Atlanta will get their first taste of UFC action in over three years with April's UFC 146. (Photo: ESPN.com)
The UFC will return to Atlanta, Georgia, for the first time in over three years with UFC 146 on Saturday, April 21. MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani broke the news on Fuel's "UFC Tonight" and via Twitter Tuesday night.
The last time the UFC ran a show in the city was UFC 88 on September 6, 2008, headlined by Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans. Evans won the fight via second round KO, earning Knockout Of The Night and a shot at then-Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin.
14,736 filled the Philips Arena that night for a live gate of $2.6 million -- the only time Atlanta has hosted a UFC event. While no fights were announced, expect Georgia's most notable Zuffa fighter -- former WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles -- to compete on the show, keeping with the UFC trend.
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Also on "UFC Tonight" and Twitter, Helwani gave some interesting insight into how Tuesday's main event announcement of Alexander Gustafsson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira came together. According to Helwani, Dana White originally offered Nogueira to Dan Henderson but Hendo turned the fight down. The plan was that if Rashad Evans defeated Phil Davis at UFC On Fox 2, he would get the next shot at current champion Jon Jones with the Hendo/Nogueira winner being next in line for a title shot. Helwani said Henderson's next fight is in limbo as a result.
In a clip that didn't air on last week's show, White talked about international expansion including Sweden, Paris and putting Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II in an outdoor venue in Brazil. See the two minute clip after the jump.
0 recs | 117 comments
The one thing I've learned from today's stories:
Fuel seems like a bomb-ass channel all of a sudden.
SanFranpsycho - January 10, 2012
2000 hours of MMA programming would do it
I was stoked that they show old PPV cards on there. UFC 135 was on two days ago…I’m sure there’s more to come.
bustachong - January 10, 2012
yeah that is part of their new UFC Reloaded series
136 airs tomorrow (wednesday) at 7pm et.
They’ve shown 79, 135 and now 136
TylerTreese - January 10, 2012
it's always been a very good channel
if you’re into combat sports, motocross and extreme sports (BMXing, Skateboarding). Built To Shred is one of my favorites. They have some good reality shows following athletes too like one with James Stewart and 2 brothers and a sister that BMX (im drawing a blank on their last name >.<)
TylerTreese - January 10, 2012
oh and combat sports wise they have Legend FC, Shark Fights
Prizefighter Boxing and now all the UFC content
TylerTreese - January 10, 2012
I was/am a pretty avid skateboarder, I remember seeing some cool stuff on there.
They also played a Meshuggah video once, which is awesome. Unfortunately I don’t get it in my cable package anymore :o(
SanFranpsycho - January 11, 2012
Check this out
Fuel home page:
And when you click “shows”:
Sick!
IKiIIed007 - January 11, 2012
Im thinking that
since Atlanta is the most populated city in america as far as african americans go. A Jones v Evans fight wouldnt be hard to market at all there. If thats the case I expect Cain to headline 145 against Mir or Bigfoot
JonBon Joey - January 10, 2012
Assuming black people care about MMA
I don’t know MMA’s demographics, so it would be interesting to see.
discoandherpes - January 11, 2012
We don't.
SanFranpsycho - January 11, 2012
Boxing is the combat sport of choice for black and hispanic people
Perceived homosexual connotations of wrestling, blah blah blah.
discoandherpes - January 11, 2012
Not in NY
More people are fans of mma in NY than white people. Of course my school is for the most part Black, but whatever…
juanchoD - January 11, 2012
I live in NY
And I can agree somewhat, but I still see the majority of the audience being white. That said, I am hispanic, so maybe that means something?
discoandherpes - January 11, 2012
I
am Hispanic too. Don’t really think it changes our perspective.
juanchoD - January 12, 2012
Detroit City holds that title however
Atalanta definitely has more prosperous…and very true blacks don’t care about but hey maybe in April with this new FOX deal they can get all the influential blacks in Atlanta (think Ludacris, Jeezy, TwoChains, Tyler Perry, T.I.) to come to the fight. Those faces alone may get black people talking
FYI not a fan of all mentioned
AfroSamurai - January 11, 2012
...
