Cage Religion

'UFC On FX 8' Quick Results: Belfort Spinning Heel Kick KO's Rockhold; Jacare Submits Camozzi

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:52:00 +0000

UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold
Saturday, May 18
Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Main Card (FX)
Vitor Belfort def. Luke Rockhold via KO (spinning heel kick and punches) at 2:32 of round 1
Ronaldo Souza def. Chris Camozzi via technical submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:37 of round 1
Rafael dos Anjos def. Evan Dunham via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Rafael Natal def. Joao Zeferino via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Preliminary Card (FUEL TV)
Nik Lentz def. Hacran Dias via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Francisco Trinaldo def. Mike Rio via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:08 of round 1
Gleison Tibau def. John Cholish via submission (guillotine choke) at 2:34 of round 2
Paulo Thiago def. Michel Prazeres via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Yuri Alcantara def. Iliarde Santos via TKO (punches) at 2:31 of round 1
Fabio Maldonado def. Roger Hollett via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-27)

Preliminary Card (Facebook)
John Lineker def. Azamat Gashimov via TKO (punches) at 1:07 of round 2
Jussier Formiga def. Chris Cariaso via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Lucas Martins def. Jeremy Larsen via KO (punch) at 0:13 of round 3

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Report: Injury Forces Renan Barao Out Of Next Month's UFC 161 Headliner

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:50:00 +0000

It appears that the UFC's bantamweight division could be on its way to having an interim, interim champion.

According to a report by Brazilian outlet Tatame on Saturday, UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao has been forced to pull out of next month's UFC 161 due to a foot injury. Barao was slated to defend his title against Eddie Wineland in the main event of next month's event.

UFC 161 takes place on June 15 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada's MTS Centre, and airs live on pay-per-view. Additional bouts for the summer event include Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson.

UFC officials have yet to comment on Barao's injury.

Barao (30-1, 1 NC) is currently riding an unparalleled 30-fight unbeaten streak, including a 4-0 record under the UFC banner thus far. With UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz on the sidelines for an extended period due to a series of injuries, Barao captured the interim 135-pound title last July by outpointing Urijah Faber. In his first title defense, the 26-year-old submitted Michael McDonald on FUEL TV last February.

Wineland (20-8-1), meanwhile, is riding back-to-back victories over fellow world-ranked talent. The WEC vet scored a vicious knockout over Scott Jorgensen last June, before outpointing Brad Pickett at December's UFC 155.

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Matt Riddle Headed To Bellator After Promotion Buys Out Legacy FC Contract

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:44:00 +0000

Matt Riddle is gone from Legacy FC before ever stepping foot in the promotion's cage.

During Friday's episode of "Inside MMA" on AXS TV, it was reported that Bellator MMA has bought Riddle's (7-3, 2 NC) contract from Legacy FC. Legacy FC officials later confirmed the news to MMAJunkie.com on Saturday.

Riddle was released from the UFC earlier this year after testing positive for marijuana for the second time in six months. In his first offense, the 27-year-old submitted Chris Clements with an arm-triangle choke, which was later overturned to a no-contest ruling. In his most recent bout, a split decision over Che Mills was also ruled a no-contest after failing his post-fight drug screen.

An alum of The Ultimate Fighter 7, Riddle has fought all 12 of his professional bouts under the UFC banner, having signed with the promotion in 2008. Among his seven victories include wins over DaMarques Johnson and John Maguire.

No time frame has been announced for Riddle's Bellator debut as the promotion has not yet publicly commented on the matter.

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Video: Vitor Belfort And Luke Rockhold Heated Face-Off From 'UFC On FX 8' Weigh-Ins

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:13:00 +0000

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Nate Diaz Receives 90-Day Suspension, $20,000 Fine From UFC For Gay Slur

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:49:00 +0000

An ill-advised tweet from UFC lightweight Nate Diaz has proven to be a costly one.

The fighter found himself in hot water this week after taking to Twitter to defend Pat Healy, who tested positive for marijuana following his submission victory over Jim Miller last month. As a result of the failed drug test, the UFC withheld Healy's $130,000 post-fight bonus money — $65,000 of which it awarded to Bryan Caraway for winning "Submission of the Night" honors.

