Many matchups, including GSP-Shields and Couture-Machida, are being slotted for UFC's Toronto debut.
With less than four months to go until UFC 129 in Toronto, rumoured match-ups are beginning to surface for what the organization is predicting to be a record-breaking event.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is aiming to use the Rogers Centre as the venue of choice to smash their current attendance record of 23,152, set at UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck II, last month at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
While the UFC always seems to aim at breaking whatever attendance record a venue has, this time around, he is not looking to break the current Rogers Centre record of 72,500. In fact this past Friday, UFC president Dana White reiterated to Rogers Sportsnet that he wants it to be big, but also wants to keep it a fan-friendly experience for all.
"We'll probably keep it around 40,000," White said. "Forty thousand is manageable and we can still pull off ... the feel. I like the way that the event feels, I don't want to mess with that. Sixty thousand is too many people."
He also informed us that the main event will feature a UFC welterweight title fight between champion Georges (Rush) St-Pierre and No. 1 contender Jake Shields.
GSP will be looking to break the current consecutive welterweight title defence streak set by Matt Hughes, who successfully defended the title five straight times, from March 2002 to November 2003. As it stands today, St-Pierre has currently tied that record.
Another milestone that he will be looking to inch ever so closely to is the total amount of successful welterweight title defences.
Currently, the record is also held by Hughes, who defended the title a total of seven times. With a victory over Shields, the history books will show that Georges will knock off number six. For a man who frequently speaks about his legacy, he is still three successful title defences away from eclipsing the all-time record set by the legendary Hughes. If Georges can make it eight, he will officially become the undisputed, greatest UFC welterweight champion of all time.
As for Shields, there are those who believe he is not worthy of facing off against the champ; I disagree. While I concur his last performance vs. Martin Kampmann did not endear him to many, I would consider it an anomaly. I saw first-hand the struggles Shields had making weight, and can all but guarantee that he will not make the same mistake(s) again.
For this bout vs. St-Pierre, you can rest assured that we will see the best Shields ever (including, what will likely be a drastic improvement in his striking game.)
Another bout that is being bandied about is a light-heavyweight tilt between former divisional champions Randy (The Natural) Couture, and Lyoto (The Dragon) Machida.
While verbal agreements are in place, Couture's hectic acting schedule must either be cleared, or balanced, for the 47-year-old living legend to properly prepare for an opponent as dangerous as Machida.
All the pressure on this bout will be on "The Dragon." Let's face it, he is expected to win, and should he lose his third straight fight inside the Octagon, especially to what will likely be a heavy underdog in Couture, one would seriously have to wonder what the future of Machida will be post Saturday, April 30.
The rest of the UFC 129 card will continue to develop over the next few weeks, and it is expected to be a barn burner.
When I asked Dana White if it will emulate that of the UFC 100 card, he said "it will be better."
He hinted at two possible title fights, one of which was to be a heavyweight slugfest between champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. But, with Velasquez now being sidelined for the next eight months with a torn rotator cuff, this championship bout will have to be replaced.
Enter the lightweight title.
While basic MMA mathematics would dictate the Frankie Edgar-Gray Maynard second rematch take place four to six months later, I would not be surprised if the UFC uses the late April date as a placeholder, for the bout to serve as the co-main event, underneath GSP-Shields.
It's a scrap that will receive an abundance of hype. The vast majority of MMA fans and media want a "resolution" to what happened this past Saturday night, and with three weeks off to recover from the bumps and bruises from their most recent tilt, both "The Answer" and "The Bully" will have three full months to prepare for a third tilt in as many years.
As for who else will be on the expected star-studded card, numerous sources are informing me that a plethora of Canadian talent will be added to this card.
While it seems obvious, it goes without saying that the likes of Mark Bocek, Claude Patrick, Sean Pierson, T.J. Grant and many others will likely be able to circle Saturday, April 30 on their calendar.
It will definitely be an epic event, one which will seem surreal for yours truly. It will mark the very first MMA event to be held in my home province of Ontario, and lucky for me, my own backyard of Toronto. The fact that I will be able to actually drive my own vehicle to the many festivities that will be taking place that week, is something I've waited patiently waited for, for over 12 years.
UFC 129 will arrive before we know it and the ride leading up to it is going to be exceptional. Be sure to stay tuned to sportsnet.ca "MMA Connected" and "The Showdown" on The Fan 590 for all the latest news and analysis, for this record breaking event.