2Chains, aka Titty Boi from DTP is all of a sudden an influential black guy from ATL? You would’ve been better off mentioning this guy
SentientAndroid - January 11, 2012
BRRR!
What an idiot…
SentientAndroid - January 11, 2012
lol just as i hit enter i wondered how i left him off the list
yup him too it may sound stupid but rappers influence young people and them making the UFC a priority as a place to be will make some in the black community take a second look at MMA
AfroSamurai - January 12, 2012
Sadly
that’s true. Rappers can influence the shit out of kids. That’s why there are so many 106 and Park teenagers supporting Future, Solja Boy and other random bullshit songs/rappers.
SentientAndroid - January 12, 2012
I wonder if it is because Hendo doesn’t want to fight on Fuel. Or would have Hendo-Noguiera been on a different card?
fbihop - January 10, 2012
I doubt they would waste hendo on a fuel card
JonBon Joey - January 10, 2012
Yeah, I realized it was dumb as soon as I hit post.
fbihop - January 10, 2012
I bet your honesty and candor in this matter netted you a few more followers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - January 11, 2012
Now that Jones is claiming to want to fight sooner then later, if Evans\Davis is tied up or under fighter suspension, from injuries, this may free up a Hendo\Jones match
jack knight starman - January 10, 2012 via mobile
Can’t say I disagree with Hendos choice. Seems like a huge step down in competition to me. Strikeforce Champ KO Fedor, Win against Shogun and then fight Lil Nog coming off a Tito win??
AHutch - January 10, 2012
Not to mention
Dan probably loses to Nog again.
yarky1 - January 11, 2012
+1
knowone - January 11, 2012 via mobile
i dont blame hendo for turning that fight down
How does he go from strikeforce light heavyweight champion, to fighting the former champion and legend in shogun, to fighting lil nog who’s coming off a win over tito ortiz after being on a two fight losing streak that most feel should have been three? Hendo deserves a much better fight then nog! At least offer him a top ten fighter.
benten20 - January 10, 2012 via mobile
Lil Nog is a top ten fighter and you'd think Hendo would want to avenge his loss.
Oh well =P Would’ve been a good fight.
TylerTreese - January 10, 2012
You forgot add former before top 10
Grey Suit - January 10, 2012
hes not top ten anymore at all
benten20 - January 11, 2012
My God
Had no idea Nog was so underrated. I don’t know about rankings, but he’s definitely one of the best fighters in the division, and capable of beating anyone other than Jones.
yarky1 - January 11, 2012
He lost to Brilz, IMO, and then lost badly to Bader and Davis. If he’s still a top ten fighter, it’s only on his name and nothing else. He’s a good fighter when properly matched, ie. when not fighting a guy with great wrestling skills. And that’s why it’s a good test for Gustaffson, they’re both mostly stand up fighters, and if it does make it to the ground somehow, it’ll be interesting to see if Gustaffson will have improved on his submission defense since losing to Davis.
Shnak - January 11, 2012
he's number 10 right now...
TylerTreese - January 11, 2012
That’s BS. He’s 2-2 over his last 4 fights, and could’ve easily been 1-3. How is he a top ten fighter after that?
Shnak - January 11, 2012
His last name is Nogueira
BKdroid - January 11, 2012
BS? It's called USA Today/SBNation rankings ::)
TylerTreese - January 11, 2012
Well, Hendo does have a loss to Lil Nog. Seems interesting enough to me.
andrew861 - January 10, 2012
theres no point its just a keep busy fight and hendo doesnt need those right now cuz god only knows how long he has left in his career
benten20 - January 11, 2012
Keep busy fights don't usually have title shot implications
And know he’s on the shelf, which is just ideal for a fighter his age.
