Written by Scott Swerbinsky

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UFC continues to get bigger and bigger by the day, and is back on pay per view tonight with UFC 67. Two new superstars have joined the UFC from Japan Pride Fighting, and each make their debuts tonight. Per usual, The Spoon Man drops by to preview tonights card, and also takes some time out to speak on the two new superstars set to enter the fray this evening. The UFC continues to further entrench itself as the undisputed king of the Mixed Martial Arts game, and the sport gets bigger and bigger by the day. What else could they do to put a little spice into 2007?

How about signing two of the biggest names in the sport that they didn’t have under contract. Tonight, From the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Mirko Cro Cop make their UFC debuts. Both fighters are international superstars and have made their names fighting in Japan for Pride.

Jackson’s biggest win came against current UFC champ and posterboy Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell. A win over veteran Marvin Eastman will likely set up a rematch for Jackson to show his first win wasn’t a fluke.

Mirko Cro Cop on the other hand is going to be the man to beat in the Heavyweight Division which from top to bottom is the weakest in the UFC.  His first fight in the Octagon will be versus undefeated Eddie Sanchez.

Also on the card, will be current Middleweight champ, Anderson “The Spider” Silva as he is set to take on the Ultimate Fighter 4 champ Travis Lutter. Due to Lutter failing to make weight, this is now a three round non title fight. What a terrible mistake for Luuter as he forfeits a title shot and also a percentage of his purse. Silva should make him pay and set up a possible rematch with Rich Franklin.

This card in my opinion, on paper, might be a letdown for UFC fans everywhere. I know three big names are on the fight card but that won’t always work. Two out of the three should have a pretty big advantage in their fights. There is however some very good young talent on the undercard.  

Full fight card:

Mirko Cro Cop vs. Eddie Sanchez
-Anderson Silva vs. Travis Lutter
-Quinton Jackson vs. Marvin Eastman
-Roger Huerta vs. John Halverson
-Scott Smith vs. Patrick Cote
 
Preliminary Bouts

-Ryoto Machida vs. Sam Hoger
-Tyson Griffin vs. Frank Edgar
-Jorge Rivera vs. Terry Martin
-Dustin Hazelett vs. Diego Saraiva

In what should be a decent night of fights, the anticipation of seeing Rampage Jackson and Mirko Cro Cop is huge for the UFC and their fans. I’m excited to see them both do what they do, and that is destroy their opponents.

UFC 68 is going to be the best card in a long long time next month from Columbus, and I will be in attendance. UFC 67 on pay per view will just whet my appetite for that.