"I feel bad for Pat Healy that they took an innocent man's money and I think the guy who took the money is the biggest fag in the world," Diaz tweeted. The tweet in question has since been removed.

UFC officials released a statement on Friday and later detailed Diaz's punishment.

"The language used in his tweet was regrettable, offensive and inconsistent with the values and culture of the organization, and is not tolerated," the statement read.

As a result of the offensive tweet, Diaz has received a 90-day suspension from the UFC and has been fined $20,000. UFC officials noted that the fine will be donated to charity.

Diaz is currently riding back-to-back losses inside the Octagon. In his first UFC title bid, the 28-year-old come up short on points to reigning lightweight champion Ben Henderson in December. In his most recent outing, Diaz was stopped due to strikes by Josh Thomson on FOX last month.

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UFC Vet Paul Kelly Found Guilty Of Heroin Trafficking

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:41:00 +0000

Former UFC lightweight Paul Kelly was found guilty in England this week on charges of trafficking heroin.

According to a report by The Liverpool Echo, Kelly was convicted Friday afternoon after a four-day trial in his native Liverpool, England. While a charge of such magnitude generally carries a lengthy prison sentence with it, no exact time frame was noted as of this writing.

During the brief trial, prosecutors unanimously convinced a jury pool that Kelly was a major drug trafficker, and that the fighter was considered "the boss" amongst a group of fellow dealers.

The nine-time UFC vet made his first Octagon appearance at 2008's UFC 80, outpointing fellow countryman Paul Taylor in a "Fight of the Night" performance. During his three years with the UFC, Kelly posted a record of 5-4 before being released after a submission defeat to Donald Cerrone in 2011.

The 28-year-old recently got back on the winning track on the regional circuit, scoring a pair of second-round stoppage wins since moving up to welterweight late last year.

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'UFC on FX 8' Weigh-In Results: Belfort, Rockhold On Target For Middleweight Headliner

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:27:00 +0000

UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold
Saturday, May 18
Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Main Card (FX, 9 p.m. ET.)
Vitor Belfort (186 lbs.) vs. Luke Rockhold (186 lbs.)
Ronaldo Souza (186 lbs.) vs. Chris Camozzi (186 lbs.)
Evan Dunham (156 lbs.) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (156 lbs.)
Rafael Natal (186 lbs.) vs. Joao Zeferino (185 lbs.)

Preliminary Card (FUEL TV, 6 p.m. ET.)
Nik Lentz (146 lbs.) vs. Hacran Dias (146 lbs.)
Mike Rio (156 lbs.) vs. Francisco Trinaldo (154 lbs.)
Gleison Tibau (156 lbs.) vs. John Cholish (156 lbs.)
Paulo Thiago (170 lbs.) vs. Michel Prazeres (171 lbs.)
Yuri Alcantara (136 lbs.) vs. Iliarde Santos (134 lbs.)
Fabio Maldonado (205 lbs.) vs. Roger Hollett (204 lbs.)

Preliminary Card (Facebook, 4:30 p.m. ET.)
Azamat Gashimov (126 lbs.) vs. John Lineker (126 lbs.)
Chris Cariaso (126 lbs.) vs. Jussier Formiga (126 lbs.)
Jeremy Larsen (155 lbs.) vs. Lucas Martins (153 lbs.)

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Dana White 'UFC On FX 8' Video Blog Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:16:00 +0000

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'UFC On FX 8' Weigh-Ins Live Stream (3 p.m. ET.)

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:50:00 +0000

Today's UFC on FX 8 weigh-ins take place at approximately 3 p.m. ET. and will be available for streaming right here on CageReligion.com.

UFC on FX 8 takes place tomorrow evening at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and airs live on FX, with the preliminary card broadcasting on FUEL TV and streaming on Facebook. In the main event, world-ranked middleweight Vitor Belfort will welcome former Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold to the Octagon. The co-headliner will see submission ace Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza lock horns with Chris Camozzi.

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UFC Suspends Nate Diaz Following Gay Slur

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:35:00 +0000

UFC lightweight Nate Diaz will serve a suspension handed down by the promotion after violating its code of conduct policy.

Diaz took to Twitter to bash UFC bantamweight Bryan Caraway after the fighter was awarded Pat Healy's $65,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus from UFC 159. Healy originally netted $130,000 in bonus money at last month's event, however, failed his post-fight drug test after testing positive for marijuana. As a result, the UFC withheld Healy's bonus money, later giving the "Submission of the Night" bonus to Caraway.

