Bisping vs Evans and UFC 78 Main Card Announced

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By Thomas Gerbasi

On Saturday, November 17th, the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to New Jersey for the first time in over two years, and in the main event at Newark’s Prudential Center, two of the most decorated graduates from The Ultimate Fighter will meet, as season two winner “Sugar” Rashad Evans (15-0-1) battles season three winner Michael “The Count” Bisping (15-0) in a battle that will not only leave one of these unbeatens with a loss on his record, but it will validate the victor as the future of the light heavyweight division.

Tickets for UFC 78: Validation, which are on sale now through Saturday for UFC Fight Club members and Newsletter subscribers, will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Saturday, October 6th through Ticketmaster.com.

Also added to the pay-per-view portion of the show (which will air live beginning at 10pm ET / 7pm PT) are four explosive bouts featuring a mix of veteran contenders and rising stars.

In a light heavyweight contest, two of the most aggressive strikers in the game today will collide when Houston “The Assassin” Alexander (8-1) faces Thiago Silva (11-0). Alexander has been the breakout performer of 2007, winning his first two UFC bouts against Keith Jardine and Alessio Sakara by knockout in less than two combined minutes. Chute Boxe’s Silva has been just as impressive in stopping James Irvin and Tomasz Drwal in his debut fights in the Octagon.

Former middleweight title challenger David “The Soul Assassin” Terrell (10-2) makes his long-awaited return to the UFC against The Ultimate Fighter 3 finalist Ed “Short Fuse” Herman (15-4). For Terrell, who owns a first round knockout win over Matt Lindland, it will be his first fight in the Octagon since he submitted Scott Smith in a single round at UFC 59 in April of 2006. Herman is currently riding a two fight win streak with impressive submission victories over the aforementioned Smith and Chris Price.

Top five welterweight contender Karo “The Heat” Parisyan (25-4), winner of seven of his last eight bouts, will also be in action on November 17th as he takes on UFC newcomer Hector Lombard (11-2-1). Parisyan, fresh from wins over Drew Fickett and Josh Burkman, will be facing a fellow Judo specialist in Lombard, a native of Cuba who represented his country in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and who is now chasing glory in mixed martial arts.

Opening up the UFC 78 pay-per-view card is a lightweight matchup that should live up to or exceed all expectations it is likely to have placed on it as rising star Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (7-0) faces a stern test in highly-regarded contender Spencer “The King” Fisher (20-3). Just 7-0 as a pro, Toms River, New Jersey’s own Edgar has nonetheless fought as a seasoned vet thus far in the UFC, handing Tyson Griffin his first pro loss in February, and doing the same to Mark Bocek in July. Don’t expect Iowa’s Fisher to be fazed though, as this hard-hitting striker is used to fighting the young guns at 155 and engaging in memorable wars like his torrid June win over Sam Stout.

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