Matchmaker, matchmaker: Daniel Cormier returns to action and more

Want to know the latest in fight-bookings? OK. Here you go.

-- During Saturday's Strikeforce card, it was announced Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix champion Daniel Cormier will have his final Strikeforce bout on Sept. 29. His opponent hasn't yet been named. After this bout, Cormier is expected to move over to the UFC, as every other Strikeforce heavyweight has already done.

-- Brendan Schaub will return at UFC 154 in Montreal. Though an opponent has not been named, he is hoping for Lavar Johnson.

-- The UFC's next card on Fox will feature four fights. Joe Lauzon vs. Jamie Varner will kick off the broadcast.

-- After returning to Japan for the first time in years in February, the UFC is planning another trip there early in March of 2013.

Roger Gracie Rolles Gracie Royce Gracie Royler Gracie Ryan Gracie

RYU featured in Sports Business Journal

The Sports Business Journal (subscription required) has a feature on UFC official sponsor RYU. �The article is a positive company profile on the company. While RYU is getting some good buzz, SBJ notes that its success will depend on how well the products sell. �A selling point for the brand is that the clothing uses [...]

Jai Bradney  Ebenezer Fontes Braga Chris Brennan Marcelo Brito  Rob Broughton 

Scenes from an Underground Fight Show in New York City

Earlier today there was an edition of the Underground Combat League (UCL), New York City's long-running, unsanctioned MMA promotion.� Unlike most of the other states in the country, New York has deemed professional MMA to be illegal.� But a loophole in the law has allowed amateur events to flourish ? albeit in a quasi-hush-hush world where fighters sometimes use aliases and the locations of shows are kept secret from the athletic commission.�

Please, don't judge them too harshly.� The UCL, for instance, has churned out over forty events since its debut in 2003, and can count among its alumni such fighters as former UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar and International Fight League heavyweight Bryan Vetell (as well as a slew of dudes who went on to fight in Strikeforce, the WEC, Bellator and top regional promotions).� And before you accuse anyone of exploitation, remember this: everyone from promoter Peter Storm to the fighters to the fans wants to see New York State sanction the sport; it's only because New York won't that events like this exist.

You're probably about to ask something along the lines of "Well, don't you think underground shows like this one are setting the sport back and keeping it from being sanctioned?"� That's a clown-question, bro.� The politicians who favor MMA in New York have cited the state's thriving underground fight scene as a reason why the sport must be sanctioned.

Jim Genia always posts live results from these dastardly events here.

Ryo Piranha Chonan  Dan The Sandman Christison  Logan The Pink Pounder Clark  Steve The Snake Claveau  Rich No Love Clementi 

Eddie Alvarez, Shogun/Vera, UFC Light-Heavyweight Title Shot: Morning News Roundup ? 7.31.12

The Rexplex Sports Complex in Elizabeth, N.J., in December of 2003.� Ah yes, I remember it well.� The ring was set up next to a skate ramp, with a big curtain seperating us MMA folks from the kids doing tricks�on their skateboards.� As for the fights, some lanky dude named Luke Cummo put his�jiu-jitsu skills to good use and won his bout via submission, while another up-and-comer named Jay Hieron completely steamrolled over his foe.� We paid attention to those bouts a bit more because Cummo and Hieron were somewhat established in the area, and though people cheered when�Eddie Alvarez scored a dominant KO in his MMA debut, no one knew who Alvarez was�or what he'd eventually accomplish in the sport.� Why did I take this stroll down memory lane?� Because Alvarez is leading off your morning news roundup.

• Former Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez has one fight left on his contract, and it looks like it's going to be used for a match-up against fearsome Brazilian�monster Patricky "Pitbull" Freire.� When it comes to fighter contracts and the willingness of promotions to re-sign their stars, there are a lot of moving parts that must taken into consideration - things like actual cost, anticipated revenue and just what the parties can do to further each other's interests.� As one of Bellator's first "big" signings, Alvarez brought a ton of credibility to the organization, and Bjorn Rebney definitely made it worthwhile for the Philadelphia native in terms of cheddar.� But nothing lasts forever, so here we are with a high-ranking lightweight very likely about to enter free agency.� What do you do with him if you're Bellator?� Give him a tough, sure-fire exciting match-up that will make your October 12 show a memorable one of course.� And if you're Alvarez, you're going to want to win in the most impressive way possible to make sure your value when you enter free agency is at its highest.� Well, you know who wins in all this?� Us fans, because, Alvarez vs. Freire... yikes!� That's all kinds of "wow"!

�

• Yesterday UFC president Dana White said Saturday's UFC on FOX 4 main event between Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Brandon Vera would determine the number one contender for UFC light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones' belt.� Reactions were mixed (to put it lightly).� Now White is backtracking a little bit and saying that if either of the occupants of Saturday's co-main event - a tilt between Lyoto Machida and Ryan Bader - look impressive enough in victory, they could get the title shot instead.� This certainly makes more sense.� At least, only insomuch as Jones has pretty much slaughtered everyone that he's faced (including Shogun, Vera, Machida and Bader in prior match-ups), and why not offer up the title shot to whoever looks good?� At this rate, Jones is going to be the first UFC champ to get to fight two challengers in the cage at once.� (He'd probably win that fight, too.)

�

• Former UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch will be facing rising star Erick Silva at UFC 153 in Brazil.� You have to imagine that at this point, after having had a run at the title but failing to move the needle in terms of exciting the fans, Fitch is on that spreadsheet that the UFC keeps that's titled "Fighters To Get Rid Of".� Dude has to do something to get off that list...

�

That's all for now.

Jonathan Goulet Wilson Gouveia Jason Grace Crosley Gracie Gregor Gracie

Nick Diaz, Anderson Silva, Travis Browne and Invicta FC: The Morning News Roundup ? 7.27.12

Howdy. I'm Jim Genia. You might recognize me from such great literary works as "I, Armbar" and "Tito Ortiz's Head: Friend or Foe?" While Maggie Hendricks is covering some sort of athletic event called the "Olympics", I'll be filling in here at Cagewriter.� Yes, it's a temp job, but please think of me as that really cool substitute teacher you had in high school, the one who said nothing when you disrupted class and set fire to the lab, yet did not hesitate�to plant drugs in your locker and call the police.� Heh.� Anyway, here's some news to start your day:

• Cesar Gracie, coach to the ultra-talented UFC top welterweight contender Nick Diaz, tweeted that there will be an announcement on Graciefighter regarding Diaz's career today�at 4:00 p.m. (PST).� If you'll recall, Nick Diaz... yeesh.� The big question mark these past few months has been whether Diaz has truly�retired or if he'll get in the cage once more.� Therefore, we can expect Gracie's announcement to be one of the following: "Nick Diaz is not going to fight again", "Nick Diaz is going to fight again", and "Can someone tell Nick Diaz to call home?� No one's heard from him in a while and everyone's pretty worried about him."� Stay tuned!

�

• According to ESPN, UFC middleweight champ and untouchable superstar Anderson Silva wants to fight UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre next.

Of much more interest to Silva are the blockbuster fights that can earn him big money as he nears the end of his career. St-Pierre v Silva undoubtedly would make the biggest Pay-Per-View in UFC history, but while Guimaraes says Silva wants the fight, he admits it has not been offered.

Of course Silva would like St. Pierre in a big-money superfight�next.� Who would you rather fight?� A welterweight champ whose knee could explode at any time, or�UFC light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones, who sports an eleven-foot reach�and has�murdered everyone put in front of him?� Silva is no dummy.

• Just yesterday Travis Browne was sad.� Ben Rothwell, who was to be his opponent at next week's UFC on FOX 4, fell prey to the injury bug, and Browne was without a dance partner.� He was subsequently booted from the card.� But it's�a new day, and with this new day comes the�news (courtesy of the good folks at MMAJunkie)�that Browne will now headline UFC on FX 5 in October, facing off against Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.� Hooray!� If you'll recall, Browne is big and dangerous and beats people silly - and being big and dangerous and�beating people silly�is good for main events.

�

• There may be no offerings from the UFC, Strikeforce or Bellator this weekend, but that doesn't mean there isn't a way to get your MMA fix.� Invicta Fighting Championships, the all-female MMA promotion, will be having their second installment in Kansas City, KS, and the event will be broadcast for free on their website.� Here's a video promo courtesy of MMAFighting.� There are some extremely skilled and capable female MMA fighters out there, and a bunch of them are on Saturday night's card.

That's all for now.� Now excuse me while I go plant drugs in your locker.

Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo 

Should Hector Lombard drop to welterweight after debut loss at UFC 149?

Hector Lombard came into UFC 149 riding a long win streak and an unstoppable hype train. He walked out of UFC 149 with a decision loss and a disappointed boss.

"It wasn't the fight I was expecting," UFC president Dana White admitted. "It just wasn't what I thought it was going to be. Whether it was Boetsch or Lombard winning, I was expecting a real war. I thought this thing was going to be a war."

It was far from an exciting bout, as Lombard, known for his aggression and knockouts, showed little aggressiveness in the bout. White wondered if Octagon jitters got the best of Lombard, and also threw out the idea that middleweight is too big of a weight class.

"Lombard maybe should fight at 170," White said. "He made 185 easily. He's short and wide, but I think he could make 170."

In a Q and A before the UFC 149 weigh-ins, middleweight Michael Bisping made jokes about Lombard's height.

"I bumped into Hector Lombard in the elevator, and I thought someone was playing a practical joke. I was like, 'Who is this dwarf?' I think he's in the wrong weight class. I think he's in the 125 weight class."

At 5-foot-9, Lombard is one of the shortest middleweights in the division. Most 185ers in the UFC are at least six-foot. Champion Anderson Silva is 6-foot-2. Though fighters have overcome height and reach differences in bouts -- think Travis Browne knocking out Stefan Struve -- there is no reason for Lombard to come into the fight at a disadvantage if he is comfortable dropping down.

Should he drop down? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter.

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Dan Bobish Vagam Bodjukyan Kotetsu Boku  Tony Bonello Stephan Bonnar

Michael Bisping, Brian Stann and Alan Belcher angle for next fights

As many dreamed of an Anderson Silva/Jon Jones superfight, middleweights asked for fights that would get them a step closer to challenging Silva for his belt.

Michael Bisping started the ball rolling by calling out Alan Belcher on "UFC Tonight." After Bisping's asked for the fight, Belcher responded.

"When someone says, 'Let's do this if you've got the balls to fight me,' and I say, 'OK,' and call (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva right away, let's make the fight happen," Belcher today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "I don't see why it's already been two days and there's no date."

Then Brian Stann got in on the fun by saying he wanted to fight Bisping. Stann was supposed to fight Hector Lombard in August, but had to pull out because of a shoulder injury. As his shoulder heals, Stann is looking forward to his next fight. He wants Bisping.

"I just think that the storyline would garner more attention between me and Bisping. I always want to fight guys that are ranked ahead of me, and right now, that's where Bisping is. He's very close to a title shot. I've done all the things necessary to improve my overall game," Stann said. "Now's my time. I'm not getting any younger. I want to fight for the title, and right now, to get to that title, Bisping is one of the guys you have to get through."

With Stann and Bisping now looking to fight, Belcher aimed higher. His sights are set on UFC gold. He used his Twitter account to encourage followers to tweet UFC president Dana White about a title shot. Using the hashtag #Belcher4champ, fans filled White's Twitter mentions with pleas on Belcher's behalf.

Now it's your turn to play matchmaker. Do you want to see Bisping, Belcher or Stann fight Silva? Or should two of them face off for the right to fight Silva? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or Twitter.

Ralek Gracie Renzo Gracie Rickson Gracie Rodrigo Gracie Roger Gracie

The MMA Hour - Episode 142 - Travis Browne

Dan Henderson Josh Hendricks Ed Herman Heath Herring Branden Lee Hinkle

Jon Jones Baffled by Dana White?s Announcement

Just moments after UFC president Dana White cleared the air regarding the light heavyweight pecking order, reigning 205-pound king Jon Jones (Pictured) joined most of the mixed martial arts world in asking, ‘Huh???’ In response to a tweet alerting Jones that if he retains his crown against Dan Henderson at UFC 151 he’d be facing [...]

Allan Goes Takanori The Fireball Kid Gomi Akihiro Gono Gabriel Gonzaga Lyman Good

Eddie Alvarez paired with Patricky ?Pitbull? for October match-up

After some speculation it appears Patricky “Pitbull” Freire will serve as the final opponent on Eddie Alvarez‘s current contract with Bellator. The 28-year old will essentially be a restricted free agent after the bout with a three-month window giving Bellator exclusive rights to match any offers he receives from outside promotions (i.e. the UFC/Strikeforce). Bellator [...]

