Cage Gossip: UFC Rumors
5 UFC Rumors That Even Your Toothless Grandmother’s Talking About!
5. Paul Buentello Not Cut From the UFC
Five Ounces of Pain initially broke the report that Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello had been released by the UFC, but just the other day Loretta Hunt on Tapout Radio cited a radio appearance in which Buentello himself dispelled the rumors.
MMAJunkie.com spoke with Buentello’s manager, Ellis Pacheco, and it was confirmed that as for now, Buentello is still under UFC contract.
When news first broke that Paul Buentello was released by the UFC, I was caught off guard. In Buentello’s last fight, against a determined Cheick Kongo at UFC On Versus, his finger was dislocated, and instead of asking for the fight to stop, he had the doctor, albeit illegally, pop his finger back into place. Typically, when fighters show “they’re a fuckin’ fighter,” as Dana likes to say, Mr. White is more than willing to give them one more go in the Octagon. And that is what I expect for Paul Buentello, unless of course, Buentello decides to retire or release himself from his UFC contract to pursue easier fights in smaller organizations.
4. Early Estimates Clock UFC 111 at 850,000 Buys
According to Dave Meltzer’s subscription only Wrestling Observer, “Early cable estimates, and granted, anything this early in the week can be way off, indicate about 850,000 buys for UFC 111 on 3/27, putting it in the top six for UFC of all-time.”
After three consecutive PPVs of less than 320,000 buys, including an estimated 215,000 buys for UFC 110, UFC 111’s estimated 850,000 buys indicates that all the “sky is falling!,” “UFC is in trouble!” talk was as empty as it appeared.
It’s nearly impossible to determine now whether it was Georges St-Pierre, Frank Mir, or the two of them combined who sold the PPV, but regardless, those are fantastic numbers for the UFC if they turn out to be true.
3. Junior Dos Santos’ Next Opponent Is...
After another devastating victory over a top heavyweight, Junior Dos Santos is in line for a title shot. But before he gets his shot at the UFC Heavyweight Crown, Shane Carwin comes first, then Cain Velazquez. In the meantime, Dos Santos will need to stay relevant and have at least one fight, a fight in which he is a sure bet to win as Dana White doesn’t want a possible money making title fight ruined.
Prior to UFC Fight Night 21, rumor was that if Roy Nelson lost to Stefan Struve, Chieck Kongo would be Dos Santos’ next opponent. However, if Nelson was victorious, as he was in Knockout of the Night fashion, he would be next in line for the rising Brazilian star. So barring last minute changes to have Nelson fight James Toney, look for Dos Santos’ next opponent to be none other than TUF 10 Winner, Roy “Big Country” Nelson.
2. BJ Penn May Officially Move to Welterweight Following UFC 112
It’s quite possible that BJ Penn’s fight with Frankie Edgar in Abu Dhabi at UFC 112, may be his last fight at lightweight for some time. Penn was recently quoted as saying that “[i]f everything goes well on April 10”, he’d talk to Dana to see if he has to vacate the belt in order to “test the waters” of the 170-pound division. With the lightweight division lacking any big name challenger for Penn, 170 pounds may be the best place for the “Prodigy” to put his talent and hard work to the test, and not squander, arguably, the best BJ Penn we’ll ever see.
It sounds like Penn is looking to get three fights in at 170 before challenging for the welterweight title, and at the same time, ala Anderson Silva, keep and defend his lightweight title. I see Dana allowing Penn to hold onto his lightweight belt for now, and if Penn shows he can hang with the big boys at 170, allowing him to keep the title with few title defenses, setting up for another blockbuster champion versus champion showdown in a year or two with GSP or whoever the welterweight champion may be at the time.
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1. Chuck Liddell’s Fighting Tito Ortiz in June… No Make That Rich Franklin… No Make That Randy Couture in July… No Wait, Actually, Rich Franklin in June…
Since the Ultimate Fighter Season 11 finished taping, there have been numerous reports and “tweets” that Tito Ortiz had gotten injured and would be unable to fight Chuck Liddell. In his place, rumors swirled that it would be Rich Franklin, and that in-fact, Franklin actually takes over the coaching of Ortiz’s team on the show. Dana White dismissed the rumors, but never said they weren’t true or that Chuck wasn’t fighting someone other than Tito.
It’s a smart business ploy on White’s part to not reveal the truth, as controversy makes for good publicity, and the mystery surrounding Liddell’s opponent only furthers the buzz for the current Ultimate Fighter reality show. White has basically taken the approach of, “I’m not going to tell you anything, watch the show and find out.” An approach he hopes works to increase the ratings of a Kimbo Slice-less Ultimate Fighter.
Just when the Rich Franklin rumor was gaining steam, a new rumor surfaced, Liddell would not be fighting Tito or Rich, but Randy Couture in what would be their fourth bout against one another. Serving as the co-main event of UFC 116 on July 3, Liddell vs. Couture would be a great addition to the card already featuring heavyweight title fight Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin, and a great way to ensure record breaking PPV numbers.
But don’t get to comfortable with the prospects of a fourth Liddell/Couture fight, as a photo depicting Rich Franklin, not Tito Ortiz or Randy Couture, hung on the newly refined TUF gym walls aside the image of coach Liddell.
The photo was discovered by keen forum poster, looney liam, at mmaforum.com. The controversial image can be found here: http://www.mmaforum.com/ufc/74427-chuck-vs-franklin-proof.html
That’s it for this week, be sure to check back next Monday for all the latest rumors in MMA, we don’t want you sitting at the table come tea time with Grandma and friends as they discuss the latest chatter in the MMA universe, and sonny boy is forced to sit silent because he didn’t read the latest edition of “Cage Gossip.”
By Jeffrey Concerto
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer