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It's on. Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Aaron Simpson (11-3) finally has a date for his welterweight debut, which comes against former division number one contender Jon Fitch on the main card of UFC on FUEL TV 4, scheduled for July 11, 2012 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. "A-Train" tweeted the booking on Monday. Simpson has spent his entire career as a 185-pounder, rattling off eight straight wins before consecutive losses to Chris Leben and Mark Munoz in 2010 sent him tumbling down the divisional ladder. A fresh start at a lighter weight could prove to be the turning point in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. For better or for worse. Former welterweight number one contender, Jon Fitch (23-4), is coming off a crushing knockout loss to Johny Hendricks at UFC 141 last December. It was the second straight performance that failed to net him a win, as the former Purdue University wrestler went to a draw opposite B.J. Penn at UFC 127 last year in Australia. It was, however, just his second loss inside the Octagon, the first coming at the hands of reigning welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre way back in August of 2008. Would a win over Simpson put him back "in the mix?" UFC on FUEL TV 4 will feature a middleweight main event of Mark Munoz vs. Chris Weidman with the number one division contender position in the 185-pound division on the line. A Light Heavyweight bout that pits Brandon Vera vs. James Te Huna is also expected to take place in the "Shark Tank" on fight night, as well as a potential lightweight war between Anthony Njokuani vs. Paul Taylor. To check out the latest UFC on FUEL TV 4 fight card and rumors click here. And to check out our comprehensive UFC on FUEL TV 4 event archive click here.

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FAIRFAX, Va. - Aaron Simpson is ready to cut to welterweight for a bout with Jon Fitch. Simpson said at Monday's fighter Q&A session before the UFC on FUEL TV 3 weigh-ins that he is making the change because he walks around a lot smaller than most middleweights. "Everybody in my weight class is probably right now, out of training, 220 (pounds), maybe bigger," Simpson said. "Mark Munoz is up to 230 at times. I don't get over 195."

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About a month ago, we reported that Aaron Simpson was dropping to welterweight and would be facing Jon Fitch in his debut. The fight was expected to be taking place at UFC 149 on July 21st at that point, but it got switched up. Simpson tweeted the date and channel the fight would be on, which works out to UFC on Fuel 4: July 11th on Fuel TV. Trainin' hard! It is unclear whether the fight will be shown on the main card or not at this point, but you'd have to expect that it would be. Simpson went 6-3 as a middleweight in the UFC, but decided to drop down due to the size difference between himself and regular middleweights. He'll meet Fitch, who was a middleweight at one point as well and is winless in his last two bouts. The main event of the card is a five-round middleweight battle between Chris Weidman and Mark Munoz. SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel 4: Munoz vs. Weidman

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The long-rumored Aaron Simpson vs. Jon Fitch welterweight fight appears to have a date. During a Q&A session prior to today's UFC on FUEL TV 3 weigh-ins in Fairfax, Va., Simpson said he'll make his welterweight debut in July against Fitch. Earlier today, he tweeted that he'll next be fighting at UFC on FUEL TV 4.

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Aaron Simpson decided that he wanted to be a big welterweight instead of a smaller middleweight, and will make the drop to 170 pounds. He'll be in tough in his debut fight though, drawing one of the top welterweights in the world. MMA Weekly has the news: Aaron Simpson’s first trip to welterweight will be a tough test for the former NCAA All-American, as he faces former title contender Jon Fitch. Sources close to the fight confirmed the bout to MMA Weekly on Wednesday with bout agreements issued for the contest, but no date has been named yet for the event the welterweight showdown will take place at. Rumors have placed the Fitch vs. Simpson bout’s likely landing pad at UFC 149 in Calgary, but again nothing is set in stone at this time. Simpson had won three in a row and had a 6-2 overall record in the UFC when he met Ronny Markes, a gigantic middleweight, at UFC on Fuel 1 in February. Despite hurting Markes early, the 37-year-old wrestler was controlled by the bigger man and ended up losing a split decision. He'll now drop down to face off with Fitch, who will try to erase the nightmare of his last outing, a 12-second knockout loss to Johny Hendricks. While most people will scoff at this and make jokes about how boring it's going to be, I'm actually looking forward to it. SBN coverage of UFC 149

Posted in: ufc, welterweight, fitch, simpson, johny hendricks

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Two UFC welterweights who are looking to make a statement in the division appear headed to battle at UFC 149, as Jon Fitch and Aaron Simpson are rumored to be set as opponents. Fitch (23-4-1) is looking to rebound from a knockout loss at the hands of Johny Hendricks last year. The defeat came on the heels of a Draw with former champion B.J. Penn, leaving Fitch on the outside of the division looking in for the first time in a long time. Comaprably, Simpson (11-3) will be making his UFC debut at welterweight with the former Arizona State University standout dropping down from the middleweight division. Simpson has won three of his last four but was stopped by Ronny Markes in his last fight. MMAWeekly was the first to report news of the bout taking place. UFC 149 takes place July 21 from Calgary. Jose Aldo will defend his UFC featherweight title in the main event. A bout between Thiago Alves-Yoshihiro Akiyama is also expected to go down at the show. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Two talented grapplers appear destined to meet inside the Octagon this summer in the form of a bout between former title-contender Jon Fitch and freshly-minted welterweight Aaron Simpson. Both men are coming off losses with Fitch’s marking the first time he’d been finished in nearly a decade of competition. Though not confirmed, the clash is likely to take place on July 21 in Calgary at UFC 149. MMAWeekly was first to report the match-up. Fitch has long been considered one of the top 170-pounders in MMA after starting his UFC career out with eight straight wins only to lose by decision to divisional champion Georges St. Pierre. The 23-4 grappler quickly rebounded, stringing together five consecutive victories and a Draw against BJ Penn. However, Fitch feel to Johny Hendricks in his last outing, suffering a twelve-second knockout in December, and hasn’t fought since. Though Simpson lacks Fitch’s overall success inside the Octagon, the equally-talented wrestler is 3-1 in his last four fights with the entire lot taking place at 185 pounds. The bout against Fitch will mark the welterweight debut of the 11-3 “A-Train”. Simpson Explains Move Down to Welterweight UFC 149 is expected to be headlined by Jose Aldo defending his featherweight title. The only officially announced bout is a welterweight war between Thiago Alves-Yoshihiro Akiyama. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Aaron Simpson announced earlier this year that he will be dropping down to the welterweight division. He now has an opponent scheduled for that debut, longtime title contender Jon Fitch. That matchup is likely to take place at UFC 149 on July 21st, which goes down from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. MMAWeekly.com first reported the matchup. Fitch (23-4-1D-1NC) returns to the Octagon for the first time since suffereing his first loss in over three years last December. Fitch faced fellow wrestler Johny Hendricks at UFC 141, and was knocked out in just 12 seconds. Fitch had a six fight unbeaten streak going into the matchup, which included a draw to former champion B.J. Penn. Now, after the loss, just the second of his UFC career, Fitch will seek revenge against another wrestler in Simpson. Simpson (11-3) drops to welterweight after a twelve year career at middleweight, including the last three years in the UFC. The former All-American wrestler at Arizona State enjoyed success at middleweight, with a 6-3 record inside the organization. However, after a split decision loss to Ronny Markes at UFC on Fuel TV 1 in February, Simpson declared his future lied in a different weight class. UFC 149 will be headlined by Jose Also, who will defend his featherweight championship against a yet-to-be named opponent. Another exciting welterweight matchup was recently added to the card, as Thiago Alves will take on Yoshiro Akiyama at the event. Pictured: Jon Fitch For complete coverage of UFC 149, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

