The UFC’s first major event since last month’s shocking UFC Welterweight title change is this coming Saturday, April 21st. It takes place in Manchester, England and for the first time ever will be broadcasted in the United States and Canada for free on cable on Spike TV. It will air on a slight delay for North Americans at 9 P.M. eastern. For Europe, the show will be on regular pay-per-view. This event will feature some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts (MMA) and will have far reaching effects for the summer.

The main event is a heavyweight fight pitting one of the best fighters in the world, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (22-4-2 MMA) against Gabriel Gonzaga (7-1 MMA). The winner of this fight is poised to challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture for the championship in late August. The heavy favorite is Cro Cop who is as dominant a fighter you’ll find in the sport. However, after all the recent upsets (Couture over Tim Sylvia and Matt Serra over Georges St. Pierre), you can’t discount Gonzaga’s chances. Cro Cop will look to keep the fight standing and using his highlight-reel kicks and fists to score a knockout ASAP. Gonzaga is a black belt Brazilian jiu jitsu artist whose chances of winning increase dramatically if he can keep the fight on the ground. Cro Cop’s takedown defense should be the key to the fight.

In other heavyweight action, former heavyweight champion Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski (12-5 MMA) will take on Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum (9-2-1 MMA). Arlovski is still looking to get a shot at the title he lost last year. He’s an amazing striker who can end the fight at any time, but he also has some decent ground skills. Werdum is a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu so much like the main event, he will look to keep the fight on the ground. Arlovski is the favorite while Werdum is making his UFC debut.

In a light heavyweight contest, England-native Michael "The Count" Bisping (13-0 MMA) will battle veteran Elvis "The King of Rock n Rumble" Sinosic (8-9-2 MMA). To some this probably seems like a fight booked to protect Bisping. Sinosic has been in the UFC on and off since 2001 and he hasn’t won a fight in the promotion since then. In fact, he’s 1-5 in the UFC and if he adds another loss, this could be his last fight in the top promotion. Sinosic is a 36 year-old veteran who loves to work towards a submission. On the other hand, Bisping loves to work on his feet using strikes and the occasional high leg kick. Being the hometown guy, Bisping should get a hero’s welcome at the M.E.N. Arena.

In another light heavyweight fight, David Heath (9-0 MMA) will fight Lyoto Machida (9-0 MMA). Heath was a replacement for Forrest Griffin who could not compete due to an injury. Machida loves to use strikes, as he’s a veteran of karate. Heath equally likes to use his strikes to try and score a knockout. Heath is also knowledgeable in the submission game; he defeated Cory Walmsley at UFC 62 with a first round submission. A tidbit that may play a role in the fight is the height of the two combatants. According to the UFC website, Heath is 5′11" while Machida is 6′1".

The last scheduled fight to air on television is a heavyweight contest between Assuerio Silva (32-4 MMA) and Cheick Kongo (19-3-1 MMA). Both veterans began fighting at young ages and are looking to gain some momentum in the UFC. Silva lost both his UFC fights last year. Kongo, fighting out of Paris, France was 2-1 last year in the UFC. Both fighters are fun to watch and it should make for an exciting fight.

The other scheduled bouts (depending on the time of the other fights, one or two may air on television) include: Edilberto Crocota vs. Paul Taylor, Dennis Siver vs. Jess Liaudin, Victor Valimaki vs. Alessio Sakara, Junior Assuncao vs. David Lee and Matt Grice vs. Terry Etim.

UFC 70 will air on Spike TV on Saturday, April 21st starting at 9 P.M. eastern.

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Link to it from your own website; just copy/paste this HTML: <a href="http://www.ufcmedia.com/ufc-70-preview.html">UFC 70 Preview</a>

The UFC’s first major event since last month’s shocking UFC Welterweight title change is this coming Saturday, April 21st. It takes place in Manchester, England and for the first time ever will be broadcasted in the United States and Canada for free on cable on Spike TV. It will air on a slight delay for North Americans at 9 P.M. eastern. For Europe, the show will be on regular pay-per-view. This event will feature some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts (MMA) and will have far reaching effects for the summer.

The main event is a heavyweight fight pitting one of the best fighters in the world, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (22-4-2 MMA) against Gabriel Gonzaga (7-1 MMA). The winner of this fight is poised to challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture for the championship in late August. The heavy favorite is Cro Cop who is as dominant a fighter you’ll find in the sport. However, after all the recent upsets (Couture over Tim Sylvia and Matt Serra over Georges St. Pierre), you can’t discount Gonzaga’s chances. Cro Cop will look to keep the fight standing and using his highlight-reel kicks and fists to score a knockout ASAP. Gonzaga is a black belt Brazilian jiu jitsu artist whose chances of winning increase dramatically if he can keep the fight on the ground. Cro Cop’s takedown defense should be the key to the fight.

In other heavyweight action, former heavyweight champion Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski (12-5 MMA) will take on Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum (9-2-1 MMA). Arlovski is still looking to get a shot at the title he lost last year. He’s an amazing striker who can end the fight at any time, but he also has some decent ground skills. Werdum is a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu so much like the main event, he will look to keep the fight on the ground. Arlovski is the favorite while Werdum is making his UFC debut.

In a light heavyweight contest, England-native Michael "The Count" Bisping (13-0 MMA) will battle veteran Elvis "The King of Rock n Rumble" Sinosic (8-9-2 MMA). To some this probably seems like a fight booked to protect Bisping. Sinosic has been in the UFC on and off since 2001 and he hasn’t won a fight in the promotion since then. In fact, he’s 1-5 in the UFC and if he adds another loss, this could be his last fight in the top promotion. Sinosic is a 36 year-old veteran who loves to work towards a submission. On the other hand, Bisping loves to work on his feet using strikes and the occasional high leg kick. Being the hometown guy, Bisping should get a hero’s welcome at the M.E.N. Arena.

In another light heavyweight fight, David Heath (9-0 MMA) will fight Lyoto Machida (9-0 MMA). Heath was a replacement for Forrest Griffin who could not compete due to an injury. Machida loves to use strikes, as he’s a veteran of karate. Heath equally likes to use his strikes to try and score a knockout. Heath is also knowledgeable in the submission game; he defeated Cory Walmsley at UFC 62 with a first round submission. A tidbit that may play a role in the fight is the height of the two combatants. According to the UFC website, Heath is 5′11" while Machida is 6′1".

The last scheduled fight to air on television is a heavyweight contest between Assuerio Silva (32-4 MMA) and Cheick Kongo (19-3-1 MMA). Both veterans began fighting at young ages and are looking to gain some momentum in the UFC. Silva lost both his UFC fights last year. Kongo, fighting out of Paris, France was 2-1 last year in the UFC. Both fighters are fun to watch and it should make for an exciting fight.

The other scheduled bouts (depending on the time of the other fights, one or two may air on television) include: Edilberto Crocota vs. Paul Taylor, Dennis Siver vs. Jess Liaudin, Victor Valimaki vs. Alessio Sakara, Junior Assuncao vs. David Lee and Matt Grice vs. Terry Etim.

UFC 70 will air on Spike TV on Saturday, April 21st starting at 9 P.M. eastern.

Submit to: Del.icio.us  Digg  Slashdot

Link to it from your own website; just copy/paste this HTML: <a href="http://www.ufcmedia.com/ufc-70-preview.html">UFC 70 Preview</a>