Emelianenko, the top-ranked fighter not in the UFC, “has become my obsession now. I want it worse than the fans want it.” He said he spoke with Emelianenko’s management about a UFC contract “more recently than you would think.” He was coy when asked about Emelianenko’s contract with Strikeforce and CBS, saying only: “I would never interfere with someone else’s contract.”

I think the only thing holding up a contract is Fedor wants such a large % of the PPV buys that it’s a hang up for Dana to move forward.  Will time sort this out?  Will Fedor lower his demands and move to the UFC?  Will Dana give in and give him what he wants?

Dana’s last offer was already way more open than previous offers but still declined by Fedor and his team.  Will the UFC ever get Fedor without giving it all away?  Should or does the UFC need Fedor?  Well they’ve been huge without him for this long so clearly they don’t need him but that doesn’t mean they don’t want him.

Could you imagine the buys that would go in if you put Fedor vs Lesnar fight on a card with maybe a GSP vs XXX or Anderson Silva vs XXX as a co-main event?  Can you say biggest PPV of the decade?

Knockout of the Night – Shane Carwin – $65,000

Submission of the Night – Kurt Pellegrino – $65,000

Fight of the Night – Hamman and Wallace – $65,000 each

UFC 111 Fighter Salaries/Payouts

From the Nick Lembo at the NJ State Athletic Commission:

We do not release fighter purse info. for any event.

Main Event – UFC Welterweight Championship
Georges St-Pierre (170) vs Dan Hardy (170)

Co-Main Event – Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship
Frank Mir (265) vs Shane Carwin (265)

Fabricio Camoes (155) VS Kurt Pellegrino (155)
Ben Saunders (169) VS Jon Fitch (171)
Mark Bocek (154) VS Jim Miller (155)

Prelims on Spike
Rory Markham (177*) VS Nate Diaz (171)
Matt Brown (170) VS Ricardo Almeida (170)

Undercard (may not be broadcast)
Tomasz Drwal (185) VS Rousimar Palhares (186)
Jared Hamman (205) VS Rodney Wallace (206)
Greg Soto (170) VS Matt Riddle (170)

* Markham came in overweight, but Diaz agreed to still take the fight

UFC honcho Dana White tells TMZ he will fly Pitbull to a specialist for further evaluation. White says, “If it’s true, it can be career-ending.”

No one will replace Pitbull on Saturday. The headliner is Georges St- Pierre — ironically, the fighter who solidly beat Thiago in his last fight last July.

The UFC has been plagued recently with fights being removed due to injury.  This one though seems slightly different as it wasn’t because it was a training accident.  We are looking for more information on the “brain irregularity”.

TMZ updates us again now and states someone will in fact replace Thiago Alves on the UFC 111 Fight Card.  That man is Ben Saunders:

UFC guru Dana White tells TMZ Saunders called him and asked for the fight, after Alves was benched because of an irregular CAT Scan, as TMZ first reported.

White tells us if Saunders wins against Fitch, he’ll get a title shot with Georges St-Pierre.

Saunders was scheduled to fight Jake Ellenberger on Saturday but now Jake is the odd man out. White tells us he’ll pay Jake his fee and schedule another fight later.

Dana White doesn’t clarify if the winner gets a shot at GSP or only Ben Saunders if he wins so it will be interesting to see how that pans out.

UFC on Versus 1 Results

UFC on Versus 1 Fighter Bonuses

UFC on Versus 1 Submission of the Night – Clay Guida – $50,000

For the first time in UFC history there were 3 KO of the night honors:

UFC on Versus 1 Knockout(s) of the Night – Jon Jones, Junior Dos Santos, John Howard – $50,000 each

Probably the reason that 3 Knockout of the Night honors were given is why there was no Fight of the Night given.

UFC on Versus 1 Fighter Payouts

Will update as received.

The XFC has an upcoming fight (XFC10) on Friday March 19th 2010 in Tampa, FL in the St. Pete Times Forum.  The undercard fights start at 7:30 PM EST and the main card at 9:00 PM EST which can be seen on HDNet.  The fight card is featuring, for the first time for XFC, two title fights on one card.  Tickets can be bought from $15 to $75.

This will be the 3rd fight that XFC will have on HD Net.  The deal with HD Net has been a big help getting the XFC name out there for MMA fans.

John told us that they expanded their Brandon, FL facility from 6,000 to 7,500 square feet and they made an exciting deal with the largest promoter in Africa, Fight Club.  They are building a 14,000 square foot facility there and the Fight Club promotion, now XFC Africa, is used as a theatre promotion to the XFC to give the fighters there an opportunity to come fight in Africa.

The XFC has open fighter tryouts time to time to get on their cards so if you are an up and coming fighter, keep an eye out for their next tryout to get your chance in being on their next card.  But don’t think it will be easy, they typically have 100’s of fighters come to these and the tryout is very intense and extensive.

XFC is looking to hold their next event in July at the St. Pete Times Forum as well so keep an eye out for this event coming up and don’t forget to tune into HDNet at 9:00 PM EST on Friday 3/19/10.

I try to friend and be a fan with as many fighters as I can.  It’s interesting to me to see what the guys do, especially leading up to a fight.  There are some fighters who seem like they are always going out or partying and some who seem to train non stop.  I understand a Facebook post doesn’t paint the whole picture but it’s an interesting glimmer into a fighters life.

