Three huge names added to UFC 88
by Ben Blackmore, 24 July 2008
Dan Henderson has been handed a huge opportunity to force his way back into title contention after he was named among three huge stars to fight at “UFC 88: BREAKTHROUGH” - live on Setanta Sports.
“UFC 88” is headlined by Chuck Liddell’s long-awaited return to The Octagon, where he will fight for the right to become number one contender in the light-heavyweight division against Rashad Evans.
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Also confirmed on the bill by The UFC on Thursday: Former PRIDE middleweight champion Dan Henderson, former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin, and welterweight powerhouse Karo Parisyan.
Henderson takes on Rousimar Palhares in Atlanta, in a fight that would sweep him right back into the title mix at 185lbs.
The Greco Roman wrestling expert is looking to bounce back after his failed title shot against Anderson Silva, and his style will be well matched by Palhares, who trains with the Brazilian Top Team.
Palhares (8-1-0) made an outstanding debut at “UFC 84: ILL WILL”, showing magnificent transition to secure Submission of the Night as he worked from a rear naked choke into an armbar to beat former great Ivan Salaverry.
Rich Franklin, the current number two in the middleweight division, has boldly accepted an invitation to step up to 205 in order to fight Matt Hamill.
Franklin has spent the last three years at middleweight, a period in which he won the title, then lost it to Anderson Silva – before also suffering a failed rematch against the brilliant Brazilian.
“Ace’s” more natural weight is 205 though, and he will face a severe strength test against Hamill, who recently scored the biggest victory of his career over Tim Boetsch.
Also on the card is Karo Parisyan, who is looking to bounce back from the first knock-out of his career (to Thiago Alves) when he takes on Yoshiyuki Yoshida of Japan.
Alves labelled Parisyan a ‘tougher opponent’ than former welterweight king Matt Hughes back in May, and now “The Heat” has a big chance to prove himself against Yoshida, in a fight already dubbed ‘the greatest clash of judo black belts ever seen in The Octagon’.
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