Dave Kaplan vs George Roop UFC 98 fight in the works

by MMAmania.com on Jan 20, 2009 11:27 AM EST

Team Mir team members from The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season eight, David Kaplan (2-2) and George Roop (8-4), will likely face off in a lightweight battle at UFC 98 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 23, according to AroundTheOctagon.com.

Kaplan -- an iron-chinned country capital-naming savant who cannot be knocked out – dropped his Octagon debut to Junie Browning via submission at TUF 8 Finale in December 2008. It was his second consecutive defeat, but the silver lining for "Diamond" is that the performance earned "Fight of the Night" honors.

He was bounced by Phillipe Nover via first round submission during the 16-man tournament-style mixed martial arts reality series, which airs on Spike TV.

Roop was also unsuccessful in his promotional debut at TUF 8 Finale, losing a close split decision to Shane Nelson. The result snapped a three-fight win streak for the Arizon native. Like Kaplan, Roop also fell victim to a Nover submission on the show during a semifinal match.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on UFC 98 and fight card updates -- it appears that big things are in the works ... literally.

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Comments

why not build these guys up in the WEC? i think they should start using that as like how baseball has AAA for 155 and 170 both the divisions in the WEC could use more future contenders anyway and these guys aren’t ready to compete against the ufc competition

by randy murders on Jan 20, 2009 11:31 AM EST reply actions

Alright guys, I got a good response yesterday, I realized now it was MLK day and a lot of guys weren’t on (not at work). What I was proposing was maybe late summer/fall, we all go to a live event! We can buy a block of tickets, get 10-12 rooms (depending on how many of us there are) and take in an event with some knowledgeable guys you chat with every day! I say that time frame so guys can save up, money and/or sick time if needed. I figure for me to go to vegas for an event and ONE night will run me around a thousand dollars! If we get a dozen or so guys (maybe more), I think it would be fun!
feedback please!
I put this under randy murders because he thought it was a good idea! VM, John, chef, bnf, roy, introvert, stinky, nc-17, phil, etc, what do you think. If I missed any regulars (which I know I did) I’m sorry! enzo!

by kevin on Jan 20, 2009 11:36 AM EST up reply actions

A few of us tried to set something up a while back, but it fell through. In order to properly get a trip going people would need a nice amount of notice.

Ufc 98 News: I hear that Hughes vs. Serra is Official.
I also hear that Brock vs. Mir will most likely go down at this event because Brock wants to get his hands on mir ASAP!

There is also a rumor floating around that Nogueira vs. Kongo will go down at Ufc 99, but dont hold me to this, I dont know how credible it actually is!

by john on Jan 20, 2009 12:29 PM EST up reply actions

Damn I hope Nog vs Kongo is NOT true, I was hoping for Couture vs Nog right away but since that can’t happen I guess I can’t expect Nog to just stay side lined till it can. Can only hope Nog shows up this time.

Kevin: I think its a great idea, just crummy timing for me personally. The contractor business with overhead electrical is just complete sh!t right now; until the jobs start to pick up and we get a steady back log of work; its just not happenin for me. Still a good idea though and something I would be down to do in the future.

by O damn he got caught on Jan 20, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

wow, nogueria had better pull guard fast!

by shamo84 on Jan 20, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

Kevin, I got 2 better ideas. First, Mania rewards his loyal followers and uses his connections to get some “free” tickets to a Vegas show. Wasn’t there like 3500 seats comped for 92? Since that will never happen here is the other idea. Stinky can just hold off on gambling 1 event and take that $100,000 of those lottery winnings to hook up the boys with a bad a$$ weekend in Vegas. Stinky, just think how good you will feel about yourself. :)

by BNF on Jan 20, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

I agree John.
1 sept is plenty of notice
2. I was looking (for research only) the ticket prices for ohio, highest 400 ( what I’d prefer, but they had 200 too!
3. We would need a head count by the time event was announced and money by ticket sales time!
4. BNF, I agree, mania may be able to get a discounted price, that’s uo to him to offer!

by kevin on Jan 20, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

hey Kev isn’t September going to be UFC 100???

by McArthur on Jan 20, 2009 3:47 PM EST up reply actions

wow if kongo fight nogueira hes going to slaughter him. im a nog fan but his slow movement against a striker long kongo makes for a bad combo. well see if this fight actually goes down

by Jared on Jan 20, 2009 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

Once again, I’m just gonna put it out there…I told you so! Before the Mir/Nogueira fight, everyone though Minotauro was Superman, but now that everyone finally saw what I saw a longgg time ago, people are saying Kongo can beat him easy.

