The New Year has just started but the Ultimate Fighting Championship is already hard at work putting things together for some solid fight cards this spring. Just eight days removed from the first card of the year in UFC 125, contracts are being sent to some of the biggest fighters in MMA for UFC 129 and UFC 130.
Making its second trip up to Canada in less than five months, UFC 129 will again be headlined by the three-time Rogers Sportsnet Canadian Athlete of the Year Georges St-Pierre. He’ll be defending his welterweight championship for the sixth time against former EliteXC and Strikeforce champ, Jake Shields. GSP is quickly on his way to cleaning out the 170 and Jake Shields is next in line for the champ.
Shields will fight GSP at UFC 129
Along with the already official welterweight title fight there are nine other bouts that are unofficial but have been rumored. The most intriguing bout as of right now is the lightweight fight between former WEC champion Ben Henderson taking on a very tough opponent in the Canadian Mark Bocek.
UFC 129 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario (April 30, 2011)
170 lbs.: Georges St-Pierre vs. Jake Shields
155 lbs.: Ben Henderson vs. Mark Bocek
205 lbs.: Phil Davis vs. Matt Hamill
170 lbs.: Rory MacDonald vs. James Wilks
170 lbs.: Brian Foster vs. Sean Pierson
155 lbs.: Kyle Watson vs. John Makdessi
170 lbs.: Daniel Roberts vs. Claude Patrick
145 lbs.: Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin
135 lbs.: Ivan Menjivar vs. Charlie Valencia
185 lbs.: Jason MacDonald vs. Ryan Jensen
The following month on May 28th, the UFC will return home for UFC 130 which is rumored to be headlined by the third fight between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. At UFC 125 the two lightweight fought to a split draw and Dana White ordered an immediate rematch for the lightweight title. Will be tough to top their last meeting, but just having a clear winner will be good enough.
Let's do it one more time!
The four other un-official bouts being rumored for this card have the look of something special in the making. Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir will take on Roy Nelson in a rematch of their Grappler’s quest match that took place in 2003. Also rumored is a possible #1 contender’s match in the light heavyweight division between Quinton Jackson and Thiago Silva.
With only half the card rumored thus far, there is still several fights to be added to possible make this card the biggest of the year.
UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada (May 28, 2011)
155 lbs.: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard
265 lbs.: Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson
205 lbs.: Quinton Jackson vs. Thiago Silva
170 lbs.: Thiago Alves vs. Rick Story
265 lbs.: Travis Browne vs. Stefan Struve