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WrestleMania! After getting pushed around by Ronny Markes at UFC on FUEL TV earlier this year, middleweight elder statesman Aaron Simpson (11-3) is finally taking the "A-Train" down the 170-pound tracks, with his first scheduled stop planned for Fitchville, USA. That's according to the gang at MMA Weekly, who also indicate the pending match-up could be slotted for the UFC 149 fight card at the ScotiaBank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 21, 2012. Simpson has spent his entire career as a 185-pounder, rattling off eight straight wins before consecutive losses to Chris Leben and Mark Munoz in 2010 sent him tumbling down the divisional ladder. A fresh start at a lighter weight could prove to be the turning point in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career -- for better or for worse. Former welterweight number one contender, Jon Fitch (23-4), is coming off a crushing knockout loss to Johny Hendricks at UFC 141 last December. It was the second straight performance that failed to net him a win, as the former Purdue University wrestler went to a draw opposite B.J. Penn at UFC 127 last year in Australia. It was, however, just his second loss inside the Octagon, the first coming at the hands of reigning welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre way back in August of 2008. Would a win over Simpson put him back "in the mix?" Stay tuned for more details on this upcoming match-up as they become available.

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After suffering a Split Decision loss to Ronny Markes earlier this week at UFC on Fuel 1 it appears Aaron Simpson is considering a drop down to 170 pounds to take advantage of his size rather than suffer as a smaller opponent. The 37-year old grappler leveled his Brazilian adversary in their bout but struggled to slip out of the larger Markes’ grasp in the clinch. “There were times I couldn’t budge,” said Simpson to MMAJunkie. “He had his shoulder buried in my chest, and I couldn’t move him. And I can defend a lot of people’s takedowns and everything, and it was just one of those deals where that really dwarfed me.” A Round-by-Round Look at Simpson vs. Markes “Everybody I fight is cutting from 220,” the 11-3 Simpson continued, adding his power is enough to contend with bigger foes but his size simply isn’t. Simpson had won a trio of tilts entering the match-up with Markes including victories over Mario Miranda, Brad Tavares, and Eric Schafer. Simpon has only been finished a single time in his career (by Chris Leben), having lost to the decision to Markes as well as one to Mark Munoz. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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If the docs say it's OK, count on seeing UFC vet Aaron Simpson at welterweight. After a loss to Ronny Markes on Wednesday at UFC on FUEL TV 1, Simpson said he's tired of being undersized at middleweight. "I've been thinking about it over the last year and a half," the 37-year-old today told MMAjunkie.com. "Everybody I fight is cutting from 220 (pounds)."

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It was a battle of youthful size and exuberance versus veteran experience last night (Feb. 15, 2012) on the main card of UFC on Fuel TV 1 in Omaha, Neb., when Brazilian prospect Ronny Markes took on two-time All-American wrestler Aaron Simpson. While the eight-fight Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Simpson appeared to be in control early, scoring an impressive first round knockdown with a massive uppercut, it was Markes who would turn the tides in the later rounds. Apparently, Octagon experience isn't everything. So how was Markes able to bounce back? And what's next for both middleweights? Follow me after the jump for our Ronny Markes vs. Aaron Simpson UFC on Fuel TV 1 post-fight review and analysis: Early on, Markes looked to establish his leg kicks and wear Simpson down in the clinch. He was having his way until he was suckered into a punching exchange with "The A-Train." The Brazilian was stunned with a nice left hand and as he backed straight up, Simpson made him pay with thunderous uppercut which floored him. To his credit, Markes didn't panic and was able to recover to the point where Simpson actually backed away from him on the ground and allowed him to get back to his feet. In both rounds two and three, Markes wisely avoided punching exchanges as they simply aren't his strong suit yet. Instead, he muscled Simpson around against the fence with his huge size advantage (he looked like a light heavyweight in there). The Nova Uniao fighter also managed to score takedowns in the final two rounds and when he was forced to stand with Simpson, he made sure to attack with heavy leg kicks instead of getting suckered into a brawl. In the end, Markes' ability to impose his will on Simpson was just barely enough as he was awarded a split decision victory (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). For Simpson, his stand-up looked solid, but he let himself get pushed around way too much last night. Markes was so big and so strong, he should have been avoiding the clinch but a majority of the fight took place there. He had his moments with his powerful punching, but not nearly enough of them in the final two rounds. He didn't do nearly enough to fend off Markes' clinch game or his takedowns. There are several possibilities for a next fight. I'd like to see Simpson take on someone like Jason Miller, Cung Le or perhaps Tim Credeur. It would be nice to see him step in against a fellow veteran for once. For Ronny Markes, that was a solid display of guts, coming back from getting hurt in the first round to impose his will in the latter two frames. His size is definitely something that's going to be very difficult to deal with and as long as he continues to train with a top camp like Nova Uniao, everything else will come. His punching still needs a lot of work as he doesn't use his hips or the rest of his body at all, but his leg kicks were solid. He's got perhaps the most energy sapping clinch in the middleweight division right now, he just needs to add some more variety to his attack. I think at 23 years old, he's got a pretty bright future. I'd like to see Markes take on someone like Ed Herman or the upcoming winner of Constantinos Philippou vs. Court McGee. Let's see what this prospect is made of. So what did you think, Maniacs? Did you feel Markes did enough in the final two rounds to earn the nod? Where do you think both fighters should go from here? Sound off! For complete UFC on Fuel TV 1 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

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UFC on FUEL 1 - Ronny Markes vs. Aaron Simpson

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Ronny Markes defeats Aaron Simpson by split decision. The judges scored the fight 29-28, 29-28, and 28-29. Ronny Markes battled Aaron Simpson for three rounds in a back-and-forth affair. An uppercut dropped the Brazilian in the first round, but Simpson was unable to capitalize on the opportunity. Markes recovered and was able to remain competitive for the remainder of the round. The rest of the fight was a sort of myopic clinch affair. Markes was able to muscle the former ASU wrestling coach around the cage and completed several takedowns. Unfortunately, he was unable to damage Simpson when the fight hit the mat. Ronny Markes is now 2-0 in the UFC and is slowly establishing his spot on the UFC's roster. A win over Aaron Simpson will definitely give him the opportunity to showcase his skills against tougher middleweights. Aaron Simpson will remain a tough test for opponents but has likely hit his ceiling as a fighter. SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel TV

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OMAHA, Neb. - Not even Aaron Simpson's stellar wrestling could overcome Ronny Markes' exceptional size. A former light-heavyweight, the well-rounded Brazilian made a successful middleweight debut and edged Simpson for a close split-decision victory. The main-card bout was part of UFC on FUEL TV 1 at Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb. It aired on FUEL TV following a preliminary card on Facebook.

