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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will make its long awaited return to pay-per-view (PPV) a week from Saturday night (May 26, 2012) at the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" will feature a heavyweight title fight pitting reigning champion Junior dos Santos against former division titleholder Frank Mir in the main event of the evening. That's not all. Representing the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) will be a 265-pounder who knows a thing or two about wearing gold, as Cain Velasquez looks to get back in the hunt by stopping Strikeforce import Antonio Silva. Joining him from the San Jose squad will be Kyle Kingsbury, who will try to spoil the highly anticipated Octagon debut of Glover Teixeira. What is happening behind the scenes at AKA as both men get ready to slug it out in "Sin City?" Check out the above Team AKA "Fighter Diary" video for all the answers and if you need more background on each fight hit up our comprehensive UFC 146 news archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, kyle kingsbury, aka, payperview ppv, championship ufc

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will today (May 16, 2012) hold a media conference call to promote this Friday's (May 18, 2012) The Ultimate Fighter episode, which will air live on the FX television network at 10 p.m. ET nationwide. The conference call will begin at 4:30 p.m. ET. Scheduled to attend will be the second half of the quarterfinalist fighters: Vinc Pichel, Chris Saunders, Al Iaquinta and Andy Ogle. Al Iaquinta was the first pick of Team Faber and lived up to his billing by winning a pair of decisions, most notably defeating Myles Jury after having a third round forced. Chris Saunders pulled off a huge upset, sneaking past Sam Sicilia via split decision to advance to the quarterfinals. Vince Pichel of Team Cruz had perhaps the best fight of the season thus far, earning a late submission victory over John Cofer while his opponent, Andy Ogle, also pulled off a huge upset, defeating the heavily favored Mike Rio via submission in their sweet 16 bout a few weeks ago.. We'll have complete updates of The Ultimate Fighter Live conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET. 4:38 p.m. - They just came on the line and said the fighters aren't back from training yet, the call won't be starting until about 4:50 p.m. ET. 4:56 p.m. - Still haven't started, ughhh.

Posted in: fighter, conference, pm, championship ufc, quarterfinals part

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Respect the 'stache. In addition to his unforgettable fights, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) pioneer Don Frye has also had his share of unforgettable media appearances throughout his career. In fact, there may be too many to count over the last decade. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. To pay tribute to the hilarity of recent Fryisms, our friends at Round 5 -- the high end retailer responsible for combat sports' most recognizable collectible figurines and merchandise -- recently ran a contest on MMAmania.com, asking our faithful readers to share their favorite and/or wildest Don Frye anecdote, quote, video, memory or story, including the impact it's had (if any) on the history, progression and/or forum thread humor of MMA. We received several gut-busting submissions, none of which disappointed, and today we are pleased to announce the grand prize winner, "JNSJAY." Check out a sample of his winning entry after the jump: See the rest of his entry here. What's he taking home? None other than the entire "Ultimate Collector" Series 9, which is anchored by the UFC and PRIDE legend, commemorating his championship run through the David and Goliath Tournament staged at UFC VIII. That's not all. Series 9 also includes the meanest mug in the game, Nick Diaz, along with the homie he ain't scared of, Jason "Mayhem" Miller. Rounding out the collection is hard-hitting middleweight Chris Leben and UFC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson. Thanks again for everyone who took the time to participate. We'll certainly partner up with Round 5 again down the road and giveaway more free goodies. To see more from Round 5 including their incredible line-up of figurines and collectibles click here.

Posted in: ufc, round, combat sports, championship ufc, pride legend

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UFC President Dana White hit back at critics about recent UFC on FOX ratings, claiming that the situation is far from being "doom and gloom" for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. UFC scored significantly lower ratings during its recent Diaz vs. Miller fight card. White explained the ratings system, claiming that Mixed Martial Arts writers should do their homework before writing negative

Posted in: ufc, rating, championship ufc, address dana, ratings system

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"He's coming off a loss. I'm coming off a loss. Both guys are hungry. We know we have to put on a show. This is a hyped up fight. I think he may be a little cocky and try to stand with me for a little bit. But again, I think he'll go for a takedown attempt. I'm well prepared for that. I'm going to defend the takedown, keep it standing and give the fans what they want in a knockout. ... When I come forward, we're definitely going to collide. It's going to be who's coming forward and who has the lack of respect for each other's power. I can tell you right now, I don't really care for his kicks. I couldn't care less about his kicks. I couldn't care less about his punching power. And I'm going to break him." -- In the most shocking news update (via USA Today) you will see today, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight contender Jeremy Stephens wants to knock out his next opponent, Donald Cerrone. The two will collide on the main televised card of the upcoming UFC on FUEL TV 3: "Korean Zombie vs. Poirier" event scheduled for Tues., May 15, 2012, from the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. As Stephens stated himself, both men are eager to get back in the win column after disappointing losses their last times out to the cage. Combine that with the match-up and the abilities of both men and all the ingredients are there for a good old fashioned slobberknocker. Who 'ya got in this one, Maniacs?

Posted in: fight i, stephen, donald cerrone, im, championship ufc

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When Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) makes its debut in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 21, 2012, at the Scotiabank Saddledome for UFC 149, it will do so with a featherweight championship main event bout pitting titleholder Jose Aldo against warm body number one contender Erik Koch. And to the surprise of no one, "Scarface" is heavily favored. According to MMAOddsbreakers, Aldo has been inserted as a -385 favorite for his next title defense, which had been up in the air until the very last minute when decision makers decided he was a worthy headliner for the promotion's debut in a new Canadian province. The same might not be said for his opponent, Koch, who limps in as the +285 underdog. Agree with that decision or not, all other top division contenders are locked up at the moment -- Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung is set for UFC on FUEL TV 3 and Hatsu Hioki vs. Ricardo Lamas likely for UFC on FX 4. That means Koch appears to be the only viable (and logical) competition left standing ... even if there aren't many who are giving him much of a chance. Koch is a Roufusport product who was last seen inside the Octagon winning a closely contested decision against The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12 winner Jonathan Brookins back in Sept. 2011. "New Breed" was expected to take on a fellow 145-pound rising star, the aforementioned Poirier, at UFC 143 earlier this year. However, Koch was hurt in training and forced to withdraw from the highly anticipated bout. Koch sports an impressive record with Zuffa, at 5-1, while boasting a 13-1 record overall. Anyone think he can shock the world and prove the oddsmakers wrong? For all the latest and greatest news and notes on UFC 149 click here.

