UFC 101: Philadelphias Wachovia Center in the crosshairs for August 8
by MMAmania.com on Mar 19, 2009 5:12 PM EDT
57 comments
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will likely head back to the tri-state area (sorta) for the first time since "Validation" in Nov. 2007 -- not Portland, Ore., as previously rumored -- for its yet to be announced pay-per-view (PPV) event tentatively scheduled for Saturday, August 8.
While nothing is official at this time, MMAmania.com has learned that the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pa., which is home to the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL and Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, is under serious consideration to host UFC 101.
There are currently no events planned for that night at the 20,000-seat venue.
At the very least, it is now expected that UFC 101 will take place elsewhere on the East Coast if the Wachovia Center option does not pan out. It’s likely that fans in and around the "City of Brotherly Love," however, will have their fingers crossed that it doesn't go down like that.
That’s because it will mark the first time ever that the promotion has staged an event in the state -- the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission (PSAC) just last month announced the newly-approved regulations for the sport of mixed martial arts that took effect on Feb. 27 of this year.
In July 2007, the PSAC voted to approve draft regulations that would allow MMA events to be held in Pennsylvania; however, those regulations were required to undergo extensive review in accordance with the Regulatory Review Act by various House and Senate Committees and the Office of the Attorney General, as well as the Independent Regulatory Review Commission.
Now with the regulations approved and in place, Pennsylvania-born stars like Eddie Alvarez, Mac Danzig and Josh Koscheck can look forward to eventually competing on their home turf.
In the meantime, UFC 101 is expected to feature a major title fight, as well as a co main event between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy "The Natural" Couture as he locks horns with former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira. Additionally, Thiago Silva and ex-205-pound kingpin Forrest Griffin are also expected to hook ‘em up.
For more on UFC 101 click here.
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not again!! stop messing with us oregonians, and hold an event here!!
by vtr0n616 on Mar 19, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
STOP FOcking with me Mania. I will lose my freaking mind? When do tickets go on sale? sign me the hell up! R u telling me I get to boo Forrest griffin in person? lmao! I will show that Focker what Philly is all about! I am firmly against booing fighters, and I wont do it during the fight like some idiots who cry when the fight goes to the ground…but you better believe that Forrest is going to hear me prior/after the fight!
WAR tHiago!
So, you are telling me that i might get the chance to witness, the fickle fans jaws drop, when Nogueira returns to his legendary form and shows “Captain MOney grubber” what a true #2 Heavyweight (throughout most of his career) worldwide looks like. Randy just tried to leap NOgueira in the rankings, trying to fight Fedor as if anything he has done in his over rated career even compares with the legendary performances that Nogueira has blessed mma history with!
No offense, but FOCK Portland! Bring this to Phlly and it will set RECORDS…we are starving for mma!
I got like 3 bedrooms available to my close maniacs looking to make the trip! RSVP. BYOB and B = bring your own boo’s and BUD (cheeba cheeba yall)!!! lol
What a great day! Last night was one of the pimpest nights of my life…I wake up to the best day of the year, which should be a National Holiday..beginning of March madness…and now this news…
In the infamous words of ice Cube… “Today was a good day”!
by john on Mar 19, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay john, I’ll bring the chronic but I want the top bunk!
BC bud okay?
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sick i thinking i will need tickets to this event.
by matt on Mar 19, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Probably a long way away from hosting the UFC, but a big step for my city as far as hosting MMA events goes >
Won’t even have the hassle of bringing BC bud over the border!
by Brand0 on Mar 19, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hear that Detroit is getting a UFC event by years end.
by john on Mar 20, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
John, I still got “first choice of room” on RSVP!!!!!
Also, those bc nuggets are shwiggity shwag compared to what I be packin!!!!! John, you will soon find out…
by ViolentMike on Mar 22, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To clarify… When I say, “we are starving for mma,” what I really mean is I, not we, am, not are, starving to swallow semen, not starving for mma. Sorry for any confusion.
by john on Mar 19, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry realjohn, but that made me lol a little.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
its kewl! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
by john on Mar 20, 2009 7:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wooooooo! The in-laws are in Philly. Just say the word man I am there.
by DSmith on Mar 19, 2009 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I bet you have never been this excited about visiting your in laws. hahaha
by john on Mar 20, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Randy and Big Nog… A half an hour away from my town. That would be awesome.
by DB on Mar 20, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very nice, I can’t wait to see Randy vs Nog, I’m pulling for Couture here (big surprise) but hoping it turns out to be a good back n forth fight. My prediction is Randy by UD; superior boxing skills FTW.
by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I can see Randy winning but I’m hoping to see Nog get back to his old self again and get back into contention. As far as Randy having the superior boxing…that all depends on whether Nog’s hand-eye coordination is deteriorated or if he’s just slacked off on the boxing aspect of his training. If its the latter then I hope he brings it back to the essence…remember he’s a Pan Am boxing champ.
by Machine on Mar 19, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
True enough, but Couture’s boxing has looked great in his last few match’s, he was even looking good against Chuck until he slipped and lost balance and his stand up has come along even farther since then imo since training with Bernard Hopkins. I would have to say if Nog is winning in the stand up then Randy’s in trouble, but I expect to see Couture dominate the clinch with some dirty boxing; stay off the ground and pick his shots on his way to a UD. I think the Mir fight was an isolated incident; so I don’t expect to see anyone finish Nog again; but you never know.
by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only way Nog gets this fight to the ground is by pulling guard; which is still pretty dangerous.
by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Randy’s boxing has definitely improved. And your point about his fight with Chuck is spot-on. I always bring that up too because Randy was winning those exchanges until the slip. If both of these guys show up as good as we know they should be then it’s gonna be a back & forth war. Unfortunately, because their both elite fighters, if one aint got his game straight and the other does, we’ll see someone get railroaded.
by Machine on Mar 19, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This should not be a main event fight, not even one of the top three fights on a PPV.
Neither of these guys are going to contend for titles again. Nogueira gets beat up in every one of his fights, win or lose. I’m tired of watching him stagger around the octagon, he looks about ten years older than he really is.
As for Couture, he is an amazing fighter, but Father Time is about to slam the door on his career. Hard. Why not hang ’em up and go out with some dignity? Both of these guys should think about the years of life they have after they retire, and whether they want to spend those years in a punch-drunk arthritic daze.
These guys have nothing left to prove. They both have the hearts of lions. They’ve achieved the pinnacle of what they can reasonably expect to achieve in this sport, and it’s time to rest on their laurels.
And from a purely selfish perspective, these main event fights between guys well past their prime keep good up-and-coming fighters from getting big fights. I want to see the present and the future of the UFC compete in the big fights, not the past.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeremy, did you read the story? Mania even says there will be a title on the line for the main event and I am almost 100% positive it will be BJ/Kenny.
by BNF on Mar 19, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You make some valid points Jeremy but you’ve got to think about the business aspect of it all. Those names carry weight among the casual fan. Especially Couture’s. Yeah age coupled with wear & tear is a real factor but as long as they can perform reasonably well, they’ll always sell extra tickets and attract new fans to the sport.
by Machine on Mar 19, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As much as love Nog and think that his career accomplishments DWARF those of Randy…in realty, tough fight to predict. Many questions surrounding both fighters. YOu guys pretty much covered all the points in the who has the better boxing debate. Not sure how each fighter will look come fight night, but just for debating purposes, I think that Nogs Boxing prime would destroy Randy’s boxing prime.
on another note…besides Joe Silva, do you guys want to know who has the greatest job on earth?….lol that dude from the new VH! show “tough love”…greatest job EVER!!! He gets to call girls out and be BRUTALLY HONEST with them on National TV…blaze somethin, watch that, and you will never laugh so hard in your life!
by john on Mar 19, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I see your point, but I’m just the opposite lol; I’m all for seeing the legends of this sport make a splash wherever they can. I would love to see Dan Henderson, Mirko Cro Cop, Couture, Nog, Wanderlei, Franklin, Pulver, etc. fight for as long as their able to. I don’t think Couture is done yet, he didn’t look bad at all against Brock, he just got caught. Imo he’s been blessed with great health and longevity and as long as he feels he can compete go for it. If he was in Ken Shamrock’s position on the other hand, getting KO’d repeatedly by nobodies then I’d have to agree that he needs to hang it up but he’s not.
Nog has taken a lot of damage, and maybe its time for him to retire, but again, I’ll leave that up to him because I enjoy seeing him compete.
by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
seriously, I am about to cry I am so damn Happy! I feel like balling my eyes out like a 13 year old girl when she sees backstreet boys
by john on Mar 19, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really Machine?
If I was a casual or new fan I wouldn’t want to shell out fifty bucks to see a 46-year old man fight. I would want to see the best, the fastest, the strongest. I think these match-ups are for the old-time fans.
