UFC 108 draws offical attendance of 13,529 for $1.97 million gate

The UFC’s first event of 2010, “UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva,” drew 13,529
attendees for a $1,969,670 paid gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in
Las Vegas.

Of the total attendance, 5,314 tickets were issued complimentary. An additional 599 tickets went unsold.

Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer today
emailed the official numbers to MMAjunkie.com.


The UFC’s first event of 2010, “UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva,” drew 13,529
attendees for a $1,969,670 paid gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in
Las Vegas.

Of the total attendance, 5,314 tickets were issued complimentary. An additional 599 tickets went unsold.

Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer today
emailed the official numbers to MMAjunkie.com.


Strikeforce’s Nick Diaz: Marius Zaromskis fight isn’t about ducking Jay Hieron

Many fans who have followed the short trajectory of the Strikeforce
welterweight title were up in arms when it was announced that Marius
Zaromskis will face Nick Diaz for the 170-pound belt at “Strikeforce:
Miami.”
 
An exciting fight, sure, but what about Jay Hieron?
 
Despite Hieron’s claim that Diaz ducked him (even as Hieron turned down
a fight with the Lithuanian head-kick artist), Diaz won’t be drawn into
a war of words and said it’s nothing personal.


Many fans who have followed the short trajectory of the Strikeforce
welterweight title were up in arms when it was announced that Marius
Zaromskis will face Nick Diaz for the 170-pound belt at “Strikeforce:
Miami.”
 
An exciting fight, sure, but what about Jay Hieron?
 
Despite Hieron’s claim that Diaz ducked him (even as Hieron turned down
a fight with the Lithuanian head-kick artist), Diaz won’t be drawn into
a war of words and said it’s nothing personal.


MMAjunkie.com Radio: UFC Gyms exec Adam Sedlack, UFC 111’s Matthew Riddle

After a scheduling conflict left Matthew Riddle unavailable on Wednesday, MMAjunkie.com Radio welcomes the UFC 111 fighter to today’s show to discuss his upcoming fight with Ricardo Funch.

Joining Riddle as a guest on today’s show will be UFC Gyms Senior Vice President Adam Sedlack, who will preview Saturday’s grand opening of the first-ever UFC-branded gym, which is located in Concord, Calif.

MMAjunkie.com Radio begins at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. Listen to
and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.


After a scheduling conflict left Matthew Riddle unavailable on Wednesday, MMAjunkie.com Radio welcomes the UFC 111 fighter to today’s show to discuss his upcoming fight with Ricardo Funch.

Joining Riddle as a guest on today’s show will be UFC Gyms Senior Vice President Adam Sedlack, who will preview Saturday’s grand opening of the first-ever UFC-branded gym, which is located in Concord, Calif.

MMAjunkie.com Radio begins at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. Listen to
and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.


DaMarques Johnson, UFC 112 both appear headed to Abu Dhabi

“The Ultimate Fighter 9” finalist and former MMAjunkie.com blogger DaMarques Johnson (10-7 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is
the latest name associated with the as-yet-unannounced UFC 112 event.

Johnson posted notice of his new assignment on Twitter late Wednesday
night, though he stopped short of saying whom he will fight.

“Just got off the phone,” Johnson stated. “Looking like it’s going to be April 10, UFC 112. Time to put on my work pants.”


“The Ultimate Fighter 9” finalist and former MMAjunkie.com blogger DaMarques Johnson (10-7 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is
the latest name associated with the as-yet-unannounced UFC 112 event.

Johnson posted notice of his new assignment on Twitter late Wednesday
night, though he stopped short of saying whom he will fight.

“Just got off the phone,” Johnson stated. “Looking like it’s going to be April 10, UFC 112. Time to put on my work pants.”


Report: Kenny Florian vs. Takanori Gomi expected for main event of UFC Fight Night 21

That crafty Kenny Florian (12-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) has done it again.

Just one week after denying to MMAjunkie.com that
he had any knowledge of a potential bout with Japanese import Takanori
Gomi (31-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Florian is expected to reveal on today’s
edition of ESPN.com’s “MMA Live” that he will face “The Fireball Kid”
at UFC Fight Night 21 in North Carolina.

News of the impending announcement was first posted on the official
Twitter account of “MMA Live,” a show that Florian co-hosts. Fellow
co-hosts Jon Anik and Franklin McNeil have since followed suit.


That crafty Kenny Florian (12-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) has done it again.

Just one week after denying to MMAjunkie.com that
he had any knowledge of a potential bout with Japanese import Takanori
Gomi (31-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Florian is expected to reveal on today’s
edition of ESPN.com’s “MMA Live” that he will face “The Fireball Kid”
at UFC Fight Night 21 in North Carolina.

News of the impending announcement was first posted on the official
Twitter account of “MMA Live,” a show that Florian co-hosts. Fellow
co-hosts Jon Anik and Franklin McNeil have since followed suit.


Sarah Kaufman says Feb. 26 bout with Takayo Hashi will be for Strikeforce title

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said it probably would be, and now undefeated 135-pound
female fighter Sarah Kaufman (10-0 MMA, 2-0 SF) says it is.

Kaufman posted on her Twitter account late Wednesday night that her
Feb. 26 bout with Takayo Hashi (12-1 MMA, 0-0 SF) will indeed determine
Strikeforce’s first-ever 135-pound female champion.

The bout serves as the co-feature for the recently announced
“Strikeforce Challengers VI: Prangley vs. Amoussou” event, which takes
place at the San Jose Civic Auditorium in San Jose, Calif., and airs on
Showtime.


Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said it probably would be, and now undefeated 135-pound
female fighter Sarah Kaufman (10-0 MMA, 2-0 SF) says it is.

Kaufman posted on her Twitter account late Wednesday night that her
Feb. 26 bout with Takayo Hashi (12-1 MMA, 0-0 SF) will indeed determine
Strikeforce’s first-ever 135-pound female champion.

The bout serves as the co-feature for the recently announced
“Strikeforce Challengers VI: Prangley vs. Amoussou” event, which takes
place at the San Jose Civic Auditorium in San Jose, Calif., and airs on
Showtime.