UFC headed to Memphis for UFC 107 in December, Evans vs. "Rampage" could headline

UFC headed to Memphis for UFC 107 in December, Evans vs. "Rampage" could headline
by John Morgan and Dann Stupp on Jul 01, 2009 at 2:40 pm ET

Former champions and current light-heavyweight contenders Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans, who serve as coaches on the upcoming 10th season of "The Ultimate Fighter," will fight in December at a currently unannounced event in Jackson's hometown of Memphis, Tenn.

That's according to a recent YouTube video interview with Jackson.

UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that a Memphis show will take place at the 19,000-seat FedExForum in "early December," but he declined to comment on the potential Evans vs. Jackson bout.

Based on the odd year-end schedule (with both the Christmas and New Year's holidays falling on Fridays), Memphis could be the UFC's year-end show. The event would likely take place on Dec. 12 or 19 (since The Ultimate Fighter 10 is already slated for Dec. 5).

Ratner said the traditional year-end blockbuster, UFC 108, might instead take place Jan. 2 in Las Vegas.

The UFC's upcoming trip to Tennessee won't be its first. The organization first ventured to Tennessee earlier this year for UFC Fight Night 18. The April 1 event took place at the Sommet Center with 10,267 attendees, a UFC Fight Night event series record.

Jackson (30-7 MMA, 5-1 UFC) recently passed up a title shot with current champ Lyoto Machida to coach opposite Evans on "TUF." He's won eight of his past nine fights, which includes fights with the now-defunct PRIDE organization, and most recently defeated Keith Jardine via unanimous decision at UFC 96 in March.

Like Jackson, Evans (13-1-1 MMA, UFC) is a former UFC light-heavyweight champion. In fact, he hasn't fought since he lost his title to Machida in May at UFC 98. It was the first career loss for the former "TUF 2" winner.