UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson III airs live tonight on Fox Sports 1 (prelims at 8:00 p.m. ET, main card at 10:00 p.m. ET) from Sao Paulo Brazil. This is, on paper, probably the best Brazillian Fight Night card in a good two years or so. Dave Meltzer will be doing live coverage and Josh Nason’s preview is up with our staff picks. We also had another longer preview earlier this week, plus DraftKings best bets for tonight.
WWE runs Saturday in Leeds, England (Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose for IC title, Kane vs. Big Show, Dolph Ziggler vs. Tyler Breeze), Madrid, Spain (Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt; Usos & Ryback vs. Braun Strowman & Luke Harper & Erick Rowan, Alberto Del Rio vs. Neville & King Barrett for U.S. title) and NXT is in Largo, FL. We’ll have a live report from James Cox in Leeds, perhaps by the time you read this.
WWE runs Sunday in Birmingham, England (Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose for IC title; Kane vs. Big Show; Dolph Ziggler vs Tyler Breeze) and Liverpool, England (Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt, Usos & Ryback vs Braun Strowman & Luke Harper & Erick Rowan, Alberto Del Rio vs. Neville vs. King Barrett for U.S. title).
UFC FIGHT NIGHT SAO PAULO, BRAZIL:
Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. Eastern —
– Matheus Nicolas vs. Bruno Korea
– Pedro Munhoz vs. Jimmie Rivera
– Viscardi Andrade vs. Gasan Umalatov
FS 1 at 8 PM EST (PRELIMS/MAIN CARD)
– Chas Skelly vs. Kevin Souza
– Clay Guida vs. Thiago Tavares
– Yan Cabral vs. Johnny Case
– Gleison Tibau vs. Abel Trujillo
– Corey Anderson vs. Fabio Maldonado
– Gilbert Burns vs. Rashid Magomedov
– Piotr Hallman vs. Alex Oliveira
– Thomas Almeida vs. Anthony Birchak
– Glover Teixeira vs. Patrick Cummins
– Vitor Belfort vs. Dan Henderson
EVOLVE IPPV SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7 P.M.
– Timothy Thatcher vs. Drew Galloway
– Johnny Gargano vs. Drew Gulak
– Caleb Konley vs. TJ Perkins
– Tracy Williams vs. Matt Riddle
– Anthony Nese vs. Peter Kaasa
– Ethan Page vs. Lio Rush
*****
Raw is Monday in Manchester, England. Right now, nothing is announced for the show which will be airing on a few hours tape delay, not live. Smackdown is Tuesday in Manchester, England, with Undertaker advertised for this show.
Figure Four Weekly:
Figure Four Weekly (10/2/15): WWE 2K16 Review
2K Sports and Yuke’s turnaround WWE video game series with a reinvigorated title boasting huge roster.
****
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Here is the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer: November 9, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2015 Hall of Fame Issue
Our most talked about issue of the year, the 2015 Hall of Fame issue is up on the site right now. This is a double-issue featuring notes on the seven new inductees, the complete balloting results for the year along with last year, plus how the top candidates did with reporters, historians, and those who are currently and formerly in the business. You’ll see how the different groups voted, as well as notes on everyone who went in, what kept those who came close from getting in, thoughts on next year’s ballot, and a look at the careers of the inductees. There is also a super history of Montreal wrestling in the new issue, as well as a story on the modern Mexican scene.
The issue features a ton of old Southern history, coverage of one of the top heels of the 70s, the biggest matches ever held in Puerto Rico, a complete WWE business rundown with reactions from Vince McMahon and George Barrios, what the numbers say, profits in every category, the Wall Street reaction to the numbers, lots of network information broken down including who watches what, the current WWE profitability level vs. historical levels, as well as where the money comes from, and the last three years of PPV business being charted and the surprising staying power of PPV. We also look at every other aspect of WWE business.
We also have an in-depth update on the situation with Alberto Del Rio, WWE, AAA, TNA, Lucha Underground, Rizin and everyone else that had interest in him. We look at how things changed in the last week, have comments from WWE regarding what he can and can’t do, both sides of contradictory stories, the big move AAA made this past week due to his leaving, what the situation is with the AAA Mega heavyweight title, the good and bad of working with WWE vs. indies from a short and long-term financial situation, what Mexican star did WWE show interest in, and how this affects AAA and Lucha Underground.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected]” target=”_blank”>[email protected]
You can also order print issues at www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected]
Rates are:
For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to [email protected] For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW
Click Here: ADELAIDE CROWS 2019 MEN’S HOME GUERNSEY
If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today. We’ve got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.
