Veterans Marvin Eastman (14-7-1) and Evan Tanner (32-6) could tangle in a middleweight bout at UFC 76: “Knockout” on September 22, according to statements made from “The Beastman” last night on Cage Side Live.
Eastman — a light heavyweight (205 pounds) for the better part of his career — was rumored to be fighting Drew McFedries at UFC 77 on October 22 in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the interview, Eastman revealed that the UFC decided to move him to the Anaheim, Calif., card and did not provide a reason.
He did not come out and confirm the showdown with Tanner outright … he also didn’t deny it. But, the former champion is the only other 185-pounder penciled in for the card without an opponent.
As of June 2005, Tanner was the UFC middleweight champion, stopping David Terrell four months earlier in round one at UFC 51: “Super Saturday” to capture the vacant division title. He then lost his belt to Rich Franklin at UFC 53: “Heavy Hitters” and was defeated in his next fight against David Loiseau at Ultimate Fight Night (UFN) 2.
Tanner resurfaced in early 2006, submitting Justin Levens via triangle choke in round one at UFC 59: “Reality Check.” Then, the 36-year-old just vanished from the fight scene only to resurface in recent months with talk of his fight team, which eventually fell through.
He announced his plans to return to the UFC in June.
Since his loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 67 via second-round knockout, Eastman has gone on to recently outpoint Rob Kimmons at the International Fighting Organization (IFO) event last month.
For the latest UFC 76 fight card click here.
29 Comments »
dang i was lookin forward for Eastman vs Mcfedries, but this is gonna be good. im goin with tanner by tko.
Tanners last fight was last year at UFC 59? He`s has alot of hard training ahead of him.
A fight between one person I’ve been wanting to see get back in the octagon, and the other is one that I was hoping to never see in the octagon again. Hopefully Tanner can take care of Eastman rather quickly and get his career back on track. He has unquestionable talent and heart. Those two intangibles are exactly what is needed to make it in MMA.
http://www.mmascoops.com/news.php?page=/188103741
The following is a quote from an anonymous source inside the Chute Boxe USA website regarding breaking news about the splitting up of the fight team:
“Chute Boxe Academy has split up my friend. None of the fighters got along with Coach Roberto (USA). Recently Anthony Johnson (UFC fighter) left the group because he couldn’t get along with Coach Roberto. Ninja and Shogun will be moving to L.A. and taking over the gym. Ninja will replace Roberto, and is currently in contacts with Johnson and other fighters who left, to re-assemble the team. Wanderlei will be fighting soon, and he will be training with (you guys won’t fuckin believe this) ……..
Tanners website is actually pretty personal and interesting.
Talking about how he’s living on a boat, fixing it up, etc.
I think now that he’s gotten rid of all his personal demons, he could be ready for a Couture-like comeback into the sport. Remember, Couture had a lot of personal issues, and after he resolved them and switched up gyms, etc, he came back like a new man.
I am hoping Evan does the same, because he is a good guy in and out of the ring.
Eastman via doctor stoppage. Calling it now. Tanner’s liver is going to give out during the fight.
[quote post=”2929″]Tanners last fight was last year at UFC 59? He`s has alot of hard training ahead of him. [/quote]
Hes already been training everyday for the last couple of months. Living on a boat and driving an hour each way to train all day. I cant wait to see him again. Hes one of my all time favorites.
Who really cares if this fight takes place? Neither of them are real contenders now. This match would be like when the WWE brings back all the old wrestlers for some dumb-ass PPV battle royal or something- purely for laughs or a break to go piss or go on a beer run.
Id rather c evan tanner vs. Mcfedries
[quote comment=”118347″]Who really cares if this fight takes place? Neither of them are real contenders now. This match would be like when the WWE brings back all the old wrestlers for some dumb-ass PPV battle royal or something- purely for laughs or a break to go piss or go on a beer run.[/quote]
Who gives a crap if they won’t be in title contention anytime soon? These are 2 MMA vets who should match up well w/ and provide us w/ a good, entertaining fight. Why should every fight have an immediate influence on the title? Everyone has to start on the bottom, otherwise nobody would get a second (or a third or fourth) chance. Show some respect.
