UFC plans to invade Great Britain
Penn battles Stevenson for vacant lightweight title in Newcastle
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Failure is not an option for Ultimate Fighting Championship in its plans to invade Great Britain.
“We’re getting our (butt) kicked over there,” said Dana White, UFC president.
Despite an inability to achieve the same buckets of money UFC rakes in the United States, the show proceeds with UFC 80 Rapid Fire at Newcastle, England. BJ Penn battles Joe “Daddy” Stevenson for the vacant UFC lightweight title on Sat. Jan. 19.
The fight card will be shown live on pay-per-view television. It begins early at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
Because of overseas television revenue constrictions, UFC can’t use its usual formula to guarantee financial success, but White insists that one or two lost battles do not make a war. UFC will battle on in Europe and other parts of the world.
“I don’t think there is anything profitable about the European market,” White admits. “But I think it (mixed martial arts) can be the biggest sport in the world.”
White foresees MMA being shown through the Internet, not television, and expects to drive UFC through the dry periods overseas nonetheless, until technology reaches that point.
“If I’m wrong, we spent a ****load of money for nothing,” said White during a conference call. “My light is at the end of the tunnel.”
The next invasion of Great Britain begins with Hawaii’s jujitsu master Penn dropping down in weight to ply his talent against the formidable ground master Stevenson. It looks like an even contest between two grunts.
“I’m not looking past Joe Stevenson,” said Penn (12-4-1), who fought at 170 pounds for a number of years before accepting this fight at 155 pounds.
Because former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk was stripped of the title due to a suspension by California State Athletic Commission, the title was declared vacant and now Stevenson and Penn are on collision course.
“You are going to see us on the ground and you’re going to see a clinic,” predicts Stevenson (33-7).
Penn has battled some of the greatest names in MMA including Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver, Georges St. Pierre and Matt Serra. The confidence he shows in his own ability has led to arguments with White to allow him to fight heavyweights.
“I told him you’re out of your mind,” White replied to Penn when asked to set up a fight with a heavyweight. “Once you get to 205 (light heavyweights) pounds those guys are huge.”
After lobbying for years, White finally convinced Penn to descend to the highly competitive lightweight division.
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“This fight is huge. Joe Stevenson is a great opponent,” says Penn, who is a former welterweight champion. “He has so many weapons, so many tools.”
But the Hawaiian remains confident.
“Without a doubt I’ll be the guy who wins two titles in two weight divisions,” Penn says.
Stevenson, a muscular former wrestler, usually dedicates most of his training on his striking game with boxers and kickboxers.
Not this time.
“BJ is awesome,” Stevenson says freely. “Normally I don’t train on the ground at all, but I respect BJ’s game so much I’ve trained on the ground this time.”
The winner most certainly steps on the lightweight mountain and will then dig in to defend against a multitude of 155-pounders in the talent rich division. Names like Roger Huerta, Rob McCullough, Tyson Griffin, Josh Neer, Frank Edgar and Thiago Tavares await him like a murderer’s row.
Both fighters are confident. UFC boss White is even more confident about the division’s ability to attract fans.
“These guys are two of the most hyped up fighters on the ground,” said White with a mischievous tone. “BJ is very hard to take down. I think this fight is going to end up on their feet.”
Penn wants to break Stevenson’s roadblock to greater glory.
“The victory is everything to me,” said Penn. “I want to be one of the great champions.”
Other bouts on the British MMA fight card include Gabriel Gonzaga pit against Fabricio Werdum, Wilson Gouveia against Jason Lambert, Jess Liaudin meeting Marcus Davis, Kendall Grove matched against Jorge Rivera and several other bouts.
Don’t forget the fight will be aired live at 3 p.m. Eastern Time and 12 p.m. Pacific Time.
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