Lightweights Joe Stevenson and George Sotiropoulos are currently in negotiations to collide at UFC 110 from the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 21, 2010.
Bout agreements have been distributed to both fighters; however, nothing is official at this time. The good news is that MMAmania.com has learned that Sotiropoulos is eager to sign on the dotted line as soon as possible so he can compete in front of his hometown crowd for the first time ever as a UFC fighter.
And he'll likely have to do it against his stiffest competition to date.
Stevenson has picked up momentum after losing three of four bouts in a 13-month span, most recently defeating Nate Diaz and Spencer Fisher in back-to-back bouts. The victory over Diaz -- who was making a run at a potential title shot -- was perhaps the most impressive and important of his young, yet distinguished, mixed martial arts career.
A former number one division contender, Stevenson has experienced somewhat of a rebirth thanks in large part to his training under guru Greg Jackson and his gang down in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "Daddy" will look to keep the streak alive in hostile territory when he takes on the Aussie native.
Sotiropoulos has not tasted defeat in more than three years, winning five straight, four of which have come under the UFC banner. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 6 alum has stopped all four of his contests inside the Octagon with a dangerous mix of submissions (three) and (technical) knockout power (one).
Jason Dent was the last man to try and derail the Sotiropoulos progress at UFC 106 earlier this month; however, he was forced to tap because of a slick armbar submission. Sotiropoulos is very talented on the ground, but won't have an easy go at it when he tangles with the submission-savvy Stevenson.
UFC 110 is expected to feature a heavyweight showdown between Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira and Cain Velasquez to determine the next number one division contender. In addition, a 185-pound brawl between Michael Bisping and Wanderlei Silva in a bout that may have future title implications (especially with Dan Henderson being MIA) is also expected to fill out the top of the card.
Stay glued to MMAmania.com for more breaking news on the still-developing UFC 110 card in the days, weeks and months ahead.
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