The debut UFC event on the new FOX Sports 1 channel has a confirmed fight.
Taking place at the TD Garden in Boston, local fighter Joe Lauzon will meet Michael Johnson at the Aug. 17 show on the new all-sports cable channel.
It will be an important for both as the two lightweights, who were once considered contenders, are each coming off losses, with Johnson actually on a two-fight skid.
No other bouts have been officially announced, though it’s been reported that Matt Brown will meet Thiago Alves.
There has been a lot of speculation that a light-heavyweight bout between Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva has been targeted to headline. Both fighters are high-profile, so it would serve as a good showcase for the newly launched channel. Sonnen is also a commentator for FUEL TV, a FOX partner.
The outspoken Sonnen has been calling out “The Axe Murderer,” even issuing him a 24-hour ultimatum last week to accept the fight.
Someone even created a mock poster…
Poster de Wanderlei Silva vs Chael Sonnen #UFC #MMA @wandfc twitter.com/MMAWorldBr/sta…
— MMA World Brasil (@MMAWorldBr) May 6, 2013
The UFC last visited Boston in August 2010.
NOTES: The UFC has also announced the first of its weekly Wednesday night shows on FOX Sports 1, which will take place Aug. 28 in Indianapolis, the first in the city since September 2010 … The two shows will be sandwiched around UFC 164, a previously announced pay-per-view event in Milwaukee. According to MMAjunkie.com, heavyweight Alistair Overeem’s return has been targeted for that show, with no opponent yet determined.