PKW's
07.13.07 MMA News Update
By Kyle Ross
Liddell vs. Silva (Predictably) NOT Happening
This is almost becoming comical.
Despite reports of a done deal, Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva isn't happening, at least at UFC 76 it's not. Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports has been told by Dana White that Silva has backed out of the proposed dream bout, even though Silva's own website plugged Liddell as his next opponent on 9.22.
Obviously, White and the UFC are less than enthralled.
“This
is the worst news I could have possibly gotten,” White said.
“It’s horrendous. I have been trying to make this fight
for six years. I have done everything in my power I could do over
the last six years to make this fight and it’s still not happening.
I just don’t see it happening now.”
“This just happened (Wednesday afternoon) and I’m not
sure what we’re going to do,” White said. “We’re
trying to figure it out. It’s not a fun time right now."
According to both White and UFCJunkie.com all terms for the fight had been reached before Silva reportedly pulled out. Now word on where this leaves Liddell. His status for UFC 76 is most definitely up in the air.
Quick Hits:
• Nick Diaz has been released from his Zuffa contract, mainly because of his existing affiliation with EliteXC. Obviously, with younger brother Nate bringing the family name back to the UFC forefront by virtue of winning TUF 5, they would have probably loved to keep Nate, but they're really sticking to this notion of exclusivity. (Nick) Diaz is next scheduled to fight in September for EXC, this being his first time in action since his marijuana suspension.
• Here's an updated rumored TUF 6 cast listing (Courtesy: UFCJunkie): Matt Arroyo, Blake Bowman, Mac Danzig, Paul Georgieff, Richie Hightower, Jon Koppenhaver, Billy Miles, Ben Saunders, Joe Scarola. That's 9 of the 16 welterweights. Show premiers of 9.19, with UFC Fight Night 11 (Thomas vs. Fisher) serving as a lead in.
• Card Changes: Wesley "Cabbage" Corriera has been forced to withdraw from Saturday's Cage Rage 22 card due to breaking his ankle while training. He was scheduled to face James Thompson. Kimo Leopaldo is the replacement. Also, Ricco Rodriguez won't be taking on Ron "H20" Waterman at this month's Hardcore Fighting Championships event. That's because Rodriguez has been denied entry into Canada. "Recent situations" were cited as the reasoning
• ESPY Spoiler: Neither Randy Couture nor Quinton Jackson will be announced as "Fighter Of The Year" this Sunday on ESPN's ESPY awards. Floyd Mayweather was announced as the winner at the awards show taping earlier this week. Honestly, the MMA world lost its only chance when Liddell was KO'd by Rampage. But, that's just my opinion.
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