Posted in: ufc, koch, decision, aldo, championship ufc

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"TV has never been gayer! You've got Smash, you've got Glee and you've got that sport where guys roll around and punch each other in the (expletive). What is not gay about that, Jon? I think that might be the the gayest thing I've ever seen. That is 'Ancient Greek' gay. I don't want to argue about this, that's a fact!" British comedian John Oliver argues with host Jon Stewart over whether or not mixed martial arts (MMA) is gay in a recent episode of The Daily Show. Homosexuality has been a sensitive topic in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as of late. Boxing bigot Bob Arum slams the "guys rolling around like homosexuals on the ground," Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira refuses to train with gay fighters, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White wants gay fighters to come out of the closet and Dakota Cochrane subjects himself to a divided fan base on this season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15. So can homosexuality be a laughing matter? Perhaps it all depends on context. What's your take on Oliver's attempt at gay humor? Lighthearted or mean-spirited?

Posted in: jon, fighter, championship ufc, youve, oliver

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It's not every day that the head honchos of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) get to talk shop with the top financial media outlet The Wall Street Journal. Speaking with reporter Lee Hawkins on the show WSJ Live, both UFC executives Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta discussed some of the specifics of the MMA business. Sure, there's plenty of the same talking points, but it's a nice glimpse into their partnership up top. White called Lorenzo Fertitta a "meeting machine" and Strikeforce lightweight Gesias Cavalcante definitely agreed, saying on Twitter that he's one of the hardest working men in the business. The bold claims were there as well with White saying he's not competing with the NFL, but more globally with the likes of soccer. Is he blowing smoke or do you agree?

Posted in: ufc, fertitta, championship ufc, lorenzo fertitta, lorenzo

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Vice Media will be adding Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) related content to its current digital offerings as one of five new channels slated for a September 2012 launch. That includes "Body Shop," exploring the science of fighting; adventure-travel show "The Coming of Man" documenting fighters as they experience traditional male rights of passage; "Little Big Guys" showing what it takes for a kids to become MMA bruisers; and "Cooking to Fight," which pairs world-class chefs "with men attached to the most dangerous fists on the planet." How about it fight fans, does this sound like your cup of tea?

Posted in: fight fans, championship ufc, vice media, mma bruisers, adventuretravel show

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Here we go again! We're back with another contest thanks to our friends at Round 5, the high end retailer responsible for mixed martial arts' most recognizable collectible figurines and merchandise. What's on the line this time? None other than the entire "Ultimate Collector" Series 9, which is anchored by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and PRIDE legend Don Frye, commemorating his championship run through the David and Goliath Tournament staged at UFC VIII. That's not all. Series 9 also includes the meanest mug in the game, Nick Diaz, along with the homie he ain't scared of, Jason "Mayhem" Miller. Rounding out the collection is hard-hitting middleweight Chris Leben and UFC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson. What do you have to do to win? It's simple ... follow us after the jump for complete details. In addition to his unforgettable fights, Don Frye has also had his share of unforgettable media appearances throughout his career. In fact, there may be too many to count over the last decade. That's where you come in. STEP ONE: Become a FAN at the official ROUND 5 FACEBOOK Fan Page by clicking here OR follow it on Twitter if you don't already by clicking here. STEP TWO: Share your favorite and/or wildest Don Frye anecdote, quote, video, memory or story (with links) in the comments section below, including the impact it's had (if any) on the history, progression and/or forum thread humor of MMA. Simple enough -- but be sure to get your answers in as soon as possible -- the contest ends at Noon ET on Mon., May 7, 2012. One submission per Maniac; therefore, make it count. Good luck! To see more from Round 5 including their incredible line-up of figurines and collectibles click here.

Posted in: ufc, round, championship ufc, pride legend, video memory

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight contender Jim Miller likes to brew beer right in his own driveway in the suburbs of North Jersey. That is, when he's not hunting, fishing, making his own furniture or changing his own brakes. But you knew that already. What you didn't know, is just how good the Sparta wrestler was inside the kitchen. According to his trainer, Mike Constantino (via NJ Star Ledger), he'll knock your socks off with his pie-making skills. "He makes a mean lemon meringue pie. You think UFC fighter, but it's the hidden stuff. There's so much more to the guy." Creaming Melvin Guillard earlier this year in Nashville earned him a shot at fellow aspiring contender Nate Diaz, who meets the AMA Fight Club product in the main event of UFC on FOX 3 this Saturday night (May 5, 2012) at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ. And if he wins, maybe he can get a pie in the face, New York Yankee style? For more on UFC on FOX 3 click here.

Posted in: ufc, fox, ufc fighter, championship ufc, pie

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) sent a handful of representatives to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Monday (May 1, 2012) to ring the NASDAQ stock market opening bell. In attendance were UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, former Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar, Strikeforce Women's 135-pound Champion Ronda Rousey and UFC on FOX 3 host Curt Menefee. The collection of cagefighters were on hand to help promote the upcoming "Diaz vs. Miller" fight card, which headlines the network televised event on Saturday night (May 5) live from the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ. Mixed martial arts (MMA) is currently outlawed in the state of New York, forcing all East Coast live events to fall within surrounding areas like New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The world's largest fight promotion promises a UFC event in the "Empire State" sooner rather than later, but will first have to overcome the hurdles set by the culinary union. For more on UFC on FOX 3 click here.

