Franca vs. Griffin Likely For UFC 103
(411mania.com)There are reports that Hermes Franca and Tyson Griffin have verbally agreed to face off at UFC 103 in September. Although not yet officially announced, 103 is expected to take place in Dallas. Both last fought at UFNs 17 & 18, respectively.
New Shogun interview
(graciemag.com)
After solidifying his place in the UFC with two knockout wins, over Chuck Liddell and Mark Coleman, Mauricio Shogun is confirmed to face Lyoto Machida. The bout is worth the organization's light heavyweight belt, which could land Shogun back at the top of the world, a post he was used to occupying back in the days of Pride.
Portal das Lutas - How did you feel about getting a shot at the title so quickly?
Mauricio Shogun - I was really happy about the title challenge. When Dana White told me I was really happy. Lyoto's my friend, we train together. We've been in contact but there's no way to turn down the fight.
PDL - Is there anyone you would never face?
MS - The only guy I've said I would never face is Wanderlei (Silva). He is my true friend and I have a special affection for him.
PDL - After facing three tough guys (Forrest Griffin, Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell), now you have this shot at the title. Would you rather do a few more fights and better adapt to the event?
MS - The one who decides whether the fight is for the belt is Dana White. When I joined the UFC, there already was the perspective of a shot at the belt soon, for what I had shown in Pride. Against Coleman I didn't fight that great, but against Liddell I did well. That's what Dana White had to work with. I'm new in the house, but I have experience and I'm happy for the opportunity.
PDL - For the second time in the organization there's an all-Brazilian title challenge, the other being between Anderson Silva and Thales Leites. How important is that?
MS - It shows how strong Brazil is in MMA. I believe that, after soccer, MMA is the sport that best represents Brazil abroad. And we are very well represented, because we really sport the jersey. I'm certain the athletes fight for the country. Brazil is still needy of heroes in sport and it's great motivation. We're out there to represent Brazil.
PDL - What do you think of Lyoto?
MS - Lyoto is a well-rounded fighter, good standing,on the ground and has good wrestling. He's the man to beat, undefeated and has shown his worth. I repect him, but I'm going to train a lot to come home with the win.
PDL - Would you like to send a message out to your fans?
MS - I can't promise victory, but I guarantee I'll do my all to represent our country, my team and my state. I would like to thank all my fans and tell them they are my greatest motivation in training every day.
WAR SHOGUN 
German Media Reacts to UFC 99
(sherdog.com)Much of the media coverage in Germany prior to UFC 99 on Saturday was reminiscent of Sen. John McCain’s attack on mixed martial arts in the 1990s.
Spurred by local politicians in the midst of their election campaigns and polemic members of Deutschland’s still powerful and influential boxing lobby, the age-old prejudices of “human cockfighting” and “unrestrained brawls” returned to the surface.
But what was the postfight coverage like? Sherdog.com followed Germany’s most important newspapers, magazines and television segments for the following overview of the state of German MMA following Zuffa’s first expedition into central Europe.
‘Blood and Circuses’
Editors were texting headlines like “Blood and Circuses” (Berliner Morgenpost), “Cologne Cage Fight Pleases International Mob” (Die Welt) and “Bloodstain on the Canvas” (Süddeutsche Zeitung), and while the majority of coverage surrounding UFC 99 was rather negative, there were a couple of surprisingly well-researched articles written within the past 48 hours.
UFC 99 Medical Suspensions
(mmaweekly.com)The Association of Boxing Commission's official record keeping database, found at mixedmartialarts.com, today released the medical suspensions from Saturday's UFC 99 event.
TUF 9 Finale: Diego Sanchez Seeks to Validate Hype Surrounding Lightweight Move
(bloodyelbow.com)Clay Guida (25-9) is no stranger to being given some of the stiffest competition within the UFC's lightweight division. He took on a much taller, more skilled Nate Diaz and managed to squeak out a decision win. He pushed the pace so vigorously against TUF alum Mac Danzig that Danzig's will to continue had been broken by the third round. He waged a relentless but losing war against Roger Huerta that many fans considered one of the most entertaining battles of 2007. Saturday night's Ultimate Fighter Season 9 Finale at the Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada won't be any different as Guida will be taking on one of the UFC's newest lightweight additions in the highly-touted Diego Sanchez (20-2).
Clay Guida: "After I Beat Diego Sanchez, I've Earned a UFC Title Shot."
(mma.fanhouse.com)After winning three straight fights in the Octagon over the last year and a half, Clay Guida has the biggest fight of his career ahead of him on Saturday night against Diego Sanchez at the Ultimate Fighter Finale -- a fight that Guida says will earn him a shot at the UFC lightweight title.
In an interview with FanHouse, Guida said he thinks he's at the top of his game heading into the fight with Sanchez, and that he expects to beat Sanchez and earn a shot at the winner of the August title fight between BJ Penn and Kenny Florian. The full interview is below.
Al-Turk To Get Another Shot
(mmajunkie.com)Although he's 0-2 so far in UFC, it's not "Strike 2, You're Out" for Mustapha al-Turk. His instructor says the Heavyweight will be offered another shot in UFC despite losing his first 2 fights, with one likely difference-no Dan Miragliotta as referee.
Dan Hardy Not Quite Ready For Mike Swick
(mmamania.com)Although he's ready to take the next step in UFC, Dan Hardy says don't be so "Quick" to put him up against Mike Swick. Hardy's not against the fight later on but right now he feels Swick needs a "bigger fight" than him.