[quote comment=”118364″][quote comment=”118347″]Who really cares if this fight takes place? Neither of them are real contenders now. This match would be like when the WWE brings back all the old wrestlers for some dumb-ass PPV battle royal or something- purely for laughs or a break to go piss or go on a beer run.[/quote]
Who gives a crap if they won’t be in title contention anytime soon? These are 2 MMA vets who should match up well w/ and provide us w/ a good, entertaining fight. Why should every fight have an immediate influence on the title? Everyone has to start on the bottom, otherwise nobody would get a second (or a third or fourth) chance. Show some respect.[/quote]
Amen, brother. Plus, if Tanner has gotten his head screwed on straight and is focused on his training, then he definitely has the talent to quickly find himself in title contention once again. He’s already proven that he has the necessary tools…he just has to focus and put it all together. Plus sprinkle on some new tricks that he should be picking up from Chute Box and Tanner may well still be a force to be reckoned with @ 185.
Amen Noel. Perfect response!
Tanner was one of my favourite fighters in MMA. The guy was not only one of the toughest fighters but he also one of the most versatile with his ground game, knees and elbows. When he was fighting at his best he had the ability to take out anyone. He has had some classic matches. I agree, so what about title contention, as long I am entertained , and there is no doubt Tanner is more than capable of that, thats all that I’m bothered about. I go for my refills or to take a piss whenever I watch Sherk fighting.
See here’s the thing, Tanner lost to Franklin badly. Franklinly messed his face up. I know Tanner almost had Franklin out in round 1 and Rich was saved by the bell. But why on earth did Tanner want to out box Rich.
Tanner has deadly knees, still some of the best in the business in my humble opinion. Anderson Silva messed Rich up. Now Rich is strong and a big mw but hell so is Tanner, maybe bigger! If Tanner can engage Rich in a clinch (okay easier said than done fair enough) I don’t see why he couldn’t do the same thing to him.
But Anderson Silva is the champ you say. Yeah too right and I think he’ll defend it against Ace. However I still feel Tanner will have to fight Franklin again. Whether it’s for the number 1 contender or for the belt. Suppose Rich loses and Tanner wins well he might get Okami instead of Rich but who knows. Food for thought anyway at the least.
Love Evan Tanner and completely agree with your comment, Noel. I can’t wait to see him get back in the octagon and show us what he’s got. I don’t understand all the people fixated on the title so much in MMA. Of course it’s important, but with the dynamics and realities of this sport (4 oz gloves giving a punchers chance at a knockout with every bout) the championship is far less likely to stay on any fighters belt for long. I’m here for the fights. I don’t care if the exciting matchups are title fights or undercards, I just want to see guys give their all.
i told you guys a long time ago he was going to fight makes sense they need a middleweight fight on the card. i like tanner i hope he wins
This could be interesting. Eastman is more a stand-up slugger thug. Tanner is a ground and pounder.
[quote comment=”118468″]See here’s the thing, Tanner lost to Franklin badly. Franklinly messed his face up. I know Tanner almost had Franklin out in round 1 and Rich was saved by the bell. But why on earth did Tanner want to out box Rich.
Tanner has deadly knees, still some of the best in the business in my humble opinion. Anderson Silva messed Rich up. Now Rich is strong and a big mw but hell so is Tanner, maybe bigger! If Tanner can engage Rich in a clinch (okay easier said than done fair enough) I don’t see why he couldn’t do the same thing to him.
But Anderson Silva is the champ you say. Yeah too right and I think he’ll defend it against Ace. However I still feel Tanner will have to fight Franklin again. Whether it’s for the number 1 contender or for the belt. Suppose Rich loses and Tanner wins well he might get Okami instead of Rich but who knows. Food for thought anyway at the least.[/quote]
Tanner has lost to Franklin twice. Not sure why there would be a third match-up even though a lot of time has gone by. Tanner should get a second not-so-hard fighter and then maybe they finesse a title shot for him.
Tanner said that he knows the exact way to beat Anderson Silva… who knows… he could be champion again.
I thought Evan Tanner would deserve someone a little better than Eastman? Anywho…Glad to see Tanner back. The middleweight division needs him badly.
Evan Tanner by TKO not to excited for this one
I wanna c Tanner added to the weak 185 division. Tanner may not win, but he always puts the other fighter ?”thru the fire” as Rogan would say… I dont know how much he has left to compete for the title, but at the very least, he is a way to test the up an comming fighters and find out who the real deal is, and weed out the pretenders.