Posted in: ufc, championship ufc, empire state, rutherford nj, stock

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Drama. But, this is the official version (not the fan-made video trailer). Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has done a complete about-face to promote its upcoming Heavyweight championship showdown that wasn't meant to be prior to Alistair Overeem getting suspended for nine months for having elevated levels of testosterone in his system during a surprise drug test. Frank Mir was inserted shortly before Overeem's hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) late last month when company president Dana White had a bad feeling about the outcome. He was right. And now Mir gets the opportunity to challenge division champion Junior dos Santos in the UFC 146 main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., May 26, 2012. Careful what you wish for, Frank. Dos Santos is being portrayed as a hard-hitting, one-punch knockout artist who can end any fight in an instant. That's actually exactly what he does more often than not, which could spell disaster for Mir, who has had to answer to chin concerns after (technical) knockout losses to Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, among others. And let's remember that Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira had him on Queer Street just before he nearly got his arm ripped off late last year. In addition to the Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir marquee mixed martial arts (MMA) match up, UFC 146 will feature a reshuffled all-heavyweight pay-per-view (PPV) main card are super-sized showdowns between Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva, Roy Nelson vs. Gabriel Gonzaga, Shane del Rosario vs. Stipe Miocic and Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve. For more on UFC 146 be sure to hit up our complete event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 146: "Dos Santos vs. Mir" fight card and rumors click here.

Posted in: ufc, mir, vs, do, championship ufc

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"I think his fight is actually going to go everywhere you know? Were both complete fighters you know what I'm saying? We both like to hit people in the face and I believe it is going to be a little bit of everywhere because the later you go in the rounds, the easier it is to get the takedowns and stuff like that. So I think you're going to see that. You are not going to see just another boring wrestling match. I think it's going to be a fun one for everybody to watch and I can't wait." -- Two of the most accomplished collegiate wrestlers in mixed martial arts (MMA) today will do battle on May 5, 2012, at UFC on Fox 3 when former NCAA Division 1 champion and four-time All American Josh Koscheck will go toe-to-toe with another amateur wrestling champion in Johny Hendricks. Both have parlayed their college wrestling days into successful MMA careers. Hendricks, who is 7-1 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is currently riding a three-fight win streak and coming off of a 12-second knockout over Koscheck's friend and training partner Jon Fitch at UFC 141 last January. Koscheck, on the other hand, has won two in a row and has competed a whopping 20 times inside the Octagon and challenged for the promotion's Welterweight title, coming up short against Georges St. Pierre at UFC 124 a year-and-a-half ago. Though their core lies in wrestling, don't expect a "boring" wrestling match because as Hendricks stated at today's UFC on FOX 3 conference call, the fight will go everywhere. The two 170-pound fighters are not strangers to finishing fights with "Kos" having 10 finishes under his belt and Hendricks coming in with eight. If their wrestling cancels each other out, expect an all-around battle, at least if "Big Rig" has his say in the matter.

Posted in: ufc, fight, koscheck, championship ufc, hendrick

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As any Beermaniac will tell you (and as detailed in the extraordinary "How Beer Saved The World" documentary), an ice cold beer was, and is, the ultimate post-workout drink. It should come as no surprise then, to learn that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight contender Jim Miller is brewing beer right in his own driveway in the suburbs of North Jersey. That is, when he's not hunting, fishing or making his own furniture. But will he be able to build off his first round submission win over Melvin Guillard back in January? Choking out "The Young Assassin" in Nashville earned him a shot at fellow aspiring contender Nate Diaz, who meets the AMA Fight Club product in the main event of UFC on FOX 3 a week from Saturday (May 5, 2012) at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ. And if he wins, expect the afterparty to take place in Sparta -- right alongside a couple of Millers. For more on UFC on FOX 3 click here.

Posted in: ufc, fox, miller, championship ufc, beer

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"Hate me now." UFC 145 is less than two weeks away, and former training partners and bitter rivals who are set to headline the pay-per-view (PPV) event, Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans, at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on April 21, 2012, continue to talk the talk prior to the championship clash. But who will walk the walk? Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and FX recently collaborated for a "Primetime" series in an effort dig deeper into their longstanding feud as they prepare to settle their score and (hopefully) bring some resolution to the murky 205-pound title picture. Watch episode one of "Primetime" in its entirety right here. The UFC also held a special pre-fight press conference that had a tension-filled staredown between "Bones" and "Suga," which only served to add more fuel to the raging fire. See them face off right here. It's (almost) time! For all the news and notes surrounding UFC 145 check out our comprehensive news archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, right, training partners, championship ufc, entirety right

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit is getting ready to fight one Canadian by murking another. "The Natural Born Killer" lives up to his moniker in this fan-made video, capping off a few dozen rounds into teen pop sensation Justin Bieber. UFC President Dana White is not going to be happy about this. At all. If anything, videos like the one above only further prove that mixed martial arts (MMA) fans don't do well with so much downtime between UFC events. Fortunately we're less than two weeks away from Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva at UFC on FUEL TV 2 (April 14), followed by the epic 205-pound title fight of Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 145 (April 21). After that? The floodgates are open, including Condit's eventual title unification bout against the surgically-repaired Georges St. Pierre, rumored for UFC 154 in Montreal. Come children ... all welcome.

Posted in: ufc, video, condit, championship ufc, killer lives

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If you weren't watching Amazon Forest Combat (AFC) 2 last night (Sat., March 31, 2012) from the Amadeu Teixeira Gymnasium in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, then you missed what could be the knockout of the year. Even if it wasn't scored as one. That's because Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Pete Spratt, at the ripe old age of 41-years-old, absolutely obliterated Daniel Acacio with a spinning backfist knockout right as the final horn sounded. Naturally, he was awarded the decision win. For complete results and a full recap of AFC 2 last night click here. And if the above video wasn't enough to satisfy your lust for violence, the knockout is in .gif format after the jump. Props: IronForgesIron.com.

Posted in: knockout, championship ufc, gif format, afc, daniel acacio

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That uppercut is a work of art. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gives fans a sneak peek of its 'Breakthrough" special on May 14, 2012, to help promote the UFC 146 pay-per-view (PPV) event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada. That's where reigning heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will put his title on the line against feared Dutch striker Alistair Overeem. But how did it all begin for "Cigano?" Ask Fabricio Werdum, who had the unfortunate task of welcoming his fellow Brazilian into the ZUFFA family at UFC 90 way back in October 2008. Following the first-round knockout victory, Dos Santos was asked by reporters, "What did Werdum say to you when he entered the cage?" The soft-spoken rookie replied, "He said, 'I'm gonna smash you.' The follow-up question, was, naturally, "How did you respond?" He replied, "We'll see." For more news and notes on Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem at UFC 146 click here.