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The UFC on Fuel TV 1: "Sanchez vs. Ellenberger" event taking place tonight (Wed., Feb. 15, 2012) in Omaha, Nebraska, featured a middleweight mash up pitting two solid grapplers in Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes. Simpson may be 37-years-old, but he managed to string together three wins in a row headed into this evening's festivities. Markes, meanwhile, just 23 and with his entire career ahead of him, was riding a five-fight win streak, including a dominant performance in his Octagon debut last August. Count another one for Markes and his first at 185-pounds. The fans at the Omaha Civic Auditorium didn't appreciate the split decision going his way, likely because he used a steady does of clinching and late takedown tactics to earn it but a win is a win is a win. Considering the lack of depth at middleweight, could Markes be a contender sooner rather than later? Not much different than most of the other fights on tonight's broadcast, Markes and Simpson came out doing the damn thing. Predictably enough, it led to a clinch between the two wrestlers that was only broken thanks a referee looking for action. He got it, too, in the form of Simpson landing a huge uppercut that sent Markes ass over tin cups. The ensuing swarm wasn't enough to finish the fight but there was little doubt who the winner of the first round was. The same couldn't necessarily be said of the second stanza, as the two battled back and forth in the clinch with Simpson landing more shots while Markes managed to earn a takedown, though he did very little with it. The final frame is where either man could truly assert himself. It's somewhat surprising, then, that neither did so. Markes used a clinch game that had fans in Omaha blowing their voices out booing while Simpson was reckless in his attempt at finishing the fight with strikes. In fact, he damn near knocked himself out by inadvertently running into Markes knee. Sloppy. Markes said screw it and went all "late takedown FTW." Simpson got back up but ultimately, it was enough to earn him the close decision. Remember, too, to check out MMAmania.com's ongoing coverage of the UFC on FUEL TV 1 main card action, which is rolling right along, by clicking here.

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Ronny Markes withstood a hard punch from Aaron Simpson in the first round and fought hard enough in the second and third to win a close split decision at Wednesday night's UFC on FUEL event. The victory improves Markes' record to 13-1, and shows that he's a promising young fighter in the middleweight division. But it wasn't easy. Markes tagged Simpson with several hard punches in the first 30 seconds of the first round, but Simpson maintained his composure and clinched with Markes against the cage. After the referee separated them, it was Simpson who took control by landing a huge uppercut that knocked Markes down. Simpson then pounced and tried to finish Markes with ground and pound, but Markes stayed active from his back and survived. Simpson won the first round, but Markes did a nice job of staying alive when it looked like Simpson was ready to finish him. More Coverage: UFC on FUEL Results | Ronny Markes vs. Aaron Simpson Live Blog The second round was slower, with a lot of clinch work and fighting for position. Simpson is a strong wrestler, but Markes more than held his own in that department, taking Simpson down and getting on top of him late in the round. The third round featured more clinch work, and the crowd started to boo, wanting more hard-hitting action like the first round delivered. As Markes controlled him against the cage, Simpson asked the referee to separate them, and the referee obliged. That gave Simpson his last, best chance, and he came out swinging, but Markes soon grabbed hold of him again, and the round ended without a lot of action. The judges scored it 29-28, 29-28 and 28-29 for Markes. The fans booed, but it wasn't a bad decision: After Simpson's early flurry, he didn't do much of anything in the second and third rounds, and Markes did just enough to win.

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UFC on FUEL 1 takes place later tonight at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska. The event airs live on FUEL TV at 8pm ET/5pm PT. The broadcast will be preceded by a prelim special on Facebook and FUEL.tv at 6:20pm ET/3:20pm PT. In the main event, Diego Sanchez takes on Jake Ellenberger in a welterweight bout. In the co-main event, Stefan Struve meets Dave Herman in a heavyweight match-up. Ronny Markes takes on Aaron Simpson in a middleweight bout. Philip De Fries and Stipe Miocic face off in a heavyweight match-up. T.J. Dillashaw and Walel Watson square off a bantamweight contest. Results, recap and bonuses after the jump. Results Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman Ronny Markes vs. Aaron Simpson Philip De Fries vs. Stipe Miocic T.J. Dillashaw vs. Walel Watson John Albert vs. Ivan Menjivar Jonathan Brookins vs. Vagner Rocha Sean Loeffler vs. Buddy Roberts Anton Kuivanen vs. Justin Salas Bernardo Magalhaes vs. Tim Means Recap & Thoughts Bernardo Magalhaes vs. Tim Means: Anton Kuivanen vs. Justin Salas: Sean Loeffler vs. Buddy Roberts: Jonathan Brookins vs. Vagner Rocha: John Albert vs. Ivan Menjivar: T.J. Dillashaw vs. Walel Watson: Philip De Fries vs. Stipe Miocic: Ronny Markes vs. Aaron Simpson: Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman: Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger: Bonuses $??? Submission of the Night: Knockout of the Night: Fight of the Night:

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OMAHA, February 15 - It would be hard to put together a bout between two tougher, more well-rounded welterweights, but UFC matchmaker Joe Silva managed to do just that in Wednesday's UFC on FUEL TV main event at the Omaha Civic Auditorium by pairing cardio machine Diego Sanchez against knockout king Jake Ellenberger. The roaring hometown crowd desperately wanted one of Ellenberger’s knockout fists to somehow break through Sanchez’ granite chin, and although that didn’t happen, the local was consistent enough to score the unanimous decision win.After a classic Sanchez staredown, the two went right at each other, with Ellenberger swinging for the fences that he saw hidden in Sanchez’ chin. Sanchez kept his distance early, and his every kick and jab was met by Ellenberger’s power punches. Both men’s takedown attempts were neutralized by the other, but they did connect with solid knees and hooks on the exits. As Sanchez surged forward, a left hook from Ellenberger knocked him backward and to the ground. Ellenberger pounced, but Sanchez bounced up with the durability of a man who withstood four-plus rounds of BJ Penn at his best. Round two was mildly more subdued, with Diego having less luck making contact with his striking and Ellenberger’s footwork keeping him fairly safe. After landing one blow that sent a resounding cracking sound through the arena, Ellenberger shook out his right hand, threw a close-quarters elbow and immediately took Sanchez down. Sanchez did his best to stifle him from the bottom, but Ellenberger worked tirelessly to break free and eventually was able to score, doing the most damage with a massive elbow that left Diego with his traditional bloodied face by round’s end. Both men meted out their punches in round three, with a left hook knocking Sanchez off balance. Ellenberger increasingly relied on his left jab in this round, plus takedown attempts that – although he didn’t get them – he followed up with solid knees. With time running down, Sanchez’ reckless side came out, chasing Ellenberger with strikes until Ellenberger got his arms around his opponent for a solid double-leg takedown. Sanchez struggled up, then took Ellenberger’s back with just over a minute left, throwing nonstop hooks from back mount as he tried to snake an arm under Ellenberger’s neck for a choke. Judges’ scores were 29-28 across the board for Ellenberger, who received a thunderous ovation from his hometown crowd. Sanchez falls to 25-5, Ellenberger improves to 27-5, with both men praising the other as the toughest opponent they’d ever faced. Stefan Struve vs. Dave HermanTwo fascinating and well-rounded heavyweights, Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve and Dave Herman, promised to be one of the most unpredictable matchups in memory. And after a slow start for the 23-year-old Struve, he showed the full power that his 83-inch reach can wield when precision meets potential, TKOing Herman in two. Round one was as much a staring contest as an MMA match. The two stood face-to-face with Herman – who had allegedly dyed his body hair to seem more dramatic – showing more movement as he tried to back Struve against the cage. He launched an uppercut-right combo there, but Struve slunk away. After that, the two traded occasional kicks and strikes – including a few more of Herman’s uppercut-right combos – with nothing of any real effect landing from either man. Perhaps sensing that he’d experienced the best Herman had to offer, Struve found his range and his rhythm in round two. Striking his way to the clinch, Struve easily tripped Herman backward and took mount, threatening with a rear-naked choke as Herman spun away. Struve’s long limbs provided a sizable back door through which Herman escaped, and Struve reluctantly got back to his feet. But he became more aggressive, landing a few solid kicks and blows, and by mid-round, it was Struve standing in the center of the cage, controlling the fight as Herman retreated. An inside leg kick from the Skyscraper took Herman off balance, and Struve worked with physics to deliver a perfectly-placed uppercut that dropped the smaller man. Pouncing on his prey, Struve stayed in mount this time, using the full weight of his 6-11 frame to paralyze Herman as he swung down lefts and rights. Herman curled with his hands over his face and tried to spin away to no avail, forcing Josh Rosenthal to intervene.The official win came at 3:52 of the second round and bumps Struve’s record to 27-5, including seven wins in the UFC. Herman slips to 21-3. Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny MarkesBrazilian finisher Ronny Markes’ first challenge at a new weight class of 185 was a test against the always tough, wrestling-based Aaron Simpson, but he managed to pull off the victory by split decision. Squared off in orthodox stances, Simpson threw one punch, only to be chased around the Octagon by a wild flurry of punches from the Brazilian. Markes got Simpson to the wall but couldn’t take him down, so the ref moved the action to the center of the cage again. This time, it was leg kicks followed by strong combinations from both men, until a perfect right uppercut from Simpson dropped Markes. Simpson followed him to the mat and though the ground and pound was plentiful, Markes survived, and eventually returned to his feet. He again played the aggressor, chasing Simpson around the Octagon while swinging, until the two wound up in a clinch on the cage as the round ended.Simpson circled his opponent in the second until grabbing hold and, unable to get the trip, pushed him against the cage. Back in the center, Markes responded with a leg kick, and Simpson came in with more frantic combinations before going for a double-leg that – you guessed it – ended with him pushing Markes against the cage. And then it happened again, with the two struggling primarily for outside control. Eventually it was Markes who got the trip and wound up on top of Simpson, where he used his one free elbow to punish as Simpson worked to control from below. As Simpson curled away, Markes was able to get in a few more punches, before ending the round back on the wall. Simpson came out with a massive right, which ended in a clinch and Markes again defending a takedown. Markes then pushed Simpson into the cage, where he used some footstomps and quad kicks to try to further weaken his opponent until the ref returned them to the center. Both men threw combos that didn’t connect until Markes pushed the action, such as it was, back to the fence, prompting the ref to move them yet again to the center and instruct “let’s fight!” This time, both complied – if briefly – with  powerful strikes before returning to the safe embrace of the crowd-displeasing clinch. But then Simpson went down to the mat and Markes followed him to the ground with some hammerfists, controlling Simpson from behind as they rose before dumping him double-legged back on the mat. The war of attrition – scored 29-28, 29-28 and 28-29 - improves Markes’ record to 13-1, while Simpson hits 10-3. Stipe Miocic vs. Philip De FriesNo one expected the battle of undefeated heavyweight finishers to go to decision, and Stipe Miocic didn’t disappoint, scoring a signature KO finish inside a minute. It was grappler Philip De Fries who came out swinging, and his windmilling punches kept Miocic on his heels. But Miocic watched and then countered with a straight right that connected and wobbled his foe. It was then the Ohio-born Miocic who moved forward, connecting again with a right that dropped De Fries against the cage. Powerful follow-up strikes from the top were all it took for the ref to wave things off after just 43 seconds. In the battle of perfect records, Miocic keeps his at 8-0, as the Brit De Fries tastes his first defeat and moves to 8-1.TJ Dillashaw vs. Walel WatsonAfter being upset in the TUF 14 Finale by John Dodson’s lethal hook last December, bantamweight TJ Dillashaw came to Nebraska with a vengeance to win. Though Walel Watson possesses impressive-looking striking skills and submission wins, his long limbs were no match for the Urijah Faber-trained wrestling of Dillashaw, who dominated throughout and got the decision win. The 5’11” bantamweight Watson was able to use his length to avoid being finished in the first round, but that was about all that could be said for his output in the opening stanza. Wrestler Dillashaw opened with a wild superman punch to move Watson backward, then struggled against the cage for a takedown. Thirty seconds in, he slammed Watson to the ground, and though Watson bounced up, 10 seconds later he was slammed again. The rest of the round took place on the ground. With Dillashaw postured up on top, Watson tried to roll away, allowing Dillashaw to sink in a rear-naked choke. Watson was consistently able to pry off one of Dillashaw’s hands and roll out far enough to escape the choke – and his length did give him the leverage to do so - but Dillashaw would follow with another choke. In round two, Dillashaw’s poison was ground and pound, but the pattern was the same. Dillashaw came out with strikes that were met with Watson’s signature kicks before Dillashaw got his takedown. He worked his way through wild upkicks, finally smothering his way into top position, where he spent the rest of the round elbowing and punching Watson in the head – at one point midway through the round, the in-arena stats showed Dillashaw with 110 strikes to Watson’s 2. Though Watson again used his length to stay alive – pushing away time after time – it only served to give Dillashaw different perches from which to issue punishment.Down but not out, Watson came out with his dramatic high kicks in the third, and the two had several crowd-pleasing exchanges on the feet. This time when Dillashaw went for his single leg, Watson caught him in a guillotine, but Dillashaw muscled his way out on the ground again and the two rose to the cheers of the crowd. Again Dillashaw worked for a single-leg, and Watson pulled him down in a triangle, which turned into an armbar and then a kneebar as the Team Alpha Male product worked to disentangle himself. Out of danger and back in Watson’s guard, Dillashaw transitioned into yet another RNC attempt to finish the round in back mount, then full mount. The scores of 30-25, 30-25 and 30-26 win brought Dillashaw’s record to 6-1, Watson is now 9-4.Ivan Menjivar vs. John AlbertUFC veteran Ivan Menjivar has fought at weights ranging from 135 to 170 against opponents including Georges St-Pierre, Urijah Faber and Joe Lauzon – all outside Zuffa organizations – but Wednesday night it was his skill at bantamweight that netted him his third UFC win in a row. He and his opponent, TUF 14’s John “Prince” Albert put on a wild show that saw Albert nearly score a TKO, not to mention a half dozen limb-locks (all inside a single round), but it was Menjivar who came out with the submission win.Both men exchanged early and often with kicks and frantic combinations. In the clinch, Albert threw two knees and a body shot that made Menjivar visibly wince. But he rebounded immediately with a spinning backfist that took Albert off-balance. After a struggle for a takedown, Menjivar wound up on top, brutalizing Albert’s body with elbows as Albert controlled his hands. But the lankier Albert went for a triangle, then an armbar as the crowd roared.Menjivar’s experience showed as he used his knee to get leverage over his opponent and hammerfisted his opponent with his free hand until he was out of danger. But the wily Albert again went for a kneebar as Menjivar simultaneously tried for a heel hook, then spun out and kicked his downed opponent for good measure. Back on the feet, Albert got Menjivar against the fence and unleashed a torrent of blows that buckled the shorter man, who seemed to be near defeat as he huddled against the fence and took more punishment – including several knees. As he struggled to his feet, Albert jumped for a standing front guillotine, which took both men to the ground. Although Albert was still working for an armbar, Menjivar took the back of Albert, where he softened him up with elbows to the ribs. He expertly sunk in one hook, then another, flattened out the taller man, and locked in a rear-naked choke that drew a tap 3:45 minutes in.“The Pride of El Salvador” Menjivar returns to his training base in Montreal with a record of 24-8; Albert now stands at 7-2.

