MMAterial Facts (03/30/10): UFC 115 Vancouver Update, UFC Backs Off EA MMA Fighter Threats

• UFC exec Marc Ratner not giving up on UFC 115 in Vancouver just yet
• Strikeforce Challengers VII draws 4,963 attendees for $109K gate, Ratings Up 111 Percent
• Dana White Backs Off Threat To Ban EA MMA Fighters
• Strikeforce Readies for a Fight
• Liddell/Couture 4 Planned For UFC 116 on July 3

UFC exec Marc Ratner not giving up on UFC 115 in Vancouver just yet

Amid reports the UFC’s first trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, has been moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, due to legal issues with the Vancouver City Council, Ratner told MMAjunkie.com  (www.mmajunkie.com) the promotion will make a final decision regarding the June 12 event within 24 hours.

“We’re certainly working hand in hand with the mayor’s office and the city council, and hopefully we have what they want,” Ratner said. “The fight is still going forward as we speak.”

However, UFC president Dana White today told Rogers Sportsnet that the promotion can’t wait any longer to announce the event and is in the process of moving it to the U.S.  (MMAJunkie)

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MMAPayout Note: A meeting is being held tonight between UFC VP of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner and the Vancouver city council regarding UFC 115.  The fate of UFC 115 may be determined after tonight’s meeting.

Strikeforce Challengers VII draws 4,963 attendees for $109K gate, Ratings Up 111 Percent

Strikeforce’s most recent Challengers Series card, headlined by a heavyweight fight between undefeated Lavar “Big” Johnson and Hawaiian Lolohea Mahe, drew 4,963 attendees to the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., for a live gate of $109,222.  (MMAJunkie)

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This past weekend’s Strikeforce Challengers 7 event, which featured notable prospects such as Lavar Johnson and Miesha Tate, drew a 1.0 rating and a total average audience of 316,000 viewers on Showtime, MMAjunkie.com confirmed with an industry source.

Compared to February’s Strikeforce Challengers 6 event, which averaged just 150,000 viewers, ratings for the March 26 event were up a staggering 111 percent.  (MMAJunkie)

Dana White Backs Off Threat To Ban EA MMA Fighters

White revealed that he is backing off his earlier threats to ban any fighter who appears in EA’s game to be a part of UFC. “Nah, some people have crossed over,” he told Kotaku, “But believe me this is still going to continue to be a battle. …they’re the me-toos. The UFC game is the original game.  (Kotaku)

Strikeforce Readies for a Fight

With the competition between Strikeforce and the Ultimate Fighting Championship heating up, the open workouts on March 17 at Legends gym in Hollywood were a chance for Strikeforce to promote its upcoming Nashville card.  The media turnout was huge, and with good reason, because the show has some truly incredible matchups that fans have been wanting to see for ages.  (Skinnie Magazine)

Liddell/Couture 4 Planned For UFC 116 on July 3

A fourth bout between UFC Hall of Famers Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture is currently being planned for UFC 116 on July 3.

A source close to the promotion informed Heavy.com of the news on Tuesday afternoon.

The bout would serve as the co-main event of the blockbuster card that is expected to be headlined by a UFC heavyweight title bout between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin.  (Heavy)

QUICK HITS

• UFC’s Toney Signing Shrewd on Many Levels (Sherdog)
• The Day After: GSP Reflects on Title Defense (Sherdog)
• UFC 111’s “UFC Prelims” broadcast draws 1.2 million viewers, ratings dip (MMAJunkie)
• Bellator confirms Hector Lombard vs. Paulo Filho non-title “super fight” for Bellator 18 (MMAJunkie)
• Strikeforce Challengers 7 fighter salaries: Headliner Lavar Johnson leads paydays (MMAJunkie)
• “TUF 11” coach Chuck Liddell on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” tonight (MMAJunkie)
• King Mo Has No Time for Haters (MMAFighting)
• Lesnar Favorite in Early Line Against Carwin (MMAFighting)
• STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS 7 FIGHTER SALARIES (MMAWeekly)
• ROY NELSON HOPES TO STACK UP TO STEFAN STRUVE (MMAWeekly)
• UFN 21 weigh-in: Fighters want extra pounds with double weigh-in (Cage Writer)
• Falaniko Vitale vs. Murilo “Ninja” Rua scratched from Shine Fights “Worlds Collide” (FiveOuncesOfPain)
• “UFC Fight Night 21” Official Weigh-In Results (Heavy)

TV LISTINGS

• 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)
• InsideMMA (Bjorn Rebney, John Howard, C.B. Dollaway) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (04/02/10)
• HDNet Fights: K-1 World MAX 2010 Japan GP at 11:30 PM ET on HDNet (04/02/10)
• HDNet Fights: K-1 World GP 2010 at 4 AM ET on HDNet (04/03/10)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• UFN 21 : Florian vs Gomi at 8 PM ET on Spike (03/31/10)
• The Ultimate Fighter 11 Debut after UFN 21 on Spike (03/31/10)
• HDNet Fights: K-1 World MAX 2010 Japan GP at 11:30 PM ET on HDNet (04/02/10)
• HDNet Fights: K-1 World GP 2010 at 4 AM ET on HDNet (04/03/10)
• UFC 112 : Silva vs Maia at 10 PM ET on PPV (04/10/10)
• HDNet Fights: KOTC Bad Boys Too at 10 PM ET on HDNet (04/16/10)
• Strikeforce Nashville: Henderson vs Shields at 11 PM ET/PT on CBS (04/17/10)
• WEC 48: Aldo vs Faber at 10 PM ET on PPV (04/24/10)
• HDNet Fights: MFC Vindication at 10 PM ET on HDNet (05/07/10)
• UFC 113 : Machida vs Shogun 2 at 10 PM ET on PPV (05/08/10)
• Strikeforce St. Louis: Overeem vs Rogers at 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime (05/15/10)
• UFC 114 : Rampage vs Evans at 10 PM ET on PPV (05/29/10)