http://www.mmaplayground.com/rss.aspxThe 20 most recent MMA news stories and headlines from around the web.(c) 2010 MMAPlayground.com5 An article in tomorrow's Nikkan Sports newspaper says that Yoshida's retirement fight in ASTRA will most likely be against Fedor. The exact quote is "Retirement match against Fedor, world's strongest man". According to the newspaper, Fedor's camp got in contact with Yoshida when he announced his retirement fight somewhere around February 8th and both parties have been negotiating ever since. There is a final meeting that will be held in Japan at Dream 13 which should finalize the negotiations. If nothing pans out after Dream 13, then they apparently have other fighters readily available to fight Yoshida. http://www.mmaplayground.com/forums/topic40189-1.html3/19/10 1:53AMTopics include whether it is tougher to transition from boxing to MMA or the other way around, which MMA fighter would fair best in boxing, which Boxer would do best in MMA, and which sport has the brighter future. Sorry I forgot to post the link the first time http://www.mmaplayground.com/forums/topic40185-1.html3/18/10 10:11PMHOLLYWOOD, Calif. – DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki widely is considered a torchbearer for MMA in Japan. And he's very protective of its landscape, particularly when it comes to the interests of stateside promoters. UFC president Dana White repeatedly has said he's interested in returning to Japan for the first time since Zuffa, LLC purchased the promotion in 2001. But he blames "dirty, sneaky, bad guys" from keeping the promotion out of the country. http://www.mmaplayground.com/forums/topic40184-1.html3/18/10 9:01PMGegard Mousasi's nickname is "Dreamcatcher", and evidently he's decided Strikeforce is the place to be just that. The Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion is expected so sign a long-term extension with the promotion shortly, although he currently has a "champions clause" that extends his current deal by 1 year automatically should he win his last fight on the contract, a title defense against Muhammad Lawal on 4/17. http://www.mmaplayground.com/forums/topic40181-1.html3/18/10 5:50PMStrikeforce has the spotlight to itself. The long-rumored UFC event expected to counter the promotion's April 17 CBS offering will not take place, MMA Fighting has confirmed. Earlier this month, the UFC explored the option, going so far as to inform likely broadcast partner Spike TV that the show was a go, but the company has apparently reversed course, and a Spike source said the network has been told by the UFC that the show is no longer happening. At the time, rumors of potential matchups pitting Mike Swick against Matt Serra and Wanderlei Silva vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama were quickly extinguished for various reasons, making finding a headlining act a challenge. http://www.mmaplayground.com/forums/topic40175-1.html3/18/10 1:58PMWEC announced today that Damacio Page is now off WEC 48 due to an injury. He was to have faced Antonio Banuelos. Scott Jorgensen is the replacement and will face Banuelos in a rematch from WEC 41, where Banuelos won by split decision. http://www.mmaplayground.com/forums/topic40174-1.html3/18/10 1:18PMAlthough there are few details at this time, DREAM Welterweight Champion Marius Zaromskis appears set to return to the promotion on May 30 at the curently unannounced DREAM 15. No opponent has been named and it's not known if he'll defend his title. There originally were reports he would defend against Kiyoshi Tamura on 3/22 but those plans fell through after Zaromskis was TKO'd by Nick Diaz in January. http://www.mmaplayground.com/forums/topic40173-1.html3/18/10 11:47AM