Posted in: ufc, do, werdum, fabricio werdum, championship ufc

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is rapidly plugging holes in its UFC 148 fight card, currently scheduled for July 7, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to a tweet from UFC Brazil (via Porto do Vale Tudo). Talented 155-pound striker extraordinaire, Melvin Guillard, has reached DEFCON 2 from a career standpoint, having dropped consecutive losses to Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller and getting finished in each of those two bouts. He'll try to prove himself worthy of future fisticuffs at the expense of Fabricio Camoes, who can seemingly do no wrong in his last couple of fights. After getting strangled by Kurt Pellegrino at UFC 111 back in March 2010, "Marango" returned to the regional scene, racking up back-to-back wins over Steve Lopez and Efrain Escudero. He was impressive enough to get a call back to the big show, where he promptly disposed of Tom Hayden at UFC on FX via first round rear naked choke. Watch that neck, Mr. "Young Assassin." UFC 148 is expected to feature a bantamweight title fight between TUF 15 coaches (and bitter rivals) Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, in addition to middleweight match-ups between Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le and Tim Boetsch vs. Michael Bisping. And let's not forget Tito Ortiz's retirement fight rubber match against Forrest Griffin. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more details on this upcoming fight card as they develop. In the meantime, see what's in store for "Sin City" on July 7 right here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, sin city, championship ufc

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Remember when Fedor Emelianenko's name used to be kind of a big deal? Boy how times have changed, huh? Just a few weeks ago, "The Last Emperor" openly admitted that in order to face the very strongest of competition, he would have to finally make his way to the company he's spurned for so long, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). But at this stage of the game, is UFC President Dana White even interested. His response when asked by MMAWeekly.com: "Not even a little bit. That was a guy who was made an incredible offer, and they laughed at it. He ain't laughing now." Spiteful? Sure. A little vengeful even? Yeah, maybe. But at this point, even the most hardcore Fedor nuthuggers can't argue too strongly in his favor. The legendary Russian may have won his last two fights but the previous three not only shattered his mystique, they damn-near sent him into retirement, with a brutal knockout loss to part-time middleweight Dan Henderson as the straw that broke the Soviet's back. Now he's been reduced to getting slapped around in Sumo matches on reality television. No wonder White isn't interested.

Posted in: ufc, fedor, fedor emelianenko, championship ufc, ufc dana

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is pairing Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Brazil," the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion's popular reality television show designed to produce new and up-and-coming stars from a pool of undiscovered talent. And it airs live tonight (March 25, 2012) online at midnight ET on TUF.tv. TUF: "Brazil," which is the first international edition of the MMA reality show, will showcase 32 contestants in the Featherweight (145 pounds) and Middleweight (185 pounds), hailing from 15 of the 26 states in the South American nation. In the debut episode later this evening, the initial group of 32 fighters will be whittled down to the final 16 who will move into the TUF house after their elimination bouts. At the conclusion of the season, Wanderlei Silva vs. Vitor Belfort will face off at UFC 147 this summer for Brazilian bragging rights. To check out the complete 32-fighter roster for TUF: "Brazil" click here. And remember that we'll deliver LIVE TUF: "Brazil" results later on tonight right here. See you then.

Posted in: fighter, tuf, brazil, debut episode, championship ufc

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UFC 149 press conference starts at the 9:00 mark. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hit Calgary, Alberta, Canada, today (March 21, 2012) to officially announce it will bring an event to the Scotiabank Saddledome on July 21. UFC President Dana White also confirmed the show will be headlined by Jose Aldo defending his featherweight championship against an opponent to be named later. Also on the scene was Canadian Director of Operations Tom Wright, who broke plenty of news himself. He brought word that UFC 152 will be held in Toronto on Sept. 22 and UFC 154 will go down in Montreal on Nov. 17. That latter card may very well feature the return of superstar Georges St. Pierre. If he's healthy, of course. For a complete rundown of all the relevant notes and quotes from today's presser click here.

Posted in: ufc, featherweight championship, championship ufc, calgary debut, canadian director

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will today announce at a special press conference at Flames Center it will bring an event to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for the very first time with UFC 149 on July 21, 2012, at the Scotiabank Saddledome. And Jose Aldo will be defending his featherweight championship on the card. That's the word from Yahoo! Sports reporter Kevin Iole, who tweeted the news yesterday. He also revealed that it's unlikely Aldo's title defense will be announced by the promotion at the press conference today. That could be because UFC President Dana White is loathe to let such things out of the bag, especially when he hasn't yet made a match-up for his 145-pound king. And that could be because there isn't quite a convincing challenger to "Scarface's" throne. Just days ago, I broke down a few potential names for the Brazilian's next defense. Tops on the list was Anthony Pettis, who we now know will undergo surgery and be out until late in the summer. Second was Dustin Poirier, but he's booked to fight Chan Sung Jung on May 15 at UFC on FUEL TV 3 in Fairfax, Virginia. Number three on the list? None other than Hatsu Hioki, who is currently without a fight booking and on a six-fight winning streak. Do we have a winner? Stay tuned.

Posted in: ufc, jose aldo, aldo, hatsu hioki, championship ufc

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Time to pick teams. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) brought a brand new format to its reality television baby The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), which started season number 15 last week with a 2.5 hour season premiere on its new channel FX. The best part? It was all the way live, folks. Last week's broadcast showcased 16 fights featuring 32 competitors attempting to smash their way into the TUF house to earn a shot at the coveted "six-figure" UFC contract. You can get up to date on all that by clicking here. Tonight's show will feature those 16 winners finding a home on one of two squads, Team Dominick Cruz or Team Urijah Faber. And, of course, another live fight. MMAmania.com has a live blog of all the night's action, starting at 9 p.m. ET, after the jump. THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 15 EPISODE TWO LIVE BLOG Geno here. See you tonight, folks.

Posted in: fighter, team, tuf, fighter tuf, championship ufc

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Your wait is almost over, folks. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) comes waltzing back into your lives in a matter of days. FX Channel and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will officially roll out the new season with TUF 15, scheduled to debut LIVE on the cable television network at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, March 9, 2012. TUF 15 will feature 32 lightweight contestants vying for the coveted "six-figure contract" under the tutelage of bantamweight coaches (and division rivals) Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. "The Dominator" will put his 135-pound title on the line (again) against "The California Kid" at UFC 148, scheduled for July 7, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. But the longtime rivals aren't doing anything in "Sin City" until they satisfy their coaching duties on TUF 15, beginning with the 2.5 hour season premiere and then one hour every Friday night (at 10 p.m. ET) for the following 13 weeks up until the June 1 live finale. Y'all ready? For more on TUF 15 be sure to check out our comprehensive archive right here.

Posted in: sin city, tuf, fighter tuf, championship ufc, rivals arent

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight contender Jim Miller, who's taking a bite out of the "Big Apple" to help promote his headlining bout at UFC on FOX 3, was an early morning guest today (March 6, 2012) on the FOX network's "Good Day New York." Complete with John Deere baseball cap. Miller will butt heads with Nate Diaz on May 5 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ, not far from the area he trains and calls home, alongside older brother Dan. To hear more from the top 155-pounder you can check out his comments from today's pre-fight press conference here. More on his fight against Diaz here.

Posted in: ufc, fox, miller, championship ufc, rutherford nj

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After grinding out a ho-hum unanimous decision over K.J. Noons last night (March 3, 2012) at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Josh Thomson may have set the postfight interview record for S-bombs. Uttering four of them, he described his performance as "Sh*t," and it went downhill from there. But even in an off night, Thomson, who'd been inactive for 15 months recovering from injuries, is still far and away the best challenger for Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. The fact that he stands alone, despite considerable mileage on a body that seems to constantly betray him, says a lot about him and the rest of the Strikeforce 155-pound ranks. For his part, Melendez has seemed content with not facing Thomson again after taking a decision in Dec. 2009 to knot their rivalry at one decision win apiece. Saturday night, Melendez, doing guest commentary with the broadcast team, appeared more receptive. It's good that Thomson was able to get the decision, because there's nobody remotely close to Melendez' level in the promotion. Gilbert's improvement between the first and second Thomson bouts was considerable. His stand up has evolved to the point where he can hang with good strikers on the feet, and Thomson's talented, but vulnerable body, may well have seen their best days. They'll make for a rousing rubber match, but who else is there? Noons is somewhere between a fringe top-20 lightweight and an opponent living off the shine of his Elite XC days and a cut stoppage win over Nick Diaz; Pat Healy is serviceable journeyman, and he took out Caros Fodor on the card, who was a rising prospect in the Strikeforce ranks. For all intents and purposes, it appears that after Thomson-Melendez III, the champ (assuming he defends successfully) won't have many dance partners to make for interesting fights. Of course, we were also saying the same thing about Eddie Alvarez in Bellator before Michael Chandler upset him and upended the entire division in that promotion. A lot of things can happen in a fight, but Melendez' consistency over the long haul suggest that it might be a good move to transition him to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight division. He's in his prime, turning 30 in April, and with the depth of the UFC 155-pounders, it'd be a shame for "El Nino" to spend the next couple years fighting long shot underdogs at the peak of his talents.

Posted in: ufc, decision, melendez, championship ufc, thomson

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By now you've probably heard that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will debut a brand spankin' new weight class at tomorrow night's (Fri., March 3, 2012) UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" event taking place at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia. Indeed, the flyweight division will finally have its place amongst the big dogs in the world's largest fight promotion. To kick things off the right way, the powers that be put together a four-man tournament to crown the first ever 125-pound champion in the UFC. Above is a nifty little video to introduce them, though you'll see a familiar face or two. Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez are both former bantamweight title contenders while their opponents, Ian McCall and Yasuhiro Urushitani, have just been called up to the famed Octagon. Get to know 'em, Maniacs, they're likely all here to stay.

Posted in: ufc, flyweight division, championship ufc, sydney australia, yasuhiro urushitani

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to debut its The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) franchise on FX next month (March 9, 2012) after a successful run on Spike TV. And they've got a damn good "Evolution" promo to get us ready for it. TUF 15 will feature a mix of Lightweight and Welterweight mixed martial arts (MMA) hopefuls, competing for one "six-figure" contract that is up for grabs in each respective weight class. Bantamweight enemies, division champion Dominick Cruz and number one 135-pound contender, Urijah Faber, will serve as coaches. Cruz and Faber will then collide at the conclusion of the show in a trilogy match that is currently scheduled to headline UFC 148 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 7, 2012. The premiere episode of TUF 15 will be a two-hour television special. Subsequent episodes will run for one hour every Friday night for 13 weeks and, thanks to the new format, will feature LIVE fights. Hope y'all ready. For more on TUF 15 be sure to check out our comprehensive archive right hhere.

Posted in: tuf, friday night, championship ufc, evolution promo, sixfigure contract

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"So excited!" Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) unveiled the most recent addition to its ring girl troupe last night (Feb. 24, 2012) when Miss Japan finalist, Azusa Nishigaki, joined Arianny Celeste on the stage for the UFC 144 weigh in event at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Azusa learned about mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion's talent casting call from a friend and apparently had the assets to card twirl around the Octagon later this evening. Celeste will be charged with ensuring she gets up-to-speed on all the responsibilities and physical demands of the gig prior to fight night (Feb. 25, 2012). Aside from her pageant aspirations, not much is known about Azusa; however, we're willing to bet her past does not include soft porn. Oh well. Check out a video interview with Azusa and Celeste after the jump: Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 144 results of all the "Edgar vs. Henderson" pay-per-view (PPV) action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FX "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7:30 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Sunday morning.

Posted in: ufc, championship ufc, blowbyblow coverage, celeste, azusa

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That was fast. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) wasted little time in giving Light Heavyweight import Glover Teixeira something to fight over, pairing him off against the venerable Kyle Kingsbury for a bout at the upcoming UFC 146 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for May 26, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The promotion announced the 205-pound contest late last night. Teixeira (17-2) has been terrorizing the Brazilian circuit over the past six years, racking up 15 straight wins with a frightening 14 stoppages. He was last seen beating the relevance out of Ricco Rodriguez at "MMA Against Dengue" last November. Kingsbury certainly has his work cut out for him. "Kingsbu" (11-3) knows a thing or two about dealing with top Brazilian prospects, having put the kibosh on Fabio Maldonado's rise to fame during The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 13 season finale last June. He was unable to replicate that performance against Stephan Bonnar in his next fight, losing by unanimous decision, but he's still a force to be reckoned with. UFC 146 is expected to be headlined by the biggest fight of the year (literally), when heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos puts his strap on the line for the very first time against division number one contender and famed Dutch striker Alistair Overeem. Middleweight TUF guy Jason Miller is also back in action taking on the venerable C.B. Dollaway while Edson Barboza goes to war against Evan Dunham. For the current UFC 146 fight card and rumors click here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, kingsbury, teixeira, championship ufc

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is giving British bomb-dropper Dan Hardy a chance to snap a four-fight losing streak by pairing him up against Duane Ludwig for the upcoming UFC 146 event, tentatively scheduled for May 26, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC officials (via ESPN.co.uk) brought word of the pending bout earlier today. Hardy, who managed to fight his way into a welterweight title bout against division champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 111 back in March 2010, failed to recover from that unanimous decision loss and went on to drop his following three contests, including a submission defeat to longtime veteran Chris Lytle last August. Following the loss, fans expected "The Outlaw" to leave town for good; however, UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta declared that Hardy was here to stay and would live to see another day inside the Octagon. Enter Ludwig. The Coloradan was recently able to get himself recognized as the record holder for fastest knockout in the UFC. Unfortunately the accolades did him little good against Josh Neer, who choked him out at UFC on FX just last month. His loss to "The Dentist" snapped a two-fight win streak. UFC 146 is expected to be headlined by the biggest fight of the year (literally), when heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos puts his strap on the line for the very first time against division number one contender and famed Dutch striker Alistair Overeem. Middleweight TUF guy Jason Miller is also back in action taking on the venerable C.B. Dollaway while Edson Barboza goes to war against Evan Dunham. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates to this still-developing fight card.

Posted in: ufc, fight, loss, championship ufc, ludwig

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I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will return to the "Land of the Rising Sun" for the first time in more than a decade when the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion brings UFC 144 to the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, this upcoming Saturday (Feb. 25, 2012). And while you won't see grandiose entrances like you did back in PRIDE FC, or freak-show fights and masked combatants, you will see a little Japanese flavor when you taste some of the local marketing efforts to help garner interest in this weekend's combat sports extravaganza, evidenced by the video above. Can you dig it? To check out the latest UFC 144 fight card, which is headlined by a championship match between Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson, click here. Be sure to also check out our complete UFC 144 event archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, japanese, pride fc, championship ufc, japanese i

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is putting together a lightweight fight between Paul Sass and Jacob Volkmann, who are expected to collide at the upcoming UFC 146 pay-per-view (PPV) event on May 26, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fighters Only brought word of the pending match-up earlier today. Sass is perfect through 12 fights in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career, one that includes a staggering 11 finishes by way of submission. With eight of those taps resulting from triangle chokes, it should come as no surprise that his combat sport nickname is "Sassangle." But will he be sassy enough to survive an early "Christmas?" After dropping back-to-back fights to kick off his ZUFFA career, Volkmann was able to right the ship and reel off five straight wins. While all five were decisions (three unanimous, two splits), the Obama-hater was able to get the job done and keep himself in the running for bigger and better things. But will Volkmann's wrestling, his biggest asset, put him in a precarious position against the grappling phenom? UFC 146 is expected to be headlined by the biggest fight of the year (literally), when heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos puts his strap on the line for the very first time against division number one contender and famed Dutch striker Alistair Overeem. Middleweight TUF guy Jason Miller is also back in action taking on the venerable C.B. Dollaway while Edson Barboza goes to war against Evan Dunham. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates to this still-developing fight card.

Posted in: ufc, fight, sas, volkmann, championship ufc

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to debut its The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) franchise on FX next month (March 9, 2012) after a successful run on Spike TV. TUF 15 will feature a mix of Lightweight and Welterweight mixed martial arts (MMA) hopefuls, competing for one "six-figure" contract that is up for grabs in each respective weight class. Bantamweight enemies, division champion Dominick Cruz and number one 135-pound contender, Urijah Faber, will serve as coaches. Cruz and Faber will then collide at the conclusion of the show in a trilogy match that is currently scheduled to headline UFC 148 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 7, 2012. The premiere episode of TUF 15 will be a two-hour television special. Subsequent episodes will run for one hour every Friday night for 13 weeks and, thanks to the new format, will feature LIVE fights. For more on TUF 15 be sure to check out our comprehensive archive right here.

Posted in: tuf, cruz, faber, championship ufc, fx debut

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and FUEL TV will collaborate tonight (Feb. 7, 2012) at 10:30 p.m. ET for UFC: "Ultimate Insider," a weekly mixed martial arts (MMA) magazine-style program hosted by former MMA Live frontman Jon Anik. So, what can fight fans expect from the network's debut offering? "Ultimate Insider" promises to deliver "unparalleled coverage" of the UFC with "unprecedented access, including in-depth profiles of the UFC's biggest stars, tell-all features, and compelling backstage footage." Tonight's episode will take a special behind-the-scenes look at Chael Sonnen's pre-fight preparations for his UFC on Fox 2 win over Michael Bisping back on Jan. 28 in Chicago, candid comments from a mic'd up Georges St. Pierre at UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit," and a one-on-one interview with reigning Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Tune in a little later this evening, check out UFC: "Ultimate Insider," and let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Posted in: ufc, fuel tv, championship ufc, oneonone interview, insider

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"The craziest thing about Las Vegas is you meet people from around the world. It’s never a dull moment. A secret itch I’d like to scratch is visit Greece. I love Greek food and I love the beaches. On an ideal first date, I’d like to be taken to a nice dinner and maybe a movie. I am single. [A man] needs to capture my attention because I get bored really easily. Something that will keep my attention." UFC Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste talks to XXLMag.com about life as the leading lady of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans wondering what it would take to get (and keep) her attention need look no further than the basics: Listen when she talks, laugh at her jokes and fly her to Greece. Unless you win the Showcase Showdown, that last one could cost you a pretty penny, so stop ogling her pics and get back to work, you have a lot of penny pinching to do. More on her loveliness here and here.

