UFC 145 Fight Card Nearly Full, only main event remians

The newly retooled UFC 145 fight card – the biggest change was a move from Montreal to Atlanta – is nearly complete with the UFC confirming nine bouts for the event.

The biggest question mark remaining is the main event. UFC officials recently said that a main event would be announced in the coming weeks.

If all the speculation is true, the main event could feature UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones defending his belt.

The champ himself recently confirmed on the UFC on FX 1 post-fight show on Fuel TV that he would be ready to go by the April 21 date. He even mentioned that he had heard “rumors” that UFC officials were considering his next defense for UFC 145 in Atlanta.

That’s a fairly healthy rumor, considering the source.

The likely scenario is that if Rashad Evans defeats Phil Davis at UFC on Fox 2 next week and comes out unscathed, he will face Jones in Atlanta. UFC president Dana White has already guaranteed that Evans gets the next shot as long as he wins and comes out healthy.

If Evans loses, or needs more time to heal up, don’t be surprised if Dan Henderson gets a shot at Jones when the UFC heads down south.

Here are the rest of the UFC 145 Bouts Announced for Atlanta:

-Miguel Torres (40-4) vs. Michael McDonald (14-1)
-Maximo Blanco (8-3-1) vs. Marcus Brimage (4-1)
-Brendan Schaub (8-2) vs. Ben Rothwell (31-8)
-Rory MacDonald (12-1) vs. Che Mills (14-4)
-Travis Browne (12-0-1) vs. Chad Griggs (11-1)
-Mark Hominick (20-10) vs. Eddie Yagin (15-5-1)
-Mac Danzig (20-9-1) vs. Efrain Escudero (18-4)
-Anthony Njokuani (14-6) vs. John Makdessi (9-1)
-Keith Wisniewski (28-13-1) vs. Chris Clements (10-4)

MMAJunkie: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva not happening

A heavily rumored matchup between former UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez (9-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Antonio Silva (16-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is not happening, a source today told www.mmajunkie.com.

The bout was reportedly targeted for April, when the UFC is scheduled to return to Atlanta for UFC 146.

While Silva is still targeted to make his octagon debut on that month, his opponent is undetermined.
 

"Bigfoot" most recently appeared in Strikeforce, where he was eliminated in the semifinals of the promotion's heavyweight grand prix when Daniel Cormier knocked him out at an event this past June. The loss snapped a three-fight win streak capped off by a stunning upset over Fedor Emelianenko in the tournament's quarterfinals.

Velasquez lost his belt this past November when Junior Dos Santos knocked him out at UFC on FOX to take the title. It was the first loss of his professional career in 10 fights.

For more on the UFC's upcoming schedule, including UFC 146, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

UFC Returns to Atlanta in April 2012

For the first time since 2008, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is headed to the Peach State.

It was announced on Tuesday's new edition of FUEL TV's "UFC Live" that Atlanta will play host to UFC 146, which takes place April 21.

Sources have confirmed that the event will be held at the Philips Arena.


No bouts for the card have been revealed, but the main card is expected to air on pay-per-view.


The UFC last visited Atlanta in September 2008 for "UFC: Breakthrough," where Rashad Evans scores a second-round knockout of UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell.

UFC 146 marks the fourth-ever UFC event held in Georgia. The state played an important in the promotion's early development, hosting UFC 13 in 1997 and UFC 11 in 1996. Both of those events were held in Augusta.

For the latest on UFC 146, please stay tuned.