UFC targets DaMarques Johnson vs. Matt Riddle for UFC on Versus 2
(mmajunkie.com)A welterweight match-up between "The Ultimate Fighter" veterans Damarques Johnson and Matt Riddle is targeted for UFC on Versus 2.
Sources tell MMAjunkie.com that at least one fighter has agreed to the match-up, though bout agreements have not been signed.
UFC on Versus 2 is expected to take place Aug. 1 at Salt Lake City's EnergySolutions Arena. It is the second of two contracted UFC-Versus events in 2010.
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Thiago Alves vs. Jon Fitch Moved to UFC 117 in Oakland
(mmaweekly.com)As badly as Thiago "Pitbull" Alves wants to get back in the cage and fight again, he'll have to wait just a little while longer before returning. Originally scheduled to face Jon Fitch at UFC 115 in Vancouver, the fight has been pushed back to August 7 in Oakland as a part of UFC 117 instead...
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UFC exec Marc Ratner still pursuing Toronto show, legislative changes in Canada
(mmajunkie.com)The Ultimate Fighting Championship next weeks hosts its third annual show in Montreal, and in June, the organization hosts its first-ever event in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
However, UFC officials are still targeting what they call the "hottest city of them all" for an upcoming show: Toronto.
While a recent guest on MMAjunkie.com Radio, UFC Vice President of Regulatory and Governmental Affairs Marc Ratner said the UFC is targeting Toronto as part of an overall bigger push to change Canada's criminal code.
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Mirko Cro Cop Vows Improvement, Knows UFC 115 Fight With Barry Is Must-Win
(mmamania.com)Mirko Cro Cop hasn't exactly enjoyed the same success in the UFC that he once found back in Japan. The 2006 Pride FC Openweight Grand Prix Champion has only managed to compile a .500 record, going 3-3 in his time with the world's leading MMA promotion. There has been plenty of talk as to what is different with Cro Cop and why he seems to lack the killer instinct that at one time made him the most feared striker in the game. In an interview with Nokaut.com, the Croation heavyweight details what he's doing differently in order to improve his game in preparation for his upcoming bout with fellow kickboxer Pat Barry at UFC 115 on June 12.
MacDonald vs. Salter Now Official For UFC 113
(mmajunkie.com)The rumored Jason MacDonald vs. John Salter fight for UFC 113 on 5/8 is now official. MacDonald was said to be a late replacement for David Loiseau, who was to have replaced an injured Nick Catone but was scratched due to licensing issues. The fight will be the event's opening prelim.
Roy Nelson vs. Cheick Kongo Possibly Off UFC 116
(mmamania.com)Looks like the Roy Nelson International Road To The Top may be diverted. A planned Nelson vs. Cheick Kongo fight at UFC 116 may be off due to a Kongo back injury. Said Kongo, "I have to be able to start my preparation - the thing I haven't done yet. I am still injured. I don't think it would happen at UFC 116. Maybe later but not then. I didn't get any word from the UFC [on Nelson]. I have my manager Anthony who's working on that and as of today, I'm just actively recovering and nothing else." The deciding factor may be whether or not Kongo needs surgery-if yes, it's safe to say the fight is off.
MMA Live on ESPN (More on Tito and Jenna)
(espn.go.com)Here is a link to the MMA Live video on ESPN. They discuss Tito and Jenna, WEC PPV, and what's next for Benson Henderson & Jose Aldo. Included are statements by Tito and Jenna regarding the whole incident. Kenny Florian is part of the team bringing it some credibility.
For those who didn't know MMA Live will be debuting as an actual show on ESPN 2 on May 6th at 1AM ET, 10 PM, PST, and airing weekly at the same time on May 13th, 20th, and 27th.
In addition to this on May 8th live from Montreal you can view the Weigh In Special at 3:30 PM ET, 12:30 PM PST on ESPN.com
Preview special at 9 PM ET, 6 PM PST on ESPN2
Post Fight Extras at 1 AM ET, 10 PM PST on ESPN2
It's great to see that ESPN has jumped on board and will be giving fans a show dedicated to the sport of MMA
UFC welterweight Brian Foster breaks leg, hopes to fight again in August
(mmajunkie.com)UFC welterweight Brian Foster on Wednesday evening broke his left leg and will be out of action for at least six to eight weeks. Marc Fiore, Foster's trainer at the H.I.T. Squad, today told MMAjunkie.com the unfortunate news.
Foster, a Salisaw, Okla. resident when he's not at the H.I.T. Squad's gym in Granite City, Ill., was playing basketball with players from a local high school when he fell and broke his tibia. He also dislocated his ankle.
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Despite finishing 16th in voting, UFC's Dana White excluded from final "Time 100" list
(mmajunkie.com)While UFC president Dana White, the head of the world's biggest and most influential mixed-martial-arts promotion in the sport, is undoubtedly one of the most influential people in the history of the sport, the exec is not one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
That's according to Time magazine, who today released the 2010 edition of the "Time 100," an annual poll that names the 100 most influential people in the world.
Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva topped the list. Coming in second was Taiwanese computer industry executive J.T. Wang, while Admiral Mike Mullen, the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the top-ranked American on the list.
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Rich Franklin wants to make a run at the light heavyweight title starting with Chuck Liddell
(mmamania.com)"If I cut back down to 185, it's a completely different cut to make it and I will have completely undone everything I've done to put on the size I have. I want to make a run for the title and I don't want to keep doing things that are counterproductive to that, like fights at 195. You can't count Chuck out of any fight. Yeah, he hasn't fought in a year, and yeah, he's lost four of his past five fights, but look at what he's done over the span of his career. He's a legend and he has beaten such an incredible list of opponents, it would be a huge mistake to look past a guy like him."
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Josh Koscheck Says He Would Accept TUF 12 Coaching Job
(mmaweekly.com)Going home again. That could be the theme of “The "Ultimate Fighter Season 12” for Josh Koscheck if he is indeed chosen as a coach for the next season of the popular Spike TV reality show.
The American Kickboxing Academy welterweight got his start on the show five years ago, and if rumors stand true, the winner of the upcoming fight between Koscheck and British fighter Paul Daley could determine who will coach opposite UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
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Machida still feels he won UFC 104 bout, thinks rematch with "Shogun" will be more exciting
(mmajunkie.com)UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida's first meeting with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 104 re-ignited a long running debate on judging and scoring in MMA.
The 31-year-old Machida hopes their rematch on May 8 isn't grist for that mill.
"We're both a lot more familiar with each other than we were the first time we met," Machida said through his manager Ed Soares' translation during a conference call promoting his UFC 113 headlining rematch with Rua. "So I think it just makes all that much greater for a better fight this time around."
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Anderson "The Nuisance" Silva Ruined Christmas For Rampage Fans
(mmamania.com)So says Chael Sonnen in comments he made backstage at WEC 48. "He’s a grown man with earrings. He’s a grown man with saggy pants, pink t-shirts and crooked hats. Go join a gang, don’t get in the UFC. People don’t care about him. He came out and said he’s gonna go heavyweight, no one cared. So he comes out and says well ‘I’m gonna go light heavyweight,’ no one cared. ‘Well I’m gonna retire.’ Good! Beat it, this is back page news, no one cares about you anyway. ‘Well I’m not gonna retire I’m gonna stick around.’ Or do that. Again, it doesn’t really matter, you’re a nuisance. So who cares, they go make the little action figures and the two little kids that bought em, are probably pretty upset, their parents probably thought it was Quinton Jackson when they bought it for them and the kids had a disappointing Christmas I would imagine. That's a big difference. I became the number one contender on February and February 7 he sent out a press release as to why he shouldn't have to fight me. On August 7 he will fight me. I stand here of my own free will. He stands here because Uncle Dana is making him."
CSAC: "WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber" draws 12,555 for gate of $792,640
(mmajunkie.com)While WEC 48's official attendance and gate revenue figures fell short of the promotion's initial estimates, the event was still an unqualified success.
The California State Athletic Commission today released a final report on the event and said 12,555 paid attendees packed the ARCO Arena this past Saturday to watch current featherweight champ Jose Aldo take on hometown favorite and former champ Urijah Faber.
The event produced a total of $792,640 in gate receipts, an average cost of $63.13 per ticket issued.
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WEC officials still mum on pay-per-view future, plan five more 2010 cards on Versus
(mmajunkie.com)The WEC took a major risk with this past weekend's "WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber" event.
Company officials obviously had the unenviable challenge of trying to determine the best way to do the unthinkable: convince consumers to pay for a product they were used to receiving for free.
Initial estimates from various media outlets have suggested WEC 48 did between 150,000-200,000 buys, though WEC officials have declined to comment on the subject. Nevertheless, it's back to Versus in June for the first of five more 2010 fight cards, and UFC/WEC president Dana White said it will be business as usual.
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Paul Daley Not Interested In Rematch With "Boring" Jake Shields
(mmamania.com)There's been a lot of talk about Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields coming to the UFC when his current contract expires -- but don't add Paul Daley to the list of people who are excited over the possibility of him competing inside the Octagon. Perhaps that's because "Semtex" was submitted by the grappling whiz back at Elite XC: "Heat" in October 2008. The British striker tells The Daily Record he's a much improved fighter since they last met but has no interest in avenging that loss simply because he doesn't want to subject himself to a boring fight.
Leben vs. Simpson, Fisher vs. Siver, Browne vs. McSweeney set for TUF 11 Finale
(mmajunkie.com)With pre-sale tickets going on sale in mere hours for The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale, the organization has added a trio of fights to the card, all of which were previously reported by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
The additions include Chris Leben vs. Aaron Simpson for the evening's main card, as well as a pair of contests tentatively slated for the night's prelims with Spencer Fisher vs. Dennis Siver and Travis Browne vs. James McSweeney.
The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale is scheduled for June 19 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
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