Nine fights are official for the UFC 80: “Rapid Fire” pay-per-view (PPV) event from The Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, England, on Saturday, January 19, 2008, according to UFC.com.
The lightweight showdown between BJ Penn and Joe Stevenson for the vacant 155-pound title will headline the first UFC show of the New Year. It’s expected that the winner of the bout will then defend the belt against former champion Sean Sherk later in 2008.
Here is how the rest of the UFC 80 fight card shakes up:
Main card (televised):
Hvywt.: Gabriel Gonzaga (8-2) vs. Fabricio Werdum (9-3-1)
170 lbs.: Marcus Davis (13-3) vs. Jess Liaudin (12-8)
205 lbs.: Jason Lambert (23-6) vs. Wilson Gouveia (9-4)
185 lbs.: Kendall Grove (8-4) vs. Jorge Rivera (14-6)Under card (may not be broadcast):
Hvywt.: Antoni Hardonk (5-4) vs. Colin Robinson (8-3)
170 lbs.: Paul Taylor (8-2-1) vs. Paul Kelly (6-0)
205 lbs.: Alessio Sakara (11-6) vs. James Lee (12-2)
155 lbs.: Sam Stout (12-3-1) vs. Per Eklund (12-2-1)
As it stands now the PPV broadcast will air in the United States LIVE at 3 p.m. ET.
This is a curious decision after the UFC 72: “Victory” debacle earlier this year, which also aired in mid-afternoon and performed poorly. However, the starpower and significance of that card are nowhere near that of “Rapid Fire.”
It should be an entertaining afternoon of mixed martial arts action — much better than catching it seven hours later via tape delay. Of course we’ll have everything you need before, during and after UFC 80.
In the meantime hit up out UFC 80 archive for more information right here.
42 Comments »
a couple of good fights but i won’t buy this one.
atleast marcus davis is on the main card.. that should be a good fight.
Not too impressed with the card. I want to see the Gonzaga-Werdum rematch, the Lambert-Gouveia fight, and of course the title fight but I don’t see how it’s worth it to get this on ppv.
boooooo!!!
[quote comment=”239021″]atleast marcus davis is on the main card.. that should be a good fight.[/quote]
Marcus Davis has been pretty impressive in his last few fights. If Davis wins this fight, he needs to start working his way up the WW ladder.
Man, the UFC has so much talent and they’re still churning out cards like this. I’m not saying it’s a bad card, but I don’t understand why every card isn’t outstanding.
so i thought Crocop announced that he will be fighting in UFC 80 january? Oh well who cares that means he might be there for UFC 81 meaning that he is coming to Vegas, well i hope he does come to USA i’am really getting sick of seeing him fight in England.
My first UFC. Can’t wait for it. I’m flying to England for it. I know people are dismissing the card but I’m still looking forward to it. Title fight with the Prodigy, Kendall Grove, Jason Lambert and Gonzaga. I ain’t comlpaining
Sorry to get off topic here but has there been any rumors of Shogun using roids? His head looks like one of the blockheads from Gumby. I saw a picture of him next to Ninja, and it looks kind of suspicious. Go to MMA weekly and check out the pic.
Yeah not as stacked as 79 I’ll be going to the sports bar to watch this one free.
It’s a pretty solid card even though it seems that it’s not satisfactory to everyone(then again you can’t please’em all). I think the UFC is doing great to push the sport ahead and to not gouge its fans like boxing. I’m still not going to buy it but I will pay the $10 to watch it at a bar though. I hope Gonzaga finishes Werdum as opposed to out pointing hime like Arlovski and for BJ to finally hold the LH belt, I mean Interim LH belt.
I think this card is pretty weak, 79, 81 and 82 especially look great but I will prob still buy it cos I get them all…
not bad of a fight card but the noon time pt kills, but am looking forward to it
It should hve ben free..like recnt posts were saying…oh well!
wowwwww what a shitty ass card there are no good fights on this one
I think that pic of Penn is from the Uno fight?
so is St p injured or not and why just wipe respones out MMa MANIA?!?!? WTF GIVES
[quote comment=”239155″]so is St p injured or not and why just wipe respones out MMa MANIA?!?!? WTF GIVES[/quote]
NO. Don’t get so worked up until there is a source, please.
Good to see Jason Lambert back. He is kind of flying under the radar at the moment. With all the big names in LHW clashing together, he is movin’ in towards the title through the back door.
CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG, but if the UFC wants 44.95 for PPV Events THEY ARE ALL gonna have to be like UFC 79!! 79 is worth that much, not that crap UFC 81.
[quote comment=”239088″]It’s a pretty solid card even though it seems that it’s not satisfactory to everyone(then again you can’t please’em all). I think the UFC is doing great to push the sport ahead and to not gouge its fans like boxing. I’m still not going to buy it but I will pay the $10 to watch it at a bar though. I hope Gonzaga finishes Werdum as opposed to out pointing hime like Arlovski and for BJ to finally hold the LH belt, I mean Interim LH belt.[/quote]
I agree, I’ll but this card, Penn is on it, that’s enough for me.
