Strange as it sounds, the headliner bouts on the UFC 51 card all could have taken place more than a year ago. In fact two of them couldve happened nearly three years ago. This will be the third time the
Vitor Belfort and
Tito Ortiz have tried to settle their differences, dating back to the UFC 33, Zuffas first PPV show.
No one has held a UFC middleweight title since
Murilo Bustamante defended it in May of 2002. As for the
Tim Sylvia-
Andrei Arlovski fight, this is their second attempt at throwing down
and this time it isnt for a real title.
Other heavyweights come out to play on Super Saturday as well. The
James Irvin-
Mike Kyle and
Paul Buentello-
Justin Eilers fights should produce a contender for the title later this year. And it should be a strikers feast with the
Phil Baroni-
Pete Sell and
David Loiseau-
Gideon Ray fights likely to finish on the feet.
The entire card breaks down as follows:
Karo Parisyan of the Hayastan Wrestling Dojo takes on
Chris Lytle of Integrated Fighting; Team Cesar Gracie fighter
Nick Diaz confronts Arizona Combat Team fighter
Drew Fickett;
James Irvin from No Limits Underground faces
Mike Kyle from American Kickboxing Academy; American Kickboxing Academys
Paul Buentello meets
Justin Eilers of Miletich Martial Arts;
David Loiseau faces last-minute replacement
Gideon Ray; in a battle of New Yorkers, Serra-Longo Competition Team member
Pete Sell and freelance fighter
Phil Baroni take to the cage;
David Terrell from Cesar Gracies camp and freelance fighter
Evan Tanner square off for the long-vacant UFC middleweight championship title;
Tim Sylvia of Miletich Martial Arts challenges Belarusian grappler
Andrei Arlovski for the interim UFC heavyweight championship; and in the main event, Team Punishment fighter
Tito Ortiz battles
Vitor Belfort of the Brazilian Top Team.