Luke Cummo  Jeff Big Frog Curran Dai Shuanghai  Mac Danzig  Karen Darabedyan

Three stars from full week of MMA: Chris Weidman, Nate Marquardt and Jason High

With UFC on Fuel 4 and Strikeforce: Kennedy vs. Rockhold in one week, the MMA world had plenty of great performances to choose from. Who rose above the rest to be a star? Here are Cagewriter's choices. Tell us yours in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

No. 1 star -- Chris Weidman: With title-shot implications hanging over his bout with Mark Munoz, Weidman wanted to make a statement. He made a clear one with a second-round elbow that knocked Munoz out.

No. 2 star -- Nate Marquardt: A year ago, he was unemployed after out-of-whack testosterone levels forced him out of a UFC bout. Now, he's the Strikeforce welterweight champion due to a memorable fourth-round knockout of Tyron Woodley. Today, you spell redemption N-A-T-E.

No. 3 star -- Jason High: Strikeforce showed almost every fight from Saturday night's card. Every fight, except High's 26-second submission of Nate Moore by guillotine. It wouldn't have taken much to squeeze in a minute of fighting, but they didn't. Instead, check out the play-by-play from MMA Junkie to find out what happened:

After High landed a pair of leg kicks, Moore opted to shoot for a takedown. But when he did, High took quick advantage and latched onto Moore's neck with a guillotine. Seconds later, that was all she wrote ? Moore was forced to tap.

It was High's seventh win in a row.

Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague

John Dodson welcomes Jussier "Formiga" da Silva at UFC on FX 5 in Minneapolis

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

An extremely exciting flyweight bout is heading to Minneapolis this October, as Shooto's South American Flyweight Champion, Jussier "Formiga" da Silva, will make his UFC debut against Ultimate Fighter 14 winner John Dodson at UFC on FX 5.

News of the bout was first reported by Tatame.com.

Da Silva, who signed with the UFC earlier this month, makes his debut on a five fight winning streak, a run that includes four straight submission wins. The 27-year-old is 14-1 overall in his career, with his sole loss coming by decision against Ian McCall in Tachi Palace Fights.

Dodson will bring a four fight winning streak into the bout, two of which have come inside of the Octagon. After knocking out T.J. Dillashaw in his TUF season's finals bout, Dodson added a decision win over Tim Elliott at UFC on Fox 3 in May.

UFC on FX 5 takes place from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. on October 5, headlined by a heavyweight bout between Travis Browne and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.

Penick's Analysis: This is a fantastic fight, and is almost assuredly going to be on the FX main card for this event. Dodson's status as an Ultimate Fighter winner, who hasn't yet lost in the UFC, makes that clear, and it gives da Silva a major opportunity to make a splash in his debut. He could be a very formidable force in the flyweight division, and a title challenger sooner than later if he impresses against Dodson. Likewise, Dodson can continue making his name as a contender should he best a very respected flyweight in da Silva. Great matchmaking, and a great fight for this card.

Arman Gambaryan Manvel Gamburyan Sean Gannon Edgar Garcia Leonard Garcia

Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva? Four reasons the fight between champs shouldn?t happen

Before UFC president Dana White even strapped the middleweight championship belt around Anderson Silva's waist, my Twitter timeline was filled with questions on when Silva would face light heavyweight champ Jon Jones.

White said, "Let's see what happens," in response to a question about the two champs fighting. With Silva walking around at around 215 lbs., size is not a problem. But it's still not a fight that should happen for these reasons.

1. It's a no-win situation for Jon Jones. If he wins, he was expected to win and defend his weight class. If he loses, does anyone give him a pass?

2. Silva doesn't need it to prove he's the greatest. He has moved up to light heavyweight twice before. Both times, he won in the first round. As detailed here, Silva has dominated since joining the UFC in 2006.

[Kevin Iole: Anderson Silva makes Chael Sonnen pay for his mistake]

3. It ties up both the middleweight and light heavyweight belts. Between injuries and time to prepare for fights and placing championship fights on the perfect cards, championship bouts don't happen enough. This fight would tie up two different belts as Silva and Jones prepared for their fight. Do you remember how long we had to wait around for Sonnen/Silva and Jones' bout with Rashad Evans?

4. Neither of them want the fight. When champs want to move across weight classes, they should at least want the fight to happen. Jones, who is preparing for his Sept. 1 fight against Dan Henderson, tweeted his lack of interest in a bout with Silva.

"Man my man ?#AndersonSilva? went to work tonight, consistently amazing," Jones said. "I guess Anderson said he had no interest in fighting me at tonight's press conference, I feel the same way about him. Nothing but respect."

It has nothing to do with either man not wanting the challenge or "being afraid," as I'm sure will get mentioned in the comment section. It has to do with their focus on their own weight classes, and participating in fights that make sense for them.

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Musse Hasselvall Daiki DJ taiki Hata He Peng David Heath Delson Heleno

UFC 149 will answer these four questions

UFC 149 in Calgary has made more headlines for injuries than it did for high expectations. However, there are still important fights on Saturday in Calgary. They will answer these questions:

1. Does Urijah Faber have another title win in him? Perhaps because of his nickname "The California Kid," or perhaps because he looks so young, it's easy to forget Urijah Faber is 33 years old and has been fighting since 2003. With a shot at the bantamweight interim title on Saturday, Faber has a shot at what might be his last title run. Can he earn the belt, and with it, another shot at champion Dominick Cruz?

2. Is Hector Lombard the real deal? He has a record of 31-2-1, and hasn't lost since 2006. He blew through Bellator to get the middleweight title. Now, he's getting a shot at the UFC and its top-flight talent. Before he can be taken seriously as a contender for Anderson Silva's throne, he needs to get through Tim Boetsch.

3. Is Brian Ebersole ready for a jump in competition? If you were to make a list of UFC fighters with 50 or more UFC wins, would Ebersole be the first name to jump in your head? Because it should. He's 50-14-1, and hasn't lost since dropping a 2008 bout to the larger Lombard. With a win over James Head, Ebersole can leap into the proverbial title mix for a welterweight title.

4. Will fans still care about an injury-ravaged card? Remember when Jose Aldo and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua were on UFC 149? And Thiago Silva? And Michael Bisping and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira? The card presented on Saturday will look very different than the one fans expected.� Canadian fans are known to be very loyal to MMA, but will they still turn out for Faber vs. Barao? And will fans buy the pay-per-view just a few weeks after shelling out cash for UFC 148 and Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva?

