Despite recent hurdles, Saturday's UFC 99 event nearing sellout status in Germany

[rajuB4U]

Despite recent hurdles, Saturday's UFC 99 event nearing sellout status in Germany

by ufc junkie

Saturday's UFC 99 event, the first-ever UFC show to take place in Germany, is close to being sold out.

Jennifer Wenk, the UFC's director of public relations, said during Monday's pre-event media conference call that the event is "about 85 percent sold out."

"UFC 99: Franklin vs. Silva," which features a main event between Rich Franklin and Wandleri Silva at a catch-weight of 195 pounds, takes place at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, and airs on pay per view. It's the first overseas event for the UFC since it ventured to Dublin, Ireland, in January for UFC 93.

The event has faced a few hurdles, including a local child-protection commission working with arena officials to ban fans 18 and younger from attending the show.

Additionally, the organization has been forced to push a public-awareness campaign about the sport's safety record and extensive rules list.

"Imagine it's 1997 again in the U.S.," UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik said. "We are facing questions from the media, especially in the run up to the show, that are very fundamental in terms of what the sport is and what the rules are.

"There is misinformation out there that we're working every day with our PR group to try to resolve that. But you know as of lately, we've been making great progress is getting the truth out there."