Spike Tv's UFC 115 Prelims Feature Tyson Griffen VS Evan Dunham
Spike TV again will offer a “UFC Prelims” special when UFC 115 lightweight bouts of Tyson Griffin (14-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) vs. Evan Dunham (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Mac Danzig (19-7-1 MMA, 3-3 UFC) vs. Matt Wiman (11-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) air as part of a one-hour special. Although Spike TV officials could not confirm the plans, a source close to the event told MMAjunkie (www.mmajunkie.com) the “UFC Prelims” special recently was approved. UFC 115 takes place June 12 at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and the “UFC Prelims” special airs at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) as a teaser to the night’s pay-per-view broadcast. The show features a main event between “The Ultimate Fighter 11” coach Chuck Liddell and Rich Franklin, who replaces original coach Tito Ortiz at some point in the reality show. Official announcement of the “UFC Prelims” special is expected next week.Griffin vs. Dunham originally was scheduled for the night’s PPV-televised main card. A heavyweight bout pitting Ben Rothwell (30-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC) against Gilbert Yvel (36-14-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has taken its slot and been promoted from the preliminary card. Danzig vs. Wiman was also slated for the un-aired preliminary card but now gets TV exposure. (UFC and Spike TV officials traditionally like to feature past cast members from “The Ultimate Fighter” and UFC Fight Night regulars for the specials.) The UFC and Spike TV have contracted 10 “UFC Prelims” specials for 2010. The UFC and Spike TV opted to skip a special for this weekend’s UFC 113 event but has one slated for UFC 114 and now UFC 115. Six “UFC Prelims” specials have aired since UFC 103, and they’ve drawn from 1.2 million viewers (UFC 111) to 1.7 million viewers (UFC 109). They consistently score well in the UFC and Spike TV’s targeted demographics and help drive last-minute PPV buys. The latest UFC 115 card now includes:
- Chuck Liddell vs. Rich Franklin
- Patrick Barry vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic
- Martin Kampmann vs. Paulo Thiago
- Ben Rothwell vs. Gilbert Yvel
- Carlos Condit vs. Rory MacDonald
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
- Evan Dunham vs. Tyson Griffin
- Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
- David Loiseau vs. Mario Miranda
- Peter Sobotta vs. James Wilks
- Ricardo Funch vs. Claude Patrick
- Jesse Lennox vs. Mike Pyle