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Dana White Amends Decision, Says Bader And Machida Also Up for Title Shot

Kenny Florian Jesse Forbes Xavier Foupa Pokam Hermes Franca Rich Franklin

UFC lightweight Anthony Pettis shooting for October or November return

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"I had shoulder surgery in early April, I'm just trying to get better and get back in the cage. I'm shooting for October or November. It's taking a little longer than expected but I wanted to make sure I'm 100 percent before I get back in there. As of right now, I'm still recovering from the shoulder surgery so I can't take any offers or call anyone out. I'm just kind of at a standstill right now. I want a title shot, so whoever's gonna get me that next fight to a title shot, I'm up for it. I'm in the UFC and I want a UFC title shot. I worked my way to get here and I think I deserve a title shot"

-Anthony Pettis talks to MMAWeekly.com about his recovery progress from shoulder surgery and when he expects to return.

Penick's Analysis: With Pettis out until likely October, possibly even a little later than that, the fight that may make the most sense right now is Donald Cerrone, provided he gets past Melvin Guillard at UFC 150. Nate Diaz will probably wait to fight for the title this fall, and Cerrone with a win will be in good shape to make his own case, considering his sole UFC loss is to that future title challenger in Diaz. A fight between Pettis and Cerrone would be fantastic, and could set up a great early 2013 title fight as well.

Rodrigo Gracie Roger Gracie Rolles Gracie Royce Gracie Royler Gracie

Eddie Alvarez to Face Patricky Pitbull In Possible Bellator Finale

Takanori The Fireball Kid Gomi Akihiro Gono Gabriel Gonzaga Lyman Good Gary Goodridge

Dana White Confirms 'Shogun' Rua-Brandon Vera Winner Gets Title Shot

Wesley Cabbage Correira  Patrick The Predator Côté  Randy The Natural Couture  Dan Cramer Alberto Crane

Dana White Clarifies Stakes at ?UFC on FOX 4?

Less than a week ago, UFC president Dana White (Pictured) claimed Mauricio ?Shogun? Rua could solidify his next dibs status by posting an impressive win over Brandon Vera in Saturday’s featured attraction. On the flipside, if Vera serves up an upset special or Shogun is less than spectacular in victory, Lyoto Machida would earn the [...]

Luke Cummo  Jeff Big Frog Curran Dai Shuanghai  Mac Danzig  Karen Darabedyan

Alistair Overeem says he doesn't need warm-up fight, but ready for any opponent in UFC return

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Alistair Overeem's license denial this year was supposed to serve as a punishment for using a drug containing testosterone without any approval from the commission. Instead, Overeem has seemingly relished the forced time off, and he reiterated that point this week in an interview with MMAWeekly.com.

"This time off is perfect," Overeem said. "After this, I have a full four years of dedication [to fighting]. For me it doesn't matter when I fight. I don't need to have a warm-up fight. I'm going to leave that up to the gentlemen of the UFC to decide. If they want me to go for the title, I'm ready for that."

Overeem is leaving himself open for any matchup from the UFC, and indeed the timing likely won't work for him to get an immediate title shot, but that doesn't change his thoughts on what will happen when he does get to face Champ Junior dos Santos.

"I'm going to lay low and fight whoever they put in front of me," Overeem said. "I'm going to get my hands on [Dos Santos] and when I do, he's all mine."

Penick's Analysis: The license denial has been nothing more than an inconvenience for the UFC at this point. Overeem's moving ahead as if there was no wrong-doing at all, and he's treating this as a time just to get better. He's going to return in full force, and whether it's a title fight or not he'll be expected to have a big performance. He clearly feels he'll have an advantage over anyone he'll face, and it seems like many, including the UFC, are going to be welcoming him back as if nothing happened.

[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Yves Edwards  Justin Eilers  Jon Olav Einemo Per Eklund Jason Ellis

The LeBron James of MMA to Get One Last Shot at Glory

When he debuted in the Octagon back in October, 2005, he held chambered in each deadly, decapitating head-kick all the potential in the world.� And it seemed�like that potential was being realized with a pair of wins by KO, a submission via guilloti...

Spencer Fisher Jon Fitch Kenny Florian Jesse Forbes Xavier Foupa Pokam

Strikeforce?s Jordan Mein hits head on camera during fight

Jordan Mein got up close and personal with one of Showtime's cameras during Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy. Watch what happens when he returns to his feet.

Camera operators at fights often lean into the cage when covering fights, but they are usually quick enough to get out of the way. This could have been disastrous for Mein if he had already absorbed many head shots. However, he was winning handily at this point in the fight and went on to take the decision, 30-27 on all three judges' cards.

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With Mike Van Arsdale's Departure, Mario Sperry in as New Blackzilians Head Coach

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Mark Munoz and Chris Weidman fighting for a title shot at UFC on Fuel 4

In Monday's discussion of middleweights looking to inch closer to a shot at Anderson Silva and the championship, two names were not discussed: Mark Munoz and Chris Weidman. Since they already have a fight, they don't need to lobby for the right fight, like Michael Bisping, Alan Belcher and Brian Stann do.

They'll face each other on Wednesday night at UFC on Fuel 4. For Munoz, a win means a shot at Silva.

"With a win over Chris Weidman, I'm going to prove that I should have the title shot," Munoz told MMAjunkie.com Radio.

Weidman told MMA Fighting he is also seeking a title shot. After a lackluster win over Demian Maia in January, he wants to make it crystal clear he deserves the next shot at the belt.

"I'm fighting to make a statement in this fight," he said. "It would be my fifth win in the UFC in a row, I've fought a lot of tough guys, veterans in this sport. I really didn't have any easy fights, so I want to make a statement. I would love a chance against Anderson Silva, I think I really match up good against him, and I mean, I would love a shot, so we'll see. I really just want to make a statement in this fight. I want to make it blatantly obvious that I should be the one fighting Anderson Silva. That's the goal."

Both men have NCAA Division I wrestling backgrounds, though Munoz was a national champion for Oklahoma State while Weidman wrestled for less-acclaimed Hofstra. They are also coming in riding win streaks: four in a row for Munoz and five in a row for Weidman.