The UFC should trust in it’s product and realize that putting new, skilled fighters in their physical prime in main events is how you put on the best fights, grow the sport and create new legends.
The NFL wouldn’t throw Joe Montana on the field today just because he has millions of fans. The best athletes should get the big fights regardless of their popularity or the sport loses its integrity.
And BNF, as for BJ defending his title at this event, I hope so but I’ll be amazed if that goofy little bastard ever makes 155 again.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have to agree with Machine; the casual fan hears the name Chuck Liddell, they don’t follow the sport, they don’t know Chuck’s getting old. They just hear their friends talking about the time Chuck Ko’d this guy or that guy. Same with Randy, thats who the current fans are talking about
by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even if that’s true, o damn, as I said before you don’t compromise your sport to attract fans who probably still won’t give a shit. It’s gimmicky and it hurts you in the long run. In Pro sports, the best athletes get the most playing time.
They tried it with hockey and it sure didn’t work there.
(I know, I know… the Canadian made a hockey analogy… what’s all that aboot eh?)
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jermey: I agree, but the UFC has no integrity anyway…so I dont expect it to change!
Instead of putting all these old timers on the uFC 100 card…they should just start the event off with a PARADE of fighters like they did in Pride, but instead of using the fighters competing on the card…just have the parade for all the old timer/legends of the sport!
We should never have to see Shriveled up old men like coleman on a UFC card again!
by john on Mar 20, 2009 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im totaly stoked for the Couture-Nog fight. Yeah ill have to go with Randy in this one. Randy is the better athlete, he has better kickboxing than Nog, He’ll probebly be able to take him down at will and he is good enough on the ground to stay out of a submission for three rounds. . . Randy via UD
by belfort_fan on Mar 19, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, if this event was held in Portland I was planning to attend.
I usually drive to Cannon Beach in Oregon on the way to California for my summer sabbatical. Up here in Communist Canada our dog teams get too hot in the summer and our igloos start to melt, so a vacation to a first world country is always nice.
Oh well.
by Jeremyjackson on Mar 19, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Philly ain’t too far from NY. Bring it! It’s a shorter ride than Montreal and I’m driving there next month.
by YouveGotGold on Mar 19, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
where at in Philly? Im from South Philly, but I go to Drexel U.
by john on Mar 20, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
west philly, I go to Saint Joseph’s University
by ja434650 on Apr 19, 2009 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
PTown, getting the shaft again eh? that sucks
by nameless on Mar 19, 2009 5:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
WHOOO HOOO!!!! I just went from six to midnight!!!! This is easily the best news of the week. any other Philadelphians going???
by charr552 on Mar 19, 2009 5:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
When they add BJ/Kenny this will really shape up to be a bad a$$ card.
by BNF on Mar 19, 2009 5:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The timing is right so you just may get your wish BNF.
by Machine on Mar 19, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BJ in Philly? OMG…I think I will be walking around with an erection from the day that fight is booked, until the time the fight starts! hahaha
by john on Mar 19, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Imagine this… Griffin v. Silva
Couture v. Noguiera
BJ v. Florian
and just for funs Dana decides to sign eddie alvarez and put him against sherk (i wanna say diego, but hes alreasy signed)
by charr552 on Mar 19, 2009 6:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
sounds great to me and im pretty sure thats what the card will look like as bj said he wants to fight around that time
that card personally looks bettter than 100’s three main events
by Jared on Mar 19, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tavares vs. Guillard is also on this card!Probably not the main card, but I will be live in attendance so it doesnt make a difference to me~!
by john on Mar 20, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Philly will sell out the Wachovia Center for the UFC…
Hopefully the card will be much better then the Nov 07 card. Headlined by Rashad vs. Bisping… yeah!
by Luppers on Mar 19, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Damn right we gonna sell out the Wachovia center!
BJ vs. Florian LW title
Randy vs. Nog
THiago Silva murdering Forrest
Melvin vs. Tavares
by john on Mar 20, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll definitely be heading over from DC for this! Hopefully Gonzaga will be in action.
by Stephen Shamrock on Mar 19, 2009 8:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
G-Damn it!!!! I already requested the day off from work. This is the second time they have ripped a UFC featuring Randy away from us. What did we do to deserve this? If I find out that the city of Portland is trying to play hard ball with the UCF I am going to beat some city officals asses.
by Carsole on Mar 21, 2009 4:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Does anybody know how much tickets will cost?
by G-Man on Mar 23, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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