THE BRITISH BARK

By Jim Burman

As the Americans would say, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is exerting a “full court press” on the United Kingdom in anticipation of their April 21 UFC 70 “Nations Collide” event in Manchester, England, their first time overseas since they visited the Royal Albert Hall in London for July 2002’s UFC 38.

No where can you go without seeing a poster for the event, while print and TV media clips are sure to follow shortly. An invasion has begun, as the event’s card slowly rolls out to the public.

ETIM’S OPPONENT REVEALED FOR UFC 70

After being tight-lipped about his opponent for April 21’s UFC 70 in Manchester, Terry Etim (6-0) has confirmed that his opponent will be American Matt ‘The Wolverine’ Grice. Grice comes into the match with a 9-0 streak and both fighters are putting their unbeaten records on the line.

As the saying goes, styles make fights, and Etim’s Thai boxing background and tight jiu-jitsu guard game looks set to play out against Grice’s wrestling. The Oklahoma native likes to finish quickly with only two of his wins going the distance.


UFC 70’s “NATIONS COLLIDE” CARD

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Andrei Arlovksi vs. Fabricio Werdum
Forrest Griffin vs. Ryoto Machida
Michael Bisping vs. Elvis Sinosic
Terry Etim vs. Matt Grice


“THE OUTLAW” OFF TO JAPAN

CageWarriors’ Under 73 kg Champ Dan Hardy (13-5) is set to fight in Japanese promotion Cage Force in their welterweight tournament on May 27. The bout has come about mainly due to CageWarriors’ membership in the World Wide Cage Network, of which Cage Force are also members. Super striker Hardy is due to face welterweight King of Pancrase Daizo Ishige in the first round of the tournament with subsequent rounds being held in September and December. Hardy is still due to fight on April 28’s CageWarriors “Enter the Rough House 2” card as well, although his opponent for this match has not been confirmed yet.

BUTLIN VS. WINNER BOOKED

Heavy-handed, self-proclaimed “UK No. 1 Lightweight Fighter” Ian “M16” Butlin (6-5) is set to face tough up-and-comer Andre “Dre” Winner (4-0) at CageWarriors April 28 show. Butlin has vocally expressed his opinion why it’s so tough for him to find opponents in the past, but Team Rough House member Winner has stepped up to the plate to give him an opportunity to back up his boast. Winner, a teammate of Dan Hardy and Jim Wallhead has gone on a tear since breaking into the scene last year, finishing all of his fights within the distance. With both being keen to strike, fireworks are expected.