UFC 67 - Updated line Up for this weekend

UFC 67 is this weekend, and some would say the company is taking a gamble with this one. The original concept for the PPV was to have the two winners of Season Four of The Ultimate Fighter cash in their guaranteed title fights on the same night. However, an injury to Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre forced him to withdraw from his fight with Matt Serra, and Serra wasn't going to take another fight and risk a loss before getting his title shot. So, essentially the two fighters on the card with the most mainstream appeal were off the show. Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva is quickly becoming a favorite following his decisive wins over Chris Leben and Rich Franklin, but he doesn't have the long UFC run of a GSP, and his opponent Travis Lutter didn't have the charisma of Serra on the reality show.

So, with only one title fight, the other selling point of this show is the UFC debuts of Mirko Cro Cop and Quinton Jackson, both favorites of many hardcore MMA fans. Cro Cop is another attempt by UFC to inject new life into their heavyweight division, while Jackson is the only professional fighter to defeat Chuck Liddell and not have the Iceman beat him in a rematch (because there hasn't been one yet). Obviously, UFC is hoping for big debuts out of both men, but after the Heath Herring debacle last week, I wonder if any casual viewers will want to spend money on another overhyped debut (or two)?


Here is the full lineup for this weekend's PPV:

UFC 67: ALL OR NOTHING
February 3, 2007
Mandalay Bay Events Center, Nevada

Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva (17-4-0) vs. Travis Lutter (12-3-0).
Silva Last UFC Appearance: October 14, 2006 - Defeated Rich Franklin via TKO at 2:49 of the first round.
Lutter Last UFC Appearance: November 11, 2006 - Defeated Patrick Cote via submission with an armbar at 2:18 of the first round.

Heavyweights: Mirko Cro Cop (21-4-2) vs. Eddie Sanchez (8-0-0)
Cro Cop Last UFC Appearance: UFC debut.
Cro Cop Last MMA Fight: September 10, 2006 - Defeated Josh Barnett via submission with strikes at Pride: Final Conflict.
Sanchez Last UFC Appearance: September 23, 2006 - Defeated Mario Neto via knockout at 17 seconds of the second round.

Light Heavyweights: Quinton Jackson (25-6-0) vs. Marvin Eastman (13-6-1)
Jackson Last UFC Appearance: UFC Debut.
Jackson Last MMA Fight: July 22, 2006 - Defeated Matt Lindland via split decision at World Fighting Alliance: King Of The Streets.
Eastman Last UFC Appearance: October 22, 2004 - Lost to Travis Lutter via knockout at 43 seconds of the second round.
Eastman Last MMA Fight: July 22, 2006 - Fought Jorge Oliveria to a draw at World Fighting Alliance: King Of The Streets.
Past Fights: June 24, 2000 - Marvin Eastman defeated Quinton Jackson via decision at King Of The Cage 4.

Middleweights: Patrick Cote (9-4-0) vs. Scott Smith (12-2-0)
Cote Last UFC Appearance: November 11, 2006 - Lost to Travis Lutter via submission to an armbar at 2:18 of the first round.
Smith Last UFC Appearance: November 11, 2006 - Defeated Pete Sell via knockout at 3:25 of the first round.

Lightweights: John Halverson (13-4-0) vs. Roger Huerta (17-1-1)
Halverson Last UFC Appearance: UFC Debut.
Halverson Last MMA Fight: November 22, 2006 - Defeated Jake Brown via submission with an armbar at 2:30 of the first round.
Huerta Last UFC Appearance: September 23, 2006 - Defeated Jason Dent via unanimous decision.

Non-televised Fights:
Light Heavyweights: Lyoto Machida (8-0-0) vs. Sam Hoger (6-2-0)
Middleweights: Terry Martin (16-2-0) vs. Jorge Rivera (14-5-0)
Lightweights: Frankie Edgar (5-0-0) vs. Tyson Griffin (8-0-0)
Welterweights: Dustin Haselett (7-3-0) vs. Diego Saravia (8-3-1)


UPCOMING EVENTS

UFC 68: THE UPRISING
March 3, 2007
Nationwide Arena, Ohio

Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia (24-2-0) vs. Randy Couture (14-8-0)
Welterweights: Matt Hughes (41-4-0) vs. Chris Lytle (18-12-5)
Middleweights: Rich Franklin (20-2-0) vs. Jason MacDonald (18-7-0)