UFC 110 Early Card: Headed to Australia

UFC 110 will be another huge step forward for the organization that seems to be continuing its international effort, as Zuffa takes the show to Australia. An early report from Fighters Only has announced that Croatian Igor Pokrajac (21-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will return to the cage for the event, after losing his UFC debut.

He will take on Australian James Te Huna (12-4 MMA) as Te Huna makes his UFC debut in front of what will undoubtedly be a very excited, nationalist crowd. If the Australians react like the British, the UFC’s first move should be to continue searching for an Australian up-and-comer to throw a couple of bones as he develops into a solid main event fighter for Australian events.

The front-runner seems to be lightweight George Sotiropoulos (10-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC), a TUF veteran and a world class grappler who’s built a reputation as a Machado blackbelt and is on a substantial UFC run with three straight finishes in the Octagon.

Further indication that the UFC is looking to push Sotiropoulos is a recent puff piece posted on UFC.com that calls Sotiroploulos “one of the most goal oriented athletes in the sport.” It may be saccharine bullshit with respect to the incredible depth of talent and athletic phenoms in the UFC lightweight division alone, but Sotiropolous is certainly an accomplished and credible fighter, and should make for a good poster-boy to hype up the Australian audience.