MMA Combat - Philippou Replaces Sakara vs. Rivera, Bradley Steps Up to Battle Natal

MMA Combat - Philippou Replaces Sakara vs. Rivera, Bradley Steps Up to Battle Natal

Some fights are just not to be, and this seems to be the case when it comes to middleweights Jorge Rivera (19-8-0) and Alessio Sakara (15-8-0) as Rivera's twitter account revealed Monday that the Italian has been forced to withdraw from their August 6 contest at UFC 133 due to a knee injury sustained while training.

This card marked the third attempt by the promotion to set up the bout, but not all is lost as Constantinos Philippou (7-2-0) will move up the fight-card to take on the veteran Rivera. Philippou rattled off seven consecutive wins heading into his UFC debut this past March at UFC 128 - Shogun vs. Jones, but had his momentum halted by New Jersey's Nick Catone, losing a unanimous decision on the judge's cards.

Philippou was previously scheduled to battle Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ace Rafael Natal (12-3-1) at the event. Stepping in on late notice to face the Renzo Gracie black-belt will be Strikeforce veteran and two-time NCAA division 1, All-American wrestler, Paul Bradley. Under trying circumstances, Bradley (16-2-0) will make his promotion debut in a little under two weeks; "The Gentleman" has been stopped only once in 18 professional fights and is coming off three straight wins inside the cage with choke stoppages in each. The Minnesota Martial Arts Academy representative last competed this past weekend, July 23, defeating Eddie Larrea by triangle choke in the first round, and will look to start strong under the Zuffa banner, August 6 at UFC 133 - Ortiz vs. Evans scheduled to take place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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MMA Combat - Hirota Makes Return Against Kikuno at Deep 55 Impact

MMA Combat - Hirota Makes Return Against Kikuno at Deep 55 Impact

A lightweight title fight will be featured at Deep "55 Impact" as top Japanese talents Mizuto Hirota (12-4-1) and Katsunori Kikuno (15-3-2) collide August 26, 2011, at Korakuen Hall in Tokya, Japan.

Kikuno is the Deep lightweight champion

Training under UFC and PRIDE veteran Tsuyoshi Kosaka, 153lbs champion Kikuno captured the Deep title in April of 2009, knocking out Koichiro Matsumoto in the finals of the Deep lightweight tournament. The Karate-based fighter has been stopped only once in twenty professional bouts when Bellator lightweight champion, Eddy Alvarez, stopped him via arm-triangle choke at DREAM 12 in October of 2009. Kikuno last appeared at DREAM - Fight for Japan, May 29, where he defeated Daisuke Nakamura via unanimous decision.

Hirota is one of the most proficient strikers in Japan today, securing more than half (8) of his victories by [T]KO. Not unlike Kikuno, Hirota has been stopped inside the distance only once in seventeen fights when DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki brutally broke his arm on December 31, 2009, via hammerlock submission. Prior to that bout Hirota was crowned the Sengoku LW champion when he TKO'd leg-lock specialist, Satoru Kitaoka, in the fourth round of their championship affair.


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MMA Combat - Canadian, Jordan Mein Makes Strikeforce Debut Against Santos

MMA Combat - Canadian, Jordan Mein Makes Strikeforce Debut Against Santos

Canadian welterweight Jordan "Young Gun" Mein (22-7-0) out of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, will make his Strikeforce debut later this summer when he takes on Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos (18-14-0) this coming September 10, at an event yet to be confirmed by the promotion but according to recent comments by Dana White...

Click bolded link above to continue reading, or here

MMA Combat - UFC Cuts John "Doomsday" Howard

MMA Combat - UFC Cuts John "Doomsday" Howard

TUF finalist Andre Winner was not the only fighter to find himself on the UFC chopping block come Monday, July 11; MMA Weekly confirmed via John Howard's manager, Malki Kawa, that the welterweight Muay Thai specialist out of Boston, Massachusetts, has also received his walking papers from the promotion.

Speaking through his twitter account, "Doomsday" had the following to say regarding the news:

“Only thing I can say is it is what it is. You get three straight losses in the UFC and this is what happens,” said Howard. “My plans right now is to go to Bellator or Dream, or something else, whoever makes me the best offer.”

After starting 4-0 with impressive knockout finishes of Dennis Hallman and Daniel Roberts, Howard slipped up and was defeated in his next three by Jake Ellenberger, Thiago Alves, and Matt Brown. With Brown rumored to be on the brink of release himself, the win was one Howard desperately needed after losing to a grappling-based opponent, then striker in his previous two. Brown however, proved busier and more effective on June 26, at UFC Live 4 - Kongo vs. Barry and picked up the unanimous decision nod, sealing Howard's fate. At just 28 years of age, Howard will make some waves yet, but under what banner we'll have to wait and see. If the welterweight fighter is capable of a weight-cut down to 155lbs, those are waters he might choose to explore as "Doomsday" was visibly undersized in a handful of bouts during his time with Zuffa.