Who will walk out of the main event closer to the title shot? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Mark Epstein Tom Big Cat Erickson Martinsh Egle Eric Butterbean Esch Efrain Escudero

Frank Mir, the Strikeforce Crossover, and Who Should Be Next

Former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir has done us all a great service by agreeing to meet Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix winner Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce cage this fall.� After all, the other opponents rumored to have been under consideration ? Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett (again), KJ Noons sitting on Ryan Couture's shoulders ? weren't really options at all, and who else is there on the Strikeforce roster to challenge Cormier?� The answer is no one, and with Mir shucking the bonds of the UFC for a one-time-only crossover bout, we get to have a match-up that's compelling on paper and will likely be very fun to watch.�

However, the move doesn't address the other glaring holes that need to be filled in the roster of the House That Scott Coker Built.� Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez has beaten everyone that matters in his division, middleweight champ Luke Rockhold is without a worthy foe, and gosh darn it, you can only spread Keith Jardine so thin.� So who else should the UFC send over to fill Strikeforce's ranks?� Sure, the dough and exposure is nowhere near as great compared to what you get for fighting in the Octagon, but look at Nate Marquardt.� The ex-UFC welterweight waltzed in, put up a heck of a fight against Tyron Woodley, and is now the owner of a shiny new belt.� For the fighters, there is certainly value in crossing over.� Here, then, is a list of fighters on the UFC roster who could be prime candidates for taking the Strikeforce fieldtrip.� It is by no means complete ? please, feel free to add to them in the comments.� And if you disagree with my suggestions? picture me sad.� So very sad.

�

• Evan Dunham ? At one time, the word on the street was that the brass wanted B.J. Penn to take on Melendez in Strikeforce.� But Penn is too much of a viable pay-per-view commodity, and it would've been senseless to waste him on the subscription-based channel Showtime.� Evan Dunham, though, is another story entirely.� The jiu-jitsu specialist had a pretty good win streak going before he was outpointed by Sean Sherk at UFC 119 and smashed by Melvin Guillard at UFC: Fight for the Troops 2, and his well-rounded skills could conceivably give Melendez fits no matter where the fight goes.

�

• Clay Guida ? Fast, frenetic, and fun when he wants to be (i.e., when he's not running away for five rounds), Clay Guida could definitely make Melendez miserable in the cage.� Besides, what's left for him in the UFC?� It would take Ben Henderson, Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz all slipping on banana peels and breaking their legs before Guida could come close to tasting championship glory.

• Gray Maynard ? As a former "wrestling man-blanket" turned "dangerous slugger", Gray Maynard could stuff Melendez's takedowns, squash his jiu-jitsu, and hit "El Nino" so hard his pet parrot dies.� Also, what else is the UFC going to do with Maynard?� If Edgar reclaims the lightweight championship from Henderson, watching Maynard and Edgar go at it once more is about as palatable as a plate of dirt.�

�

• Thiago Alves ? Once upon a time, Thiago Alves was in contention for the UFC welterweight title.� Those days are gone now, but that doesn't mean that Alves isn't skilled and dangerous enough to make waves among Strikeforce's welterweights.� Maybe, maybe Woodley could hold Alves down for three rounds.� Maybe not, though, and Alves is just capable enough to beat him and beat Marquardt and take the belt.

�

• Jon Fitch ? UFC welterweight king Georges St. Pierre mauled him, Johny Hendricks KO'd him, and he drew with Penn.� However, other than that, Jon Fitch's run in the Octagon has been flawless.� Boring, but flawless.� Do you think Marquardt can prevent Fitch from hugging him to death?� I don't.� And I'd wager that once Fitch stepped into the cage to face Woodley, the two would stare at each other for a full fifteen minutes, unsure of what to do.

�

• Chris Leben ? UFC middleweight stud Chris Leben is good for about two or three fights a year before his annual steroid suspension forces him to sit on the sidelines, so why not let him do those bouts in Strikeforce?� In terms of skill set, he's got enough grappling to keep Rockhold from really hurting him.� As for his striking? yeah, no way could Rockhold eat one of those concrete fists and survive.

�

• Vladimir Matyushenko ? Look, it's not like any of the Strikeforce light-heavyweights can hold onto the belt for any length of time, but it's boring watching the same three guys fight for it over and over again.� Put Vladimir Matyushenko in there against Mike Kyle, Gegard Mousasi and Rafael Cavalcante and let's see where it goes.�

�

Jim Genia gets his tweet on here.� Giddyup.

Ryan Gracie Peter Graham Forrest Griffin Tyson Griffin Karn Grigorian

Now in the UFC, Ulysses Gomez is sticking with Justin Bieber music

Ulysses Gomez is headed to the UFC, and he's bringing Justin Bieber with him. The veteran fighter, who has posted a 9-2 record while fighting for Bellator and Tachi Palace Fighting, will make his UFC debut at UFC� on Fox 4 against John Moraga. He is known to use a certain walkout song that isn't always popular among MMA fans, and he intends to keep it.

And for the record, I will NOT change my walk out song so if you dont like Justin Bieber's "Baby" sucks for you. thanks again @ufc

? Ulysses Gomez (@uselessgomez) July 23, 2012

This is a man with the nickname "Useless," so some walkout song hate will not bother him. Justin Bieber has attended UFC shows in the past, so maybe Bieber will be at this show. He'll be so honored by Gomez's choice of music, he'll have to perform a special, impromptu concert just for fight fans. Who DOESN'T want that to happen?* And it will all be because of Gomez.

*Probably nobody wants that to happen.

Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo  Ao Hailin  Shinya Aoki 

Frankie Edgar: ?Ben Henderson will not defend the belt because the belt belongs to me.?

In a little more than two weeks UFC lightweight Frankie Edgar will find himself in a familiar situation, facing an opponent he?s fresh off an outing against. His headlining bout against Benson Henderson at UFC 150 marks the third straight instance of Edgar?s involvement in an immediate rematch of a title-fight with the first two [...]

Josh Barnett  David Baron  Phil Baroni Don Barr Pat Barry 

Chris Weidman?s big win and more pictures from UFC on Fuel 4

Check out the gallery from Tracy Lee of pictures from UFC on Fuel 4. See Chris Weidman's big win, Aaron Simpson's welterweight debut and the rest of the action from the fights.

Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio 

B.J. Penn, Invicta FC and Rousimar Palhares: The Morning News Roundup ? 7.28.12

Other than the announcement from Cesar Gracie that Nick Diaz would like to fight Fedor Emelianenko (or something like that), it seems the Olympics are garnering all the attention, with Quidditch and Battle Royale among today's events (go District 6!�...

Daiki DJ taiki Hata He Peng David Heath Delson Heleno Dan Henderson

Nam Phan Says Steven Seagal Is A 'Douche' And Cole Miller Is A 'Giant'

Daiki DJ taiki Hata He Peng David Heath Delson Heleno Dan Henderson

B.J. Penn enrolls with VADA for UFC 152 bout against Rory MacDonald, subject to 8 weeks of random testing

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

B.J. Penn will work with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association ahead of his UFC 152 bout with Rory MacDonald this September. Though he had some reservations with the program's need to release drug testing results immediately, he has ultimately decided to enroll in the program.