"I feel bad for Pat Healy that they took away a innocent man's money and I think the guy who took the money is the biggest fag in the world," Diaz tweeted on Thursday.

Hours later, UFC officials issued a statement to MMAJunkie.com on the matter.

“We are very disappointed by Nate Diaz’s comments, which are in no way reflective of our organization," the statement read. "Nate is currently suspended pending internal investigation and we will provide further comment once the matter has been decided.”

Diaz is currently riding back-to-back losses inside the Octagon, having come up short to champ Ben Henderson in a UFC lightweight title bid, and later being stopped due to strikes by Josh Thomson in April.

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Bellator Summer Series Heavyweight Tournament Begins On June 19 In Oklahoma; Full Card Complete

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:17:00 +0000

As Bellator prepares for its upcoming Summer Series return, the full fight card has been completed as Bellator MMA returns to WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma Wednesday, June 19th live on Spike TV.

The night will feature a lightweight title fight between reigning Bellator champion Michael Chandler, as he defends his belt against Dave Jansen. The night will also feature the start of the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Summer Series Tournaments, as well as the return of the always controversial War Machine.

The event will broadcast live starting at 7 p.m. EST and feature three hours of action on Spike TV. The preliminary card will be streamed live and free on Spike.com starting at 6:00 p.m. EST. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting the WinStar World Casino Box Office, with tickets starting at just $45 dollars.

Vitaly Minakov enters the tournament undefeated at a perfect 10-0, including seven straight stoppage victories. Possessing a dominate ground game thanks to his extensive Sambo background and a developing striking arsenal, Minakov enters the tournament as one of the favorites and has his sights set on a Bellator title.

“I want everyone to know that I’m not here just to ‘take part’ in a Bellator Tournament, but to win it all and become a Bellator Champion.”

Minakov will have no easy test in the Semifinals of the Heavyweight Tournament as Ron Sparks returns to Bellator looking to punch his ticket to the Finals with a victory June 19th from WinStar World Casino. Sparks isn’t looking to play head games coming into this fight, and knows Minakov will be well aware of what the Louisville native is bringing to the table.

“Everyone knows I’m looking stand in that cage and throw bombs, no questions asked,” Sparks said. “I think the heavyweight tournament is going to be awesome. I am looking forward to it being a four-man tournament. It will give the fighters more opportunities to fight and I want my shot at the title.”

The other side of the bracket will feature Bellator veteran Rich Hale as the Arizona native battles the imposing Brazilian Vinicius “Spartan” Queiroz. Hale burst onto the scene with inverted triangle win over Nick Fekete in 2011 and his continued his assent up the heavyweight ranks.

“I am really looking forward to the heavyweight tournament and my training has been going great,” Hale said. “I’ve been working hard and making adjustments to the game plan to come in and get the heavyweight belt.”

“This event is insanely stacked, and it’s the reason we are making this a jam packed three hour show,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “With a Lightweight Title fight, Mo, Babalu, War Machine and the start of our heavyweight tournament, this is going to be an amazing show start to finish on Spike.”

Following the event, Spike will air the premier of Fight Master: Bellator MMA, which features 32 welterweight fighters as they compete for a spot in the Bellator MMA Tournament and a $100,000 prize.

Bellator MMA Main Card (Spike TV)
Michael Chandler (11-0) vs. Dave Jansen (19-2) - Bellator Lightweight Title bout
Mo Lawal (9-2) vs. Seth Petruzelli (14-7) - Bellator Light-Heavyweight Tournament bout
Renato “Babalu” Sobral (37-10) vs. Jacob Noe (11-2) - Bellator Light-Heavyweight Tournament bout
Vinicius “Spartan” Queiroz (6-3) vs. Rich Hale (21-5) - Bellator Heavyweight Tournament bout
Vitaly Minakov (10-0) vs. Ron Sparks (8-1) - Bellator Heavyweight Tournament bout
War Machine (12-4) vs. Blas Avena (8-6)