Posted in: ufc, attention, championship ufc, movie i, world itrsquos

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has requested the dates of May 26 and July 7 for its upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) events at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to an Email sent to MMAmania.com from NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer earlier today. Both events coincide with holiday weekends (Memorial Day and Fourth of July, respectively) with the latter being the send-off for the UFC's 2012 Fan Expo. And preliminary guesses as to possible event headliners? Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem? Anyone?

Posted in: ufc, event, garden arena, championship ufc, event headliners

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is making an electronic version of its Official Fight Program available to the public for free, starting with UFC 143, by clicking here. You can still buy a hard copy at the event, but in case they sell out or you blow your wad at the concession stand, digital is still an option. Get a sneak preview here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, championship ufc, version, program

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Sounds like Brock Lesnar wasn't the only opponent Alistair Overeem may have faced over the New Year's Eve weekend. A report today from Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal brings word that "Demolition Man" blew up on a casino patron in "Sin City," allegedly making physical contact with her. He was not arrested at the scene but later issued a citation and must appear in court to answer these charges on Feb. 21, 2012. If convicted, "The Reem" could face a steep monetary fine and up to half a year in the clink. Of course it's imperative we remember that Overeem is innocent until proven guilty. As of now, details are sketchy and team Reem has vehemently denied the accusation. No statement has been released from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he currently competes in the heavyweight division. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more details on this developing story as they become available.

Posted in: overeem, championship ufc, adam hill, casino patron, team reem

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Finally. Rashad Evans, perhaps the most qualified number one contender in the relatively brief history of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), tonight (Jan. 28, 2012) punched his ticket to a championship fight against Jon Jones. For now, anyway. Evans routed Phil Davis in the UFC on Fox 2 main event from the United Center in Chicago, Ill., winning a unanimous decision and earning a date with "Bones" at UFC 145, which takes place on April 21, 2012, at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. More on the breaking news shortly. For more on UFC 145 be sure to check out our complete event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 145 fight card and rumors click here.

Posted in: ufc, event, evan, championship ufc, atlanta georgia

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When Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) first hit the FOX airwaves for UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos," company President Dana White and the now retired Brock Lesnar served as booth analysts. So who's handling duties for UFC on FOX 2? That would be retired former heavyweight champion Randy Couture and current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Anyone excited to see "The Natural" back in the fold as an analyst for FOX?

Posted in: ufc, fox, brock lesnar, championship ufc, fox airwaves

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With the sophomore effort of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) just days away on Jan. 28, 2012, the promotion today announced that a fantastic lightweight showdown will be featured on its third show on network television at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on May 5, 2012. Jim Miller, who hails from nearby Sparta, will take on Stockton, Calif., scrapper Nate Diaz in what is likely a number one 155-pound contender eliminator match in the UFC on Fox 3 televised main card. UFC President Dana White shared the good news via his official twitter account. No other bouts for UFC on Fox 3 have been revealed at this time. More on this breaking news shortly.

Posted in: ufc, fox, championship ufc, sophomore effort, izod center

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With UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" in the books, the next major pay-per-view (PPV) for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will feature an interim welterweight title fight between Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit. The pair will headline UFC 143, which is scheduled to take place at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 4, 2012, with the winner earning the right to take on division kingpin, Georges St. Pierre, who is recovering from knee surgery, sometime in the near future. In addition, former welterweight number one contender Josh Koscheck will try to keep his spot among the 170-pound elite by taking on the venerable Mike Pierce. To get up to speed on all the news and notes for UFC 143 check out our extensive event archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, vs, las vegas, championship ufc, welterweight number

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"We're so close. It's going to happen, and I guarantee you it's going to happen this year. It's going to depend on when it happens, timing and everything else, but obviously, it would be nice to go in there with, probably, Jon Jones." Strong words from promotion president Dana White, who tells MMA Fight Corner he "guarantees" that mixed martial arts (MMA) will be sanctioned in the state of New York by the end of 2012. Zuffa LLC, parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), recently filed suit against the "Empire State," calling its ban on cage fighting "unconstitutional," limiting "the liberty of those who would, but for the ban, attend live professional MMA events, as well as those who train in MMA and want to exhibit their skills as professionals before a live crowd." Perhaps the courts were able to convince the powers that be they had to get with the times? Or is this just White being a tough-talking promoter? Time will tell. More on New York's MMA ban here.

Posted in: mma, york, mma events, ban, championship ufc

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The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 class clown, Matt Riddle, has been a last-minute scratch from the UFC 141 fight card this evening (Dec. 30, 2011) because of an undisclosed illness that has him "too sick to fight" Luis Ramos at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) just broke the bad news via its official Twitter.com account. With one less fight on the card, the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion announced that the start time for the under card bouts, which you can follow with live reporting and results right here, has been delayed about 45 minutes (7:30 p.m. ET). Riddle was looking to snap a two-fight losing skid, dropping unanimous decisions to Sean Pierson and Lance Benoist, respectively, in his two most recent performances after starting with an impressive record (5-1) with the promotion. With all of his eight mixed martial arts (MMA) bouts under the UFC banner, Riddle has been a mainstay in the welterweight division, Another defeat for "Monster Mash" could have marked the end of his UFC career, meaning it was likely better to be safe than sorry and compete at way less than 100 percent. Be sure to check out the rest of the fights on the UFC 141 main card with our bell-to-bell, LIVE coverage of the "Lesnar vs. Overeem" pay-per-view (PPV) event right here. UFC 141 results from the under card will begin to flow very soon!