Brandon Vera is one who regularly updates his status and seems to always be training.  That is a good thing since he has a fight this Sunday on Versus for UFC Live against an on fire Jon Jones.  Here are his last month or so worth of posts.  I excluded the non training posts to save space.

brandon Vera In SD just finished my first session… one more later on tonight. Then, headed to Denver bukas!! It’s about time T minus 6days and couple of hrs!!!! 4 hours ago

brandon Vera Thank you to everyone following me… about 7 days and a couple of hours left and it’s my last night here in Big Bear. Sad, but, not really lol. Excited to get off the mountain and get to Denver. Have a good night and God bless… Take care of you and yours. Sun at 9:37pm

brandon Vera Good morning everyone!!! Headed into the gym only 10 days left!!! March 12 at 1:11pm

brandon Vera I think the site is down for updating, but, when you get there. The video is about the TRX system how I use it and you can watch me actually go thru the workout!!! March 11 at 5:39pm

brandon Vera I’m lost on how many days are left…I think 12?… The days run together up here. I just reviewed my TRX -MMA video with owner Randy Hetrick I’m telling you it’s one of my favorite training tools ever. Check them out!! March 11 at 5:37pm

brandon Vera T minus 13……….. Done training for the day. I’ve got some work to do in the computer, 20 mins on the TRX, work on BrandonVera.com, and get back on the sitcks. I just finished adding everyone on XBOX360 that sent me a request. Thankx to everyone I’ve been playing with good group of guys!!! and ladies!! March 8 at 4:05pm

brandon Vera Haven’t been on here all day… been sitting around and watching movies all day I’m so lazy today I didn’t even get on the “sticks” today. lol… I did just get back from training tho, I saw the VS UFC countdown…. That thing got me pumped. Countdown begins… T-minus 14. March 7 at 11:52pm

brandon Vera Training was good today….. Tired as hell and just ate at a Mexican joint… oooohhh wee they had a 5lb burrito!!! I didn’t order Ty did and 4 guys are splitting it at the house. March 5 at 6:46pm

brandon Vera Phantom and Crazy Phil Davis!!! Between training sessions. Enjoy. He’s only one of 5 dogs. March 5 at 1:37am

brandon Vera finished training again…… tired as hell. just ate and now I’m playin 360 again. If I don’t see you online goodnight! everyone!! March 4 at 12:54am

brandon Vera This is just a sample of how where eating here in Big Bear!!! and my weight is good!!! March 3 at 8:24pm

brandon Vera Did sprints early this morning and just laid around watching movies all day from Belly, to Hope they serve Beer in hell. It’s nice not doing anything. Finally…. March 1 at 11:15pm

brandon Vera Just finished play in 360 about to go to sleep. It’s snowing like no joke here in Big Bear 4×4 chains and the whole 9. WWWAAYYY different from SD. lol It’ s beautiful up here tho. Reminds me of Oregon with less trees. Gnight!!! February 28 at 4:31am

brandon Vera Headed to the gym and get the first session out of the way.. Yay.. Not really but yay. Watched our commercials last night on VS very cool. Can’t wait to fight Jones, He seem like a cool guy and he said it best…. he expects Fireworks!! GOOD TIMES ahead. Hope everyone a blessed day. Take care of you and yours. February 27 at 12:50pm

brandon Vera Headed back up to big bear today… Almost time! February 26 at 11:58am

brandon Vera In San Diego for 2 days to train with everone and get to send off Dominic Cruz in style before he becomes a champ!!! Be in Alliance Training tomorrow morning TRX and with Coach E or Coach Billy in the evening. I think Master Lloyd is coming out soon. Fight is close it’s getting harder and harder to sleep. That’s a goo…d thing….! Have a good night I’m going to watch Shutter Island with the Mrs. February 23 at 8:36pm

brandon Vera Headed back to the gym for second training today… Gotta love em and hate them at the same time!!!! Still psyched about the fights last night. Travis Brown is fighting tonight GOOD LUCK “Cornbread”!!!!!! Let’s see another 8 sec victory!!! See you after practice!! February 21 at 8:32pm

brandon Vera Trained with Coach Billy this morning going in early for the second one so we can watch the Fights tonight. I know I know, it showed earlier this morning so don’t post any spoilers on here till after they show it again 7pm PST. Some good fights tonight cant wait to see em. Have a good day!! February 20 at 4:46pm

brandon Vera I’m finding myself more and more everyday, I’m pulling things off I didn’t think I could do. As for who’s up here Travis Brown, fighting bukas. Phil Davis is coming back next week, Joey Beltran has been ringing my bell!!! lol.. Dominic Cruz, Shannon Gurgherty, Juan, all my Coaches and my TRX… I hate love that thing…. I miss the Mrs.. Goodnight everyone. Be safe and stay prepped. February 20 at 1:54am

brandon Vera Tired as Hell from training today!!! whew.. guys keep showing up and whooping on me man!! when does it end? OOOhh yea.. March 21st. Counting down the days. Mr. jones and I r gonna have a good one! Make sure you watch. And yes I am working on BrandonVera.com as I type. Not really my friend Juan is. Love to all. Take care of yours! February 18 at 1:25am

Be sure to check out Brandon Vera vs. Jon Jones March 21st on Versus.

Today Tito Ortiz posted on his Twitter account that he is in the hospital.

Sorry flu. This sucks!! 31 minutes ago

This is the worst ful I have every had. More IV’s please. 39 minutes ago

This shouldn’t stop the fight vs. Liddell since there is plenty of time to go but because of all the rumors it seems interesting at least.  As I said in my post, I have a feeling this still isn’t the end.

Chief Complaint:  My insurance went up 30% Obama Stinks

Location: Forehead

Severity: Yes

Timing: Bad

Signs/Symptoms: Ugliness

At least he can joke about it

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