Report: Pace-McDonald Slated for UFC Fight Night 24
(sherdog.com)Bantamweight prospects Nick Pace and Michael McDonald have agreed to meet at UFC Fight Night 24, according to a report from MMAWeekly.com.
While neither the matchup nor the event has been announced by the promotion, the show is expected to go down on March 26 at Key Arena in Seattle, and will likely be headlined by a light heavyweight duel between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Tito Ortiz.
Pace suffered the first loss of his career against Demetrious Johnson in September, but rebounded with a victory over Will Campuzano at “The Ultimate Fighter 12” finale in December. The Team Tiger Schulmann representative ended the fight late in the third round with an innovative submission which he dubbed the “Pace Choke.”
Volkmann On Leave While High School Investigates Obama Comments
(sherdog.com)Jacob Volkmann (Pictured) has been placed on paid administrative leave by his employer, White Bear Lake Area High School -- North Campus, while the institution conducts an investigation regarding the UFC lightweight’s postfight comments about President Barack Obama.
Volkmann, 30, serves as an assistant coach to the Minnesota school’s wrestling team and also coaches its youth wrestling club for children from kindergarten to sixth grade. His standing as head coach of the squad has not been affected.
“It’s very frustrating that they think that I’m being a bad influence on the students.” Volkmann told Sherdog.com. “That’s what their reason was [for placing me on leave].”
As Movie Release Nears, Scott Coker Expects Gina Carano Back Soon
(mmafighting.com)Stop me if you've heard this one before: Scott Coker thinks Gina Carano will return to Strikeforce sooner rather than later.
Of course you have. But this time, he really believes it's going to happen.
That's what the Strikeforce CEO said again on Monday's episode of The MMA Hour. If you recall, Coker said back in October 2009 that Carano would return to action "probably towards the summertime" of 2010.
TUF 13 Coaches Announced
(ufc.com)The big men of mixed martial arts are back on The Ultimate Fighter, but this time, they will be coaching, not competing.
UFC President Dana White announced today that former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and number one contender Junior dos Santos will match wits as the coaches of season 13 of the hit Spike TV reality series.
Following the season, which begins filming this month and begins airing on March 30, Lesnar and dos Santos will then match fists in the Octagon later in 2011.
This will be the first time either fighter has appeared on The Ultimate Fighter, which began airing on Spike in 2005. The last time heavyweights coached the show was during season eight in 2008, when dos Santos’ mentor, “Minotauro” Nogueira, faced off against former champion Frank Mir. This season, the two will coach a host of welterweight hopefuls looking to secure a UFC contract.
Mark Hominick vs. Jose Aldo Being Targeted For UFC 129 (Updated)
(cagepotato.com)Josh Grispi's loss could be Mark Hominick's gain. According to "Showdown" Joe Ferrara, if Hominick beats George Roop at UFC Fight Night 23 and comes out injury free, he will face UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo at UFC 129 in Toronto. This was to have happened at UFC 125 but an injury then an Aldo injury changed plans.
Update: Dana White has confirmed the report.
Jon Jones: With The Right Fight, I Would Definitely Take A Fight At Heavyweight
(mmamania.com)And he adds it doesn't have to be a title fight or a Cain Velasquez, but he's thinking about taking the Randy Couture career path at some point. "I kind of like how Randy (Couture) has done it all throughout his MMA career. With the right fight, I would definitely take a fight at heavyweight, but my dreams and my goals are all at the light heavyweight division, and I don't want anything to get twisted saying I want to fight Cain (Velasquez) or any of the top heavyweights. If there was a cool fight stylistically for me at heavyweight, I'd give something to the fans and fight at a bigger weight."
John Makdessi meets Kyle Watson, not Jonathan Brookins, at UFC 129
(mmajunkie.com)Lightweight prospect John Makdessi (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will meet "The Ultimate Fighter 12" semifinalist Kyle Watson (13-6-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC 129, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the event.
Verbal agreements are in place for the bout with paperwork on the way.
Makdessi was rumored to be fighting "TUF 12" winner Jonathan Brookins at the event, but for reasons unknown, the matchup did not materialize.
Makdessi is the ninth Canadian slotted for the event, which takes place April 30 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. A welterweight title match between reigning champ Georges St-Pierre and challenger Jake Shields headlines the pay-per-view event.
Shane Carwin confirms likely UFC 131 slot, was offered Roy Nelson fight
(mmajunkie.com)Following recent back surgery, Shane Carwin (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) expects to make his return to the cage in June at UFC 131.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported the news on Monday, and Carwin confirmed the tentative booking on his official website, www.shane-carwin.com.
In the update, Carwin also confirmed he had been approached about fighting "The Ultimate Fighter 10" winner Roy Nelson before he ultimately was scheduled for a meeting with Frank Mir at UFC 130.
