London, England - The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization will storm into the British Midlands for the first time when UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN touches down at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, on October 18.
In a middleweight showdown, which has set mixed martial arts fans ablaze with anticipation, England’s own Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping will finally collide with Chris ‘the Crippler’ Leben. Two of the most explosively exciting strikers in the 185lbs division, Bisping and American Leben were originally set to face off in London at UFC 85 in June but, now, are set to do battle in Britain’s Second City.
“This is one of the most exciting fights we could have made in the middleweight division,” said UFC President Dana White. “Bisping has looked a monster since dropping down to 185lbs, and he’s dominated Charles McCarthy and Jason Day inside a round already this year. And Leben is coming into UFC 89 with a ton of momentum, too, having just knocked out Terry Martin and Alessio Sakara; two of the biggest wins of his career.”
White added, “That these two guys were willing to fight each other in London with six weeks’ notice shows you the kind of warriors they are. But now we will see this fight probably as it should have always happened, with both guys getting plenty of notice and coming in 100% ready for each other.”
Tickets for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN are priced £40, £50, £75, £125 and £225 and will be available from 10AM on July 2 to UFC Fight Club members, from 10AM July 4 to UFC Newsletter members and then they go on sale to general public at 10AM on July 6 at http://ticketfactory.co.uk, call 0871945 6000
UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik said “We’ve wanted to come to Birmingham for a long time, and we’re delighted to finally be bringing the world’s most exciting sport to Britain’s Second City. In the coming weeks we will be announcing a stacked UFC card for the National Indoor Arena and I know the Midlands are very excited to be able to see Bisping v Leben live.”
The winner of season 3 of the Ultimate Fighter, Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping, 17-1 in MMA, has fought his way to super-stardom in his native England. An attack-minded striker with lightning fast fists, feet and knees, Bisping has been in devastating form since moving down to the middleweight division. The Clitheroe, Lancashire native will be stepping into the Octagon™ for the third time in less than six months when he faces Leben.
Read the rest of this entry »
Entries (RSS)