The Weekly Wrap: Dec. 11 - Dec. 17
Odds and Ends
Jack Encarnacao Dec 18, 2010
Mauricio 'Shogun" Rua | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Odds and Ends
The return of UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua following knee surgery has been set, as he will make his first defense against Rashad Evans at UFC 128 on March 19 in New Jersey. Neither man has fought since May, Rua since defeating Lyoto Machida to take the title at UFC 113 and Evans since defeating Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to become No. 1 contender at UFC 114.
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UFC 123 on Nov. 21, headlined by Jackson vs. Machida and B.J. Penn vs. Matt Hughes, did an estimated 500,000 pay-per-view buys, according to the Wrestling Observer. The number is considered solid, in the middle range of PPV numbers the promotion has put up in 2010. The highest concentration of buys was in Honolulu, where Penn enjoys some of the most fervent native support of any fighter in the sport.
Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem became the first fighter in history to win an MMA title and kickboxing’s most prestigious title on Dec. 10, toppling three opponents to take the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix in Tokyo. The tournament, which aired on HDNet, started in 1993. Overeem defeated Tyrone Spong via decision, Gokhan Saki by injury stoppage (shoulder) and all-time K-1 legend Peter Aerts via knockout to claim the crown. Strikeforce put out a press release praising the accomplishment. Overeem is in talks to fight in an MMA bout at K-1 “Dynamite! Power of Courage 2010” on New Year’s Eve.
Gegard Mousasi will return to fighting on Dec. 31 in Japan but not under MMA rules. Fighting and Entertainment Group announced the Dream light heavyweight champion will face Kyotaro Fujimoto, the K-1 heavyweight champion, in a kickboxing match. In another “Dynamite!! Power of Courage 2010” note, it was confirmed the event will air live on HDNet.
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