UFC set to return to Dublin, Ireland on March 17th, O2 Arena already lined up as venu

SuperWoody101

Taken from MMABay.co.uk

The UFC looks set to return to Dublin, Ireland on March 17th, 2011 after it emerged the promotion has first refusal on the O2 Arena in the city, one of the largest venues in the country.

The promotion staged UFC 93 at the same venue in January 2009 and it was declared a roaring success by the promotion and fans alike.

There will be no shortage of UFC fighters with Irish-American heritage lining up to compete on the card, with Marcus Davis and Forrest Griffin just two that stand out from the crowd.

http://www.mmabay.co.uk/2010/08/03/ufc-set-to-return-to-dublin-ireland-on-march-17th-o2-arena-already-lined-up-as-venue/

unknown13

NEVER USE MMA BAY AS A SOURCE

They talk more shít than every mma site combined

Professey Chin

And also a thursday next year

SuperWoody101

unknown13 wrote: »

NEVER USE MMA BAY AS A SOURCE

They talk more shít than every mma site combined

I know, just thought I would post it to see if anyone knew anymore about it.

unknown13

Ultimate Chin wrote: »

And also a thursday next year

Thursday night PPV?

No way in hell is Forrest fighting on a free card.

scudzilla

NEVER EVER use MmaGay as a source, they're useless, and as ^^ says, it's a Thursday

SuperWoody101

scudzilla wrote: »

NEVER EVER use MmaGay as a source, they're useless, and as ^^ says, it's a Thursday

Not a lot of love for MMABay I take it...

unknown13

SuperWoody101 wrote: »

Not a lot of love for MMABay I take it...

If Sherdog forums ban a site from being used as a source, you know that site is full of shít

scudzilla

SuperWoody101 wrote: »

Not a lot of love for MMABay I take it...

Not really, the guy who runs it is a spanner.

When UFC were first in London, UFC75 i think, way before he started the site, he hung around the arena, suckin up to UFC staff, then told them his mum was ill and she loved UFC, it would make her day to meet the fighters.

They arranged for him and his ma to go backstage, he was the one wit his autograph book and camera!!!!

scudzilla

unknown13 wrote: »

If Sherdog forums ban a site from being used as a source, you know that site is full of shít

Who did they interview and it was proved to be a fake? It was posted and all, maybe Nate Quarry???

SuperWoody101

unknown13 wrote: »

If Sherdog forums ban a site from being used as a source, you know that site is full of shít

Never knew that, not on the Sherdog forums but that is funny.

SuperWoody101

scudzilla wrote: »

Not really, the guy who runs it is a spanner.

When UFC were first in London, UFC75 i think, way before he started the site, he hung around the arena, suckin up to UFC staff, then told them his mum was ill and she loved UFC, it would make her day to meet the fighters.

They arranged for him and his ma to go backstage, he was the one wit his autograph book and camera!!!!

If that is true then that is low!!

unknown13

scudzilla wrote: »

Who did they interview and it was proved to be a fake? It was posted and all, maybe Nate Quarry???

It was Nate Quarry. They wrote about how Nate said he was going to destroy Anderson Silva and they started going on about it.

Realistically, would Nate Quarry have said any of that even in the pre fight if he ever fought Anderson? Absolutely not, Nate is one of the biggest Gentlemen in the sport.

scudzilla

SuperWoody101 wrote: »

If that is true then that is low!!

100% true as a guy i know won the backstage tour from the Fight Club, he could take a guest and he took a good friend of mine. They ran into the Spanner there

SuperWoody101

scudzilla wrote: »

100% true as a guy i know won the backstage tour from the Fight Club, he could take a guest and he took a good friend of mine. They ran into the Spanner there

OMG, that is low!!

rovert

Speculation based on it being Paddys day it seems.

kainer2

Thursday in the States is usually a big TV night....and since it would be shown prime time in the States on a delay, this makes sense.