by BrutalKnockout. on Jan 20, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

I heard it too Nog-Kongo. I will never give up on Nog. He’ll show why he’s an all time great. Just in case people were wondering – he was hospitalized about 16 days before the fight but everyone from his camp kept it a secret just like most other debilitating injuries he’s suffered in the past.

by NameNotRequired on Jan 20, 2009 7:17 PM EST up reply actions

I would love to go to another event within a year Kev…got my 2nd little one on the way April 25th so the girlfriend might frown on the idea of a trip south to any event right now but in the future I would totally be up for it, its a great idea…CONGRATS AMERICANS ON YOUR NEW LEADER

by McArthur on Jan 20, 2009 12:49 PM EST up reply actions

Man I won’t even get started with the Obama presidency that I am NOT looking forward to. But I will say that there is so much negative press involving the president, so much criticism and scrutiny; what type of QUALITY individual really wants to take that job? We won’t see a great president again for a while; no one in their right minds wants to put themselves out there under fire of an American media frenzy.

by O damn he got caught on Jan 20, 2009 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

haha…thats true….its a start though and imo anyone would be better than what you had…

by McArthur on Jan 20, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

Congrats McArthur! Kids are the best, especially when they are sleeping. :)

by BNF on Jan 20, 2009 1:05 PM EST up reply actions

haha..or at their grandparents

by McArthur on Jan 20, 2009 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

I didn’t vote for Obama, but it was actually a really hard decision for me, even here in the reddest of red states. So far he seems to be an honest, intelligent and upstanding man, which is more important than his policies, especially considering the last 16 years.

by PW on Jan 20, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

I like Obama. I think he was the best candidate. HOwever I do worry about having a black President in America. Not that I think a black man couldnt do a good job, cause I really believe Obama is the best man for the job….I worry that ignorant American Rednecks will try to assassinate him (god forbid). If Barak were to get assassinated, I seriously fear the race wars that would erupt in our Country!

by john on Jan 20, 2009 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

I was going to do a morning conversation about that John! He’s got dark skin, but was raised by his white mother. He’s basically a dark skinned white guy! I don’t get the whole skin color thing! Blacks that are ghetto are in for a rude awakening! they think oh yeah a black guy, I see a dark white guy!

by kevin on Jan 20, 2009 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

Couldnt agree more! I just think that if the 1st black president were to be assassinated, it would DESTROY our country. its pretty scary if you ask me!

by john on Jan 20, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

This is f@#$%^%# gay. This is an MMA blog site, not a president blog site. That stuff is sooo boring to read about when you guys talk about it.

by BrutalKnockout. on Jan 20, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

boring.. they must be the first fight if the night to warm up the octagon

by Mikeybear2009 on Jan 20, 2009 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

i’d be down to do it but since im out of work i cant afford anything right now noone wants to hire a 20 year old kid that doesnt speak spanish :(, not even fast food would do that LOL

by randy murders on Jan 20, 2009 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

Electrician apprenticeship! Unless your in college for a degree then nevermind.. but I hear the sparky’s are still doin alright despite the economy and the job pays pretty good.

by O damn he got caught on Jan 20, 2009 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

i didnt even graduate high school, went into construction at 16 with the familys company but now noones hiring

by randy murders on Jan 20, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

It’s rough everywhere Randy. I got my degree at 21, and right now I’m horribly underemployed with this lame temporary data entry job that I should probably be thankful I have.

by PW on Jan 20, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

I wish some of the clowns I work with could read this! They complain that their making 23 an hour (99% of them are uneducated morons). Don’t worry guys, it’ll get better…can’t get any worse!

by kevin on Jan 20, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

Kevin I would be in if we can have definitive numbers for everything… I have family close to Vegas so I could use the excuse that I am going to see them. Get an actual number out there and hit me up… just add @yahoo.com to the end of my name.

by Sp00ner1234 on Jan 20, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

alright buddy, I’ll try to put it together, but I’ll need help! I’m not putting 1000’s out there on your words! I’ll figure something out and make an announcement, let me know how much time you guys need!

by kevin on Jan 20, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

30 days minimum is a good time frame.

by OJR on Jan 20, 2009 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

Kevin-

I make decent $$$. I would be up for that idea.

