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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