• UFC

Europe could get a title fight in 'the next year'

ESPN staff
November 10, 2010
BJ Penn was the last man to win a title on European shores © UFC
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Marshall Zelaznik has hinted that a title fight could be coming to Europe "in the next year", with the UK a strong contender to host the event.

Zelaznik spoke to ESPN on Tuesday regarding the imminent merger of the WEC with the UFC, which will create two new weight classes in the UFC. Starting on January 1, the current WEC featherweight and bantamweight divisions will fall under the UFC umbrella.

England has not hosted a title fight since January 19, 2008, when BJ Penn beat Joe Stevenson to claim the vacant lightweight title. Prior to that fight, Rampage Jackson defended the light-heavyweight strap against Dan Henderson in London on September 8, 2007.

The topic of title fights in Europe has been a heated one in recent times, with UK fans desperate to see another showpiece bout head to their shores. And, following the addition of two new belts, Zelaznik believes Europe will soon get its wish.

"I think that's a real possibility," the UK UFC president told ESPN. "I think any belt is a possibility, but with those two weight classes you can imagine there are going to be more and more fighters from this part of the world coming through in those weight classes.

"I would expect one of those belts to be contested in the UK or Europe in the next year."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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