|
UFC 112: Invincible Date: Apr 10, 2010 Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Venue: Concert Arena (at the Ferrari World theme park on Yas Island). Broadcast: Pay-per-view The world’s greatest indoor sporting event goes outdoors on April 10 as the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization lands in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for the first time. Some of the world’s greatest mixed martial artists will appear on the historic open-air UFC 112 event at the Concert Arena, Ferrari World, Yas Island. |
|
Topped by a double main event, two UFC world titles will be on the line at UFC 112. First, UFC lightweight champion BJ ‘The Prodigy’ Penn puts his belt on the line against No.1 contender Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar.
Current lightweight king BJ ‘The Prodigy’ Penn, 15-5-1, is a man who cuts a fearsome figure for any opponent. Now settled in the 155lbs lightweight division, Penn’s current form is ominous for a division chock-full of young and hungry contenders.
The 31-year-old Penn has already established himself as a UFC fan favourite and future Hall-of-Famer, having won UFC titles as both a lightweight and welterweight. He became only the second fighter in history to hold UFC belts in separate weight divisions.
Penn beat a variety of standout mixed martial artists, including Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver and Renzo Gracie. Since focusing his sights on the 155lbs division, Penn has added the scalps of top contenders Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez to his resume.
Frankie Edgar, 11-1 hopes to have ‘The Answer’ to Penn’s recent air of invincibility. Considered one of the most exciting fighters in the game today, Edgar has won six UFC bouts so far in his career and appears to get better and better with each outing.
The 28-year-old number one-ranked contender started out his UFC career with an eye-catching decision win over Tyson Griffin
in February 2007. As well as picking up his first UFC win, Edgar also walked away with a ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus that night.
In the second title defence we will witness UFC middleweight king Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva defends his crown against fellow Brazilian striker Demian Maia.
Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva was suppose to fight Vitor Belort, but due to a shoulder injury he is out, submission specialist Demian Maia has been slated as his replacement in an upcoming UFC 112 showdown with Anderson Silva. The pair of native Brazilians will be facing off for Silva’s UFC middleweight championship.
Demian Maia, A 32-year old native of Sao Paulo, Brazil who, like Silva, owns a black belt in jiu-jitsu, Maia (12-1) has won six of his seven UFC bouts, including five by submission, with four of those victories earning him Submission of the Night honors. He also holds a 2009 submission win over number one middleweight contender Chael Sonnen. In his most recent bout, at UFC 109 on February 6th, Maia went three rounds with talented New Jersey native Dan Miller and earned a near shutout unanimous decision. Now he will face the pound for pound king in Silva, who is unbeaten in his last 11 UFC bouts and looking to add to his middleweight title defense record when he puts his belt on the line for the sixth time.
Silva last saw action in a non-title light heavyweight bout with Forrest Griffin at UFC 101 which “The Spider” won by first round knockout. Anderson will be looking to make his sixth successful title defense at UFC 112, with previous defenses coming over the likes of Thales Leites, Patrick Cote, Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin and Nate Marquardt.
As well as two fascinating UFC title clashes, the UFC’s first venture into the region will also showcase an intriguing battle of legends as UFC icon Matt Hughes locks horns with MMA pioneer and Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Renzo Gracie at welterweight.
UFC 112 Main event:
185 lbs.: UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia
Main card (Televised):
155 lbs.: UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn vs. Frankie Edgar
170 lbs.: Matt Hughes vs. Renzo Gracie
185 lbs.: Kendall Grove vs. Mark Munoz
155 lbs.: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Terry Etim
Under card (May not be broadcast):
170 lbs.: Nick Osipczak vs. Ricky Story
170 lbs.: John Gunderson vs. Paul Taylor
265 lbs.: Mostapha Al Turk vs. Jon Madsen*
155 lbs.: Paul Kelly vs. Matt Veach
205 lbs.: Phil Davis vs. Alexander Gustafsson*
UFC 112 Quick Results
Anderson Silva defeats Demian Maia by Unanimous Decision
*** Silva remains Middleweight Champion
Frankie Edgar defeats BJ Penn by Unanimous Decision
*** Edgar is new Lightweight Champion
Matt Hughes defeats Renzo Gracie by TKO (Punches) in Round 3, 4:40
Rafael dos Anjos submits Terry Etim by Armbar in Round 2, 4:30
Mark Munoz defeats Kendall Grove TKO (Punches) in Round 2, 2:50
Phil Davis submits Alexander Gustafsson by Anaconda Choke in Round 1, 4:55
Rick Story defeats Nick Osipczak Split Decision
DaMarques Johnson defeats Brad Blackburn by TKO (Body Kick) in Round 3, 2:08
Paul Kelly submits Matt Veach by Guillotine Choke in Round 2, 3:41
Jon Madsen defeats Mostapha Al-Turk Decision by Unanimous Decision