For eight weeks leading into the Sept. 22 bout in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Penn will be subject to random blood and urine testing. Results of those tests will be released to the Association of Boxing Commissions, Ontario's sanctioning body, and the UFC.

Penn returns to action for the first time since his October 2011 loss to Nick Diaz, after which he revealed he'd likely walk away from the sport. He wavered on that retirement talk earlier this year, ultimately accepting a fight with MacDonald

Penick's Analysis: Penn's just the first fighter to sign up with VADA in the UFC, but he's not the only one who has openly discussed it. Now that he's opened the door, expect Roy Nelson and others to join him. Of course, should any failed test happen as a result of this program, his fight with MacDonald would ultimately be scrapped, but he maintains he's a clean fighter and wants to prove it with these random tests. We'll see how this program works in the context of the UFC, at least for this one fight.

[B.J. Penn art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Randy The Natural Couture  Dan Cramer Alberto Crane Marcio Pe de Pano Cruz Luke Cummo 

Three stars from full week of MMA: Chris Weidman, Nate Marquardt and Jason High

With UFC on Fuel 4 and Strikeforce: Kennedy vs. Rockhold in one week, the MMA world had plenty of great performances to choose from. Who rose above the rest to be a star? Here are Cagewriter's choices. Tell us yours in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

No. 1 star -- Chris Weidman: With title-shot implications hanging over his bout with Mark Munoz, Weidman wanted to make a statement. He made a clear one with a second-round elbow that knocked Munoz out.

No. 2 star -- Nate Marquardt: A year ago, he was unemployed after out-of-whack testosterone levels forced him out of a UFC bout. Now, he's the Strikeforce welterweight champion due to a memorable fourth-round knockout of Tyron Woodley. Today, you spell redemption N-A-T-E.

No. 3 star -- Jason High: Strikeforce showed almost every fight from Saturday night's card. Every fight, except High's 26-second submission of Nate Moore by guillotine. It wouldn't have taken much to squeeze in a minute of fighting, but they didn't. Instead, check out the play-by-play from MMA Junkie to find out what happened:

After High landed a pair of leg kicks, Moore opted to shoot for a takedown. But when he did, High took quick advantage and latched onto Moore's neck with a guillotine. Seconds later, that was all she wrote ? Moore was forced to tap.

It was High's seventh win in a row.

Tom Big Cat Erickson Martinsh Egle Eric Butterbean Esch Efrain Escudero Rashad Evans

Frankie Edgar: ?Ben Henderson will not defend the belt because the belt belongs to me.?

In a little more than two weeks UFC lightweight Frankie Edgar will find himself in a familiar situation, facing an opponent he?s fresh off an outing against. His headlining bout against Benson Henderson at UFC 150 marks the third straight instance of Edgar?s involvement in an immediate rematch of a title-fight with the first two [...]

Bao Ligao  Josh Barnett  David Baron  Phil Baroni Don Barr

?UFC?s Road to the Octagon? Complete Episode (Video)

If you happened to miss Sunday’s premiere of “UFC?s Road to the Octagon” on FOX, no worries because we’ve located the footage for your viewing pleasure. The hour-long documentary took an in-depth look at Mauricio ?Shogun? Rua (Pictured) and Brandon Vera as they prepare for Saturday’s light heavyweight shootout. Lyoto Machida and Ryan Bader, this [...]

Shane The Engineer Carwin  Jason Hollywood Chambers Ryo Piranha Chonan  Dan The Sandman Christison  Logan The Pink Pounder Clark 

Roger Gracie intrigued by idea of outing against Tim Kennedy

Given the limited number of options on Strikeforce?s roster it seems middleweights Tim Kennedy and Roger Gracie may be destined to dance inside the organization?s cage at some point in the near future. In fact, Kennedy has even helped the company?s matchmaking team in putting the two together, recently expressing his interest in testing CEO [...]

Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama  Gilbert Aldana  José Aldo  John Alessio 

UFC 152's Rory MacDonald says B.J. Penn "better get serious or I'm going to hurt him very badly"

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The UFC came into Toronto on Tuesday for a press conference to officially announce the UFC 152 card for Sept. 22, but there was a conspicuous absence on the dais: B.J. Penn. The former two-division champion, who will return on that card to face Rory MacDonald 11 months after "retiring," was not in attendance, and with that, MacDonald questioned just how well Penn is preparing for the fight.

"I'm training for the best B.J., you know what I mean?" MacDonald said (via MMAFighting.com). "I'm preparing to be the best version, I'm going to come out evolved. I'm going to come out in good shape, explosive, exciting like I always do, and I'm going to be very technical. I'm going to be on point. I don't know where B.J.'s at. He didn't even show up to this. He's dropping out of the VADA testing. The last time I saw him he looked really out of shape. I don't know where his head is at in this, but he better get serious or I'm going to hurt him very badly."

MacDonald expanded on the VADA issue, which gained some steam as a talking point when Penn wanted to have the results withheld until after the fight if they went with the random testing program. Penn's reasoning was he doesn't want MacDonald testing positive for something and the fight getting canceled, because then he doesn't get paid, but MacDonald thinks Penn was never serious about it in the first place.

"I think he did it just to start s***, to get something going," MacDonald said. "But I was up for it. I said 'let's do it.' I was ready to prove that I'm not on anything and maybe motivate other fighters to start doing it, too. But he was the one that offered it and then backed out of it. He started making all these sayings like they weren't going to release the test before the fight, and all this, and they never did. He started making up all this stuff, so I don't know really what's going on with B.J.'s head right now."

Penick's Analysis: Penn certainly does seem to be in his own world with things at times, and his take on VADA testing never made sense when he's trying to tout a clean sport. Willfully fighting someone who was on something when the point of testing is to keep fighters and athletes from performing while using is nonsensical, and Penn's arguments never moved it past that point. MacDonald's now just got to concentrate on himself, and not on Penn and any issues he may have. He needs to perform on Sept. 22, and if Penn's not ready for him that will be to his detriment.

Don Barr Pat Barry  Vitor Belfort  Robert Berry David Bielkheden

?Invicta Fighting Championships 2? Results

After some streaming issues, “Invicta Fighting Championships 2″ ultimately went off without a hitch. Saturday’s show took place inside Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The all-female fight card featured an entertaining battle between Shayna Baszler and Sara McMann and a co-main event with Alexis Davis and Hitomi Akano. If you missed Saturday’s scraps, go [...]

