For the first time ever, the UFC heads overseas to take a shot at the fledgling UK MMA market for UFC 70 – Nations Collide. Although not headlining, Michael Bisping (“The Count”), fighting out of Liverpool, will be at the forefront of the impending media frenzy. Like a lamb to the slaughter (and to obviously appease the frothing UK fans) Bisping takes on 6-9-2 Australian journeyman Elvis Sinosic (“The King of Rock and Rumble”) who is coming off his fifth loss in a row in the octagon. Clearly Bantha fodder for the undefeated Count.
We will also be privy to the continued march of Mirko Cro Cop towards his inevitable date with the Heavyweight Championship. Gabriel Gonzaga is the next smear on that road in the way to his destiny. Although his MMA record is 7-1-0, Gonzaga is a rookie compared to the caliber of fighter we see in Cro Cop (22-4-2).
On the other undercard we get to witness the resurgence of the former Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski. His career looked to be spiraling to the basement after consecutive losses to Tim Sylvia, but he came back with a vengeance with a TKO victory over Marcio Cruz at UFC 66 and looks to take on Cro Cop Squad Gym prodigy, Brazilian Fabricio Werdum. This is the UFC debut for Werdum, although he has had great success fighting in the Pride Circuit, and boasting an Internatonal MMA record of 9-2-1.
Finally, the last card is probably the last chance for TUF1 standout and all round nice guy Forrest Griffin (13-4-0). He’s taking on undefeated Brazilian Lyoto Machida (8-0-0) as he tries to salvage his UFC career after losses to Tito Ortiz and a devastating TKO defeat at the hands of Keith Jardine (“The Dean of Mean”).
With a standout International card, the UFC hopes to solidify its position in the world of international MMA by unleashing its pay per view prowess on the European public. April 21, 2007, Nations will collide.
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
This was a great card but in my opinion it was let down by
lazy performences from Andrei Arlovski and Lyoto Machida.