Page 8 - Top MMA News and Mixed Martial Arts Headlines

Oh no, another big injury? An unconfirmed report out of Brazil says that middleweight champion Anderson Silva could be out of UFC 162 with fractured ribs.

Add your comment  

Recent UFC welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz's first foray into MMA promotion is a go, according to a press release issued today.

Add your comment  

Former WEC fighter James Krause (19-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has replaced injured Isaac Vallie-Flagg (14-3-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and now meets fellow lightweight Sam Stout (20-8-1 MMA, 8-7 UFC) next month at UFC 161. UFC officials today announced the change following an earlier report from MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) about Vallie-Flagg's injury. UFC 161 takes place June 15 at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Add your comment  

Talk about a hostile work environment. Jon Fitch held a 14-3-1 record in his seven and a half year UFC career, earning a title shot and regularly holding the number two ranked position in the unofficial welterweight rankings, but that didn't score him any points with his superiors. The American Kickboxing Academy standout had to fight tooth and nail to earn his title shot against Georges St. Pierre, and when he came up short, the dream was likely over. That's what happens when you have a smothering wrestling style that neutralizes everyone you face, including popular strikers like Thiago Alves and more. When Fitch suffered a rough patch, going 1-2-1 over a period of four fights,he was released from his contract and quickly scooped up by World Series of Fighting. In his debut fight with the promotion next month (June 14, 2013), he'll be competing in the main event against Josh Burkman. He tells Bleacher Report that it's nice to be a part of a promotion that actually wants to push him for once. "I'm going to show everybody what I'm capable of with support behind me. It's going to be really nice to fight for an organization that is pushing and promoting me instead of trying to hold me back and put me down." Despite his tremendous run of victories in the UFC, holding win streaks of eight and five wins respectively, he never felt any job security heading into a fight. "There wasn't a fight I went into where I didn't feel as if I was fighting for my job. If I didn't win I was going to be fired. Every fight I had before was not just a fight against the guy in front of me but a fight against the people putting on the show." With promoter Ray Sefo having his back completely, Fitch is hoping to capitalize on the good vibes heading into his first fight outside the UFC in nearly eight years. "People can expect to see the best of Jon Fitch. No filters. No worries other than the fight in front of me and I think that is going to bring out the best Jon Fitch you've seen."

Add your comment  

After opponent and UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao recently was forced off the card, Eddie Wineland also now is officially out of next month's UFC 161 event, and he will be rebooked for a future show. However, with Barao's recovery timetable unknown, Wineland isn't necessarily guaranteed a rebooking with the titleholder, UFC officials confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). UFC 161 takes place June 15 at MTS Centre in the Canadian city of Winnipeg. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Add your comment  

A back injury has forced lightweight Isaac Vallie-Flagg to withdraw from a fight with Sam Stout at UFC 161.

Add your comment  

At first, it sounded like veteran fighter Josh Thomson was ready to retire from MMA. "My days of trying to plead for notoriety are over," he told a small group of reporters prior to UFC 160 this past Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. "I don't care. I just want to fight Benson. If I get the title shot, I can end my career and be done. I want to end my career with my title shot, and just get ready for whatever happens."

Add your comment  

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall-of-Famer Chuck Liddell likes to one-up his former rival, Tito Ortiz, in as many ways possible. It wasn't that long ago when "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" told reporters he would have "dominated" current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones had they ever fought when Ortiz was in his prime. See those comments here. Now Liddell, who retired in 2010 following a string of brutal losses, is going one step further by insisting he would have defeated reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, no stranger to the 205-pound weight class, had "The Spider" tried to get loud while "The Iceman" ruled the roost. His comments (via Fighters Only): "I would beat him, I always said that I would. I have the advantage in weight and height, so it would be more likely that I would beat him. But Anderson is one of my favorite fighters." And just for shits and giggles, he'd even entertain the idea of an Octagon return to face "Bones." Liddell (21-8) at one time was the most popular -- and most dangerous -- fighter UFC had on its roster. During a nearly three-year period, beginning at UFC 47 in 2004, "The Iceman" racked up seven straight wins by way of knockout or technical knockout.

Add your comment  

Waylon Lowe, 32, is suing Kama Sutra Pleasure Balm Prolonging Gel after purchasing their product at a sex store in Philadelphia (it should be noted that some sources, including Philly.com report the Lowe is suing the sex store).

Add your comment  

It didn’t take UFC middleweight Michael “The Count” Bisping long to respond to Luke Rockhold’s challenge via Twitter on Tuesday.

Add your comment  

A major featherweight contenders bout slated for earlier this spring has been booked for later this summer. Clay Guida and Chad Mendes will meet this August at UFC 164.

Add your comment  

Three fighters on UFC 160's main card are among those who could be on the shelf upwards of six months. Mark Hunt, Mark Teixeira and Gray Maynard all could be out for as much as 180 days.

Add your comment  

Jon Anik will work alongside Joe Rogan for the UFC's debut card on Fox Sports 1, scheduled for August 17th in Boston, MA.

Add your comment  

Unbeaten Cat Zingano, who was slated to coach opposite women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, injured a knee and was replaced as coach by long-time Rousey rival Miesha Tate. Rousey did not know that Zingano was injured - UFC president Dana White said it had been a tightly kept company secret since Zingano injured her right knee during a May 16 workout - or that Tate had been brought in to replace her, until the opening scenes of the show were filmed on Tuesday. When Tate came out, Rousey was clearly stunned and she stormed out of the UFC training center, searching for White. She later said she was angry because she thought Tate was replacing her.

Add your comment  

It's only been 10 days, but Luke Rockhold already is looking for his next fight. And it's one that has been talked about plenty already. Rockhold on Tuesday called out Michael Bisping for a UFC middleweight fight.

Add your comment  

If Nick Newell really wants to fight top-level guys who could help him get to the UFC, he's found a home to prove he can do it.

Add your comment  

Glover Teixeira knows Alexander Gustafsson and Lyoto Machida are likely ahead of him in the pecking order, but if the UFC needs an opponent for light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones, the Brazilian said he's ready to go.

Add your comment  

UFC flyweight contender John Moraga respects current champion Demetrious Johnson. Really, he does. He just happens to think "Mighty Mouse" is a boring fighter.

Add your comment  

If Mark Hunt looked a little more flatfooted than usual this past weekend, the UFC heavyweight apparently had a good reason.

Add your comment  

At the UFC 160 post-fight press conference, Dana White affirmed his belief that B.J. Penn should retire. He stopped short of saying the same about Rich Franklin though.

Add your comment