Posted in: ellenberger, round, watson, dillashaw, simpson

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Brazilian Ronny Markes, a former heavyweight who debuted in the UFC as a light-heavyweight, will take the plunge all the way down to 185-pounds for the first time tomorrow night. Markes tackles Division 1 All-American wrestler and feisty veteran Aaron Simpson on the main card of the UFC on Fuel TV show. Ronny Markes (12-1) trains under Jair Lourenco at the "Kimura" branch of the prestigious Nova Uniao fight team and holds a brown belt in BJJ under Lourenco and the legendary Andre Pederneiras. Starting his career on the local circuit in Brazil, Markes won ten of his first eleven in devastating fashion, clobbering six victims by TKO and latching four submissions with one decision. This initial surge propelled Markes to his first marquee opponent in former WEC champion and Pride standout Paulo Filho. Markes fully capitalized on his considerable size advantage and Muay Thai acumen to batter Filho around the cage for all three rounds, scoring a commanding unanimous decision that inevitably launched his stateside career. Karlos Vemola, a six-time wrestling champion of his homeland in the Czech Republic, welcomed Markes to the Octagon on the UFC Live 5 card last August. What was expected to be a case of an untested Brazilian succumbing to the venom of an experienced wrestler unfolded in reverse: it was Markes who imposed control and dominated the contest with staunch takedowns and a suffocating top-game. It was a clean sweep on the judges' score cards and Markes made a strong statement right out of the gate. The overwhelming reaction to the way Markes dismantled Vemola was to belittle the Czech's wrestling accomplishments, but that option will not be on the table with two-time All-American wrestler Aaron Simpson (11-2). Attending Division 1 powerhouse Arizona State University, Simpson was also a multiple-time Pac-10 champion, a Pan-Am silver medalist and took fourth place at the Olympic trials. That same extraordinary success transferred well to MMA, as Simpson got a shot in the WEC after destroying his first four opponents (three by TKO and three in the first frame with one submission). He didn't disappoint either, sinking David Avellan at WEC 36 by first-round knockout in a mere eighteen seconds. The next step up presented itself and Simpson migrated to the big leagues of the UFC and duplicated his devastation with another quick strike-stoppage. He would go on to notch two more victories -- one eased by Ed Herman blowing out his knee and the next a split-decision over Tom Lawlor -- before tasting a double-dose of defeat. After winning the first round handily, Simpson's pace slowed dramatically in the second against Chris Leben and left him a sitting duck in the voracious striker's cross-hairs. Next up was an equally decorated wrestler in Mark Munoz, who was just a little quicker and stronger in out-hustling Simpson to a unanimous decision at UFC 123. Simpson has since piled on three straight wins (Mario Miranda, Brad Tavares, Eric Schafer), all by decision. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel TV By all accounts, Markes fights like a bloodthirsty and untamed savage. Every action and all efforts are dedicated wholly to inflicting great bodily harm. As evinced to the right, he doesn't throw punches casually nor as a distraction, but unleashes each blow with purely malicious intentions. Markes came into the UFC heralded as a double-threat fighter for his BJJ and Muay Thai, but ended up wielding three-dimensions by unveiling a fully functional wrestling game. This makes him a thoroughly complete fighter and his potential has maximized even further by dropping weight. Above, we get a glimpse of the fireballs Markes hurls and the sound reactions and timing he has on the feet along with his offensive and defensive wrestling. Against Vemola, Markes was faster, stronger, more agile and superior in every aspect. He lit up Vemola standing, nailed takedown almost at will and also drubbed him with strikes in the clinch. To the left, Markes gets excellent wrist control on Vemola's left arm and extends it away from his waist to leave his mid-section wide open for a brutal knee. Even at the ripe ol' age of thirty-seven, Simpson shows no signs of slowing down and has managed to improve his boxing nicely. While his wild power carried him through the embryonic stages of his career, he's been able to clean up his stance, footwork and punching technique without losing his raw striking heft. Not so much of a finesse-guy from outside, Simpson prefers to barge into close quarters and whirl short, tight hooks with both hands at a frenzied pace. Both of these animations versus Eric Schafer relect that tendency. Most of Simpson's lead shots from the fringe are ferocious and he follows directly in their streaking path to shrink the distance and maul with volume-combos at phone-booth range. While his effectiveness is apparent, he is somewhat relegated to being stationed either outside and idle on the perimeter or sandwiched deep in the pocket and scattering leather. Admittedly, Schafer is not known for his striking prowess and this was a bit of a showcase for Simpson's stand up. The reason all indications point to this match up being a bloodbath is that Markes shares Simpson's affinity for close-range brawling. Typically, you'll find neither biding their time cautiously or circling away to methodically counter punch. No, these gentlemen conduct themselves like long-leashed pitbulls who have just been let off the chain and envision their opponents like a juicy steak wrapped in Sprawl shorts, dangling enticingly before their ravenous eyes. The edge with game-planning goes to Simpson, who's exhibited the ability to lay out and adhere to a strategy specifically crafted to his adversary. Pinpointing Schafer's striking deficiency, Simpson was unflinching in stuffing takedowns to keep the fight standing; miffed after getting a taste of Brad Tavares' punching power, he enveloped the heavy-handed fighter and buried him against the cage to squelch his striking. Markes will have a substantial advantage in submission and is equally perilous from the top as he is off his back. Of course, the unknown pros and cons of his dramatic cut in weight will be at play and may be emphasized by the likelihood this bout will stretch into the later rounds. Even if his cut goes well, Markes will be an outright leviathan strength-wise at middleweight but will lose a little bit of his quickness, which is an integral aspect of his style -- and Simpson's too, who's fleet-footed for 185. I imagine the opening moments will transpire as the classic battle of who can impose their will first. I expect Markes to come out with cannons blazing, but ready to react instantly to avoid being put on his back. Simpson would love nothing more than to demonstrate his superior wrestling and vault ahead early with a few successful takedowns. In the clinch, Simpson has a better base and control where Markes is more offensively geared with a diverse Thai arsenal. This is a close match up that favors Simpson on paper, but I like Markes here. As long as he's not lagging from the cut or severely dehydrated, he should have too many weapons. My Prediction: Ronny Markes by decision. Poll Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes Simpson Markes   4 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, decision, simpson, vemola, marke

