What Would Kevin Do?
09-01-2010, 10:51 PM
Detroit suburb to host UFC 123 on Nov. 20, "Rampage" vs. Machida headlines
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Sep 01, 2010 at 12:35 pm ET
For the first time in more than 14 years and 150 events, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is heading to Michigan.
UFC 123, which takes place Nov. 20, will be hosted by the 23,000-seat Palace of Auburn Hills in a suburb of Detroit.
The "Detroit Free Press" first reported the plans, and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) since has confirmed them with sources close to the show.
The sources said cities ranging from San Antonio to Cleveland to Pittsburgh were also considered for the pay-per-view event before UFC officials ultimately settled on Auburn Hills.
As MMAjunkie.com first reported back in July, the event features a light-heavyweight headliner between former champions Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-8 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and Lyoto Machida (16-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC).
Michigan hasn't hosted a UFC show since UFC 9 in 1996. The event took place at Detroit's Cobo Arena. Of the UFC's first 15 events, UFC 9 had the biggest attendance with an estimated 11,200.
Jackson, who won his title with a knockout of Chuck Liddell in 2007, looks to bounce back from a May loss to nemesis and "The Ultimate Fighter 10" rival coach Rashad Evans at UFC 114. Prior to the loss, which ended a 14-month layoff, Jackson had earned back-to-back victories over Keith Jardine and Wanderlei Silva. The pair of victories followed the loss of his belt to Forrest Griffin.
Machida, meanwhile, also looks to bounce back from a loss – the first defeat of his career. "The Dragon" was knocked out in the first round of his May rematch with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and relinquished his belt in the process. Prior to the defeat, Machida had earned eight-straight UFC wins, including a UFC 98 knockout of Evans that earned him the title.
For additional coverage of UFC 123, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Sep 01, 2010 at 12:35 pm ET
For the first time in more than 14 years and 150 events, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is heading to Michigan.
UFC 123, which takes place Nov. 20, will be hosted by the 23,000-seat Palace of Auburn Hills in a suburb of Detroit.
The "Detroit Free Press" first reported the plans, and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) since has confirmed them with sources close to the show.
The sources said cities ranging from San Antonio to Cleveland to Pittsburgh were also considered for the pay-per-view event before UFC officials ultimately settled on Auburn Hills.
As MMAjunkie.com first reported back in July, the event features a light-heavyweight headliner between former champions Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-8 MMA, 5-2 UFC) and Lyoto Machida (16-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC).
Michigan hasn't hosted a UFC show since UFC 9 in 1996. The event took place at Detroit's Cobo Arena. Of the UFC's first 15 events, UFC 9 had the biggest attendance with an estimated 11,200.
Jackson, who won his title with a knockout of Chuck Liddell in 2007, looks to bounce back from a May loss to nemesis and "The Ultimate Fighter 10" rival coach Rashad Evans at UFC 114. Prior to the loss, which ended a 14-month layoff, Jackson had earned back-to-back victories over Keith Jardine and Wanderlei Silva. The pair of victories followed the loss of his belt to Forrest Griffin.
Machida, meanwhile, also looks to bounce back from a loss – the first defeat of his career. "The Dragon" was knocked out in the first round of his May rematch with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and relinquished his belt in the process. Prior to the defeat, Machida had earned eight-straight UFC wins, including a UFC 98 knockout of Evans that earned him the title.
For additional coverage of UFC 123, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.