Chicago fight fans and Zuffa finally get what they have been waiting for: the debut of the UFC in the Windy City.  UFC President Dana White confirmed to Combatwire host Jim Lynam Allstate Arena will host UFC 90 later this year on October 25.  The announcement came on Lynam's morning radio show "The Morning Fix" on Q101.1, Chicago's Alternative Rock station.  This is the first of what could be several major MMA promotions making their debut in Chicago later this year.

Zuffa, the company that owns The Ultimate Fighting Championship, has hinted for a long time Chicago was a target market.  However state sanctioning for Mixed Martial Arts in Illinois did not officially start till this month.  The UFC only stages events in states where the sport of MMA is legally sanctioned by the state's athletic commission.

This could be the first of several MMA debuts this year.  Affliction, which premieres this weekend and features a main event pitting former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia against former Pride Fighting Championships Heavyweight Champoin Fedor Emelianenko, is looking to throw a Chicago show this November.  Also, local insiders believe World Extreme Cagefighting(also owned by Zuffa) is planning to put a show in Chicago later this year.  Couple these with the return of Ironheart Crown(UIC Pavillion on November 8) and Chicago MMA fans could find themselves spoiled with the chance to see several bigname fighters.

Dana White did not announce the fightcard yet, but don't expect Matt Hughes to be a part of it.  Several bloggers and MMA websites originally believed the long awaited fight between former UFC Welterweight Champions Hughes and Matt Serra would be part of the card.  Hughes is from downstate Hillsboro and owns the H.I.T. Squad Gym in Granite City.  He says on his website he tore ligaments in his knee during his KO loss to Thaigo Alves at UFC 85 and could be out six to seven months.

A big part of the UFC's successful formula when bringing the show outside of Las Vegas, the home city, is making sure some local talent is featured.  Several UFC fighters are from Chicago and some names that have been mentioned when discussing a Chicago card are Stephan Bonnar, Clay Guida and Rory Markham.

Bonnar has not competed in the Octagon since defeating Erik Schafer in UFC 77 last October.  He was supposed to fight Matt Hamill at UFC Fight Night 13 last April but had to withdraw due to a knee injury.  Markham just signed a four-fight deal with the UFC and makes his debut this weekend against Brodie Farber in UFC Fight Night 14.  Guida is set to face Mac Danzig, the winner of season 6 of The Ultimate Fighter, in UFC Fight Night 15 scheduled for September 17 in Omaha, NB.  If "The Carpenter" leaves the fight without any injuries he could be included on the card.

Tickets for UFC 90 go sale August 9.  

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written by joe f, August 22, 2008

have you checked out shidokan chicago training on chicago northside. they train mma , karate, muay thai, grappling they have a octagon cage & a ring and charge only $500 a year open 24 hours a day which includes a fitness center. many great fighters

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