Will
10-31-2007, 05:40 AM
The UFC has announced the official fight card, including the main card and the lineup of preliminary bouts, for next month’s “UFC 78: Validation” event.
The pay-per-view event takes place Nov. 17 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
As was previously announced, Michael Bisping (14-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will take on Rashad Evans (10-0-1 MMA, 5-0-1 UFC) in the night’s main event. It’ll be the first time two champions from “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series meet in a UFC fight. Bisping won season three as a light heavyweight; Evans won season two as a heavyweight. Both are now emerging light-heavyweight contenders.
UFC 78’s main event was originally slated to feature UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk vs. B.J. Penn, but a failed UFC 73 drug test has Sherk sidelined and awaiting tomorrow’s hearing with the California State Athletic Commission. Then, the UFC targeted a headline bout between Evans and UFC veteran Tito Ortiz, but stalled contract negotiations between the UFC and Ortiz meant the fight had to be nixed, as well.
Ultimately, the UFC settled for Bisping vs. Evans.
Other notables scheduled for the main card including Karo Parisyan, Houston Alexander, New Jersey fighter Frankie Edgar, and David Terrell (in a long-awaited return).
The full card includes:
MAIN CARD
Michael Bisping vs. Rashad Evans
Houston Alexander vs. Thiago Silva
Ed Herman vs. David Terrell
Ryo Chonan vs. Karo Parisyan
Frankie Edgar vs. Spencer Fisher
PRELIMINARY CARD
Thiago Alves vs. Chris Lytle
Joe Lauzon vs. Jason Reinhardt
Marcus Aurelio vs. Luke Caudillo
Akihiro Gono vs. Tamdan McCrory
The pay-per-view event takes place Nov. 17 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
As was previously announced, Michael Bisping (14-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will take on Rashad Evans (10-0-1 MMA, 5-0-1 UFC) in the night’s main event. It’ll be the first time two champions from “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series meet in a UFC fight. Bisping won season three as a light heavyweight; Evans won season two as a heavyweight. Both are now emerging light-heavyweight contenders.
UFC 78’s main event was originally slated to feature UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk vs. B.J. Penn, but a failed UFC 73 drug test has Sherk sidelined and awaiting tomorrow’s hearing with the California State Athletic Commission. Then, the UFC targeted a headline bout between Evans and UFC veteran Tito Ortiz, but stalled contract negotiations between the UFC and Ortiz meant the fight had to be nixed, as well.
Ultimately, the UFC settled for Bisping vs. Evans.
Other notables scheduled for the main card including Karo Parisyan, Houston Alexander, New Jersey fighter Frankie Edgar, and David Terrell (in a long-awaited return).
The full card includes:
MAIN CARD
Michael Bisping vs. Rashad Evans
Houston Alexander vs. Thiago Silva
Ed Herman vs. David Terrell
Ryo Chonan vs. Karo Parisyan
Frankie Edgar vs. Spencer Fisher
PRELIMINARY CARD
Thiago Alves vs. Chris Lytle
Joe Lauzon vs. Jason Reinhardt
Marcus Aurelio vs. Luke Caudillo
Akihiro Gono vs. Tamdan McCrory