The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today confirmed several bouts for its SpikeTV telecast scheduled for February 7 at the University of Southern Florida (USF) Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.
Fight Night 17: “Lauzon vs. Franca” features the lightweight showdown between former 155-pound contender Hermes Franca and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 alum and BJ Penn pupil Joe Lauzon, as well as the highly anticipated showdown between lightweights Mac Danzig and Josh Neer.
In the only heavyweight battle of the evening, the oft-talked about Cain Velasquez will have a chance to introduce himself to the masses when he locks horns with Sarajevo native Denis Stojnic.
And TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah — who was forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout at UFC 91: “Couture vs. Lesnar” because of a leg infection — will finally get a chance to keep his momentum going when he tries to spoil the debut of Nick Catone.
UFC Fight Night 17 is scheduled to air only four fights — though I find it unlikely all four will go to a decision (especially with Velasquez competing). That should allow some of the undercard bouts (like Johnson vs. Fioravanti) to find their way into the broadcast.
Here is the official UFC Fight Night 17 line up:
Main event:
155 lbs.: Hermes Franca (19-7) vs. Joe Lauzon (17-4)
Main card:
265 lbs.: Cain Velasquez (4-0) vs. Denis Stojnic (5-1)
155 lbs.: Mac Danzig (18-5-1) vs. Josh Neer (24-7-1)
185 lbs.: Amir Sadollah (1-0) vs. Nick Catone (5-0)
Under card:
155 lbs.: Kurt Pellegrino (12-4) vs. Rob Emerson (8-6)
155 lbs.: George Sotiropolous (9-2) vs. Matt Grice (9-1)
185 lbs.: Alessio Sakara (13-7) vs. Jake Rosholt (5-0)
155 lbs.: Gleison Tibau (15-6) vs. Rich Clementi (32-13-1)
170 lbs.: Anthony Johnson (6-2) vs. Luigi Fioravanti (14-4)
52 Comments »
hell yeah ill be there. cant wait. is it better just to go to the show and buy the tickets or on line?
it depends, if u want good seats u gotta buy ahead of time, but if u want to save money u can probably just get in for free by waiting, they give away free tickets to make the place look more full
i don’t really care about good seats. i just want to see what a ufc event is like. i live in aurburnadlae fl so its close to me. so if i just go day of show i cant get tickets for free. or cheap. what about people who sell tickets on the side? Ive been to the xfc fight here in tampa. i enjoyed that. think i well really like the ufc event good card 2. thanks brendan for the help.
LKuigi vs. Rumble not being televised? WTF! I would rather see a real fight like that then Amir fight a nobody!
I’ll be there with ya Operator!!! This will be my first as well, and since there isn’t really a HUGE fight that I HAVE to see, this is probably the best event to go live and have a crappy viewing. I’m more excited about going to the weigh ins and stuff and meeting the fighters!!
hell yeah i plan on going to that 2. i am excited about this. xfc was fun i cant imagne what this will be like.
Hermes is such a kick ass name!!!!
Man, I like Lauzon, but is he ready for Franca (w/o the roids)?
No he’s not. Without being a powerful wrestler, it’s very hard to fight hermes. His BJJ game is complete and his striking is by no means technical but still lots of power. Look for cardio to be the deciding factor.
Agree. We get to see if Creepy Joe has learned from the Florian fight and upped the intensity of his workouts so he doesn’t go anaerobic and gas out.
Very solid undercard. I really want to see Johnson fight Fioravanti.
Right?
i’d rather watch kimbo fight
So you’re the ONE!!!
Hahahahaha. Funniest thing on all of todays articles.
And also, Lauzon is gonna win, Sean Sherk knocked Hermes all the way back to purple belt land.
How is Johnson vs. Fioravanti not on the main card!
exactly what i was thinking
I would bet money that Johnson Vs Fioravanti makes it onto TV… Theres only 4 fights being aired and I know they wont all go to decision… Lauzon wins by knockout…
This is an absolute Joke! Mac Danzig / Josh Neer and Amir Sadollah vs. Nick Catone on the main card. While Emerson vs. Pellegrino and Anthony Johnson vs. Fioravanti are on the undercard. Rumble Johnson has two Knockout of the year caliber KO’s on two recent Spike events so stick him on the undercard. Meanwhile Emerson and Pellegrino should be a good fight so stick that on the undercard and televise the TUF 6 and 7 winners that I give less than a shit about seeing and I have the feeling I’m not alone on this.
you are not alone, and I’m sure those two fights will make it onto the televised portion.
TUF 7 and 8 winners.
No wait you’re right.
Sometimes it’s just a business. Name brands from the ultimate fighter get good ratings numbers, that’s just the way it goes. As the article noted, with only four main card fights, some of these will make it to TV.
