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[TeddyDaBear]

UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com

The UFC today officially announced "UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben," an event that takes place Oct. 18 at The National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England.

The event is headlined by a middleweight bout between England native and "The Ultimate Fighter 3" winner Michael Bisping (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and veteran middleweight Chris Leben (18-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC).

MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) reported the bout last week after Marshall Zelaznik, the head of the UFC's U.K. division, made the announcement on Setanta Television.

Tickets for the event go on sale to the general public on Saturday (July 6). Members of the UFC's fan club can purchase tickets early beginning on Wednesday.

This will be the second attempt at a fight between Bisping and Leben. The two fighters were scheduled for a June 7 event in London. However, Leben was forced off the UFC 85 card when he had to serve jail time for a probation violation stemming from an earlier DUI arrest.

Bisping instead fought -- and defeated via first-round knockout -- Jason Day at the event.

He'll now fight in a UFC-England event for the fourth time.

Leben, who had suffered three losses in the span of four fights, has since rebounded for a third-round knockout of Terry Martin and a first-round TKO of Alessio Sakara to re-emerge as a middleweight contender.

For the latest on UFC 89, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

I don't know why but i think this is gonna be a sick fight. I hope they stack this card with good fights...Silva-Okami? Franklin? Hendo?

[kalamazoo12]

Is this still the main event? I am looking forward to this but not as the main fight.

[Dave_44]

I dont understand why the UFC keeps making such bad main events they have so many good fighter and this is the best main event they could come up with I mean this fight should happen but not as a main event also I understand bisbing is from england but they dont have to put him on every card they have in england I m sure they want to see different fighters

[CaptainAmerica#1]

Terrible main event, can anyone say UFC 72 or UFC78, i mean as an undercard bout id be all over it, but main event? Really?

[Diegonightmare]

Dang guys, calm down.

UFC 89 is just now beginning to get fights confirmed, in fact to my knowledge this is the only formally confirmed fight so far. So it's still early going.

Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami and Wanderlei Silva vs. Thiago Silva have been rumored as possibilities for this card. That's 2 matches with a total of four top-10 fighters in the world, and a title fight.

Granted, these have only been rumors and might not come to pass, but my point is, don't turn in your uniform and badge and demand your last paycheck yet, don't give up on this card this damn early in the game. This thing is 3.5 months away!

Originally Posted by TeddyDaBear

I hope they stack this card with good fights...Silva-Okami?

Rumored

Originally Posted by TeddyDaBear

Franklin?

Rumored

Originally Posted by TeddyDaBear

Hendo?

Fighting Palhares at UFC 88

[Mr. Raider]

Im taking Leben in this fight. He impressed me in his last two fights even though I'm not a fan of his. I think Bisping is overrated and will lose in his own backyard.

[dmc_tim]

if bisping mows over leben like he did Mccarthy and day with a 1st rd ko or tko, how long would it be untill bisping earns a title shot. will he get one as quickly as a. silva did.

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by dmc_tim

if bisping mows over leben like he did Mccarthy and day with a 1st rd ko or tko, how long would it be untill bisping earns a title shot. will he get one as quickly as a. silva did.

Well, I wouldn't try to equate Bisping to Anderson Silva, but to answer, I predict that if Bisping does mow right through Leben, that he either gets the next shot at Silva or, if Okami has the next fight, then Bisping gets a title shot with Silva after that (assuming Silva defeated Okami and has the belt).

[bega]

I like watching Leben cause his fights are never boring but I think Bisping is more complete fighter and he takes it.

Also if I remember correctly UFC has changed main event for their PPVs few times in the past so I wouldn't be surprised if this fight end up being co-main event

[bega]

Originally Posted by dmc_tim

if bisping mows over leben like he did Mccarthy and day with a 1st rd ko or tko, how long would it be untill bisping earns a title shot. will he get one as quickly as a. silva did.

Bisping is still 2-3 wins away from a title shot ( about a year ). And that is assuming that A. Silva stays champ. If he loses ( or permanently leaves 185 lb division ) it will be at least 2 years before Bisping gets a shot.