Plus "Fight Night" shows are usually shown on a Thursday out there too.

Plus if i'm going to be really cynical, that date would likely be during the 4th season of Bellator, which is also shown on a Thursday

The Freeman

rovert wrote: »

Speculation based on it being Paddys day it seems.

indeed it seems like that.

i would welcome a fight night on a thursday for what its worth.
those cards are as good as a main card from 2-3 years ago

gimmick

Wasn't this exact same rumour and day going around last year as well for Patricks day 2010?

rovert

gimmick wrote: »

Wasn't this exact same rumour and day going around last year as well for Patricks day 2010?

But my aunty's uncle's second cousin's father who knows someone who works at the o2 said that it is going to happen.

To answer your question yes. It'll be correct one year though...hopefully.

Odats

Sure they are planning on doing a fight night in Glasgow around February time if it is believed so doing two in quick succession over this side wouldn't be viable. IF true and I me IF it will probably be a PPV on the Saturday after or a numbered free Spike Card.

Sid_Justice

Like it's as if there is come conspiracy theory against the ever reliable Irish UFC fan. Dana White isn't the guy in charge of putting on European shows, the UK guy is. The Point Depot/02 Arena is incredibly difficult to book, everything of 8000+ goes in there, they'd need to be looking to book it MONTHS and MONTHS in advance, and the UFC just can't work that far away. I don't think it's their number one priority to return to ireland, they've down 2 shows here already (belfast and dublin) but i think they recognise that its a important market with loyal fans so they do WANT to come back.

that's my opinion.

RVCA

scudzilla wrote: »

Not really, the guy who runs it is a spanner.

When UFC were first in London, UFC75 i think, way before he started the site, he hung around the arena, suckin up to UFC staff, then told them his mum was ill and she loved UFC, it would make her day to meet the fighters.

They arranged for him and his ma to go backstage, he was the one wit his autograph book and camera!!!!

Hilarious

scudzilla

Sid_Justice wrote: »

Like it's as if there is come conspiracy theory against the ever reliable Irish UFC fan. Dana White isn't the guy in charge of putting on European shows, the UK guy is. The Point Depot/02 Arena is incredibly difficult to book, everything of 8000+ goes in there, they'd need to be looking to book it MONTHS and MONTHS in advance, and the UFC just can't work that far away. I don't think it's their number one priority to return to ireland, they've down 2 shows here already (belfast and dublin) but i think they recognise that its a important market with loyal fans so they do WANT to come back.

that's my opinion.

No way on earth does Marshal Zelaznik have the final say over Dana on when/where European events wil be held.

The conversation will probably go like this

DANA : Marshall, 3rd Saturday in March we're having a show in Dublin, get the ball rolling

MARSHALL : Yes Boss

Daniel2oo9

Gerard.C wrote: »

nd u were givin out to me 4 using txt speak. hypocrite

What an Idiot.

Niall0

From an interview with Marcus Davis:

"After fighting in Boston, Davis says his aim is to fight twice more before returning to fight in Ireland in March. Known for his exciting fights that often descend into bloody brawls, Davis spoke about what else he feels he has to prove in the UFC, and the possibility of a title shot: "

http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/news/viewarticle.php?id=5084&offset=0

MrStuffins

Niall0 wrote: »

From an interview with Marcus Davis:

"After fighting in Boston, Davis says his aim is to fight twice more before returning to fight in Ireland in March. Known for his exciting fights that often descend into bloody brawls, Davis spoke about what else he feels he has to prove in the UFC, and the possibility of a title shot: "

http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/news/viewarticle.php?id=5084&offset=0

St Patty would be proud!

rovert

I saw chatter about this online last night but I couldnt fine a source.

Just for record I think Davis said he would be fighting in Ireland last March. I guess the dude can only go on by what he hears from the UFC office.