Bellator MMA Preliminary Card (Spike.com)
Brandon Halsey (3-0) vs. Mike Brown (3-1)
Justin McNally (1-1) vs. Steven Artoff (5-1)
Keith Miner (5-4) vs. Damon Jackson (4-0)
Mike Maldonado (4-0) vs. Jason Sampson (10-1)
Brandon Girtz (8-2) vs. TBA (0-0)
Keith Berry (14-10) vs. Cortez Coleman (9-3)

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With Change Of Fortunes, Bryan Caraway Awarded Pat Healy's $65K Bonus From UFC 159

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:03:00 +0000

(Pictured: Bryan Caraway)

Fortunes changed for two fighters in dramatic fashion on Wednesday as Bryan Caraway finds himself $65,000 richer, while things got a lot worse for Pat Healy.

Healy tested positive for the use of marijuana this week following his recent submission win over Jim Miller at last month's UFC 159. As a result, the victory will be overturned to a no-contest ruling and the fighter will receive a 90-day suspension.

Additionally, the UFC recently implemented a policy in which a fighter's fight-night bonus is held pending the results of their post-fight drug test. With the victory, Healy earned $130,000 in bonus money for "Submission of the Night" and "Fight of the Night" honors. It appears he won't receive the money after all.

UFC President Dana White noted on Twitter that the $65,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus will now go to Caraway, who submitted Johnny Bedford with a late third-round guillotine choke on the preliminary portion of UFC 159.

"It's known up front that checks are held until everyone everyone passes the drug test," White wrote. "Bryan Caraway gets 'Submission of the Night' now. Healy did himself dirty."

At of this writing, White did not disclose who the $65,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus will go to.

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'World Series Of Fighting 3' Adds Two New Preliminary Bouts

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:16:00 +0000

(Pictured: Carson Beebe)

Surging KO artist Chris Gruetzemacher (11-1) will square off with fellow fast-rising star Jerrod Sanders (11-1) in a World Series of Fighting featherweight preliminary card bout at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, June 14.

A bantamweight contest between emerging force Carson Beebe (13-2) and undefeated submission ace Joe Murphy (6-0) has been added to the preliminary card as well, World Series of Fighting officials announced today.

“We are excited to add another pair of matchups to our preliminary card that will showcase a collection of the sport’s brightest up and coming athletes and future champions,” said World Series of Fighting President and six-time world kickboxing champion Ray Sefo. “Since we launched our promotion last year, World Series of Fighting has made a commitment to building a roster of its own stars, so fighting as many potential future stars at our live events is critical in order to ensure that these athletes gain the necessary competitive experience to take their careers to the next level.”

The 26-year-old Gruetzemacher has been on fire since 2009, winning his last 10 fights. He has defeated each of his last seven opponents by way of (T)KO or submission, including four consecutive (T)KO victories.

Likewise, Sanders has notched nine straight wins. The 33-year-old has finished his last three opponents – two by way of submission and the third via TKO.

Beebe, the 24-year-old younger brother of bantamweight submission specialist Chase Beebe, is looking to return to the win column after he dropped a unanimous decision to Rolando Velasco in his last effort on Nov. 15, 2012. Prior to that, Beebe had reeled off seven consecutive victories.

The 25-year-old Murphy has been unstoppable since he made his professional debut with a first round submission (armbar) victory over Orlando Aspericueta on May 1, 2009. Five of Murphy’s six wins to date have come by way of submission, including his last bout, an April 14, 2012 matchup with Tyler Weathers that Murphy won by way of armbar in the second round.

Tickets for the World Series of Fighting event, priced from $29 (plus applicable service fees), are on sale at the Hard Rock Hotel Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000.

The four-bout main card will air live on NBC Sports Network, beginning at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

In the welterweight main event, former UFC title contender Jon Fitch (24-5) will square off with fellow Octagon vet Josh Burkman (25-9) in a rematch.

The second meeting between the 35-year-old Fitch, a member of San Jose, Calif.-based Team AKA, and the 32-year-old Burkman, a winner of four consecutive fights, comes slightly more than seven years after Fitch submitted Burkman with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their initial encounter that, coincidentally, also took place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

In the co-main event, streaking stars and fearsome submission aces Tyson Steele (10-1) and Steve Carl (19-3) will face off at welterweight.

Also slated for battle on the main card is heavyweight Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Rolles Gracie (8-1) of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, who will face off with Dave Huckaba (21-4) of Sacramento, Calif.