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Two entertaining middleweight scrappers will be duking it out this Wednesday night (February 15, 2012) as "The A-Train" Aaron Simpson takes on Ronny Markes on the main card of UFC on Fuel TV: "Sanchez vs. Ellenberger" in Omaha, Nebraska. Simpson is currently riding his second three fight winning streak in the UFC. The former Arizona State All-American wrestler has been working his way back into relevance and a victory on the national stage during the UFC's debut on Fuel would do wonders for him. Ronny Markes is a very intriguing prospect who's on the rise. After starting his career with a 12-1 record fighting mostly at light heavyweight, including a dominant decision victory in his UFC debut, he decided to drop down to 185 pounds simply because he thought he could do even better there. He'll get to prove what he's made of against an eight-fight UFC veteran next week. Will Simpson continue his resurgent run back to the top of the UFC's middleweight division? Or will Markes derail "The A-Train?" How does each man earn a victory on Wednesday night in Omaha? Let's find out: Aaron Simpson Record: 11-2 overall, 7-2 in the UFC Key Wins: Ed Herman (UFC 102), Brad Tavares (UFC 132), Tom Lawlor (UFC Fight Night 20) Key Losses: Mark Munoz (UFC 123), Chris Leben (Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale) How he got here: Aaron Simpson was a standout wrestler in high school and was a two-time All-American while competing at Arizona State in college. After graduating, he was the assistant wrestling coach at Arizona State for several years before getting a late start on a mixed martial arts career. After crushing everyone on the local circuit, Simpson earned an invite to the WEC, where he knocked out David Avellan in just 18 seconds. When the UFC bought the WEC, they transferred over all the larger weightclasses and Simpson was included. His UFC career got off to a very impressive start as well, dominating Tim McKenzie and Ed Herman and barely squeaking by Tom Lawlor in a "Fight of the Night"-winning performance. The Power MMA fighter had his momentum halted by the right hand of Chris Leben and then he was put in reverse by current contender Mark Munoz at UFC 123. Since those back to back losses, Simpson has gone to his roots, wrestling and clinching his way to victories over Mario Miranda and Brad Tavares before turning Eric Schafer into a human punching bag at UFC 136. The 37 year old is expected to face a stiff test in Ronny Markes this Wednesday. How he gets it done: Simpson needs to be cautious in this bout, as Markes is dangerous wherever this fight goes. After two fights to get his confidence back, it seemed he finally was ready to stand and trade again in his last fight with Eric Schafer, and he battered "Red" badly over the course of three rounds, nearly finishing the fight on multiple occasions. If he's still got that same level of confidence, Simpson has the power in the stand-up department to trade with Markes and beat him there. Look for him to work his way into the pocket and throw some heavy shots, as "The A-Train" isn't much for jabs and set-ups in his strikes. If the striking isn't working, The former All-American has got some terrific wrestling skills to fall back on. He'll try to work the power double and take the fight to the canvas, but if that doesn't work, as Markes showcased some solid takedown defense in his last fight, he might simply try to stall in the clinch. I don't expect to see Simpson do much damage whether he takes this fight to the ground or takes inside position along the fence, but he can definitely score points with the judges for being in a superior position. Ronny Markes Record: 12-1 overall, 1-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Karlos Vemola (UFC on Versus 5), Paulo Filho (IFC) Key Losses: none How he got here: Ronny Markes, just 23 years old, has competed on three continents now in his first 13 fights. He competed in Europe early in his career, and then fought on a wide range of local shows in his native Brazil. After winning 10 of his first 11 fights, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime when he faced former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho at the International Fighter Championship. Markes used a significant size and strength advantage to dominate the beleaguered Brazilian with top control, positional dominance and ground and pound over the course of three rounds to easily score a unanimous decision victory and really put his name on the map. The Nova Uniao fighter was quickly scooped up by the UFC and made his debut against former heavyweight Karlos Vemola at UFC on Versus 5 last August. In that fight, Markes dominated Vemola in the clinch and with repeated takedowns to earn another unanimous decision. Surprisingly, after the fight, Markes announced he was dropping down to middleweight and after making the cut, he earned a shot against former top prospect Aaron Simpson. How he gets it done: Markes is not the best striker, but a lot can change in six months especially when you're only 23 years old and training out of one of the most prestigious fight camps in the world. Despite the potential for growth, Markes most likely will be working to utilize his bread and butter, which is the clinch and takedowns. That won't be easy against Aaron Simpson, who's a very strong and powerful wrestler, but Markes had his way with Karlos Vemola, a Czech national wrestling champion at light heavyweight, so he is very much full of surprises. The Brazilian seems most at home near the fence, where he's terrific at controlling his opponent's movement and pinning them against a barrier. He's got some solid takedowns so don't be surprised if he can actually put Simpson on the ground. He's done it to much bigger men in the past and he can do it again. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight, other than the 14 year age difference between the two fighters has to be the clinch. Both Simpson and Markes are very strong and utilize the clinch often if they need to take a breather, regain their wits, work for takedowns or simply tally up some points with the judges. Both men enjoy taking inside position and pinning their opponents against the fence so this might come down to who is stronger in the clinch and who can exert more pressure on their opponent. Something tells me Simpson would rather be standing and trading than clinching with Markes, but it might be difficult to throw down in the cage center if your opponent is constantly pushing you backwards towards the cage. Bottom Line: This fight could be exciting, but there's also potential it could be a snoozefest. If either man can gain the upper hand, whether it's Simpson getting off with his punches in the pocket or Markes scoring a takedown and working ground and pound, this bout could be terrific. If neither fighter can gain an upperhand, there's also potential for there to be a huge stalemate both against the fence and on the ground. I see the possibility for multiple referee separations if that's the case. Hopefully both men are able to put on a show, but if they don't, don't say I didn't warn you. Who will come out on at UFC on Fuel TV: "Sanchez vs. Ellenberger?" Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which middleweight will be victorious this upcoming Wednesday night on the UFC on Fuel TV main card? Aaron Simpson Ronny Markes   0 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, aaron, simpson, marke