VenusBlue - January 11, 2012
and if he somehow loses?
lil nog is not gonna be a viable contender anytime soon. why risk losing hendo as a contender? give hendo the title shot
benten20 - January 11, 2012
If Hendo loses to Lil Nog
Then he obviously didn’t deserve the title shot.
discoandherpes - January 11, 2012
I wouldn't say that exactly
Lil’ Nog presents a completely different set of challenges than Jones does. Rogerio is probably the most matchup-dependent fighter at the top of the 205 division. Yes, Jones almost certainly would smash him, but Hendo might have some difficulty – he sure did the last time they fought.
VenusBlue - January 12, 2012
Agreed, there’s nothin in it for Hendo at this point other than to keep him busy. With Hendo’s age and riding the best win streak of his career, the time to give him a title shot is now.
Noah'sArk - January 11, 2012 via mobile
i agree he should get the title shot asap
benten20 - January 11, 2012
I'll be there
Damon O. - January 10, 2012
Me, tooooo!!!
KatGirl - January 11, 2012
BE match making?
TheFilt - January 11, 2012
I've wanted to meet him for ages!
KatGirl - January 11, 2012
BROCKLESNAR!!!!! - January 11, 2012
If you guys get married, I want you to name the baby ‘Filt’; after the most handsome man on BE.
TheFilt - January 11, 2012
Duh.
Of course.
KatGirl - January 11, 2012
I made a promise to myself long years ago that my first born would be named Giant Silva
So it’s that or GTFO
Damon O. - January 11, 2012
Long years are 366 days by the way.
Damon O. - January 11, 2012
That's fine.
We can go with that for the first one. I’m sure we can find a way to name one of our other 11 kids “Filt”.
KatGirl - January 11, 2012
MinowaFilt
Damon O. - January 11, 2012
It would be only filting…er…fitting.
( . Y . ) - January 11, 2012
OMFG
IT IS ABOUT FUCKING TIME!!!!!!!!! hope the card is ok
Aramaki23 - January 10, 2012
Sonnen vs Silva in an outdoor match in Brazil???? That country will literally explode with awesome.
nicey - January 10, 2012
Gustaffson vs Hendo. Think of the awesomeness.
TheLastEmpress - January 10, 2012
Maybe a Rampage v Hendo Rematch after Japan?
It makes more sense to me to just have Hendo fight Jones at 145/146 and then have the winner fight Rashad/Davis, but I trust Joe Silva.
Schwizzles - January 10, 2012
eh what if Rampage wins? Do we really want to see him go against Evans or Jones again?
You’d have to think if Rampage were to beat Bader and Hendo he’d be either at a title shot or one fight away from it. I wouldn’t mind him facing Evans again but I think Jones would be too soon and more of the same.
TylerTreese - January 10, 2012
I think it'd be more on Jones
If he goes on to shittoss Rashad/Davis, Hendo, and whoever else is ready after that…..he needs to start taking some HW fights.
joker24 - January 10, 2012
I think Hendo wants to see how Evans/Davis plays out first before commiting to an agreement
Pandanus - January 10, 2012
Why would he want to do that?
TheLastEmpress - January 10, 2012
Didn’t mean to sound like a douche. But seriously, I don’t understand why you think he would do that.
TheLastEmpress - January 11, 2012
If Davis wins and doesn’t impress, then Hendo would probably get the next title shot.
fbihop - January 11, 2012
If Davis wins, I think under any circumstances Hendo is getting the shot. Unless Davis somehow blasts Rashad on the feet, which I don’t see happening.
Tim Bernier - January 11, 2012
If Davis wins, Hendo thinks he can convince Dana to give him the next title shot immediately.
Hendo might want to wait and see if Rashad wins before he agrees to fight someone like Nog.
Moper - January 11, 2012
Dang, two people replied while I was replying and now I look like a dummy.