Tones69

Judging by this interview we will deffo be getting an event early next year about 4.20 mins in

http://www.johnoriordan.ie/index.php/2010/07/07/ufc-might-return-at-the-start-of-2011/

This has been in the works for a while , UFC really wanted to cement UFC with Paddys day , to have every year .

DrPhilG

Lads, balls to the O2!

Rumour is that they're planning to build a new arena in Derry to celebrate being City of Culture and so they can bid for stuff like the Brit Awards. Different rumours have it anything from 10,000 to 18,000 seater.

We can hope...

rovert

DrPhilG wrote: »

Lads, balls to the O2!

Rumour is that they're planning to build a new arena in Derry to celebrate being City of Culture and so they can bid for stuff like the Brit Awards. Different rumours have it anything from 10,000 to 18,000 seater.

We can hope...

The impression I got from someone who works with UFC is that the UFC office and fighters hated Belfast for reasons ranging from the poor ticket sales to the lack of nightlife.

Dancor

DrPhilG wrote: »

Lads, balls to the O2!

Rumour is that they're planning to build a new arena in Derry to celebrate being City of Culture and so they can bid for stuff like the Brit Awards. Different rumours have it anything from 10,000 to 18,000 seater.

We can hope...

The o2 is a fine venue.

DrPhilG

Dancor wrote: »

The o2 is a fine venue.

True, but it's not 15 minutes from my house now is it?

And from a less selfish point of view, if the O2 is such a difficult arena to book, and they hated Belfast, Derry would be a nice alternative.

I didn't remember ticket sales being that bad at 72, it was my first live event. I thought that with the Odyssey being a fairly large venue and MMA being a fair bit smaller in NI at that stage, they did OK?

rovert

Just remembered another reason why they hated Belfast is that it rained non-stop. No joke.

Minstrel27

rovert wrote: »

Just remembered another reason why they hated Belfast is that it rained non-stop. No joke.

I fondly remember getting soaked on the way to the O2 for UFC 93.

Professey Chin

rovert wrote: »

Just remembered another reason why they hated Belfast is that it rained non-stop. No joke.

No it didnt.If it was I sure as hell wouldnt have been walking down the side of my hotel :pac:

siochain

rock solid source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_128

MrStuffins

siochain wrote: »

rock solid source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_128

Wiki is a grear source. Its where i get all my college material from.

Onearmedbandit

MrStuffins wrote: »

Wiki is a grear source. Its where i get all my college material from.

Yeah considering Wiki says UFC 124 is set to have "Chuck Norris vs God" I can conclude that the site is factually accurate. Still wouldn't be as good as Silva v Sonnen though. :P

DrPhilG

Ultimate Chin wrote: »

No it didnt.If it was I sure as hell wouldnt have been walking down the side of my hotel

This you on the way back to the hotel after?

Turtyturd

Onearmedbandit wrote: »

Yeah considering Wiki says UFC 124 is set to have "Chuck Norris vs God" I can conclude that the site is factually accurate. Still wouldn't be as good as Silva v Sonnen though. :P

Might be if God got loaded up on PED'S.

Professey Chin

DrPhilG wrote: »

This you on the way back to the hotel after

Close enough....minus the cape

DrPhilG

Ultimate Chin wrote: »

Close enough....minus the cape

I notice you didn't say "minus the accompanying young boy in tights"... :eek:

Professey Chin

DrPhilG wrote: »

I notice you didn't say "minus the accompanying young boy in tights"... :eek:

I didnt say which I was :pac:...............wait thats not any better is it

gatecrasher69er

if and when the ufc comes to ireland..how many irish fighters do yous think they will have on the undercard??

MrStuffins

gatecrasher69er wrote: »

if and when the ufc comes to ireland..how many irish fighters do yous think they will have on the undercard??

One token Irishman.

Tones69

One, 2 tops

Kazooie

And Marcus Davis will be one of those

scudzilla

And also probably Forrest, that's if he's stopped running :rolleyes::rolleyes:

I've only seen 2 sources on this so far. Can anyone actually confirm it?