Ray Cooper  Kit Cope  Wesley Cabbage Correira  Patrick The Predator Côté  Randy The Natural Couture 

Invicta FC, Sara McMann and Women?s MMA: The Morning News Roundup ? 7.29.12

A weekend without the UFC, Strikeforce or Bellator can often mean a weekend without happiness.� Okay, not really.� But if that actually is the case with you, please, get help.� Or get a hobby or something.� Anyway, there were no offerings from the aforementioned titans of mixed martial arts; however, last night the Invicta Fighting Championships had its second installment, and in terms of high-level MMA action, it pretty much rocked.� Therein lies where this morning's news is coming from.

• Unless you were one of the lucky few to make the trek out to Kansas City to see the event in person, you were forced to watch Invicta FC via the free stream broadcast over the organization's website.� You were also forced to deal with a stream that was virtually non-existent for the first half of the fourteen-bout card, which, according to the event promoter Shannon Knapp, was attributed to crashed servers.� But hey, it was free, and when the feed was strong, we got to see some exciting stuff, like Strikeforce veterans Amanda Nunes and Liz Carmouche kick butt and take names.� Reviews of the event can be found here, here and here.� Personally, I rated it four out of five mouthpieces.

�

• Olympic Freestyle wrestling Silver Medalist Sara McMann came away with another win in Invicta FC's thrilling main event, bringing her unblemished record up to 6-0 with a unanimous decision win over the ultra-tough Shayna Baszler.� The bout was a close one and hotly contested right up to the final bell; in the waning seconds, Baszler rocked McMann with strikes, and McMann was moments away from doing "the Worm".� But the bell rang and it went to the judges, and that was all she wrote.� The victory puts McMann in line for a shot at the Invicta FC bantamweight title, which is vacant and waiting for someone worthy to claim it.�

�

• With over 200,000 purported Internet viewers, the first Invicta FC event was considered a success, and last night's numbers have to at least be in that ballpark.� So where does that put the current state of female MMA?� Probably in a very good place, especially with Strikeforce champ Ronda Rousey's step up in exposure and Invicta FC already planning a third event.� Say what you will about women fighting, but there's a market for it ? and right now, that market is strong.

�

• Yesterday was UFC president Dana White's birthday. �I hope that in honor of the occasion you all cornered your pets and screamed at them "Do you want to be a [expletive] fighter?"� I know I did.

�

Jim Genia tweets the darndest things.

Marcus Aurelio  Mikhail Avetisyan Luiz Azeredo  Luciano Azevedo  Ba Te er 

MMA Marketplace: The latest in handmade MMA items, including a sparkly bow and a really odd Fedor painting

MMA inspires arts, crafts, and several other handmade goods that don't fit in any easily discernible category. If there's something MMA-related you desire, there's a good chance you can find it somewhere on the internet. For example, look at the vast array of stuff available on Etsy, the online marketplace devoted to handmade stuff.

You know what MMA needs more of? Sparkly bows. This one can be yours for $9.25.

Never Forgotten Design will make you pretty cool invitations. They'll turn a UFC poster -- in this instance, UFC 107's poster with B.J. Penn and Diego Sanchez -- into an invitation. Tell me you wouldn't love opening up that kind of invite. For $15, Never Forgotten will do the design for you to get printed.

Dan Hardy fans can show their love to the British fighter with a feather replica of his mohawk. Buy it for $55, then wear it when reading how Matthew Riddle has been calling him out. Put it on again when heading to Hardy's bout with Amir Sadollah at UFC on Fuel 5. Pair it with a bandana, and you've got a ready-made Halloween costume. When headed to the grocery store and bank, wear it to fancy up your day. Really, there's no end to its uses.

And this next painting depicts Fedor Emelianenko as an angel speaking a language that is not Russian. I ... I don't know. Just look.

It -- whatever it is -- can be yours for $37.

Roger Gracie Rolles Gracie Royce Gracie Royler Gracie Ryan Gracie

Frankie Edgar: ?Ben Henderson will not defend the belt because the belt belongs to me.?

In a little more than two weeks UFC lightweight Frankie Edgar will find himself in a familiar situation, facing an opponent he?s fresh off an outing against. His headlining bout against Benson Henderson at UFC 150 marks the third straight instance of Edgar?s involvement in an immediate rematch of a title-fight with the first two [...]

Gesias JZ Calvancante  Luiz Cane  Dos Caras Jr   Phil Cardella Roan Jucao Carneiro

UFC 153: Vitor Belfort discusses return to Brazil, Alan Belcher matchup

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The UFC's October event in Brazil has begun to take shape this month, with several matchups announced. One of the latest additions to the UFC 153 event is the middleweight matchup between Vitor Belfort and Alan Belcher.

Belfort initially wanted a fight against Chris Weidman on the card, but with Belcher calling him out and showing interest in that fight, he took up the challenge and agreed to it himself. In an interview with Tatame.com, he discussed the bout, as well as returning to Rio de Janeiro for the second time this year.

"It's a huge pleasure to fight here again, specially now that the UFC is growing a lot in my country," Belfort said. "I always dreamed with moments like this and I'm very happy to fight in front of my fans again."

"[Belcher's] an excellent fighter, a tough guy, good in every aspect. He's coming of a great win over Toquinho (Rousimar Palhares). I'm sure this will be a great test for both. I'm focused on the title, but Belcher is my next fight and that's the only thing that worries me now."

Penick's Analysis: This is going to be an excellent middleweight fight between two top ten competitors, and Belfort has to be wary of the skills he's facing against Belcher. Though Belcher doesn't have the signature wins on his resume just yet to move him into the top five of the division, he's been consistently good in his UFC career, and he's shown himself to be increasingly dangerous as well. It's going to be a huge fight for both men's careers, and it's a great fight for the Brazilian fans.

Efrain Escudero Rashad Evans Urijah Faber Wagnney Fabiano Kevin Kimbo Slice Ferguson

Crunching Numbers: Is Taking Back to Back UFC Fights Too Risky?

Alexander Gustafsson Jaime Gutierrez Dave Gomez Keith Hackney Matt Hamill

Alistair Overeem says he doesn't need warm-up fight, but ready for any opponent in UFC return

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Alistair Overeem's license denial this year was supposed to serve as a punishment for using a drug containing testosterone without any approval from the commission. Instead, Overeem has seemingly relished the forced time off, and he reiterated that point this week in an interview with MMAWeekly.com.

"This time off is perfect," Overeem said. "After this, I have a full four years of dedication [to fighting]. For me it doesn't matter when I fight. I don't need to have a warm-up fight. I'm going to leave that up to the gentlemen of the UFC to decide. If they want me to go for the title, I'm ready for that."