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This Wednesday’s UFC on FUEL TV event in Omaha, Nebraska will mark a night of firsts for Brazil's Ronny Markes as he takes on wrestler Aaron Simpson. Markes, who debuted in the Octagon as a light heavyweight and fought at that weight and also at catchweights of around 198 pounds in Brazil, will be fighting as a middleweight for the first time. Plus, this will also be his first time on a UFC main card, as he defeated Karlos Vemola by decision on the preliminary portion of UFC Live last August.In that debut, Markes, a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Andre Pederneiras and Jair Lourenco, outwrestled the former national wrestling champion en route to a points victory that earned him his first UFC win. And even if he didn't produce the most exciting bout in his first time outside his homeland, Markes did show the strength and durability to dominate Vemola in the Czech Republic native’s own field - the takedowns."If it was a wrestling match, I would have been beaten, I have no doubts of it," Markes said. "But I have been training throws since my start in BJJ, and I polished them with the wrestling of Roberto Leitão Filho (silver medal in the Indianapolis Pan-Ams of 1987). They were linked to my strength, an aspect that Vemola was not expecting."After that first UFC experience, Markes analyzed where he could have been better, and what forced him to be a bit hesitant in some situations. Yet once he capitalized on the holes in Vemola’s game but still couldn't get a finish, he learned what he is going to do next."First off, I was focused on controlling the fight, to debut with wisdom and then deliver something big,” he said. “It didn't happen and we only realize what we could do better in a win when you watch your performances afterwards. I didn't use my elbows on any of the opportunities I had to. I saw the gaps for it, but I thought that I didn't want to expose myself for a reverse, because a wrestler can explode on the bottom and end up on top of you."Keeping a dominant position during the fight seemed to be something so far from Markes if you saw his Octagon walk-in. Deeply emotional, the powerhouse from Brazil started crying after passing the curtain en route to the cage. Apparently he was mentally shaken by the opportunity; however, he didn't drag such emotion into the fight, leaving it all outside."I am a strong guy, with strong emotions," he says, smiling. "After some important matches I won in Brazil I let my emotions appear, and this would not be different when I made my dream come true of going to UFC. A lot of people imagined it would harm my performance, but I have a limit for it and the end comes when I put my first foot inside the cage."Markes, at 6-foot-1, wasn't a tall guy for the light heavyweight division, and he's still not one of the tallest in the 185-pound class, so the move to the middleweights was welcomed and would not be a problem. But when you look the frame of the man from Nova Uniao, you realize that it is not going to be that easy, principally when a guy like Markes never stepped up on the scales at less than 198 pounds."Yeah, this will be a problem...for Simpson," Markes affirms. "I conditioned my body with the supervision of Thiago Macedo (strength and conditioning coach) and the cut was nice. My speed increased, I kept the strength, and these will be more obstacles for to Simpson face."Determined to give to the fans a different look from his first UFC triumph, where he didn't perform as brilliantly as he wanted to, Markes now hopes to let his game talk for itself as he displays a style that he says is more complete than that of his opponent."I have nothing, but respect for Simpson,” Markes said. “He's a wrestler, a good one, he has a powerful right hand and he has more experience and has been evolving. But I think I have many more options to put Simpson away than he does. I polished my game on the feet very well with a lot of kickboxing and boxing, I am a brown belt in BJJ for about two years, and I am not afraid of playing from the bottom, but I don’t think Simpson will jeopardize himself in my guard. I want to please the fans and best way to do it is by finishing the fight."

Posted in: ufc, brazil, simpson, didnt, marke

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The UFC's first live event on Fuel TV is just two months away, and the card is now starting to come together. UFC.com announced two more additions to the February 15th card in Omaha, Nebraska last night, with Jonathan Brookins facing Rani Yahya in a featherweight bout, and Aaron Simpson and Ronny Markes meeting in middleweight action: Added to UFC on FUEL 1: Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes at middleweight; Jonathan Brookins vs. Rani Yayha at feathwerweight Brookins and Yahya are both known for their grappling skills, but the American, who won season 12 of The Ultimate Fighter, is known for his wrestling chops, while Yahya is known as a standout Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner. Both men are looking to get back in the win column, with Brookins getting battered and outmuscled by the highly-skilled Erik Koch back in September, while Yahya also dropped a decision to #1 contender, Chad Mendes, in August. Simpson, the highly-decorated wrestler at Arizona State, has quietly put together a three-fight winning streak in 2011, with consecutive wins over Mario Miranda, Brad Tavares, and Eric Schafer. Although his style has been criticized as "dull" in recent fights, Simpson has certainly been making improvements to the more reckless style that got him the only two losses of his career. Markes is one of the many excellent prospects to emerge from Brazil's Nova Uniao camp, and although he made a successful debut at light heavyweight, thoroughly dismantling Karlos Vemola, he's decided to drop to 185 lbs for this bout. The card for UFC on Fuel 1 now includes: -Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger-Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman-Jonathan Brookins vs. Rani Yahya-Ronny Markes vs. Aaron Simpson UFC on Fuel 1 coverage