Good thing they put Cain Velasquez on the main card but why the hell did Anthony Johnson vs Fioravanti get pushed down.
I’m not interested in seeing Mac Danzig vs Josh Neer.
These are al great fights but the 2 most I want to see is
Anthony Johnson vs Luigi Fioravanti (JOHNSON by KO)
Rich Clementi vs Gleison Tibau (CLEMENTI by Rear Naked choke)
wtf! i don’t care who wins between danzig and neer! I rather see rumble knock someone else out.
Joe Lauzon is no Joke. Looking so forward to this fight!
I think Joe will get the win by choke.
Good card but they gotta put Rumble Johnson on the televised card that guy is a badass. In fact I’d trade the 3 bounts on the main card for Johnson/Luigi, Tibau/Clementi, & Emerson/Pelligrino.
emerson and batman should be deadly but this fight night is fucking stacked. some good fights man
Why does anyone wanna watch that punk Emerson fight. What a joke, I hope Pellegrino kills him
Exactly, Emerson is a bum. Im surprized that Dana even gives him a chance to fight after TUF. He is more concerned about looking good than being good. Kurt will destroy him know worries there. Pelligrino is a warrior. EMERSON phh!!
Did you not see his knockout of Manny Gambyruan?? I would say he is more than just a joke. BTW, Batman is going dowwnnnnn!
Lauzon
Velasquez
Danzig (hope not)
Sadollah
Emerson
Sotiropolous
Rosholt (if hes got any brains he will go for the double leg from the start)
Tibau
Johnson
rosholt has no choice but to take sakara down i dont care how “good” his stand up has gotten sakara has really great standup and wrestling isnt his kind of gameplan and he has no submissions for jake to watch out for..
i dont care for the cards fighters at all but it makes for one hell of a knockout filled night
yeah thats what i meant, if Rosholt thinks he can take a beating on the feet from Sakara, like he did against Osterneck, hes getting KTFO.
Why do people think Sakara is this heavy handed striker? Every fight I’ve seen him in against a big puncher he’s been KTFO! With that said Rosholt takes him down and pounds out a decision or a stoppage.He’s going to learn from his last fight. Why take punishment if I don’t have to. Take him down and pound him out. It’s not like Sakara is going to be a threat from bottom position with a world class wrestler on top.
lauzon is gonna take this one by 2nd round tko
HERMES WHO? Franca isn´t anymore one top name on list today. Do you remember when he says to Dana White “please, give me one fuckin´ chance”? Well, is really complicated to keep been one of the bests in this sport. Now Franca is a gosht
I really like Lauzon. I hope he gets the win in this one.
where was it that i SA Rosholt fight was that elite xc or wec. i cant put my finger on it. it was a war. i am going for my boy Sakara tho. he is the man. he seems like he wont’s that belt bad. i cant wait till he gets it.
WEC
Hermes reminds me of that Dog Whisperer guy.
“Be an assertive pack leader.”
LOL
That shit works, though.
5 showcase fights. 5 decent scraps. I’m sure Cain will do his part. We just have to hope Amir ditches his nice guy/Minotauro routine and finishes his quick. Lauzon/Franca winner solidifies top 10 status (UFC). Danzig looked tentative against Guida and with Neer’s DUI we could get anything from a snoozefest to a blitzkrieg for either but with neither known for KO power probably a good to great fight (hopefully). Clementi/Tibau should also be very good and we’ll find out if Emerson is legit or not.
FON should almost be assured for Johnson/Fioravanti. If Rumble can KO Luigi, he’ll be on the fast track for a title shot.
I wanna see Rumble/Kos.
Lauzon is nasty, Hermes is sloppy. Big ear creepy guy by TKO! I think Hermes is getting dropped like Pulver did.
You keep dwelling on that Pulver thing. HE GOT LUCKY!!!!!!!! I could kick his ASS!!!!!
i dont like Franca. i wish this si the last fight of his contract.. lols
Fioravanti by RNC… You heard it here first!
rosholt fought osterneck in the wec
I think that Hermes is gonna win this in the 2nd.I hope that the Anthony Rumble Johnson fight makes it on to the televised portion of the show.I also would like to see Batman Kurt Pelligrino fight.
oh man, aj vs luigi is going to be a great fight. luigi is a tough fighter. but aj is a ko specialist. if he passes this test, its time to put him up against a top 10er imo. it better make main card.
wow! can we get rumble on the main card plz..that is just rediculis.. i know amir just one TUF but who really wants to watch him fight? sure there are the people that prolly know who he is from his time on the show but cmon…Rumble of Amir anyday