Moper - January 11, 2012
If Davis somehow wins (a longshot IMO)
And Dana doesn’t give Hendo the shitle tot just because he mad, then I am DONE with that bald bozo fuck.
Rob Young - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Did you really just type "shitle tot"?
BKdroid - January 11, 2012
Excellent
I’ve been eagerly waiting for the UFC to comeback to Atlanta and shocked they took so long to do so. I missed them the first time around but will definitely be getting a ticket this time
Noah'sArk - January 10, 2012 via mobile
I have a bad feeling that this just made Dana even more pissed at Hendo. Why did they have to mention that Hendo turned down Lil Nog? They never do that kind of stuff unless they are trying to make people look bad. People turn fights down all the time and they don’t even mention it.
Also, I would say that Forrest Griffin is a bigger Zuffa name than Brian Bowles when it comes to fighters from Georgia.
Jeffrey McCrum - January 11, 2012
yeah, but Forrest is pretty much scared to fight nowadays.
Evans, Silva and Shogun have pretty much broken his spirit. I love the guy and hope he gets it back, but I saw him at a round table a week or so ago and he just didn’t sound like the same guy.
drain - January 11, 2012
Anthony Johnson is a bigger name as well
alxn - January 12, 2012
Usually guys turning down fights isn't info that Dana shares with the public.
He mad. Ooooo yes he mad.
Rob Young - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Yep, he will probably cut Torres again haha
potato623 - January 11, 2012
Haha, no matter who pisses Dana off, Torres is getting cut. Jones refuses to fight Hendo or Shad? Torres is cut. AO wears a bannana hamock in his fight against JDS? Torres is cut. Anderson Silva dances around with Sonnen repeating his performance against Maia? Torres is cut. New BE meme perhaps?
SentientAndroid - January 11, 2012
Torres would've been cut from BE for the comments he made.
drain - January 11, 2012
Doesn’t Davis train w/Hendo?? If so, wudnt think they’d fight each other.
The Don Mega - January 11, 2012 via mobile
F*** Dana
War Hendo!!
kinghaze - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Dana already said Hendo could have either the LHW or MW title shots after UFC 139. (“Dana White said he was open to letting Henderson challenge for a belt at either middleweight or light heavyweight, depending on which one is available first.” http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/11/20/ufc-139-press-pass-fight-night-news-and-notes/ I think you can also get the post fight presser or an Ariel interview where Dana says that on mmafighting.com as well if you search for it. I’m too lazy.)
It’s an insult to put Hendo in the position of having to turn down a purposeless fight. Hendo’s gonna get paid no matter what, but he’s at a point where he should be fighting for another belt, not risking injury while he waits for Dana to live up to his promise.
( . Y . ) - January 11, 2012
I can't wait
Till the stars align for hendo and he’s given a title shot much to the chagrin of Dana.
Now if only he’d actually win… I’d pay good money to see Dana’s reaction to Hendo beating down jones, winning the title, and announcing his retirement in one fell swoop.
Armleglegarm Head - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Kinda like
How machida turned down Evans and got slotted to fight jones despite the crying Dana did to the press about the whole Anderson silva money thing.
Except hendo has to win somehow.
Armleglegarm Head - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Nevermind, Davis and Hendo don’t train w/each other. They’re just both in SoCal
The Don Mega - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Why is everyone in such a hurry for Jones to smash Hendo?
discoandherpes - January 11, 2012
Hendo =
Limited amount of fights left
Armleglegarm Head - January 11, 2012 via mobile
And if he fights Jones
He’ll only have one fight left cause Jones will probably retire him.
discoandherpes - January 11, 2012
can't watch the video right now
did he say anything special about paris or just the same old “we’ll come there”? I’m kind of surprised seeing as MMA is still illegal here.
Sweet Scientist - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Good for Hendo
A lil nog fight are you kidding? What could that possibly due to his title contention aspirations.
