Rumor: Bisping vs Leben at UFC 85

[tn94z]

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The hamstring injury to former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell has forced the promotion to shuffle the UFC 85 deck once again for the show at the 02 Arena in London, England, on June 7.

And while no official announcements have been made about what to expect, MMAmania.com has learned a few things throughout the day.

A 185-pound showdown between Michael Bisping and Chris Leben — a match up we teased earlier this afternoon — is expected to headline the show. In addition, James Irvin has agreed to step up and replace Liddell to take on Evans.

In addition, and this is the shakiest bit of information we are passing along, the show will possibly air on SpikeTV for FREE similar to UFC 75: “Champion vs. Champion.”

If all this pans out — and there is still one fight to be announced — fans would have little to complain about. It’s a solid card even though it may lack a “big” name such as Liddell or Georges St. Pierre.

This should be a good fight and a good test to see how Bisping will do at 185. Leben is tough and has really gotten things turned around.

[tn94z]

TweetDon't get your hopes up about the event being on Spike. I didn't realize that I had copied that portion too. The first quote was before the UFC changed the listing.

UFC 85 to air on pay-per-view
By MMAFighting.com on April 24, 2008

UFC 85 at the O2 Arena in London will air on pay-per-view and not Spike TV.

The official UFC website previously listed Spike TV as the carrier of UFC 85, but late this morning, made the correction. The UFC has confirmed to MMAFighting.com that the correction will stand.

UFC 85 is currently missing a main event and an event title after Chuck Liddell withdrew from his bout versus Rashad Evans due to a torn hamstring. Evan's new opponent is expected to be James Irvin.

The price for UFC pay-per-views is $44.95, which began with UFC 81: Breaking Point last February.

FIGHT CARD:

205 lbs: Rashad Evans vs. James Irvin (not officially announced)
265 lbs: Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum
185 lbs: Martin Kampmann vs. Jorge Rivera
170 lbs: Mike Swick vs. Marcus Davis
185 lbs: Nate Marquardt vs. Thales Leites
155 lbs: Matt Wiman vs. Thiago Tavares
205 lbs: Jason Lambert vs. Luiz Cane
185 lbs: Roan Carneiro vs. TBA
265 lbs: Antoni Hardonk vs. Neil Wain

[Schiznick]

TweetDid anyone see the announcement for the 86 card? that thing is stacked!

[O2BESOHUGE]

Tweet39.95 HERE

[Schiznick]

TweetITS 40 FOR REGULAR AND 45 IF YOU WANT IT ON HD

[tn94z]

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Did anyone see the announcement for the 86 card? that thing is stacked!

Yeah, it looks like a good card. For the ones that haven't seen it, here are the match-ups....for now!!

Quinton Jackson 27-6-0 Forrest Griffin 15-4-0
Patrick Cote 13-4-0 Ricardo Almeida 9-2-0
Joe Stevenson 33-8-0 Gleison Tibau 27-4-0
Josh Koscheck 12-2-0 Chris Lytle 35-15-4
Jorge Gurgel 15-3-0 Cole Miller 13-3-0
Melvin Guillard 39-8-3 Dennis Siver 11-5-0
Ben Saunders 5-0-2 Jared Rollins 9-4-0

[straydoglogic]

Tweeti would love to see this..i love bisping and cant stand leben...
oh..and its always free for me..lol...woo hoo!!!!

[tn94z]

TweetI don't like Leben that much either but I think he will surpise Bisping. He hasn't really faught anyone that is going to get in his face and bang with some good power!!

[O2BESOHUGE]

TweetI THINK LEBEN HAS WAY MORE KNOCKOUT POWER IN HIS HANDS THAN BISPING...IT WILL BE A GOOD ONE TO WATCH

[Schiznick]

TweetI think that fight is kind of an insult to Bisbing... he should be fighting someone with a better fight record..

the same with Koscheck, Lytle? come on.. they cant do better then that?

[Schiznick]

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i would love to see this..i love bisping and cant stand leben...
oh..and its always free for me..lol...woo hoo!!!!

did I hear free??? whats up with that? I want that deal

[tn94z]

TweetOkay, just found more news. It looks like the UFC HAS decided to air this event on Spike TV. This makes the third time it has changed so take this how you want.

**The UFC has announced that the June 7th UFC 86 card from London, England will now be a free TV event with Chuck Liddell pulling out from the card. The new main event sees Light Heavyweights Rashad Evans and James Irvin collide. This is the smartest move possible by the company as this show would have been lost on PPV being sandwiched between the May 24th card and the July 5th event with Quinton Jackson Vs Forrest Griffin. Do you realize this means there will be 4 UFC shows in a span of 6-weeks with UFC 84, 85, 86 and a TUF 7 finale?