MMAterial Facts (03/15/10): Bellator’s Big Announcement

• Liddell-Franklin Rumored for UFC 115; Dana White Issues Denial
• Strikeforce Standing Ground on April 17, Sees DREAM co-promotion as key component in future
• Bellator calls Monday press conference, expected to announce signing of Roger Huerta
• One-On-One With Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney
• 5K Interview: Fedor Emelianenko manager and M-1 CEO Vadim Finklestein

Liddell-Franklin Rumored for UFC 115; Dana White Issues Denial

Light heavyweights Rich Franklin and Chuck Liddell are penciled in for a June showdown.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the promotion that the two have verbally agreed to face each other in June at UFC 115, though contracts have yet to be finalized.

The new matchup replaces a planned third meeting between Liddell and Tito Ortiz that had been expected for the promotion’s first trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and may have been arranged as a result of Franklin’s unexpected involvement in “TUF 11.”  (MMAJunkie)

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Former UFC champions Chuck Liddell  and Rich Franklin have verbally agreed to meet in a light heavyweight tilt in June, Sherdog.com has learned from multiple sources. UFC 115, though not officially announced, has been tentatively scheduled for June 12 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

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A message posted late Saturday on UFC President Dana White’s Twitter account denied that the bout was slated. “We are doing couture vs franklin not chuck,” read the post.

Sherdog.com re-affirmed with its sources that the Liddell-Franklin bout is still in play.  (Sherdog)

Strikeforce Standing Ground on April 17, Sees DREAM co-promotion as key component in future

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on Friday told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that “Strikeforce: Nashville” will not be moved from its April 17 date to sidestep a potential head-to-head clash with a rumored UFC event on the same night.

“It’s the 17th and it’s full steam ahead,” Coker said. “The 17th was always a good day when we chose it. We still feel the same way, and so does CBS.”  (MMAJunkie)

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“I worked for K-1 for about eight years, and the ownership group of K-1 and DREAM is still the same,” Coker said. “I’ve maintained good relationships over there, and it’s always been my dream – that’s kind of a pun, right? – to have our guys fight their guys and to see who would end up on top. If our guys win, that’s fantastic. If [their guy] wins, then that’s just great. It’s just good competition.

“I think it’s the true nature of sports to compete. Now we have the DREAM champion against our champion, and especially for the hardcore fans, I don’t think it gets any better than that.”  (MMAJunkie)

Bellator calls Monday press conference, expected to announce signing of Roger Huerta

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Roger Huerta (20-3-1 MMA, 0-0 Bellator) is set to test his mettle in Bellator Fighting Championships’ season two eight-man lightweight tournament.

Sources close to the situation confirmed to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the popular lightweight received his formal release from the UFC this week, which opened the door to finalize a deal with the upstart promotion.

Bellator has called a video press conference for Monday at 3 p.m. ET that will stream live at Bellator.com.   (MMAJunkie)

One-On-One With Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney

So at Bellator, we front end load our agreements, so when he or she is in the tournament they have the opportunity to make a great deal of money, very quickly.

While the typical model which is 3 and 3, or 6 and 6, or 8 and 8, you slowly but surely work your way up, and if you lose you get potentially cut.

Ours is different, it’s an upside down model which means fighters can make a lot of money very quickly with us. It’s very attractive, we’ve been able to get a lot of great fighters on board based on their belief in themselves to compete, and earn that money. …

In another organization if you lose, you can get cut, or get another shot against a tough opponent. In our organization it’s not a different scenario, but it is a scenario where you can make a great deal of money, very quickly. (Bleacher Report)

5K Interview: Fedor Emelianenko manager and M-1 CEO Vadim Finklestein

FiveKnuckles.com: It has been said that Fedor has signed a 3-fight deal with Strikeforce and has two fights remaining with the next one coming against Fabricio Werdum this summer. After this deal has elapsed, would it be possible to see Fedor in the UFC?

Vadim Finkelstein: It depends on UFC. We would like to cooperate with them. Everything depends on them, their diplomacy. It would be possible if they are flexible.

FiveKnuckles.com: You tried cooperating with them this summer, but after negotiating with Dana White extensively to no avail, he said many bad things about you and M-1. What are your thoughts on Dana White personally?

Vadim Finkelstein: That’s his character, he just loves to call names. He didn’t say bad things about M-1 only, there were a lot of situations where he was harsh. It makes me glad when Dana White talks about us. I respect the UFC, they’ve done a lot for the development of MMA, so I can pardon them such attacks. We respect him and let him grumble.   (Five Knuckles)

VIDEO OF THE DAY

• UFC 112 “Invincible” Promo: Two titles. One night. The Ultimate Fighting Championship® travels to Abu Dhabi for the first time and fans there will witness one of the organization’s greatest events ever, as middleweight titleholder Anderson “The Spider” Silva faces the extraordinary BJJ of Demian Maia. Lightweight champion BJ Penn looks to continue his dominant reign when he takes on Frankie Edgar in the double main event of UFC® 112.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Was it done to create some confusion in the marketplace in Nashville? Maybe. I don’t know. I’m not sure,” said Coker. “Is it good for mixed martial arts? I’m not sure. I don’t think so. I don’t think that when a company’s trying to counter-program you just to impact your ratings, it’s– and this could go back and forth. One day, when CBS says, ‘Alright, we’re going to go head-to-head against your pay-per-view date and you can watch Fedor (Emelianenko) or Dan Henderson for free on TV or buy a pay-per-view,’ people are going to have choices at that point. But that’s something they’d never do. CBS went out of its way to make sure there was nothing else on April 17.”  (Scott Coker Addressing UFC Rumors, Sherdog)

QUICK HITS

• 10 Bouts Booked for UFC 113 (Sherdog)
• NSAC confirms May 29 event at MGM Grand, expected to serve as UFC 114 (MMAJunkie)
• The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale targeted for June 19 at the Palms Casino Resort (MMAJunkie)
• Ray Mercer vs. Ron Sparks set for April 16 King of the Cage event in Michigan (MMAJunkie)
• Brandon Visher vs. Tyler Toner, Chan Sung Jung vs. Cub Swanson set for WEC 48 (MMAJunkie)
• Is UFC ‘Messing With’ Strikeforce? (MMAFighting)
• Roger Huerta Signs With Bellator (MMAFighting)
• Ryo Chonan Ready for DREAM Debut (MMAFighting)
• Cormier-Devine Added to March 26 Strikeforce Challengers (Sherdog)
• NOONS OPEN TO 170, REKINDLING FIRE WITH DIAZ  (MMAWeekly)
• MIGHTY MO SIGNS TO FIGHT BARNETT AT DREAM 13 (MMAWeekly)
• Liddell fooled us and Faber! Comes clean on Kimmel show (Cage Writer)
• White says Couture next for Franklin, not Liddell (FiveOuncesOfPain)
• All UFC 110 Drug Tests Are Clean (Heavy.com)

TV LISTINGS

• UFC Primetime  St-Pierre vs. Hardy at 10 PM ET/PT on Spike (03/17/10)
• UFC 111 Countdown: Mir vs. Carwin at 10:30 PM ET/PT on Spike (03/17/10)
• HDNet Fights Presents K-1 Classics (Masato, Drago, & Andre Dida) at 8 PM ET on HDNet (03/19/10)
• InsideMMA (Dan Henderson, Mike Straka & Donovan Craig) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (03/19/10)
• HDNet Fights: XFC X-Night of Champions at 10 PM ET on HDNet (03/19/10)
• UFC on Versus: Vera vs Jones at 10 PM ET on Versus (3/21/10)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• HDNet Fights: XFC X-Night of Champions at 10 PM ET on HDNet (03/19/10)
• UFC on Versus: Vera vs Jones at 10 PM ET on Versus (3/21/10)
• HDNet Fights: King of the Cage – Legacy at 10 PM ET on HDNet (03/26/10)
• Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs Mahe at 11 PM ET/PT on Showtime (03/26/10)
• UFC 111: GSP vs Hardy at 10 PM ET on PPV (03/27/10)
• UFN 21 : Florian vs Gomi at 10 PM ET on Spike (03/31/10)
• The Ultimate Fighter 11 Debut after UFN 21 on Spike (03/31/10)