Popularity: unranked
Superior Striking
Leben has the power edge, but the superior striking technique belong to Bisping. This fight will likely to stay on the feet and that favors Bisping.
Cardio
Bisping is the ultra aggressive type that doesn’t really wane as the fight goes on. He remains the aggressor in the fight end in the late stages.
Sprawl and Defense
Bisping will be tough to take down and just as difficult to hold down if planted on the mat.
Home field advantage
Not a big issue, but being in England will be more motivation for Bisping, not that he needs any.
Popularity: 4%
Popularity: 3%
Popularity: 3%
Popularity: 4%
SOKOUDJOU v LUIZ CANE
DAN HARDY v AKIHIRO GONO
SHANE CARWIN v NEIL WAIN
The Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (UFC(R)) has added three thrilling bouts to the organisation’s next UK super-show. It has been confirmed that Rameau Sokoudjou will collide with Luiz Cane in a battle of light-heavyweight strikers, Japanese submission expert Akihiro Gono will take on on highly-regarded British debutant Dan Hardy and steel-fisted heavyweight Shane Carwin will exchange bombs with England’s own Neil Wain.
These three mouth-watering match-ups join the hotly anticipated main event of Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping v Chris ‘the Crippler’ Leben in the UFC’s third British show of 2008, which emanates from the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, on October 18.
UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik said: “Fight for fight, UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN is already shaping up to be one of the best events of the whole year. There aren’t too many fights which you could place on a card headlined by Bisping v Leben and still expect that fight to have a chance of being fight of the night still. But Sokoudjou v Cane is one of those fights which - like our main event - you can practically guarantee is going to be a thriller.”
Zelaznik added: “We are also announcing that England’s Dan Hardy, who makes his UFC debut in his native Midlands, will match up with PRIDE and UFC veteran Akihiro Gono in what hardcore fans will know is a fantastic welterweight fight between two very innovative mixed martial artists.
“Plus, British fans will get a chance to see one of the most exciting heavyweight talents in the world, Shane Carwin, lock horns with Neil Wain, who brings his own unbeaten record to the UFC.”
Tickets for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN are priced £40, £50, £75, £125 and £225 and available from http://ticketfactory.co.uk or by calling 0871945 6000. Only 2000 seats remain for the NIA Arena.
After stumbling in his UFC debut last December, the man many know simply as “Sokoudjou” returned to his devastating best when he wiped out Kazuhiro Nakamura in one round at UFC 84 in May. Now, the 24-year-old Cameroon born “African Assassin” looks to continue in the form which made his the scourge of the PRIDE light heavyweight division.
The 5-2 puncher said: “Cane is a very good puncher and is aggressive like me. This could be the fight of the night but I am looking to build my UFC knockout streak. I fought once in Japan but this is the first time I am going to be fighting in Europe, and I am looking forward to really putting on an exciting fight for all the fans there. This a fight I am really looking forward to.”
Boasting a 9-1, 1 NC record and coming off a hugely impressive KO victory over Jason Lambert at UFC 85 in London, Luiz Cane returns to the UK for the second time in four months on a quest for the biggest
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win in his career.
He said: “I am very aware of the opportunity in front of me. I realise that success in MMA is judged not only by fighting in the UFC, but by who you are fighting and where and I want to thank (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva, Dana White and the UFC for trusting my skills. It is a great honour to fight a top 10 fighter and I will pay the UFC back by being in the best shape of my life, by being on the top of my game and by not only winning but winning a great fight. Make no mistake, I will be ready for Sokoudjou.”
Further exciting matches for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN will be announced shortly.
Source: UFC.com
Popularity: 3%
“I’m not gonna go more cautious because it’s Chris Leben. I’ll do what I normally do, look to stand on the feet and set the pace. It’s the same in every fight, you assess the situation, play it by ear, punches get thrown – and hopefully we’ll get the stand-up brawl we all want.”
Source: Setanta
Popularity: 5%
“It’s going to be good to see if Fedor is still the man but I’ve heard on the grapevine from inside sources that he could be injured.”
Source: The Sun
Popularity: 5%
UFC 89, featuring Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben is to likely be aired on Spike TV.
Popularity: 4%