Undefeated prospect Justin Gaethje (8-0) will collide with Brian Cobb (20-7) of in a lightweight contest and the first televised main card bout of the night.

In preliminary card action, battle-tested submission specialist John Gunderson (34-14) will be pitted against Dan Lauzon (16-4) — brother of UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon — in another lightweight tilt. All 16 of Lauzon’s professional career victories have come by way of (T)KO or submission.

Grappling wizards Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm (21-2) and Jacob Volkmann (15-4) will meet at lightweight, while fellow undefeated prospects Krasimir Mladenov (9-0) and Kendrick Miree (5-0) will square off at middleweight.

Doors at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will open at 4:30 p.m. PT and the first preliminary card bout will begin at 5:30 p.m.

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'The Voice Versus Dana White' To Premiere On AXS TV Friday, May 17th

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:02:00 +0000

AXS TV's "The Voice Versus" program welcomes UFC President Dana White to its 12th episode this Friday, May 17.

Hosted by award-winning sports commentator Michael Schiavello, "The Voice Versus" — an hour-long profile and interview series — has featured past guests like Hulk Hogan, Steven Seagal, George Foreman and "Sugar" Ray Leonard.

"The Voice Versus Dana White" was filmed in White's office at the UFC headquarters in Las Vegas and came about organically after fans bombarded the UFC President via Twitter to agree to the interview.

CageReligion.com was able to view an advanced screener copy of the upcoming episode, which breaks away from the traditional format of mundane, uninformed questions.

Aside from Dana White the fight promoter, "The Voice Versus Dana White" pulls the curtains back on the man behind the figurative mask and sheds light on his personal life. During the 53-minute interview, White opens up about his children, his family life, and his upbringing. Other topics include White's love of swearing, his view on traditional martial arts, his friendship with Mike Tyson and his days of street fighting in Boston.

"The Voice Versus Dana White" offers a refreshing look at the driving force behind the biggest mixed martial arts promotion the world has ever seen, daring to ask the questions that many have failed to ask.

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UFC 165 Set For September 21 At Toronto's Air Canada Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:25:00 +0000

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Toronto, Ontario, Canada this September for UFC 165.

The announcement was made during Tuesday's episode of "UFC Tonight" on FUEL TV, noting that the event will air live on pay-per-view.

UFC 165 will take place at Toronto's Air Canada Centre on September 21, though no bouts were announced for the late summer card.

The UFC last visited the Air Canada Centre in September with UFC 152, which saw reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones successfully defend his crown against Vitor Belfort.

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Reza Madadi Out, Jorge Masvidal Steps In Against Michael Chiesa At 'UFC On FOX 8'

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:40:00 +0000

(Pictured: Jorge Masvidal)

Visa issues have forced Reza Madadi (13-3) off of July's UFC on FOX 8 card. As a result, Jorge Masvidal (24-7) will now step in against Michael Chiesa (9-0) at the summer event.

The switch in opponents for Chiesa was announced during Tuesday's episode of "UFC Tonight" on FUEL TV.

UFC on FOX 8 takes place on July 27 at Seattle's KeyArena and airs live on FOX, with the preliminary card broadcast on FX and streaming on Facebook. In the main event, reigning UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson will defend his crown against once-beaten standout John Moraga.

Masvidal made a successful Octagon debut last month after outpointing Tim Means on FOX. The victory marked the fourth in five outings for the Strikeforce veteran who previously bested Justin Wilcox and K.J. Noons.

Chiesa, meanwhile, remains unbeaten, including a perfect 2-0 start to his UFC career. In his latest trip to the Octagon, the submission ace tapped Anton Kuivanen with a second-round rear-naked choke at February's UFC 157.

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Roy Nelson Targeted To Face Junior Dos Santos At UFC 160 Pending Mark Hunt Visa Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:26:00 +0000

In the possible event that Mark Hunt (9-7) won't be able to compete against Junior Dos Santos (15-2) in this month's UFC 160 co-headliner, fellow heavyweight slugger Roy Nelson (19-7) will be waiting on deck.

As it stands, Hunt has been unable to travel from New Zealand to the United States due to a visa issue stemming from a 2002 arrest. During a UFC 160 media conference call on Tuesday, however, UFC officials seem confident Hunt will make it to the States in due time.

