Marcus Davis (14-4) will look to begin another extended win streak when he returns to action against Paul Kelly (7-0) at UFC 89: “Leben vs. Bisping” at The National Indoor Arena (NIA) in Birmingham, England, on October 18.
MMAmania.com confirmed the potential welterweight showdown this evening; however, both bout agreements have not been signing — it’s a verbal commitment at this time.
“The Irish Hand Grenade” was upended for the first time in 11 consecutive bouts thanks to a unanimous decision loss to Mike Swick at UFC 85: “Bedlam” last month. It was the first loss for the former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) since his Octagon debut against Melvin Guillard at TUF 2 Finale in 2006.
Despite the defeat, Davis still remains in the 170-pound title hunt. Nonetheless, a win against Kelly is critical if he wants to stay among the top players in a very crowded division. This will mark Davis’ fifth consecutive fight in the United Kingdom if it comes to fruition.
Kelly is an undefeated English prospect who was victorious in his Octagon debut, outpointing fellow countryman, Paul Taylor, on all three judges scorecards at UFC 80: “Rapid Fire” earlier this year. He was booked to return at UFC 85: “Bedlam” last month against Jonathan Goulet; however, he sustained a finger injury during training and was forced to bail out of the showdown.
It’s important to note that Kelly was previously rumored to be making a move down to lightweight and taking on Sam Stout. Clearly, that scenario is no longer in the cards.
UFC 89 features the middleweight tilt between Michael Bisping and Chris Leben, as well as a potential welterweight war when Thiago Alves and Diego Sanchez meet in the center of the cage.
53 Comments »
This sucks!!! There are so many better match ups for Davis. I think its time for him to fight in the USA!!!
he’s more of a draw in the UK though
I like the idea of an Irish fighting in the UK, but the Irish in question really ain’t Irish!LOL! Well I am just thinkin’ that Bisping will get crippled by the Crippler on his homesoil…But then again…..
He will lose to Kelly
This is a crappy match up! I am a very big fan of Both Davis and Kelly, but I dont think they match up well together! Davis should be jfighting someone like Chris Lytle or Luigi Fioravantti who will stand n trade with Marcus….Its no secret that everyone watches Davis to see his Striking.
Kelly, I am a big fan of, this kid is Big and strong with a brutal ground n pound. I think he has a very bright future, but I really do not want to see him fight Marcus.
I like both fighters, but I do not likle the idea of this match up…NOT AT ALL!!!
Just as I expected: Cale Yarborough vs. Tim Crueder has been added to UFN on July 19th
You guys seen the proposed weight classes? Cut&Paste
—————————————————–
New MMA weight classes proposed..
By Jim Murphy July 5th, 2008
Via The Wrestling Observer…we’ve talked about the meeting of the Association of Boxing Commissions elsewhere, but TWO reports some interesting stuff about the group’s proposed new weight classes for MMA. Here’s the weight classes proposed followed by some comments from TWO:
MALE
Flyweight (Up to 105 pounds)
Super Flyweight (Over 105.1 to 115 lbs)
Bantamweight (Over 115.1 to 125 lbs)
Super Bantamweight (Over 125.1 to 135 lbs)
Featherweight (Over 135.1 to 145 lbs)
Lightweight (Over 145.1 to 155 lbs)
Super Lightweight (Over 155.1 to 165 lbs)
Welterweight (Over 165.1 to 175 lbs)
Super Welterweight (Over 175.1 to 185 lbs)
Middleweight (Over 185.1 to 195 lbs)
Super Middleweight (Over 195.1 to 205 lbs)
Light Heavyweight (Over 205.1 to 225 lbs)
Heavyweight (Over 225.1 to 265 lbs)
Super Heavyweight (Over 265.1 pounds)
FEMALE
Flyweight (95 lbs. and below)
Bantamweight (95.1-105 lbs.)
Featherweight (105.1-115 lbs.)
Lightweight (115.1-125 lbs.)
Welterweight (125.1-135 lbs.)
Middleweight (135.1-145 lbs.)
Light Heavyweight (145.1-155 lbs.)
Cruiserweight (155.1-165 lbs.)
Heavyweight (165.1-185 lbs.)
Super Heavyweight (185.1 and above)
If it ain’t broke… Did you let Automation off the hook? No way I am letting Linx off. But I gave him a fair chance. Double or nothing and I gave him Anderson, but if Irvin wins he has to leave his name for 2 months.
JV was a true gent and let me off. All my posts were being moderated lol.
