By Ariel Shnerer, The Fight Network
Cincinnati may be in line to host UFC 115, with political and
insurance issues likely to cause the event’s cancellation in
the Canadian city of Vancouver.
Reports from Vancouver say the event is being re-located
because of “insurance and other issues”, which include
opposition to MMA events being stated in city-owned venues.
UFC was to have been staged June 12 at Vancouver’s
19,000-seat GM Place.
While Cincinnati is now the leading candidate to host the
event, neither UFC nor the Ohio Athletic Commission have confirmed
a new location.
UFC president Dana White and other officials have been
confirmed 115’s date and tentative match-ups in multiple
interviews over the past few months.
Despite recent reports citing a headliner between TUF 11
coaches Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz being in jeopardy, UFC 115 is
still slated to feature a third encounter between the UFC light
heavyweight pioneers.
Other bouts targeted for UFC 115 include a light-heavyweight
meeting between UFC pioneers Rich Franklin and Randy Couture, a
pair of heavyweight clashes pitting Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
against Pat Barry, and Gilbert Yvel against Ben Rothwell, as well
as a welterweight bout between Martin Kampmann and Paulo Thiago.
Additional match-ups previously reported include Tyson
Griffin vs. Rory MacDonald, James Wilks vs. Peter Sobotta, Mike
Pyle vs. Jesse Lennox, Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman, as well as the
promotional debut of Canadian standout Claude Patrick against an
undetermined opponent.
The Fight Network will have more details on the status of UFC
115 as they are revealed.