Officials hope to finalize plans for UFC 131 this week. The show is tentatively planned for June 11 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. As MMAjunkie.com reported on Monday, Carwin is expected to play a prominent role in the pay-per-view event.
Barnett: UFC champ Velasquez is good, but Strikeforce tourney winner better
(mmajunkie.com)Everyone and his brother has weighed in on who's the world's best MMA heavyweight, and given Strikeforce's upcoming and star-studded heavyweight grand prix, the debate won't stop anytime soon.
Josh Barnett, an entrant in the tourney, understandably thinks the world's No. 1 heavyweight will be the Strikeforce grand-prix winner.
But that's no shot at UFC champ Cain Velasquez, Barnett recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio).
In fact, Barnett has nothing but respect for Velasquez, who's rehabbing a shoulder he injured in an October title win over then-champ Brock Lesnar. Barnett admires how Velasquez has blended his new striking skills with his wrestling foundation during an undefeated career, and he doesn't question the champ's toughness.
The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale is June 4; door opened for Edgar-Maynard as coaches?
(mmajunkie.com)The upcoming 13th season of "The Ultimate Fighter" debuts March 30 on Spike TV, and a source close to the show today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale is slated for June 4.
The event takes place at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and airs live on Spike TV.
Although no coaches have been named, the date would allow for UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and top contender Gray Maynard, who could be part of UFC 131 in June, to meet in a season-ending fight.
UFC officials will announce the coaches later today during a media call, but they and other industry insiders have been tight-lipped about the names. Edgar and Maynard have emerged as possible candidates, though rumored coaches have included everyone from Dominick Cruz to Urijah Faber to Chael Sonnen to Wanderlei Silva to Brock Lesnar to Frank Mir to Jose Aldo.
Kenny Florian Targeting April Return, Says He's the Man to Fight Pettis
(mmafighting.com)It's been a rough couple of months for Kenny Florian. First, he lost his No. 1 contenders fight with Gray Maynard, then he suffered a knee injury that knocked him out of a potential fight with Evan Dunham, and now, it appears the fighter he hoped to face upon his return has a bout scheduled that won't include him.
Late Monday night, Florian told MMA Fighting that he thought he should be the one to face Anthony Pettis in "Showtime's" UFC debut. Hours later, though, reports of a matchup between Pettis and Clay Guida surfaced, seemingly knocking that possibility out of the water.
Jacob Volkmann Plans to Ride Wave of Attention After Obama Comment
(mmafighting.com)There's no way Jacob Volkmann could have predicted the aftermath of his tongue-in-cheek call out of President Barack Obama after UFC 125, but the Minnesota lightweight knows one thing: he's gonna roll with it.
Volkmann, whose post-fight interview with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani has garnered more mainstream attention than perhaps any fight interview in years, told Helwani on "The MMA Hour" Monday that he doesn't regret his criticism of the president, even though it earned him a visit from the Secret Service. Well, mostly he has no regrets.
UFC to Announce Formal Intent to Bring Event to New York
(mmafighting.com)It looks like the UFC has its New Year's Resolution.
Just a few days into 2011, the Nevada-based promotion will formally announce its intent to bring mixed martial arts to New York as soon as possible during a Thursday press conference at Madison Square Garden.
The press conference, which will take place at the world-famous MSG arena, will be attended by UFC president Dana White, Zuffa co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, current lightweight champ Frankie Edgar, and former light-heavyweight champ Rashad Evans, along with MSG executives.
Josh Barnett: What Happens In The Locker Room Stays In The Locker Room, I'm No Snitch
(mmamania.com)So he says. "I think everybody is doing whatever they can to get an edge on their opponent, no matter what, be it taking anything whether it's illegal or legal. Is it working? I don't really know. I don't think so. I wouldn't know (a percentage of fighters using PEDs) and even if I did I wouldn't say even if I did. ... I'm a big proponent of 'What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room.' I'm no snitch. But I fought when there wasn't regulatory bodies, and I fought guys who were way jacked to the gills (on steroids). I never cared – I just fought them anyways. I don't care what pill you take or what shot or what new supplement or what diet you do. There's only so much of anything that can really ever help you, and the rest of it is whether you've got it or you don't." He also still cliams he's never taken steroids despite failing 3 post-fight PED tests.
Guida vs. Pettis Targeted For UFC 130 or 131
(heavy.com)Sources close the bout informed Heavy.com of the news on Monday night.
Pettis was scheduled to receive a UFC title shot against the winner of the Frankie Edgar/Gray Maynard bout from UFC 125. The fight ended in a draw, however, and Pettis was removed from the title shot in favor of a third bout between Edgar and Maynard. Pettis opted to take a fight instead of waiting on the sidelines for eight to ten months.
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