I saw somewhere that he would fight at 205… I hope thats a mistake.. He is needed at 185
[quote comment=”118578″][quote comment=”118468″]See here’s the thing, Tanner lost to Franklin badly. Franklinly messed his face up. I know Tanner almost had Franklin out in round 1 and Rich was saved by the bell. But why on earth did Tanner want to out box Rich.
Tanner has deadly knees, still some of the best in the business in my humble opinion. Anderson Silva messed Rich up. Now Rich is strong and a big mw but hell so is Tanner, maybe bigger! If Tanner can engage Rich in a clinch (okay easier said than done fair enough) I don’t see why he couldn’t do the same thing to him.
But Anderson Silva is the champ you say. Yeah too right and I think he’ll defend it against Ace. However I still feel Tanner will have to fight Franklin again. Whether it’s for the number 1 contender or for the belt. Suppose Rich loses and Tanner wins well he might get Okami instead of Rich but who knows. Food for thought anyway at the least.[/quote]
Tanner has lost to Franklin twice. Not sure why there would be a third match-up even though a lot of time has gone by. Tanner should get a second not-so-hard fighter and then maybe they finesse a title shot for him.[/quote]
Yeah I know, but for fans in the know (suppose there’s a lot of casual fans who aren’t) he has to fight someone genuine before he fights Silva. Add to this the fact the mw division is pretty weak. Honestly though who could he fight in his second fight?
There’s Rich, Yushin, Jmac, Grove, Herman, Marquardt. Terry Martin? That’s a who’s who really. Pretty weak I’d say. You see the thing is I don’t want to see the UFC engineer a title shot. He’s got to fight one of the 5 above if he can get past Marvin and I don’t think they’d feed him either of the TUF guys. If so it’s bs. It’s got to be Rich, Yushin, Jmac or Marquardt. Preferably Okami, if not Rich. As a fan those are the fights I want to see.
That being said you’re probably right, they won’t give Ace…would be nice to see though because I think Tanner is better than what he showed the last time they fought. Tanner Okami is fine by me though.
So Tanner is going to fight 205 now?? Thats cool. Still wont do crap but you can always appreciate a good fighter
[quote comment=”118468″]See here’s the thing, Tanner lost to Franklin badly. Franklinly messed his face up. I know Tanner almost had Franklin out in round 1 and Rich was saved by the bell. But why on earth did Tanner want to out box Rich.
Tanner has deadly knees, still some of the best in the business in my humble opinion. Anderson Silva messed Rich up. Now Rich is strong and a big mw but hell so is Tanner, maybe bigger! If Tanner can engage Rich in a clinch (okay easier said than done fair enough) I don’t see why he couldn’t do the same thing to him.
But Anderson Silva is the champ you say. Yeah too right and I think he’ll defend it against Ace. However I still feel Tanner will have to fight Franklin again. Whether it’s for the number 1 contender or for the belt. Suppose Rich loses and Tanner wins well he might get Okami instead of Rich but who knows. Food for thought anyway at the least.[/quote]
Tanner vs Okami…..*drools*
[quote comment=”119686″][quote comment=”118468″]See here’s the thing, Tanner lost to Franklin badly. Franklinly messed his face up. I know Tanner almost had Franklin out in round 1 and Rich was saved by the bell. But why on earth did Tanner want to out box Rich.
Tanner has deadly knees, still some of the best in the business in my humble opinion. Anderson Silva messed Rich up. Now Rich is strong and a big mw but hell so is Tanner, maybe bigger! If Tanner can engage Rich in a clinch (okay easier said than done fair enough) I don’t see why he couldn’t do the same thing to him.
But Anderson Silva is the champ you say. Yeah too right and I think he’ll defend it against Ace. However I still feel Tanner will have to fight Franklin again. Whether it’s for the number 1 contender or for the belt. Suppose Rich loses and Tanner wins well he might get Okami instead of Rich but who knows. Food for thought anyway at the least.[/quote]
Tanner vs Okami…..*drools*[/quote]
Tanner vs Marquardt……..*more drool*
& yes, there will be a Tanner vs Franklin 3. It’s inevitable due to the small amount of contenders at 185.
not gonna happen, check this out:
http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/UFC-76-Rumor-Killer-Evan-Tanner-Update.html