Hendo, as I see him should face Jones.
The MW weight cut is too much for him, Anderson has a boat load on his plate to handle.
elmojo - January 11, 2012
Hendo's always played hardball when it comes to negotiating time
AfroSamurai - January 11, 2012
I'm quite annoyed at Henderson for turning down the Rogerio fight
1. I think it is a VERY winnable fight for Henderson to take to stay busy and keep himself as a top contender.
2. He has a loss to Rogerio…why not jump at an opportunity to avenge it. I mean, the more losses you avenge, the more guys you are 1-1 with….the better your ‘legacy’ looks when it’s all said and done. When trying to take yourself to that next level of greatness…I think this is a prett important thing
So yeah, I really don’t get it…
Chris Groves - January 11, 2012
In Dan Henderson's view, getting his title shot is more important than avenging losses from 6-7 years ago..
Nogueria hasn’t had a good enough win yet to put him in the mix for a title shot, so Hendo fighting him now is pointless. Avenging his losses is fine and all for his legacy, but waiting to see what happens with Rashad-Davis is the smarter play. Should Rashad lose, or get injured after his fight, Hendo can swoop down and get his title shot right away.
Hendo is getting up there in age, so he’s not going to waste his last fights on guys who won’t do anything for his title contention.
amendamatrix - January 11, 2012
I still think taking a perceived winnable fight
Is better than sitting on the shelf and hoping Evans loses so you get a shot.
I mean…I think at this point it is very unlikely that Super-Hendo woud lose to Rogerio.
So, stay busy, get win, keep everyone thinking about you, secure your contendership, get paid
or
sit out, don’t get paid, risk not getting the title shot anyway.
Chris Groves - January 11, 2012
Hendo will likely make more money fighting for the title than fighting a non-contender. Hendo isn’t Anthony Pettis, he doesn’t have a whole lot of time left to capture gold in the octagon, so fighting Lil Nog, who’s only high profile win in the UFC is Tito Ortiz, will do nothing to get him closer to a title shot. Hendo waiting for his chance, will get him closer since he’s already the clear #2 contender, he just has to see the results of the fight on the 28th. Even if Evans wins and is healthy to fight Jones immediately, he can still get his title shot before September, barring any injuries or shenanigans.
amendamatrix - January 11, 2012
It's not like beating Rogerio would take awayhis contendership
It would only restate it by giving him another win over a ranked opponent, extending his win streak, and having him avenge a loss….plus he gets paid and stays active.
There is no way he could win and come out worse for wear…unless he actually lost, which would be unlikely, or was horribly injured in victory…also unlikely.
Now he has to hope Evans loses or is badly injured. Because if Evans wins, then it’s Jones vs Evans in late March-early April at best.
Then he has to hope the winner of THAT is injury free…then you he gets to fight in June-July at best.
So his last fight was in November, and his next fight might not be until June…likely at the absolute earliest.
I remember when he had a long gap between his UFC 100 fight and his Strikeforce debut…didn’t work out well for him.
The fact that he doesn’t have a lot of fights left means that he should be fighting while he still can.
Chris Groves - January 11, 2012
What if he loses?
Which can definitely happen.
TheFilt - January 11, 2012
It doesn't matter how likely Hendo would win that fight, avenging a loss to Lil Nog comes in a distant second to possibly comepleting his last title run,
Lil Nog is no scrub and could give him a hard fought fight. Even if Dan wins, he could possibly get caught up into another brutal fight like he had with Shogun, which could force him to sit out longer than normal, or worse, suffer an injury and not return the same. Actually, the worst part is if Hendo losses the fight, even if it is from a bad decision.