"To put anything to rest, we are confident that the issue will be resolved, and we anticipate Mark can compete in the co-main event of UFC 160," said UFC Directer of Public Relations Dave Sholler. "So again, our team is working through that issue and we anticipate Mark making his way to the United States this weekend."

During Tuesday's episode of "UFC Tonight" program on FUEL TV, it was confirmed that Nelson will likely step in against Dos Santos if Hunt is unable to compete. Nelson and Dos Santos previously locked horns at 2010's UFC 117 in a bout which saw Dos Santos earn a lopsided unanimous decision.

As it stands, Hunt and Dos Santos will meet in the co-main event of UFC 160, which takes place on May 25 from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena and airs live on pay-per-view. The main event will see UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez defend his crown in a rematch against Antonio Silva.

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UFC Lightweight Pat Healy Tests Positive For Marijuana, Receives 90-Day Suspension And More

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:12:00 +0000

UFC lightweight standout Pat Healy (30-16) became the latest fighter to fail a post-fight drug test for the use of marijuana.

The UFC has yet to comment on the matter, but Healy's representatives at Iridium Sports Agency confirmed the news on Tuesday. As a result of his failed drug test, Healy will receive a 90-day suspension from the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, and his recent submission victory over Jim Miller will be overturned to a no-contest ruling.

Additionally, the UFC recently implemented a policy that withholds all fight-night bonuses until results of the post-fight drug tests come back. Healy had earned $130,000 in bonus money for netting "Submission of the Night" and "Fight of the Night" honors, which could likely be taken back by the UFC.

Healy previously went 7-1 as a member of the Strikeforce roster, including victories over Lyle Beerbohm and Mizuto Hirota. The 12-year veteran returned to the Octagon at last month's UFC 159, submitting Jim Miller in a bloody back-and-forth battle.

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Joe Lauzon vs. Michael Johnson Added To August 17 'UFC On FOX Sports 1' Event

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Tue, 14 May 2013 02:16:00 +0000

A lightweight tilt between Joe Lauzon (22-8) and Michael Johnson (12-8) has been added to the inaugural UFC on FOX Sports 1 event this August.

Lauzon announced the booking via YouTube on Monday.

The FOX Sports 1 cable network launches on August 17, which the UFC helps kick off with UFC on FOX Sports 1 from Boston's TD Garden. A welterweight clash between fellow sluggers Thiago Alves and Matt Brown was also announced for the summer event.

Lauzon will look to rebound from a unanimous decision defeat to Jim Miller in December that netted the pair "2012 Fight of the Year" honors. Prior to the defeat, the 28-year-old submitted former WEC titleholder Jamie Varner on FOX, also earning "Submission of the Night" and "Fight of the Night" nods in the process.

Johnson too will look to get back on the winning track after suffering back-to-back defeats for the second time in his career. The Team Blackzilians representative came up short on points to Myles Jury last December, before submitting to a Reza Madadi d'arce choke last month in Sweden.

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Nick Diaz Planning To Launch WAR Mixed Martial Arts Promotion

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:39:00 +0000

Rumors began circulating over the weekend that former Strikeforce champion and ex-UFC title contender Nick Diaz was planning to launch his own mixed martial arts promotion. Now the ball appears to be in motion.

According to a report by MMAJunkie.com on Monday citing confirmation from California State Athletic Commission reps, Diaz has started the process of applying for a promoter's license in the state of California. While the plans have remained tight-lipped thus far, a website and corresponding Twitter account under the name NickDiazPromotions.com reveal that the promotional will be called WAR Mixed Martial Arts.

As with any promoter's license, much work is involved before breaking ground. The CSAC requires applicants to submit financial statements, resumes and an article of incorporation for review, though a background check performed on Diaz came back clean.

Diaz has recently expressed interest in retiring from MMA following his second straight unanimous decision defeat inside the Octagon. The former Strikeforce welterweight champ returned to the UFC in late 2011 on the momentum of a ten-fight win streak, later stretching it to 11 with a lopsided decision over B.J. Penn. Diaz later came up short to Carlos Condit in an interim welterweight title bid, and was recently bested by reigning kingpin Georges St-Pierre in March.

