division that has been flipped upside down this year, with a win over Silva, Alexander is legitimately looking like a contender for Quinton Jackson’s title.
So, from bottom to the almost top, UFC 78 was looking like an outstanding card. And then we got the notice that Evans and Bisping would be the main-event. It’s not that Evans v. Bisping is a bad fight, but a PPV main-event? C’mon now. One would be hesitant to have this headline a Spike TV “Fight Night” broadcast. Yes, they’re both undefeated, but with Bisping coming off a controversial (to make the understatement of the year) “win” over Matt Hamill and Evans having just drew with Ortiz, this isn’t a case where the two perfect records indicate divisional dominance. For his part, Evans has at least shown that he’s likely a top-10 light heavyweight talent, as the Ortiz draw indicates he’s at least near Tito’s level and his incredibly impressive win over Jason Lambert says the Ortiz fight wasn’t an accident. But Bisping? He had trouble with Eric Schafer and Elvis Sinosic.
Not all PPVs can be winners.
With an incredible New Year’s Eve card upcoming and the likelihood that this show, main-event aside, will be an entertaining three hours, the UFC has built up enough good will that they get a pass. This time.
For the record:
Evans d. Bisping, JD.
Silva d. Alexander, R1 sub.
Parisyan d. Chonan, JD.
Edgar d. Fisher, JD.
Lytle d. Alves, JD.
Doerksen d. Herman, R2 sub.
Gono d. McCrory, JD.
Aurelio d. Caudillo, R2 sub.
Lauzon d. Reinhardt, R2 KO.
{plug}
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