From WorldWrestlingInsanity.com
Mallory Looks at Saturday Night's UFC "Free-for-View" -- A Preview of UFC 70: Nations Collide
By Mallory Mahling
Apr 18, 2007, 08:40
In a sea of greedy promoters, UFC is doing something remarkable this weekend. On Saturday night they will present "UFC 70: Nations Collide," from the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, England. In the USA, it can be seen for free on Spike TV. Yep, free. Not just PPV-quality matches, but a whole PPV. (Fans in other countries will be paying for it.)
This "free-for-view" isn't just some throw-away card either. With it's newly signed talent, UFC is showcasing some of its heavy hitters (pun intended). A partial line-up includes:
- MIRKO “CRO COP” vs. GABRIEL GONZAGA. Cro Cop is an MMA legend. Fighting out of Zagreb, Croatia, Cro Cop is a steely, fearsome fighter who is all business in the ring. His nickname is short for Croatian Cop, as he was formerly a member of a Croatian anti-terrorist unit. His opponent will be Brazilian Gabriel Gonzaga, who was a winner of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships last July and is pretty tough in his own right. That said, my pick is Cro Cop.
- MICHAEL BISPING vs. ELVIS SINOSIC. Bisping was a winner in the third season of The Ultimate Fighter, and one of the favorites on the show. He is fighting out of Liverpool, England. His opponent is Australia's Elvis Sinosic, sometimes known as “The King of Rock n Rumble.” No offense to Elvis, but I have a feeling Bisping will rock and rumble all over him Saturday night. Besides, it's on Bisping's home turf, which is a powerful motivator.
- ANDREI ARLOVSKI vs. FABRICIO WERDUM. Arlovski is a former UFC champion with movie-star good looks. He is from Belarus, but is fighting out of Chicago. Werdum is fighting out of Brazil and has been a long-time training partner of Cro Cop. These two could very well put on an MMA clinic when they step into the Octagon. I'm picking Arlovski. My reason? Those movie-star good looks.
So have your popcorn ready and enjoy the fights--I have a feeling we won't get too many shows of this calibre for free.
The show starts Saturday night, April 21, at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on Spike TV. Check your local listings for time and channel, and, as always, matches are subject to change.
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Thanks for reading and see ya next week.
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