[quote comment=”239218″][quote comment=”239088″]It’s a pretty solid card even though it seems that it’s not satisfactory to everyone(then again you can’t please’em all). I think the UFC is doing great to push the sport ahead and to not gouge its fans like boxing. I’m still not going to buy it but I will pay the $10 to watch it at a bar though. I hope Gonzaga finishes Werdum as opposed to out pointing hime like Arlovski and for BJ to finally hold the LH belt, I mean Interim LH belt.[/quote]
I agree, I’ll but this card, Penn is on it, that’s enough for me.[/quote]
I meant “BUY”
“so i thought Crocop announced that he will be fighting in UFC 80 january? Oh well who cares that means he might be there for UFC 81 meaning that he is coming to Vegas, well i hope he does come to USA i’am really getting sick of seeing him fight in England”
i hear ya brother! i know crocop’s last few fights weren’t that impressive but his highlight reel is sooo insane that i can’t help but want to see that kind of striking in the ufc.
i’d barely watch this one if it were free. i can’t believe this is a PPV. the free WEC event last week was 100 times better than this one.
i’d rather the UFC have an event every 2-3 months, charge me $90 and stack the card.
Es mucho Basura!! Garbege. I should get paid to watch a fight card like this??
why is stout on the under card? every fight hes in is an all out war, i’d rather see stout then kendal
BJ Penn = Overrated crybaby
Where the hell is Arlovski. This is bullshit.
bj penn will put joe back at number ten or where ever he belong cuz first bj gonna get the title then move up to 170 and kick hughes or st pierre’s asses i garentee it!!!!!within three years
I hate when ppl complain about upcoming cards, but this time I gotta agree. Besides the Penn fight, there aren’t any other fights that will hold a lot of significance for the next few months after it happens. If they added CroCop to this card, it would shut me up.
c’mon ufc, give us one more good fight on the card?
[quote comment=”239403″]I hate when ppl complain about upcoming cards, but this time I gotta agree. Besides the Penn fight, there aren’t any other fights that will hold a lot of significance for the next few months after it happens. If they added CroCop to this card, it would shut me up.[/quote]
Yep, I gotta agree with you guys. Not only am I disapointed with this card, which I will NOT be purchasing, but I am even more disapointed that Cro Cop is a no show. I’m not part of the Tuf generation nor am I a Pride nuthugger, but WTF? This card is crap, there is way too much talent being put on hold to produce this kind of lackluster MMA.
WAR CRO COP
Why is wikipedia bull*hiting that randy is fighting fedor at this event - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_80)
fight night 12 looks better ….this card is week.. but main event ok
I wont be purchasing this card. At 3:00 in the afternoon, I’ll prolly go watch it at hooters….
BJ Penn will win the title. Gonzaga vs. Werdum is a decnt match up although Gonzaga vs. Arlovski would have been more appealing.
I think Arlovski needs an agressive fighter like Gonzaga to really go after him in order to bring the Pit Bull back out of him.
Its a decent card but the UFC could do so much better. My real concern is the UFC 81 card that is supposed to be the best one of the year. The main event is ruined by Sylvia…Dana is marketing the Brock Lesnar fight as a co main event, but it really should be the 1st televised fight. Leites/Marquardt is worthy….With all the stars in the UFC…joe silva should have saved more STARS for this event.
[quote post=”4268″]Man, the UFC has so much talent and they’re still churning out cards like this. I’m not saying it’s a bad card, but I don’t understand why every card isn’t outstanding.[/quote]
I agree. A weak card considering all of the talent in the UFC. There are SO MANY top fighters that have not fought in over 4 months. Where are they, are how come they are not fighting?
[quote comment=”239194″]Good to see Jason Lambert back. He is kind of flying under the radar at the moment. With all the big names in LHW clashing together, he is movin’ in towards the title through the back door.[/quote]
Jason Lambert is about as close to a title shot at 205 as Michael Bisping - as far away as possible.
On another note:
Jon Fitch is fighting Gono at UFC 82? Fitch should be able to win that fight by using he size and strength advantage alone. I would probably cry if Fitch lost this fight which would mean losing a shot at the title. It’s really not fair to him that this whole Serra/Hughes/GSP thing has been going on for 8 months, and will continue to go on for at least another half a year. Not fair at all. Fitch deserves to be in a #1 contender fight by now. But having the division put on hold for so long, makes it unnecessary. Other than Fitch vs Hughes, Fitch vs GSP, and Fitch vs Serra (if Serra’s champ) the only other fight he should be in is Fitch vs Karo.
yah hoo we finally get to see bj penn get his face smached in by joe daddy stevenson and then will see joe get pounded out by sean sherk to become once again the lightweight champ baby
I agree, pretty weak card. Besides the BJ fight, only the Davis and Gonzaga fights are interesting.
[quote comment=”239996″]yah hoo we finally get to see bj penn get his face smached in by joe daddy stevenson and then will see joe get pounded out by sean sherk to become once again the lightweight champ baby[/quote]
C’mon now, Everyone knows that that Penn is gonna handle Joe Stevenson. Then he’ll school Sean “Roidboy” Sherk an hand him his arms back to him on a platter. We’ll see how Roidboy handles his next match without cheating.
and the NEEEEEEEEEEEEW Lightweight champion BJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ PEEEEENNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!
[quote comment=”240299″]and the NEEEEEEEEEEEEW Lightweight champion BJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ PEEEEENNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!![/quote]
yo man, you forgot “The Prodigy”.
[quote comment=”240720″][quote comment=”240299″]and the NEEEEEEEEEEEEW Lightweight champion BJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ PEEEEENNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!![/quote]
yo man, you forgot “The Prodigy”.[/quote]
Damnit, Bruce Buffer’s job is just so hard, that’s why I could never do it.