Reported by http://www.mmaweekly.com/

MMAWeekly.com has learned that Evan Tanner vs Phil Baroni is official as of late last night. Tanner signed the contract to fight Baroni at UFC 48.

Tanner had this statement exclusively for MMAWeekly.com....

"The contract has been signed. Baroni gets his wish. This was a fight I was glad to take. It comes down to this. I'm just a regular guy that spent years working my way up in the sport from the small shows in the Midwest, to competing in Japan, and finally
to the UFC.

I have over 30 fights. I've paid my dues. I've earned my
place in the Octagon. I doesn't sit well with me when a guy who's had everything handed to him on a golden platter, who doesn't even have a winning record, who doesn't deserve to be in the UFC, goes out of his way to call me names, to bad mouth me, to disrespect me in the public media.

So here are my thoughts on the fight. I'm not going to run my mouth and make promises about what is going to happen in the ring. I'm not going to tell you how I'm going to knock his jaw into the sixth row or any other similar drivel. I can tell you this though. I've never fought a opponent for whom I have such disrespect, and this I will promise: I'll be going into the ring with bad intentions. I'll be going into the ring, not just to win, but to hurt him."

As far as his opponent Phil Baroni? Our friend Mike DiSanto is reporting for inside fighting that Baroni is currently training with Enson Inoue of all people in Japan. This should be a sensational fight for UFC 48.

UFC President Dana White told MMAWeekly yesterday..."This will be a great fight and we are glad to deliver a fight that the fans wanted to see. The rematch will be one of the headline fights for UFC 48."

The other interesting part is the UFC is very close to signing Lee Murray as well to fight on the same card. Murray is expected to sign to fight Joe "Diesel" Riggs on the same card.

yeah train with Enson, that will help your winning record.

I know the most part of you is going to crucify me but...I hope Baroni kills Tanner, and if he's training with Inoue, get ready to see a ****ing machine.

Actually Paniko, I think most people are rooting for Baroni. I hope Tanner wins though. I still can't stand Baroni's mouth.

I like watching Baroni fight. You'll never say "god that was boring" but I hate the WWF type hype that seems to follow.

Originally posted by Aaron Bizarre
yeah train with Enson, that will help your winning record.

Cheap shot, but you're entitled to it. I will say that not everyone from Enson's Purebred gym has turned out to be ****. "Kid" Yamamoto is a ****ing machine, and he's definitely a top 3 guy in his weight class.
I can't really say whether Enson can teach Baroni anything new at this point of his career. Baroni has been to just about every gym there is (Renzo's, Tito's, Lewis', Team Quest, etc.) and I really haven't seen any improvement. He's got decent hand speed and he hits like a truck. But his ground skills are still average and his cardio remains to be his biggest flaw.

Yeah, he's a good puncher and everyone including me loves punchers. I have to admit he is entertaining to watch fight.

Originally posted by mmafanman
Cheap shot, but you're entitled to it. I will say that not everyone from Enson's Purebred gym has turned out to be ****. "Kid" Yamamoto is a ****ing machine, and he's definitely a top 3 guy in his weight class.
I can't really say whether Enson can teach Baroni anything new at this point of his career. Baroni has been to just about every gym there is (Renzo's, Tito's, Lewis', Team Quest, etc.) and I really haven't seen any improvement. He's got decent hand speed and he hits like a truck. But his ground skills are still average and his cardio remains to be his biggest flaw.

I was making the judgement based on Enson's career. I dont feel that Enson (even though the "the Kid" is bad ass) could help Phil at this point.

maybe MFS could help Baroni. Hell, Pat has made something out of nothing before

I just don't se how people are Matt is a boring fighter. You match hime up with the right guy and you got a kick ass fight. If you think that baroni-linland 2 was a kick ass fight because of baroni you're on crack. Those takedowns were some of the best I've ever seen in mma.

FYI UFC 48 will be June 19th

Originally posted by Gman
I just don't se how people are Matt is a boring fighter. You match hime up with the right guy and you got a kick ass fight. If you think that baroni-linland 2 was a kick ass fight because of baroni you're on crack. Those takedowns were some of the best I've ever seen in mma.

I agree. Matt attempts to finish fights, and he doesn't just lay there and hope for a decision, e.g Arona. His stand-up looked a little better against Vitale, so I see improvement in that department.
Matt is the number one guy in his division. He DESERVES another shot. Of course, we all know the game Dana's playing here. He wants guys that will put asses into the seats. And if it means shutting out top fighters like Lindland and Sherk for loudmouths like Murray and Baroni, then so be it. It's a hard pill to swallow, but that's the business.

Matts problem is that is he too good of a wrestler. He gets people down, and they stall, so the fight looks boring. The only people that have really tried to do something against him were Bustamante and Baroni and they both turned out to be exciting fights (Baroni both times, although I haven't seen all of the first fight). Lindland needs to fight someone that has the balls to actually fight him back. Not someone thats gonna stall out on the ground because they are afriad of giving up position