UFC 70 in Manchester

23-02-2007 3:06pm #1

UFC held a press conference in Manchester, England this morning to publically announce matches for UFC 70 at Manchester’s MEN Arena on Saturday, April 21, where the big announcement was that PRIDE fighter Fabricio Werdum had joined Dana White’s company.

White revealed that the Werdum deal had only just been completed. He commented on how PRIDE was in trouble and that more PRIDE fighters were UFC-bound, although no names were mentioned.

Several matches for UFC 70 were announced, including the headline match of Mirko Cro Cop vs Gabriel Gonzaga, with Cro Cop in line for a title shot should he win in Manchester. Werdum vs Andrei Arlovski was also announced, along Michael Bisping vs Elvis Sinosic and Forrest Griffin vs Ryoto Machida.

As we reported yesterday, UFC 70 will be broadcast live on Pay-Per-View in the UK via Setanta Sports, rather than on its one-day delay via Bravo . This morning’s press conference also saw an announcement that all UFC PPV’s will air live in the United Kingdom via Setanta Sports, priced £14.95. In addition, the current contract with Bravo will continue, with UFC PPV’s airing on a one-day delay and other UFC programming continuing to air.

As well as announcing details of the TV deal in the UK, Marshall Zelaznik, who fronts UFC’s UK operations, also revealed that the promotion will run up to six shows a year throughout Europe, as well as revealing that the company had looked at smaller venues where UFC could run their “Fight Night” shows that currently air in the U.S via Spike TV.