by OJR on Jan 20, 2009 1:33 PM EST up reply actions

I agree. Give the ultimate fighters a quick shot in the UFC. If they end up like those two put them in the WEC. Who knows, they might build up some skills and be able to come back a few years down the road.

by Bluepit on Jan 20, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

They are really trying to avoid having WEC labeled a “AAA” type MMA league; IMO, they just need to dissolve the whole org into the UFC, add Bantam and Featherweight match ups to the UFC cards; hell at least then there’d be a belt defended on every PPV.

by O damn he got caught on Jan 20, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

yeah, great, so any fighter would fight once a year because of the cue.

by shamo84 on Jan 20, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

queue

by shamo84 on Jan 20, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

If they took all the $$ they dump into WEC and just pool it to the UFC then why can’t their be more fight nights on spike? We could be talking 2-3 UFC’s a month on average. Rampage vs Hendo was a title fight aired on spike for free. It’s not out of the question at all. At least back the sarcasm up with some line of reasoning?

by O damn he got caught on Jan 20, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

you got me.

by shamo84 on Jan 20, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

I think WEC should concentrate on the 145 and under classes and let their LW and MW go, along with the MW and LHW divisions. Varner, Cerrone, McCullough, Condit, Larson, etc. can go sink or swim in the UFC. The savings could lead to small and free 4- or 5-card fights on Spike. Ad revenues would easily make up for lost PPV money and then some.

by PW on Jan 20, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

and I thought they had been fired..

by shamo84 on Jan 20, 2009 11:33 AM EST reply actions

Kaplan is a joke!

by cantona on Jan 20, 2009 11:35 AM EST reply actions

I just have to be honest here.. I don’t care about this match up.. UFC 98 is not more exciting because these two are in it.

by O damn he got caught on Jan 20, 2009 11:41 AM EST reply actions

what are you talkinga bout? THis is a mega match up that Rivals Penn vs. GSP 2! Lmfao! What a waste of fight card space!

by john on Jan 20, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

Was Kaplan the one who got KTFO by the LHW on the show while he was drunk, then tried to deny that he got knocked out?

by PW on Jan 20, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

Yes, Kaplan is that douche. Isn’t Roop the guy who always wears a backwards hat?

by BNF on Jan 20, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

Whats really funny about that is Kaplan tried to play it off after the show, like he PLANNED it all out to be KO’d on camera.. Right…

by O damn he got caught on Jan 20, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

He’s always going to be more famous for that than anything he does as a fighter. What a tool.

by PW on Jan 20, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

that and eating cum sushi

by Egads on Jan 20, 2009 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

Is there going to be a story today on the site about the Affliction press conference?

by Graham on Jan 20, 2009 12:09 PM EST reply actions

You guys deal in absolutes way too much. I actually like Roop, and hoped he would have beaten Nelson at the finale. Hopefully he subs Kaplan and doesn’t try to knock him out just to prove a point.

by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 20, 2009 12:18 PM EST reply actions

I am absolutley sure that this fight has absolutley no bearing on the future of the LW division. Could I be wrong? Absolutley.. its just my opinion.

by O damn he got caught on Jan 20, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I agree, but I try to not look at the negatives of a fight before it happens.

by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 20, 2009 6:47 PM EST up reply actions

What does the UFC see in Dave Kaplan. This guy is a stiff with a capital S!

by ducknow on Jan 20, 2009 1:50 PM EST reply actions

So, if Dave and Roop can get on UFC fight cards, what on Earth is Carlos NBK Condit still doing “slumming it” with WEC people.

He owns WEC. Time to grow up and fight with the big boys.

by dab0neman on Jan 20, 2009 2:18 PM EST reply actions

HOnestly with the exception of Nover and Ephrain I didn’t think any of the lightweights on this season were worth a damn. Maybe Junie was ok at best. None of those guys would wipe huertas ass

by Sp00ner1234 on Jan 20, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions

TUF has become UFC/SpikeTV’s new “Real World” replete with a typical cast of characters: “The Psycho,” “The Religious Dude,” “Gay Guy,” “The Quitter” etc… and typical activities: trashing the house, pissing on each others beds, cumming in each others food, and the obligatory fights outside the Octagon.

They’ll keep getting losers that can’t make it in the big time if they don’t improve that show somehow. I don’t know why I keep watching. Guess I love watching people eat piss-flavored fruit.

by dab0neman on Jan 20, 2009 4:34 PM EST up reply actions