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Bruce Buffer Releases Memoir 'It's Time' Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:11:00 +0000

If you’ve ever tuned into an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on TV, then you know Bruce Buffer. The official “Voice of the Octagon” for the UFC since 1997, Buffer has been an integral part of the world of mixed martial arts as it has grown from a grassroots phenomenon to mainstream, billion dollar industry and media powerhouse. He’s seen every big personality rise to fame, and he’s had Octagon-side seating for every fight— even some of those that have taken place out of the cage.

Now with IT’S TIME!: My 360° View of the UFC (Crown Archetype; May 14, 2013), Buffer delivers a view of the UFC as no book has before. He shows us the UFC as only he can, telling never-before-told stories about its most famous figures—Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, B.J. Penn, and Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, among others—revealing details behind its most controversial fights, and giving readers a glimpse at UFC’s rise as the fastest growing sport in history. Along the way, Buffer shares his own remarkable life story as well as anecdotes and insights even the biggest Buffer fans may not know including:

· How Bruce’s larger than life father—a former Marine drill sergeant—instilled in him the passion that he credits for driving his successful career (he also taught Bruce how to play poker and blackjack at age eight and field-strip a Luger while blindfolded by age 10).
· What it’s like to party—and brawls that took place when you least expect it outside the Octagon, including details of Bruce’s friendly elevator scuffle with Frank “Twinkle Toes” Trigg and the beach fight he’s never discussed plus incidents involving Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Tank Abbott and BJ Penn and others.
· How Bruce discovered late in life that he had a celebrity brother he never knew existed.
· How Bruce turned Michael Buffer’s catchphrase into a $400 million retail sales empire.
· What happened at Bruce’s first-ever meeting with UFC President Dana White.
· The time Bruce spotted a UFO—and lived to tell about it.

Buffer even shares his life-tested tips for surviving a street brawl, mastering poker, starting your own business, being a good wingman, and more! IT’S TIME offers Octagon-side insights into one of the fastest growing sports in America, as only Buffer can provide and will be a must have for the millions of UFC and fight fans across the country.

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Eddie Alvarez Releases Copy Of Bellator Contract With Changed Language

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:23:00 +0000

With the latest move in the figurative legal chess match, Eddie Alvarez has released a copy of a Bellator contract sent to him that he alleges shows changed language from their original agreement.

Alvarez, a former Bellator lightweight champion, has been involved in a lengthy legal battle with Bellator MMA over the past seven months. The fighter began fielding offers from the Ultimate Fighting Championship late last year, at which point Bellator exercised its matching rights. Bellator believes its offer matched that of the UFC's to the letter, while Alvarez voiced that the two offers are not in fact equal. As a result, both sides have filed lawsuits against one another that have kept Alvarez on the sidelines since October.

Alvarez attempted to file an injunction last January to compete at UFC 159, however a judge denied the motion.

During an appearance on last week's The MMA Hour, Alvarez told host Ariel Helwani that Bellator changed the terms of his original contract when sending him an early release form, with the belief that the fighter would mistakenly sign it. Alvarez alleges that the key point in the contract was changed from matching "all terms" of the contract to "all material terms".

"They can't match FOX, they can't match pay-per-view, they can't match the opportunity and the money I was going to be given," he said. "They can't, or else they would have never had to change it, couldn't get contract the way it was.

"They sent the new [clause] to my management," said Alvarez, "But they sent the old one to me that said ‘all terms,' ... You can't change the contract in the middle of the contract. If you're playing unfair, you're playing unfair. I'm trying to play by the rules. They're lying to the judge, they're changing the contract, I can't play that game. They're not leaving me any choice. If they're going to kick me in the balls, eventually I'm going to kick them in the balls back."

On Sunday, Alvarez released a picture of his early release form from Bellator, which can be found below.

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Video: Paul Daley KO's Rodrigo Ribeiro At 'Dubai Fighting Championship 4'

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Sun, 12 May 2013 15:49:00 +0000

Welterweight slugger Paul Daley (32-12-2) recorded his 23rd career knockout victory over the weekend after stopping submission ace Rodrio Ribeiro (9-11).

The bout took place at Dubai Fighting Championship 4 in Dubai, United Emirates, and marked Daley's third-straight knockout win, having also stopped Patrick Vallee and Rudy Bears in recent months.