Posted in: brookin, vs, simpson, fuel, marke

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A pair of bouts have been added to the inaugural UFC on Fuel TV 1 fight card, as featherweights Jonathan Brookins and Rani Yahya will square off while Aaron Simpson and Ronny Markes have been booked for a middleweight clash. The promotion brought word of the pending contests earlier today, which are scheduled to take place on Feb. 15, 2012, at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Brookins is looking to rebound from his first loss fighting inside the Octagon, a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Erik Koch this past Sept. 17 in New Orleans. Yahya, meanwhile, is looking to do the same. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace was the latest victim on Chad Mendes' title tour back in August. The loss dropped Yahya to 1-3 in his last four fights. Aaron Simpson, at the ripe old age of 37, has quietly put together a three-fight win streak and is making one final late career push to the top of the division. Standing in his way is Ronny Markes, a 23-year-old young gun looking to make a name for himself stateside. In his Octagon debut, he impressively defeated Karlos Vemola but Simpson, a strong wrestler with heavy hands, presents a whole new set of problems. Should be fun. UFC on Fuel TV 1 takes place on Feb. 15, 2012, in Omaha and features "The Dream," Diego Sanchez, looking to extend his winning streak to three at the expense of fast-rising welterweight contender Jake Ellenberger. Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman is also penciled in to take place that night. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this still-developing fight card.

Posted in: decision defeat, erik koch, simpson, ronny markes, yahya

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Two more matchups are official for the UFC on Fuel TV 1 fight card, as middleweights Aaron Simpson vs. Ronny Markes and featherweights Jonathan Brookins vs. Rani Yahya are set for the February 15 event in Omaha, Nebraska, the UFC announced Wednesday.Simpson (11-2) has rebounded from back-to-back losses to Chris Leben and Mark Munoz with a three-straight wins, including his most-recent victory over Eric Schafer at UFC 136, while Markes (12-1) topped Karlos Vemola in his Octagon debut at UFC on Versus 6 for his fifth-straight win.Brookins (12-4) returned to 145-pounds with a loss to Erik Koch at UFC Fight Night 25 after winning The Ultimate Fighter 12 at lightweight, while Yahya (16-7) won his UFC debut over Mike Brown before falling to top contender Chad Mendes at UFC 133.UFC on Fuel TV 1 is headlined by welterweight contenders Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez and also includes heavyweights Stefan Struve and Dave Herman.For complete coverage of UFC on Fuel TV 1 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.Pictured: Aaron Simpson

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Aaron Simpson was given a perfect match-up in Eric Schafer and didn't make any mistakes at UFC 136. Schafer showed tremendous heart and a great chin while taking punch after punch from Simpson for the full three rounds, but he never had any moments of hope for a victory. Simpson took the fight 30-27 while Bloody Elbow scored the fight 30-25, giving two rounds to Simpson 10-8. What was the high spot of this fight? It'd be easy to just pick out some of the nice combinations that Simpson landed throughout the fight while dominating Schafer. But it's possible that watching Schafer take huge punches and continually walk forward was the most impressive part of the fight. Where do these guys go from here? It's probably time for Simpson to get a shot at some bigger name fighters again. Back-to-back losses to Chris Leben and Mark Munoz derailed some of the Simpson hype but he has gone 3-0 since and a fight with someone like a Yoshihiro Akiyama or Tim Boetsch would be interesting. Schafer has lost 3 straight UFC bouts and is likely on his way out of the UFC. Watch it now, later, or never? Skip it. Schafer just doesn't have a good stand-up game and it's hard to tell what you're really seeing. Simpson busts him up, but there's just not enough resistance for it to be all that meaningful. More BE coverage of UFC 136 in the full entry. UFC 136 Results: Post-Hangover Thoughts and Reactions - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Embodies Rocky's Message in Win Over Gray Maynard - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Aldo vs. Florian, Phan vs. Garcia FightMetric Reports - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva II Will Produce Massive Interest Despite Skepticism - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Dana White Says Frankie Edgar Is Top 2 Pound-for-Pound, Wants Him to Face Jose Aldo - Anton Tabuena UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Post-Fight Recap and Analysis - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Fight Video Highlights UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 3 Fight Video Highlights Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 88: UFC 136 Results Review UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Stops Gray Maynard In Four - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play for PPV Fights - Brent Brrokhouse UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo Decisions Kenny Florian - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen Challenges Anderson Silva After Dominating Brian Stann - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Nam Phan Wins Decision Over Leonard Garcia - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Joe Lauzon Makes Quick Work of Melvin Guillard - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play For Spike TV Fights - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Demian Maia Decisions Jorge Santiago - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Anthony Pettis Narrowly Edges Jeremy Stephens - Leland Roling UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play for Facebook Fights - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Stipe Miocic Makes Successful Debut, Edges Joey Beltran - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Darren Elkins Out Grapples Tiequan Zhang, Wins Decision - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Aaron Simpson Dominates Eric Schafer - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Mike Massenzio Batters Steve Cantwell, Takes Unanimous Decision - Leland Roling

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Eric Schafer got another chance in the UFC. Unfortunately, he ran into a brick wall as 37-year-old NCAA Division I wrestler Aaron Simpson brutalized Schafer for three rounds. Simpson won the fight by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Simpson dominated Schafer in the opening frame, landing a stiff right that cut open Schafer early. He continued the onslaught from the remainder of the round, brutalizing the head and midsection of the Wisconsin native. Schafer produced little offense and even less opportunity for himself to take Simpson into his world on the ground. A round clearly won for Simpson. Simpson continued to brutalize Schafer in the second, landing heavy right hands early. Schafer landed a few counter shots, but he was unable to ward off the aggressive Arizona State wrestler, succumbing to constant brutality for the remainder of the round. Simpson put emphasis on his dominance by landing a downing shot in the final seconds of the round. The third round was a bit more subdued from Simpson. Schafer showed his toughness by eating everything that Simpson threw at him. Unfortunately, he couldn't produce any offense that put Simpson in danger. Simpson easily took the third, although not as dominant as the first two rounds.The 37-year-old NCAA Division I wrestler Simpson entered tonight's contest riding a two-fight win streak, defeating both Brad Tavares and Mario Miranda via unanimous decision in his last two appearances. He had previously dropped bouts to Mark Munoz at UFC 123 and Chris Leben at The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale. He came into tonight's bout sporting a 5-2 record with the promotion. Eric Schafer was previously in the UFC back in 2006, amassing a 1-2 record in 3 appearances with losses to Michael Bisping and Stephan Bonnar. He returned in 2008, beating Houston Alexander and Antonio Mendes at UFC Fight Night 15 and UFC 93 respectively. He followed those wins up with losses to Ryan Bader and Jason Brilz, earning him a release. He returned for his third stint with the promotion tonight.

Posted in: ufc, round, eric schafer, schafer, simpson

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