My name was little more severe than Linx’s name
Does anyone know where I can watch Cage Rage 27 tonight?
Are there actually full grown males that don’t weigh 105 pounds? I thought they were called jockeys.
Auto, channelsurfing.net has it listed for 4pm eastern
Migits?
So it is Mexicutioner, thanks. Don’t know how I missed that.
That’s the same channel I watched UFC 86.
Priceless Channel
I also found out it is on NUTS TV here in the UK but my wife is watching Big Brother at the same time, relegated to the laptop again
I went to channelsurfing.net and the link for Cage Rage was gone. I wanted to see Baroni get KTFO.
Baroni KTFO Scott ‘Too Smooth’ Jansen.
War Baroni!!!!
All my respect goes to Baroni and f_@k the british respect. WTF with the thug that head butted Baroni after the fight?
The british don’t deserve to be putting on mma events.
i guess it’s for the English fans.
Kelly needs to be tested. This is a good test and a nice come back fight for Marcus.
I agree DB this could be a good fight.
man let him fight karo or like lytle
i would actually like to see hm fight hazelett
bro i feel bad for whoever karo faces i heard he’s training hard now that the competition is catching him
I hope your joking, becuase thats what Karo is, a joke.
Karo is a very good fighter. A knee to the chin can take out anyone. I do admit he is cocky, arrogant, full of himself and does think the sun shines out of his backside, but he does have some serious skills that should only improve with training. I think he had a very good chance of beating Hughes for the title when he got injured, unfortunately for him, not being one of Dana and the UFC’s butt buddies, he got Diego instead of Hughes on his return. The rest is history. Do I think he could beat GSP, Fitch or Diego, no, but if he changes his attitude and gets down to some serious training, then I do think he could give the rest a lot of trouble. I am giving him the benefit of the doubt that because English is his second language and not his first, he may not be the complete dickhead that he comes accross as being to be a lot of the time.
dude i was totally joking i HATE karo if you couldn’t tell by my other posts in numerous other threads
Bro do you know who he is…..Bro. He has always been too talented to train, and he is feared on the streets of Armenia. That’s why he is the champ…. oh wait he isn’t because he ducked Fitched and went for what seemed to be the easier match up and got ktfo’d! I really don’t see a title shot in his near future. His throws are nice but he gives judoka’s a bad name.
Kelly will G N P his face off Id pick kelly against most in the WW but he is not ready for a karo or Sanchez…. YET
YEAH STUNNALATOR IS BACK BIOTCHES!!!! Anyways…i just saw this headline and all i have to say is WHO GIVES A FUCK??? After Davis lost to swick all his hype is gone. Goodbye Davis..go fight another no namer douchebag.
kinda jumping to conclusions arent you? he lost a decision against a tough opponent, hes far from done
I’ve nothing against Davis, he’s a good fighter, but why couldn’t we get someone else for the UK? This must be the 4th time he’s going to fight here. Surely there must be someone else on the UFC books who could fight here.
He’s also be wise to change his nickname again when fighting in Birmingham - he city suffered several terrorist attack in the 70’s and 80’s and it wouldn’t go down well.
Erm well London had far worse and he still came to the o2 fine
Lighten up Lippo the guy is a great fighter and gentleman. You should be appreciative to see him fight. He’s one of the best at 170 in the game right now. That’s low questioning his fighting nickname, he’s actually changed it fighting in the UK previously and got so much grief from the UK fans who love the name, he decided to keep it when he fights there.
He’s also been introduced as The Celtic Warrior over there.
Yeah, I remember that, thought it was sensible. But I think the last fight he had in the UK he was announced as “The Irish Hand Grenade”.
Thanks for the advice, I try to lighten up…. I just think that a bit of variety would be appreciated - look at the list of fighters and see how many are the same as UFC 75 @ O2.
I’m sure my American friends would be the first to moan if they repeatedly saw the same fighters at their venue. The depth of the UFC means there are others who can fight.
Don’t get me wrong, I think he is a great fighter and a gentleman, but that doesn’t mean I want to see him everytime I go to a UFC event.
Why are the uk fans getting the same fighters all the time, lauidin, kelly, bisping etc
change it up a bit ffs!
i hope kelly wins… marcus aint that good to be honest…. he’s only fought cans and when he doesnt fight cans (swick and guillard) he losses
Whoa! Somebody with the same name as me… weird. It definitely caught me off guard. I read the comment, and thought to myself, “I don’t remember writing that.” Well, no wonder, I didn’t.
yes, Kelly has too good takedowns for Marcus to avoid this will be a very tough fight for Davis..
