The Mac
04-16-2010, 02:19 AM
source: mmajunkie
The spearhead of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's first trip to Massachusetts is rapidly taking shape.
The promotion is already targeting co-headlining fights for an as-yet-unnamed pay-per-view event – potentially UFC 118 – expected to take place Aug. 29 at the TD Garden in Boston, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the event.
A rematch between newly minted lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and the man he recently unseated, former champion B.J. Penn (15-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC), in under heavy consideration for the top spot.
Additionally, a No. 1 contender's match-up between top contenders Kenny Florian (13-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and Gray Maynard (9-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is expected to serve as the co-main event.
Multiple sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that while the promotion is far from issuing bout agreements, several of the fighters have agreed in principle to the match-ups.
However, health issues could affect the timing of the proposed fights, sources said. Florian, who today hinted at the match-up in a Boston Herald report, today was released from the hospital after a severe staph infection in his knee.
Edgar, too, was recently released from a New Jersey hospital for a staph infection he caught while in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for his title-winning turn at UFC 112 on April 10.
Maynard, who is on the mend from a recent knee surgery and had hoped for the next title shot, on Wednesday told MMAjunkie.com Radio that he welcomes a fight with Florian, though he said today that he has not officially been approached about the match-up.
"Hell yeah, that sounds good," Maynard said of the potential Florian bout. "Put my back in a corner. That's the way I like it."
The spearhead of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's first trip to Massachusetts is rapidly taking shape.
The promotion is already targeting co-headlining fights for an as-yet-unnamed pay-per-view event – potentially UFC 118 – expected to take place Aug. 29 at the TD Garden in Boston, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the event.
A rematch between newly minted lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and the man he recently unseated, former champion B.J. Penn (15-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC), in under heavy consideration for the top spot.
Additionally, a No. 1 contender's match-up between top contenders Kenny Florian (13-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and Gray Maynard (9-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is expected to serve as the co-main event.
Multiple sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that while the promotion is far from issuing bout agreements, several of the fighters have agreed in principle to the match-ups.
However, health issues could affect the timing of the proposed fights, sources said. Florian, who today hinted at the match-up in a Boston Herald report, today was released from the hospital after a severe staph infection in his knee.
Edgar, too, was recently released from a New Jersey hospital for a staph infection he caught while in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for his title-winning turn at UFC 112 on April 10.
Maynard, who is on the mend from a recent knee surgery and had hoped for the next title shot, on Wednesday told MMAjunkie.com Radio that he welcomes a fight with Florian, though he said today that he has not officially been approached about the match-up.
"Hell yeah, that sounds good," Maynard said of the potential Florian bout. "Put my back in a corner. That's the way I like it."