ECW Notes/UFC Notes/Updated Cards

I thought about using a whole post to go through tonight's "ECW," but I quickly realized that it was what it always is. The stars were involved in a non-extreme match plagued with interference (CM Punk vs. Elijah Burke), Originals were used to put over less-extreme new wrestlers (Balls Mahoney vs. Kevin Thorn), and more Superstars that people actually like were humiliated (RVD, Tommy Dreamer). The only good thing I have to say about ECW is that the producers have become quite talented at fitting in four commercials, three matches, two promos, one bizarre dance segment, and a partridge in a pear tree into their single hour time slot.

Onto the the UFC. Despite what I reported about Liddell getting the winner of the Rampage-Henderson fight, it appears that he will have to wait. I watched an ESPNews clip in which Dana White (one of Liddell's biggest fans) said that Liddell would have to prove himself in a COUPLE of fights before getting a shot at Rampage. He included the fact that Chuck has now lost twice to Rampage and so it would be hard to justify a third fight. Despite that I don't really count Rampage's first win as valid in this context, I take a bigger issue with the statement that Liddell has to prove himself. If an ESPN cover and PPV numbers bigger than the WWE and Professional Boxing don't coun't for something, then I'm not sure what White is looking for.

Below are the updated UFC cards that you've become so used to seeing from us. Worth noting is the heavily rumored but still unconfirmed Rampage-Henderson fight at UFC 76. It's the first card that isn't already full and/or on cable television. It would also provide Rampage with enough time to recover from the Liddell fight (as if he needs to) and train for Hollywood Henderson. Also worth taking a look at is the Hughes-Serra fight which has been pushed to the end of The Ultimate Fighter 6 (for which both are coaches). This seven-month layoff means that the only real Welterweight action during the remainder of the year will be the St. Pierre-Koscheck fight at UFC 74. Although the winner has been promised a title shot, the long layoff between UFC 74 and the Spring of 2008 (when the winner of Hughes/Serra would be ready to fight) means that the UFC 74 winner will probably fight again prior to the title shot, meaning that it isn't necessarily guaranteed (if the winner were to lose his intermediary fight). This is the first bit of poor planning I've seen from the UFC in a long time. Finally, when looking at the two September cards (UFC 75, UFC 76), it is obvious that the former card will be shown on SpikeTV. Whenever you have an event being held in Europe with Michael Bisping and Cro Cop headlining, you can bet it'll be on cable. Anyway, here are the updated cards (new fights in bold):

UFC 72: Victory-June 16, 2007
Rich Franklin vs. Yushin Okami
Forrest Griffin vs. Hector Ramirez
Jason McDonald vs. Rory Singer
Tyson Griffin vs. Clay Guida
Mauricia "Shogun" Rua may fight






UFC 73: Stacked-July 7, 2007
Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt (Middleweight title)
Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca (Lightweight title)
Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring
Kenny Florian vs. Alvin Robinson







UFC 74-August 25, 2007
Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (Heavyweight title)
Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck
Frank Mir vs. Tim Sylvia
Joe Stevenson vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Roger Huerta vs. TBA

UFC 75-September 8, 2007 (SpikeTV)
Michael Bisping vs. TBA
Jess Liaudin vs. TBA
Cro Cop vs. TBA

UFC 76-September 22, 2007
Rampage Jackson vs. Dan Henderson

UFC 77-October 2007
Anderson Silva vs Rich Franklin

UFC 78-November 2007

The Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale-December
Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra

UFC 79-December 2007

Spring 2008
Hughes/Serra winner vs. St. Pierre/Koscheck winner