from ufc.com:
Live From the O2-Dublin - Saturday, January 17, 2009
Las Vegas, NV (USA) - The world's most exciting sport returns to the Emerald Isle as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization opens up 2009 with the star-powered UFC 93 card at the O2-Dublin in Dublin, Ireland on January 17, 2009.
In the light heavyweight main event, former two-division world champion Dan Henderson will collide with former UFC middleweight king Rich Franklin in three-round war which will set the tone for the 205lbs division in 2009.
Then, 2005 PRIDE® Grand Prix Champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua returns to the Octagon™ to throw down with UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman in a rematch MMA fans thought they would never see. The pair last met in Japan in 2006, with the legendary Coleman pulling off a stunning upset by breaking Rua's arm in the first round.
Here's the video of the Rua-Coleman fight in PRIDE and the aftermath. As I remember it, Rua breaks his arm early in the fight when Coleman goes for a take down. Coleman either doesn't realize it or doesn't care and keeps after Rua with the ref trying to intervene.
Chute Boxe members, including Wanderlei Silva, hit the ring, as do members of Hammer House, Coleman's team. Phil Baroni takes down Silva, who ends up getting Coleman's shoe on his throat. Coleman is charged up after the fight but later tries to apologize. Chute Boxe has nothing of it. Silva's so mad, he wants to take on Coleman, Baroni and Rampage Jackson at the same time.
"Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson is a battle between two great former champions who are both looking to get another chance to wear a world title around their waist," said Dana White, UFC President. "Franklin is the former UFC Middleweight champion, and he's a dangerous striker with solid submission skills - he also showed great takedown defense in his September destruction of powerful wrestler Matt Hamill. Dan Henderson is the former PRIDE Welterweight and Middleweight champion. He's a world class wrestler, known for his great chin and his one punch knockout power. He defeated formidable Brazilian submission specialist Rousimar Palhares in September. These are two fan favorites with a lot of pride on the line as they want to show that they are still among the very best fighters in the world."
"We are delighted to be returning to the Emerald Isle again, especially with such blockbuster main and co-main events," said Marshall Zelaznik, UFC UK Division President. "The O2-Dublin is a fantastic venue that will create a memorable UFC experience. After smashing box office records in Belfast in June 2007, we promised our Irish fans we would be coming to Dublin, and now on January 17 the world's most exciting live sports experience travels across the Irish Sea - we know this will be a great night for our fans."
Ticket on-sale date and purchase information for UFC 93 will be announced shortly.
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