Overeem is leaving himself open for any matchup from the UFC, and indeed the timing likely won't work for him to get an immediate title shot, but that doesn't change his thoughts on what will happen when he does get to face Champ Junior dos Santos.

"I'm going to lay low and fight whoever they put in front of me," Overeem said. "I'm going to get my hands on [Dos Santos] and when I do, he's all mine."

Penick's Analysis: The license denial has been nothing more than an inconvenience for the UFC at this point. Overeem's moving ahead as if there was no wrong-doing at all, and he's treating this as a time just to get better. He's going to return in full force, and whether it's a title fight or not he'll be expected to have a big performance. He clearly feels he'll have an advantage over anyone he'll face, and it seems like many, including the UFC, are going to be welcoming him back as if nothing happened.

[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Dan Hardy Lee Hasdell Musse Hasselvall Daiki DJ taiki Hata He Peng

Renan Barao receives hero's welcome at Nova Uniao gym after title win over Urijah Faber at UFC 149

Yoji Anjo  Ao Hailin  Shinya Aoki  Andrei Arlovski  Ricardo Arona 

Video: Invicta FC 2 Full Fights

Ray Cooper  Kit Cope  Wesley Cabbage Correira  Patrick The Predator Côté  Randy The Natural Couture 

Mark Munoz and Chris Weidman fighting for a title shot at UFC on Fuel 4

In Monday's discussion of middleweights looking to inch closer to a shot at Anderson Silva and the championship, two names were not discussed: Mark Munoz and Chris Weidman. Since they already have a fight, they don't need to lobby for the right fight, like Michael Bisping, Alan Belcher and Brian Stann do.

They'll face each other on Wednesday night at UFC on Fuel 4. For Munoz, a win means a shot at Silva.

"With a win over Chris Weidman, I'm going to prove that I should have the title shot," Munoz told MMAjunkie.com Radio.

Weidman told MMA Fighting he is also seeking a title shot. After a lackluster win over Demian Maia in January, he wants to make it crystal clear he deserves the next shot at the belt.

"I'm fighting to make a statement in this fight," he said. "It would be my fifth win in the UFC in a row, I've fought a lot of tough guys, veterans in this sport. I really didn't have any easy fights, so I want to make a statement. I would love a chance against Anderson Silva, I think I really match up good against him, and I mean, I would love a shot, so we'll see. I really just want to make a statement in this fight. I want to make it blatantly obvious that I should be the one fighting Anderson Silva. That's the goal."

Both men have NCAA Division I wrestling backgrounds, though Munoz was a national champion for Oklahoma State while Weidman wrestled for less-acclaimed Hofstra. They are also coming in riding win streaks: four in a row for Munoz and five in a row for Weidman.

Who will walk out of the main event closer to the title shot? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida  Eddie Alvarez Thiago Alves  Andre Amade 

Videos: Drunk Diego Sanchez, Pride's Wanderlei Silva challenging then-UFC champ Chuck Liddell,...

Hermes Franca Rich Franklin Ian Freeman Don Frye Tony Fryklund

UFC returns to Minneapolis for UFC on FX 5, Browne vs. "Bigfoot" headlines

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The UFC's decision to move UFC on FX 5 from Sept. 7 to Oct. 5 kept them from returning to Indianapolis for the first time in two years. However, they'll now make a trip back to another city they haven't visited in even longer.

According to a report from USA Today, the UFC on FX 5 event will now take place from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., and will be headlined by a heavyweight bout between Travis Browne and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.

The event will mark the UFC's first trip to The Land of 10,000 Lakes since August of 2008, when the UFC broke the Target Center's gate record with UFC 87 "Seek and Destroy." That card was headlined by a fantastic Welterweight Championship bout between Georges St-Pierre and Jon Fitch, with Minnesota resident Brock Lesnar's breakout fight against Heath Herring in the night's co-main event.

Additionally, a future Champion made his debut on that event, as Jon Jones defeated Andre Gusmao on the preliminary card, just four months after making his MMA debut.

Browne was supposed to fight on next weekend's UFC on Fox 4 event, but he was scrapped from the card when opponent Ben Rothwell was forced out with an ankle injury. The undefeated Browne is 4-0-1 in the UFC, the sole blemish his draw against Cheick Kongo; but he's won three straight fights, most recently submitting Chad Griggs in the first round at UFC 145.

"Bigfoot" Silva returns to action for the first time since his decimation at the hands of Cain Velasquez in May. That was his second straight stoppage loss, after being knocked out by Velasquez's teammate Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix semifinals.

Penick's Analysis: As a nearly lifelong Minnesota resident, living 20 minutes outside of Minneapolis, I'm definitely excited to have the UFC come back to town. The UFC 87 event was massive compared to what fans here will get from this card, but this is a very solid heavyweight fight for an FX headliner. Browne's a legitimate talent in the division, and provided he's not competing in high altitude he's a lot of fun to watch as well. He was very down this week after losing his spot on next week's card, but he'll get a high profile fight here as the headliner.

Dennis George Kultar Gill Allan Goes Takanori The Fireball Kid Gomi Akihiro Gono

Chris Weidman ends Mark Munoz?s title hopes with an elbow at UFC on Fuel 4

Chris Weidman said he wanted to make a statement with his fight against Mark Munoz at UFC on Fuel 4. Mission accomplished, as Weidman knocked out Munoz in the second round of their bout at UFC on Fuel 4.

Weidman started the bout by outwrestling Munoz. He took Munoz down early and kept control of him throughout the round. In the second, Munoz moved in to throw a punch and was met with an elbow to the face. It stunned Munoz, who fell to the ground. Weidman followed him there with several strikes, most of which were unnecessary.

With the win, Weidman makes a good case for a chance at UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva.

Urijah Faber Wagnney Fabiano Kevin Kimbo Slice Ferguson Paulo Filho Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic

Chris Weidman to Anderson Silva: If you're not going to fight Jon Jones, fight me

Chris Brennan Marcelo Brito  Rob Broughton  Mike Brown  Junie Browning

Roger Gracie intrigued by idea of outing against Tim Kennedy

Given the limited number of options on Strikeforce?s roster it seems middleweights Tim Kennedy and Roger Gracie may be destined to dance inside the organization?s cage at some point in the near future. In fact, Kennedy has even helped the company?s matchmaking team in putting the two together, recently expressing his interest in testing CEO [...]

Steve The Snake Claveau  Rich No Love Clementi  Mark The Hammer Coleman Wes Soldier Combs  Ray Cooper