Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos at UFC 139
(bloodyelbow.com)Looks like Zuffa is using UFC 133 to unload a bunch of big news today. While it's been reported as far back as June, reports indicate that the UFC is set to officially announce that Cain Velasquez's first title defense will take place against Junior dos Santos at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
The real news, however, is this MMA Fighting bit on Velasquez's shoulder injury:
Velasquez was first injured during his UFC 121 championship victory over Brock Lesnar, tearing his right rotator cuff, a setback that was expected to take between 6-8 months to heal. After a long layoff and rehabilitation, he recently ramped up his workouts and is said to be progressing well.
Sokoudjou Signs to Challenge 205-Pound Champion Ryan Jimmo at MFC 31
(mmaweekly.com)The Maximum Fighting Championship on Thursday announced MFC 31: The Rundown featuring a light heavyweight title bout pitting current champion Ryan Jimmo against newly signed Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. The MFC 31 fight card takes place on Oct. 7 at the Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and will be broadcast on HDNet.
The announced title bout displaces an MFC lightweight title bout between recently re-signed champion Antonio McKee and Brian Cobb. The two will instead clash at MFC 32 in November, although an exact date and location had not been pinned down at the time of publication.
Joe Stevenson cut by UFC after four straight losses
(mmamania.com)"Daddy's" coming home ... for good.
Former UFC lightweight title contender and recent featherweight debutant Joe Stevenson has been released by the UFC, according to MMAFighting.com.
The move comes on the heels of the biggest slump in the longtime veteran's career. After losing three in a row at 155-pounds, UFC brass gave him the opportunity to reinvent himself at 145-pounds.
Dana White hints Strikeforce champ Dan Henderson could soon return to UFC's ranks
(mmajunkie.com)Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson may soon return to the UFC's roster, according to UFC president Dana White.
The 40-year-old Henderson recently ended a four-fight Strikeforce deal with an emphatic TKO win over former PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and is free to test the open waters of free agency.
Now White says he'll at least entertain the idea of the seven-time UFC vet making his way back into the octagon.
Chad Mendes ‘Up There’ But Not Guaranteed a Title Shot With a Win at UFC 133
(mmaweekly.com)Chad Mendes may be considered the top contender in the UFC’s featherweight division, but a win at UFC 133 doesn’t necessarily guarantee him a title shot.
When asked by reporters following UFC 133's press conference, UFC President Dana White deferred to matchmaker Joe Silva, who stated Mendes is near the top of the division, but wouldn’t solidify if he was next in line with a win.
“Chad’s right up there,” said UFC matchmaker Joe Silva. “He’s in the mix”
Fedor Emelianenko released from Strikeforce
(bloodyelbow.com)At the UFC 133 press conference it was announced by UFC president Dana White that Fedor Emelianenko has been released from his Strikeforce contract. Fedor is riding a three fight losing streak while carrying a hefty price tag and a management team with a long history of proving difficult for Zuffa to deal with. That combination makes this a much less shocking cut than the recent release of Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
This does, however, continue the thinning out of the Strikeforce roster and the likely eventual dissolving of the promotion once the Showtime deal hits completion.
Reagan Penn makes MMA debut against Paul Gardner at ProElite 1
(mmajunkie.com)Reagan Penn (0-0), younger brother to UFC icon B.J. Penn, will make his professional MMA debut against Paul Gardner (2-0) at ProElite 1.
ProElite vice president of fight operations T. Jay Thompson today confirmed to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the welterweight bout is signed, sealed and delivered.
ProElite 1 takes place Aug. 27 at storied MMA venue Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.
The latest card currently includes:
Andrei Arlovski vs. Ray Lopez
Kendall Grove vs. Joe Riggs
Kala Hose vs. Drew McFedries
Reagan Penn vs. Paul Gardner
Mark Ellis vs. Jake Heun
Sara McCann vs. Raquel Pa'aluhi
FUEL TV launches "Punk Payback" with MMA legend Bas Rutten
(mmajunkie.com)FUEL TV continues its exploration of the mixed martial arts segment this fall with the launch of a new 10-episode series, "Punk Payback," starring Bas Rutten.
The former UFC champ and King of Pancrase will be the star of the series, which debuts on the cable channel on Nov. 2.
Described as a "comedic, street-fighting survival series," the half-hour episodes promise to showcase "combat moves that can help viewers avoid being 'punked' on the street."
Bobby Lashley enlists fellow pro wrestler Josh Barnett for MMA career guidance
(mmajunkie.com)After locking up in rings overseas and rolling backstage between worked wrestling matches, Bobby Lashley (6-1) has found an advocate in Josh Barnett (30-5).
The two recently paired up in Barnett's backyard of Irvine, Calif. After an intense training weekend, Lashley, who hopes to return to the cage in the fall, has seen the benefit of working with the Strikeforce heavyweight and hopes to make it a regular thing.
"Mighty Mo" Siliga signs with Superior Cage Combat, expected to debut in November
(mmajunkie.com)Samoan slugger Siala-Mou "Mighty Mo" Siliga is coming to Sin City.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned that the upstart Superior Cage Combat promotion has signed the K-1, boxing and MMA vet for an upcoming appearance in a Las Vegas-based event.
While an opponent has yet to be named, the fight is expected to take place in November, at Superior Cage Combat's as-yet-unannounced third event.
UFC 133 Fight Card: Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz Trade Barbs Again
(bloodyelbow.com)A few days ago Mike posted a video of a verbal confrontation between UFC 133 main eventers Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz, and hinted at the idea that there might be more where that came from. Well, there was more. The UFC tweeted a minute-long followup video called Verbal Warfare Part 2, with the two trading pretty weak barbs for the most part. The conclusion more than makes up for the beginning though.
Video after the jump. It's worth watching, it's only a minute.
Tatsuya Kawajiri Drops to Featherweight, Takes on Joachim Hansen on DREAM.17
(bloodyelbow.com)He's already the #9 ranked lightweight in the USA Today / SBN consensus rankings, but he will soon be trying to crush guys in another division. He's done very well at lightweight, but after failing to wrest both the DREAM and Strikeforce lightweight titles, DREAM officials have announced today that Tatsuya Kawajiri will now look to take on new challenges as a featherweight.
He will be making his debut against Joachim Hansen on September 24th, as part of the DREAM.17 card. This will be a rematch of their extremely quick and controversial bout back in 2006, when Kawajiri defended his Shooto welterweight (154 lbs.) title.
DREAM.17 - September 24, 2011 - Saitama Super Arena, Japan
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Joachim Hansen
Shinya Aoki vs. Rob McCullough
Takeshi Inoue vs. Caol Uno
Willamy Freire vs. Satoru Kitaoka
Strikeforce's Gina Carano cleared for training, manager hopes for 2011 return
(mmajunkie.com)Gina Carano's doctor has cleared her to resume training, and if all goes well, she'll be back in the cage before the end of the year.
As with any Carano update, that's far from a promise, but it's the plan for now, manager Scott Karp today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
If nothing else, it appears the medical issue that precluded her from fighting this past June at "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum" won't keep her from mixing it up in the gym.
Golden Glory trainer on recent UFC/Strikeforce cuts: "I think it's unfair"
(mmajunkie.com)Martin de Jong got a punch to the gut when he checked his email Wednesday morning.
In his inbox was a letter forwarded from Golden Glory manager Bas Boon that stated three of his fighters under the Zuffa umbrella had been cut due to recent losses.
The fighters included former Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Marloes Coenen, UFC heavyweight Jon Olav Einemo and Strikeforce heavyweight Valentijn Overeem.
"This is a big blow for us," de Jong today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I feel it's kind of unfair to the fighters. They train hard. They put on exciting performances."
Are the cuts related to the recent strife between Alistair Overeem and Zuffa?
De Jong can't be sure.
"You tell me," he said. "I have no idea, but it doesn't look good. Of course, for us, it's really bad. I'm very disappointed. What can I say?"
Marloes Coenen cut by Strikeforce
(mmafighting.com)A week after Zuffa released Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem from his contract, three of Overeem's Golden Glory teammates have also been cut, including former women's champion Marloes Coenen.
Golden Glory's Martin de Jong wrote on Twitter that Coenen, heavyweight John Olav Einemo and Overeem's brother Valentijn Overeem were all released by Zuffa.
There's clear tension at the moment between Golden Glory and Zuffa, the parent company of both the UFC and Strikeforce. Although Zuffa can point to the fact that Coenen, Einemo and Valentijn Overeem were all coming off losses, cutting them all and also cutting Alistair Overeem suggests that Zuffa doesn't want to deal with Golden Glory (which functions as both a gym and a promoter) at all.
Jim Miller unsure of title shot with win over Ben Henderson on Aug. 14
(mmamania.com) At a special conference call held today to promote the upcoming UFC on Versus 5 event on Aug. 14 in Milwaukee, lightweight wrecking ball Jim Miller continues his trend of being the best employee on the entire promotional roster.
That's because despite the fact that he's been all but promised the number one contender spot with a win over Ben Henderson, he's still ready and willing to fight everyone else under the sun except the champion, if that's what his bosses so choose.
Miller is already a champ in my book. What an exceptional attitude.
UFC returns to Toronto for UFC 140 on Dec. 10
(mmajunkie.com)Toronto has won the day for the UFC's next excursion into Canada.
After the promotion considered events in the Ontario capital as well as in Montreal, Quebec, which was the site of four previous (and lucrative) shows, Toronto's Air Canada Centre will host host UFC 140 on Dec. 10 .
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the event location with sources close to negotiations. ESPN first reported it.
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