Posted in: ufc, fight, riddle, card, championship ufc

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"If you want to be the man, you have to beat the man." That was the task that faced Strikeforce lightweight number one contender Jorge Masvidal as he took on 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" last night (Dec. 17, 2011) from San Diego, California. After five rounds of non-stop fists smashing against skulls, "El Nino" was able to come out on top and keep his belt. However, the shoe is now on the other foot, so to speak. Melendez wants to be "the man" at 155 pounds in mixed martial arts (MMA). The problem? He fights for Strikeforce. After the jump, we'll examine what's next for Melendez, as well as what he may need to do to be considered a legitimate contender for the number one lightweight in the world: Rankings are overrated. MMA fights don't happen on paper or on the Internet -- they happen in the cage. You can say a guy is better than another fighter up and down, but until the two square off in a ring of combat, all bets are off. Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez has long been ranked near the top of the lightweight heap by almost every ranking system available. He also doesn't mind tooting his own horn. After his victory last night, he challenged the best-of-the-best from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to come on over to Strikeforce and fight him in "his hexagon." But, that's not going happen. Never. Zuffa didn't purchase Strikeforce so it could ship the top fighters in the UFC over to Strikeforce. It also isn't interested in cross-promoting. If you believe otherwise, you clearly haven't paid attention to what has happened with Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum (just to name a few). The harvesting has begun, in a big way. It's abundantly clear which way the filtering is going to occur, regardless of what Strikeforce President Scott Coker may tell you. With that said, Melendez has two choices: Stay in Strikeforce and be a big fish in a small pond, continuing to risk a legacy on up-and-comers who most fight fans haven't heard of Be brave and do whatever he has to do to get into the Octagon There's been much talk that if Melendez were to sign with the UFC, he would get an instant title shot. That may or may not be true, but that shouldn't matter. A fight for Melendez versus any of the UFC's top five lightweights would do unspeakably more for his career than a fight against anyone that Strikeforce has left to offer. He has a big, multi-fight contract with Strikeforce, but do you really believe that's an issue? The truth is that the UFC doesn't need him in a big way. Not right this second, anyway. Its 155-pound division is stacked. But, just wait until they have a big event featuring lightweights and someone gets hurt. Melendez will be there, waiting in the wings as a wonderful option for a fill-in. The only question is: Does he respond to the call? In my opinion, saying "yes" would be the only option. He's 29 years old. Not past his prime, by any stretch, but also not getting younger. If he's the best, he should want to prove it. And he's just not going to do that against the Joe Duarte's or Pat Healy's of the world (no disrespect, gentlemen). What say you, Maniacs? Is it time for "El Nino" to make the move to the UFC, or are there still valid fights for him in Strikeforce? Sound off!

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, melendez, championship ufc

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Jon Jones defending his title against Lyoto Machida, Tito Ortiz going up against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the long awaited rematch between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira; UFC 140 is definitely not short on star power for the event set to go down on Dec. 10, 2011, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Nonetheless, all you rabid fight fans have one more reason to tune in -- the return of Brittney Palmer. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced today that America's favorite ring card girl is back from her hiatus and will join Chandella Powell and Arianny Celeste up in the "Great White North."Palmer, who was the ring card girl in the WEC, made the jump to the UFC along with the rest of the roster when the promotion closed its doors and quickly captured the hearts of fight fans everywhere. However, her stint was short lived, as she took time off her duties to focus on school and her passion for art. A sad day indeed.It wasn't long, though, until UFC President Dana White asked fans via Twitter if he should bring Palmer back into the mix. The overwhelming response was, "hell yes" and voila, she is back. Rest easy, Maniacs, all is normal again.

Posted in: ufc, palmer, fan, fight fans, championship ufc

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Ultimate Mustache Fighter (UMF) referee Herb Dean returned to "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on Nov. 29, 2011, to keep watch over 'Stache Bash IX: "Furry Fury."

Posted in: jimmy, referee, dean, championship ufc, jimmy fallon

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Top lightweight prospect Reza Madadi (11-2) has signed with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is rumored to be making his Octagon debut opposite Rafaello Oliveira at UFC on FX in January. "Mad Dog," who trains alongside Alexander Gustafsson and Papy Abedi, has wins over Rich Clementi, Carlo Prater and Junie Browning. Props: MMA Viking

Posted in: ufc, alexander gustafsson, octagon debut, papy abedi, championship ufc

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Zuffa LLC, parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has filed suit against the state of New York on Tuesday (Nov. 15, 2011), calling "The Empire State's" ban on mixed martial arts (MMA) "unconstitutional." MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden spoke to UFC attorney and New York University Law Professor Barry Friedman to find out why. See the answer here. Photo by Michael Cohen via Getty Images

Posted in: ufc, state, championship ufc, ufc attorney, michael cohen

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Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and K-1 kickboxing kingpin Alistair Overeem, who signed a "long term" deal with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) back in September, has more than just a new promotion to call home. He's also aligned himself with a new training camp. Overeem, who will make his Octagon debut at UFC 141 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas, against former division champion Brock Lesnar, announced on today's MMA Hour that he is now a member of "Sin City's" Xtreme Couture camp. Apparently the Glory wasn't Golden enough for him. Or it could be the breach of trust he alluded to in a public statement following his split with the Golden Glory fight camp, a place he's called home his entire career. No longer. Now, "Demolition Man" will be rubbing elbows with Randy Couture, Forrest Griffin, Gray Maynard and more. Anyone think this will help his wrestling defense? How about it Maniacs, how will this help (or hinder) "The Reem's" success?

Posted in: overeem, forrest griffin, demolition man, camp, championship ufc

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Calling all TUF guys! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) recently announced an open casting call for the next installment of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) franchise at Texas Station in North Las Vegas, Nevada, on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011. Lightweight (155-pounds) and welterweight (170-pounds) hopefuls should arrive at the Dallas Ballroom between 8 and 9 a.m. local time. Registration will take place as soon as the doors open and tryouts are set to begin promptly at 10 a.m.-- don't be late! No debut or possible coaching candidates for season 15, which will make its debut on the FX channel in 2012, are known at this time. Applicants must be over the age of 21 and have a professional fight record with a minimum of three fights. Dress code would be that of a normal sparring session and candidates are expected to bring the appropriate gear and equipment. To download a copy of the TUF 15 application click here.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is heading across the pond for UFC 138 on Saturday night (Nov. 5, 2011), featuring a middleweight mash-up between surging division contenders Chris Leben and Mark Munoz, who will throw hands in the five-round main event on Spike TV when the promotion invades the LG Arena at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. Does this footage of "The Philippine Wrecking Machine" convince you he's got the tools to get it done and inch his way closer to a 185-pound title shot?

Posted in: ufc, mark munoz, birmingham england, championship ufc, middleweight mashup

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