If Dan’s manager, and coaches had any sense , they would tell him to wait until his turn. Rashad waiting 12+ months for a fight was dumb because he was still only 30 yrs old at the time and still in his prime, but Hendo is on the wrong side of 40, so he better not put his body through too much unnecessary damage until he accomplishes his dream of being a champion in the most prestigious MMA promotion in the world.
amendamatrix - January 11, 2012
So if Hendo and Lil Nog did fight and Lil Nog won, he'd get a title shot?
Patrick Hughes - January 11, 2012
which is ridiculous...
Patrick Hughes - January 11, 2012
Yeah I was wondering about that as well (and I’m a Nog Nuthugger).
Vetr - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Well that’s what happens when Jones goes through all challengers at a ridiculous pace. There’ll be nobody left at LHW in about 6 months.
Shnak - January 11, 2012
yeah I suppose your right, can’t really imagine how they’d market Lil Nog as a proper challenge to Jones tho
Patrick Hughes - January 11, 2012
Maybe the UFC needs to change their marketing for Jones fight… instead of selling us on how good his opponents are, they should instead sell us on how badly Jones will beat them up. You know, like they used to do for Tyson way back when. Prop up your champion, not the challengers.
Shnak - January 11, 2012
yeh I suppose you’re right there
Patrick Hughes - January 11, 2012
I don’t blame Hendo for passing up this fight. He would gain very little from a win over Little Nog (other than avenging a loss to him on his record), and a loss would definitely put him out of title-shot contention.
I think Hendo will hang it out and wait for either a shot at the champion – whether that be Jones or Rashad.
@KatanaClothing - January 11, 2012
Anderson Silva and Chael should fight in Anderson's Soccer Stadium
JaeeJaee - January 11, 2012
Only big fights for Hendo...lil nog? Really ?
C’mon son
RECE ROCK - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Pretty sure Georgia's most notable fighter
is Forrest Griffin
Stiff Jab - January 11, 2012
You spelled Clay Harvison wrong
Damon O. - January 11, 2012
Hendo is ducking Rogerio.
He was handled easily by Rogerio last time, so now he’s obviously scared of losing again and missing out on a title shot and a big payday.
Rogerio absolutely deserves to be fighting established stars in the UFC. He obviously hasn’t got the recognition he deserves by the casual fans in the US. Bouts with Forrest and Rashad would’ve helped, but neither of those eventuated (Rashad also turned down a fight with him).
Rogerio is definitely a true warrior and is again doing the UFC a solid, by stepping up to the plate against Gustafsson on his home turf. Trust me, Alexander is a much tougher opponent than Hendo (as was Davis) and he gains a lot less from taking the fight. Rogerio deserves a lot of respect for taking on that fight and I hope the UFC throws him some extra cash for doing so.
Hendo on the other hand…. well, he’s just running scared from a fighter who beat him easily when they last fought.
Mad-Dog - January 11, 2012
While that makes sense, you also have to understand that Hendo doesn’t want to risk a big payday in a title shot by taking this fight with Lil Nog… what happens if the winner of Davis and Evans isn’t ready to fight Jones, and Hendo has commited to fight Gustaffson? Hendo loses big time there. You can’t blame Hendo for playing it safe and hoping he gets a title shot soon.
Shnak - January 11, 2012
And this is Hendo's last go-around
A loss now to anyone but possibly Jones in a competitive fight knocks him too far down the ladder to ever make it near the top again in the time he has left…
The American Ronin - January 11, 2012
Damn.
I was really holding out hope for Lil Nog vs Shogun 2.
LenBarson - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Shogun is technically coming off a "loss"
discoandherpes - January 11, 2012
Is he?
Its a cliche, but its hard for me to think that either man lost in that one. I know Joe Silva likes to make fights based on the outcomes of the guys last fight, but I think Shogun/Lil Nog 2 would be gangbusters. Plus you could make the case that both Rogerio and Shogun are both 1-2 in their last 3.
While I would be considerably more excited for Nog/Shogun, Nog/Gusty is interesting for different reasons, but interesting nonetheless.
LenBarson - January 11, 2012
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