Click here for the most requested Wrestling Observer back issues.
SATURDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
An angle aired today on WWC television to build an Alberto Del Rio vs. Ray Gonzalez match with Del Rio coming for revenge for what Gonzalez did to Ricardo Rodriguez, and Gonzalez looking for revenge for Alberto beating up his son in an angle shot before he signed with WWE. WWE confirmed to us that he will be working the next major show that they’re pushing. Carlos Colon works as a local promoter for WWE, and his son and nephew (Los Matadores/Primo and Epico) are allowed a certain number of dates they can work for him each year.
2K Sports released the first patch for WWE 2K16 late last night, with patch notes up on their official forum. All sorts of issues have been fixed and the game was also readied to accept forthcoming downloadable new moves. The game, which has been the most well-received version in years, is available here.
The Dallas Morning News did a piece on Mark Henry.
UFC/MMA
If you didn’t see our additions to the front page story on Fedor Emelianenko’s potential opponent for New Year’s Eve, Japanese sources tell us that there are three fighters under consideration, two from pro wrestling and one from sumo. Yes, one of them is Tsuyoshi Kosaka despite Fedor’s American spokesperson Jerry Millen claiming it wasn’t going to be Kosaka.
Regarding Akebono and a rumored fight with Bob Sapp, although Akebono dropped the Triple Crown and quit All Japan earlier this week, he also allegedly announced recently that he had retired from MMA. Most likely, it’s best to not put too much stock into a guy claiming that he’s retired.
For those who missed it, the Glory 25 main card is available on demand as part of ESPN3/WatchESPN — their best card in a really long time and well worth checking out. That said, the officiating/judging got so bad that announcers Mauro Ranallo and Stephen Quadros were openly not just calling it out, but expressing concern about bad decisions before scores were even read. If you started watching Glory in the last year or so when they put on less loaded cards and got turned off, you need to check this one out, because the fights were high level and fantastic.
“Big” Fox aired UFC Embedded today at 2 PM EST in advance of next weekend’s UFC 193 PPV. The show was very good and probably worth going out of your way to check out.
The Fight Network in Canada will replay August’s UFC 190 (Ronda Rousey/Bethe Correia) Sunday at 9 PM EST.
Last night’s RFA 32 show on AXS had some of the worst refereeing you’re ever going to see on a national broadcast and in both cases, it was the same referee, last name Moreland. In the opener, Marc Hummel was making his pro debut and took 35 unanswered punches from Ryan Bader protege Logan Storley, who moved to 2-0. In the co-main event, Chad Curry did a face plant straight to the canvas after being hit by a straight right from Landon Vannata. Vannata went on to hit him with 18 straight elbows to the head before the ref finally stopped it. It honestly could’ve been stopped before he even hit the canvas.
Other Wrestling
A fan asked Dixie Carter if there was any chance of a reconciliation between TNA and Spike TV on Twitter today and her response was: “I hear you!!!! Stay tuned!” We have heard nothing at all about any discussions between the two sides about a reconciliation, but it certainly was interesting to see TNA stars all over Bellator on Spike last night. That said, it’s probably best not to read too much into it.
On last night’s Wrestling Observer Radio, we discussed the Lei’d Tapa vs. Gabi Garcia fight (yes, FIGHT, an MMA battle) signed for RIZIN in Japan on New Year’s Eve plus tons of notes on Seth Rollins, all of the other crazy fights signed and more on last night’s special Wrestling Observer Radio for subscribers. For whatever it’s worth, Tapa’s uncle, Sione Latu (the brother of her other uncle, the Barbarian) is a 1-0 MMA fighter thanks to a UFC win back in 1999 over Joey Roberts and has a MMA gym. Another Observer Radio show comes out tonight after UFC.
For those interested in anything CTE related, here’s a story about NFL players that are connected by CTE.
For his first HBO sports documentary, former ESPN star and noted wrestling fan Bill Simmons is making a documentary on Andre the Giant.
Former WWE wrestler and OVW long-timer Eugene is set to make his wrestling promoter debut in South Dakota.
Stan “Krusher” Kowalski will be honored July 16, 2016 with a LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD at the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa. Historian George Schire will present Kowalski with his award at the awards banquet.
XICW this Sunday at The Ritz (24300 Hoover Road in Warren, MI) featuring an in-ring WRESTLERS COURT plus Rhino, Zach Gowen, & more in action.