Lyle Beerbohm: From Prison Inmate to Undefeated MMA Fighter
(mma.fanhouse.com)Lyle Beerbohm will attempt to run his professional mixed martial arts record to 10-0 on Friday night when he steps into the cage against Duane Ludwig at the Strikeforce Challenger Series event in Kent, Wash. But whether Beerbohm wins or loses, he's come a long way from where he was three years ago, in a very different kind of cage.
Beerbohm spent a year and a half at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Wash., as a result of multiple felony convictions, all related to his crystal meth addiction. But Beerbohm discovered MMA while locked up, and he knew he had found his new calling.
The Return of Spectacle to the MMA Landscape: Kimbo Slice on TUF, Kyle Maynard and More
(bloodyelbow.com)It started as a spectacle, a gladiator contest in an octagon that promoters considered surrounding with a shark-filled moat rather than a steel-mesh fence. The first Ultimate Fighting Championship began with Gerard Gordeau kicking Teila Tuli's teeth across the arena and ended with the very same Dutchman trying to bite Royce Gracie's ear, Tyson style. In those early days, the event thrived on being a freakshow. With no television coverage and no online audience to cater to, the UFC counted on newspaper articles to spread the word. The early UFC had no intention of being a sport. They were a spectacle- and they loved it.
Cain Velasquez talks UFC 99 and his future in the heavyweight division
(mmamania.com)The amount of build-up bestowed upon Cain Velasquez leading up to UFC 99 bordered on “enough already.” But when it was learned that Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic refused to replace Heath Herring against Velasquez, it spoke volumes about a reputation that has preceded Cain ever since he signed with the UFC.
As overhyped as some thought Velasquez was, the pounding he put on Cheick Kongo was a tipping point for him becoming a credible name among UFC fans. Credit fellow Mexican-American fighter Miguel Torres for declaring it would be Cain’s coming-out party.
Cro Cop interview (full translation)
(mmacube.com)Cro Cop conducted an interview index.hr with regarding the whole situation he has been put into. This is a great interview that should clear some things up between Cro Cop and his fans.
I have nothing to hide or to be ashamed of. The thing is very simple. I know the truth and Dana knows the truth – I had a one fight deal with UFC and I fulfilled my contractual obligation. I said we're gonna sit down and talk after UFC 99.
Refs Set For UFC 100 Title Fights
(411mania.com)NSAC head Keith Kizer today announced who will referee the 2 title fights at UFC 100. Steve Mazzagatti gets Georges St. Pierre vs. Thiago Alves while Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir will be refereed by Herb Dean.
Floyd Mayweather – “Machida? Machida ain’t nobody.”
(latestmmanewsnow.wordpress.com)Doing the publicity rounds for his upcoming fight against Mexican counter puncher Juan Manuel Marquez, “Pretty Boy” Floyd “Money” Mayweather, 32, recently sat down with Mike DeLahunt to answer some questions readers of our site have been submitting over the past week. Mayweather, never at a loss for words had some rather interesting things to say in regards to what many, but of course not he, feels is his direct combat sports competition, the UFC.
“Man, who in the UFC as good as Floyd Mayweather? Look back to 2-3 years ago, when this all started. One of the stars in the sport, Chuck Liddell, has gone 3-4. The man has been Knocked out so many time his boss made him retire. How many times you seen Floyd Mayweather knocked out? How many times you seen Floyd Mayweather even knocked down? None.”
When pressed about recent UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida
being compared to names such as Pernell Whitaker and even Floyd himself, in being MMA’s
most elusive fighter, Floyd had this to say:
“Who? Who’s Lyoto Machida? Lyoto Machida? Oh you mean that guy who sold 200,000 PPVs now he’s a superstar? It doesn’t take much over there does it? I’ve sold 3.5 million PPVs between my last 2 fights alone. How much money did Machida make his last fight? $100,000 maybe? Tell Dana White, for $100,000, I will come show him what a 28 million dollar check looks like.
How is Machida as good as Floyd Mayweather? Because he’s beaten a few unskilled bar room fighters? At the end of the day, you already know, when you watch Floyd Mayweather you see the past, present and future of the sport. Machida don’t deserve to be mentioned in he same breath as me. Kousta Tszyu would whip up on his stank ass anyway.”
Our interviewer then divulged into one of the most repeated questions the fans wanted to
heard be asked, and that question being what are his opinions on Fedor “The Last Russian
Emperor” Emelianenko?
“Again, who? Oh, you mean that Russian guy Oscar let fight for him? The guy who fought Freddie Roach’s boy? Yeah, I know him. He’s a nice guy, but man was Roach’s boy whippin’ up on him until he got that hail Mary overhand. He needs to get at a real boxing coach like Roger Mayweather to teach him how to throw a punch. The man had his head down and his eyes closed when he threw that punch, anyone who says that wasn’t luck doesn’t know much about the sweet science…”
When asked about Sean Sherk, Floyd was pretty frank about his thoughts on MMA:
“Man, I am here to talk about Floyd Mayweather, the face of boxing. The cash king. The pound for pound greatest fighter who ever lived. I got Marquez, the man who SHOULD be the pound for pound king. I mean really, he beat Pacman both times. You know it, I know it, the fans know it. They keep asking me why I ain’t come back to fight Pacman? Because in my eyes Manny wasn’t number one pound for pound when I was gone. The guy who beat him twice was. In my eyes, I am coming back to fight the number one pound for pound guy. Once I whip his ass and reclaim my throne, I’m going to show you all that little midget from the Phillipines will be nothing but an after thought when Money May gets a hold of that ass.”
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