WTF!!!!!! I just said yesterday i dont want to see Davis in the uk again! sick of this s..t! why not sam stout? Kelly will win them both! Kelly seems insane he said he has never tapped and passes out in training all the time. and also said he is never going to tap in ufc ever!
Sick of the comment problem on this site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The problem is Keith Jardine and his physical??????? Anyone got any news????????
Meant to say physical state
Hand Grenades and Cripplers all the way!!A night in the life of an MMA junkie. This is my fix right here, hehehe!!
off topic: lyoto machida interview about next opponent thiago silva or rampage maybe and also on being ‘boring’. http://www.cagepotato.com/2008/07/11/exclusive-interview-lyoto-machida/
i wouldnt mind seeing lyoto vs rampage. tough one to call right there….
Can’t wait to see marcus fight again!
Good fight. War Marcus.
i think david baron will fight sam stout
but good fight i think marcus will knock him out
terry ettim vs sam stout for ufc 89 in the works
I can’t believe that Chris “the crackhead” Leben is still fighting in the UFC, let alone getting top billing for the UFC 89 event!! Leben is one a handful of UFC fighters that are way over-hyped and very under-talented that is preventing the UFC from being the top dog of MMA organizations.
Leben must have something on either Dana White or the Fertitta brothers to still get regular fights - let alone such a prized spot heading a UFC PPV event!!
I just re-watched Leben fight Terry Martin from UFC 71 & it was pathetic how he had to do such pussy moves as grabbing the fence to avoid getting his ass handed to him again.
I am amazed that Leben got a point taken from him for that bullshit fence grab that saved him from a huge k.o. slam - but why didn’t anything happen when Leben blatantly grabbed the fence four times in the final minute of the next round that even the blind could have seen??
Even if you say Leben somehow earned a shot at a serious contender like Bisping… it doesn’t explain why he is getting top billing over Bisping.
Unless one of the fighters in the main event is a champion, usually the fight gets billed alphabetically… unless one fighter has a clear lead in wins.
Bisping won his season of T.U.F. while Leben was defeated twice in his season - a season filled with many fighters far better than Leben will ever be… so that’s another reason Leben should have been second in the billing.
I’d rather watch Kimbo Slice get his ass handed to him but still win due to a fixed fight than see Leben get a shot that a dozen better fighters deserve more.
Leben should be servicing porta-potties on construction sites, not fighting in an organization with one tenth of the level of UFC fighting!!!
You may not like him, but his fights are always exciting! You never know what’s going to happen and he always brings it. No, he will never hold a belt in the UFC, but he will be a good test for Bisping (as well as Bisping’s first fight with a respectable opponent.)
I cant see why Leben would be a main on any card. Yeah he may “bring it” but he is a plodder that catches punches with his face. His stand up is wild and amateurish. D. White says the UFC has the best fighters, and yet he sends Leben to the UK for a main?? I dont think that will help him and the UFC conquer the world.. I am not a KImbo fan, but he puts together punches better than Leben.. Sad Card for the Brits……….
I dont like this matchup for Davis. Not because I think he will lose. I dont like it because Davis needs to fight an opponent with a some name recognition. No disrespect to Kelley but Davis isnt getting any younger and if he wants a chance to get back to the top tier of this weight class he needs a big win over a more recognized fighter. I mean cmon he beat Jason Tan who was overmatched, Paul Taylor which could have been stopped (glad it wasnt), Jess Liaudan who looked like a deer in the headlights. The one big name Mike Swick whom Davis lost to didnt really overwhelm Marcus. Instead Swick had a good plan and took the fight to the ground where he controlled the fight. If Swick didnt do what he did he too would have most likely been counting sheep. The matchmakers would do fight fans a big service by putting fighters in the cage with Davis. Davis vs. Lytle would be exciting. If they are gonna throw him in with Paul Kelly why not just give him a fight with Diego or Koscheck and then it would be do or die. If he wins then he gets another big name and if he loses well………at least he didnt waste 2 more years trying to climb the ranks by fighting little known fighters. Even a rematch with Swick wouldnt be so bad. Marcus looked tired and never let his hands go. I think a rematch would end differently. No matter who Davis fights UFC should give him a fight in the US. Two tough as nails strikers in the USA would be a good idea. A stand up WAR. Anyway, I say Davis beats Kelly by vicious knockout. 35 seconds into the fight. Davis better leave it all in the ring because the clock is ticking.