While still under contract with Bellator, Daley was allowed to compete overseas to stay busy. The 30-year-old has yet to compete for Bellator since his promotional debut in July due to visa issues stemming from an alleged bar fight, which have prevented the fighter from traveling to the United States.

Friday's victory over Ribeiro marked Daley's fifth in six outings. The full fight video can be found below.

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UFC Returns To Indianapolis For 'UFC On FOX Sports 1' Event On August 28

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:28:00 +0000

For the first time in three years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Indianapolis.

The promotion will host its second UFC on FOX Sports 1 event — the first being on August 17 in Boston — at Indianapolis' Bankers Life Fieldhouse (formerly Conseco Fieldhouse) on Wednesday, August 28th. While no matches have been announced for the late summer event, tickets are slated to go on sale on June 14th.

The UFC last visited Indianapolis in 2010 for UFC 119, which took place at the Conseco Fieldhouse and aired live on pay-per-view. The main event saw Frank Mir knock out Mirko "Cro Cop" with a third-round knee in an otherwise lackluster encounter.

Bankers Life Fieldhouse currently plays host to the NBA's Indiana Pacers.

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Valentijn Overeem Injured; Mike Kyle Now Faces Travis Wiuff In CFA 11 Main Event

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Manzella) — Sat, 11 May 2013 07:33:00 +0000

Jorge de la Noval, CEO and Founder of Championship Fighting Alliance (CFA) this week confirmed that Valentijn Overeem injured his rib during training this week and has been pulled from the main event of the organization’s May 24 card. Travis Wiuff, who previously battled Mike Kyle to a no-contest in 2010, will replace Overeem and rematch with Kyle as the new main event for CFA 11.

“Everyone at CFA wishes Valentijn Overeem a fast recovery from the rib injury he incurred this week,” said de la Noval. “He had to pull out of this fight, but fortunately we have found a replacement. I'm pleased to announce that Travis Wiuff has agreed to fight Mike Kyle and that the main event of CFA 11 is a now a rematch that both of these fighters have wanted for years. Their first fight in 2010 was ruled a no-contest and now, three years later, they finally have a chance to settle the score and to do it for all their fans live on AXS TV.”

The news of Overeem’s injury and Travis Wiuff stepping up as a short-notice replacement was made official on last night's episode of Inside MMA on AXS TV. Overeem will require at least six weeks to recover. CFA received the news from Overeem’s camp late yesterday and immediately sought out a new opponent for Kyle.

Wiuff (68-17) 6’3”/262 lbs. trains with the Elite Performance team out of Rochester, Minnesota. He was a two-time NJCAA All-American wrestler and the 1999 NJCAA national runner up at 265 lbs. Wiuff is an MMA veteran who has fought across three weight classes, super heavyweight, heavyweight and light heavyweight, and holds notable wins over Keith Jardine, Travis Fulton, Sean Salmon, Ricco Rodriguez and Chris Tuchscherer. He holds a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu and also possesses knockout power with 22 KOs on record.

His opponent, Mike Kyle (19-9), is a Strikeforce veteran and former light heavyweight King of the Cage Champion. He fought at the highest level of MMA with the Ultimate Fighting Championship from 2004-2005, and during that period defeated James Irvin at UFC 51 with a first round knockout. He currently trains at the famed AKA Academy in San Jose Calif., with two-time UFC heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez as his main training partner.

The first match between Kyle and Wiuff took place February 10, 2010 under the King of the Cage banner. The first round saw back and forth action with Kyle escaping a near guillotine. Kyle opened the second round with a barrage of strikes and knees. Wiuff absorbed the attack and responded with a takedown. Just as the second round came to a close, Kyle unleashed a right uppercut that hit Wiuff squarely just after the bell. Though accidental, Wiuff fell to the mat. Referee Herb Dean waved off the fight and it was ruled a no-contest. Both fighters have wanted a rematch ever since, and now Kyle vs. Wiuff 2 will take place as the main event of CFA 11 on Friday, May 24 and presented live on AXS TV starting at 9:00 p.m. ET.

In the CFA 11 co-main event, transgender fighter Fallon Fox will take on Allanna Jones in the CFA 145-pound women’s tournament semi-finals.

“CFA 11” tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com starting at $25.00 for general admission. Reserved seating is $35.00 (additional taxes and fees apply).

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