CHESSNOID

I think even the economy is hurting the UFC. Or is it the competition. They are putting many more shows just to keep their name brand out there. This weekend has 3 or 4 events that will be fun to watch. First, the solid card under the newly formed Affliction: Banned event will be amazing. The ppv is cheaper than UFC ppv pricing too at only $39.95. Part of the Affliction promotion will be featured free on Fox sports Network.  It’s always cool to know every fighter on the fight card.  This one is loaded with big names.

Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia (Pictures), held a media conference call Thursday to promote the July 19 Affliction Banned pay-per-view card, headlined by Sylvia’s title fight with top-ranked heavyweight Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (Pictures).

Other matches on the stacked July 19 card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., include Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) vs. Ben Rothwell (Pictures), Josh Barnett (Pictures) vs. Pedro Rizzo (Pictures), Matt Lindland (Pictures) vs. Fabio Negao (Pictures), Renato Sobral (Pictures) vs. Mike Whitehead (Pictures) and Mike Pyle (Pictures) vs. JJ Ambrose (Pictures). Several other undercard matches, including Fedor’s younger brother Aleksander Emelianenko (Pictures) vs. Paul Buentello (Pictures), will be broadcast for free on Fox Sports Network prior to the pay-per-view event.

They will show some of their undercards and possibly stream the other undercards on the net. On that same night, UFC has decided to donate a show to MMA fans and give it to us free. Yes, I will be tivo-ing that event for sure. The other event this weekend will be on HDNET and will be a continuation of the Dream series. Dream 5 is a grand prix and will feature some awesome fights.

DREAM 5 Lightweight Grand Prix Finals
The DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix Tournament comes to a conclusion when the Semifinals and Finals happen on the same night! American rising star Eddie Alvarez takes on perennial Top 10 fighter Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri in one semifinal. Alvarez has surprised some in the MMA world with his impressive performances in the first 2 rounds, including winning a fight of the year candidate vs. top fighter Joachim Hansen. In the other semifinal, submission specialist Shinya Aoki takes on fan-favorite Caol Uno. The winners will fight later that same night to determine the champion! Also on the card, one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, makes his MMA debut against American Joseph Benavidez, as well as bouts from other top MMA fighters. Don’t miss DREAM 5 as the Lightweight Tournament reaches an exciting conclusion!

Then a week from now Elite XC and CBS will be putting on their 2nd joint venture on live TV. UFC has decided to replay UFC 84 for free. Sweet!

EliteXC and CBS Television are scheduled to air the second edition of CBS-EliteXC Saturday Night Fights on July 26. The live CBS telecast features a middleweight title defense, as champion Robbie Lawler defends against Scott Smith in a rematch of their bout from the first Saturday Night Fights telecast in May.

That same weekend another fightcard with less popular fighters will be showcased on HDNET again. Another free MMA show. It doesn’t get any better than this for fight fans who can’t get enough.

Maximum Fighting Championship – Hostile Takeover
Champion Ryan Ford has made a habit out of winning Main Events on HDNet and challenger Joe Jordan hopes to break that habit when the two clash for the MFC Welterweight belt LIVE on HDNet! The undefeated Ford has graced two MFC Main Events and the outcome was the same in both, a victory for Ford by rear naked choke. Joe Jordan will take over six years of fight experience into the ring in an effort to hand Ford the first defeat of his career. While Ford has just started to build his reputation, Jordan has fought some of the most respected names in MMA such as Roger Huerta and Clay Guida. Well-traveled veterans Jason Maxwell and Donald Sanchez also highlight a card that will have the crowd at the River Cree Resort and Casino leaping out of their seats.