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MMA Combat - Hioki Debuts Against Roop at UFC 137

Hioki (left) is dangerous on the ground

MMA Combat - Hioki Debuts Against Roop at UFC 137

The UFC announced Saturday that newly signed Japanese featherweight Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2) - who is currently ranked #2 in the world at 145lbs on most accredited ranking outlets - will make his promotion debut against George Roop (12-7-1) at UFC 137 - St. Pierre vs. Diaz, October 29, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hioki (27) has finished twelve opponents by way of submission, and vacated both his Shooto and Sengoku world titles to try his hand stateside. He was last defeated by fellow UFC talent Michihiro Omigawa by split decision in November of 2009. In thirty professional fights the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black-belt has never been stopped inside the distance and holds notable wins over Mark Hominick, Jeff Curran, Ronnie Mann, and Marlon Sandro. In his most recent performance Hioki submitted Donald Sanchez via triangle choke April 29, at Shooto - Shooto Tradition 2011.

Team Tompkins representative George Roop last competed at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale, June 4, 2011, where he dominated submission specialist Josh Grispi, eventually stopping him at 3:14 of the third round by TKO. The lanky 6'1" featherweight is 2-3 inside the octagon (1-1 at 145lbs), and has traded wins with losses over his last ten contests with exception given to a unanimous draw against Leonard Garcia at WEC 47 - Bowles vs. Cruz.


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Jon Fitch - Picky Picky Picky

Welterweight contender Jon Fitch

http://www.mmacombat.com/blogs/blog230-jon-fitch-picky-picky-picky.html

In a recent interview with mmaweekly.com, UFC welterweight veteran Jon Fitch (23-3-1) boldly stated that he was not interested in a match-up with rising star Rick Story. Story, who recently toppled Thiago Alves via unanimous decision at UFC 130, May 28, 2011, called out the division's #2 ranked fighter citing that Fitch made perfect sense after defeating a top 5 opponent in Alves (whom Fitch has also handily defeated in past competition). But those words fell on deaf ears at the AKA camp.

“I’m at a point in my career where I need to be fighting main events and main event fighters... If you don’t have a belt, currently, or you haven’t owned a belt in the UFC, I’m not really interested” said Fitch.

Although Fitch boasts one of the most impressive records in the UFC today, and since the formation of the organization for that matter, it is not the fighter's call to decide who he will and will not fight. With increasing pressure placed on promotions to make certain fights happen based on fan sentiment or 'twitter wars' between competitors, strengthening the bargaining power of the athlete will only leave mixed martial arts in a boxing-like conundrum; where the right fights simply do not take place based on individual and/or promoter disagreements. The champion has to take on all comers, contenders should not get to choose their path to the title either.

We now know that Rick Story has stepped in for the injured Anthony Johnson at UFC Live 4, and will take on former middleweight title challenger Nate Marquardt, June 26. What an opponent like Story would have brought to the table vs. Fitch are the same tools that get the Purdue alumnus through each of his fights, strong cardio and wrestling ability.

Waiting for the rematch against B.J. Penn isn't going to do anything to bolster Fitch's resume in this commentator's eyes. It's a fight he should control and win, and a second bout that looks any different from what the third round did in their first would be a disappointment.

Fitch has refused to fight fellow top-10 and teammate Josh Koscheck in the past, which is why I personally feel fighters shouldn't align themselves with training partners of similar size, in the same promotion, unless of course they're willing to put all that aside for sport. The last time Fitch fought a high-level wrestler was in his 2008 defeat to champion Georges St. Pierre. Prior to that, Diego Sanchez and Brock Larson are the only two names under the UFC Fitch has battle with any sort of wrestling credential.

At this point, Jake Shields is the man in the division that makes the most sense for each competitor. He owns a submission grappling victory over the AKA captain, has a solid wrestling base and is more than comfortable on his back regardless. Neither man is particularly threatening on the feet, and both cut considerably to get down to 170lbs. Give Penn a smaller welterweight in his next, and challenge the Indiana native with a skill-set more similar to his own; it's been a while.


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MMA Combat - Diaz vs. St. Pierre Headlines UFC 137

MMA Combat - Diaz vs. St. Pierre Headlines UFC 137

Instantly creating one of the year's biggest headlines in the world of mixed martial arts, Wednesday evening UFC president Dana White announced via his official twitter account that reigning welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (22-2-0) will defend his place atop the 170lbs division against UFC veteran and Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz (25-7-0). The bout will be contested at UFC 137, which is slated to take place October 29, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"U wanted it! U GOT IT!!! GSP vs DIAZ Oct 29th UFC 137 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas." stated White, who recently shot down a series of rumors that the highly anticipated bout would take place this coming December at UFC 140 in Montreal, Quebec.

This certainly is the fight fans have been calling for, particularly since the Zuffa acquisition of the Strikeforce brand. Although White initially declared that cross-promotional champion vs. champion super-fights were out of the question, it appears as though the company's upper brass has softened to the idea; and why not? Nick Diaz is a fan favorite from coast to coast, and is especially popular in the West where he wears his Stockton colors on his sleeve.

The outspoken Cesar Gracie disciple has posted ten consecutive victories with only one bout going to the judges cards during that time. He owns thirteen of his twenty-six career wins by way of [T]KO and has endeared himself to fans by way of his trash talking, 'punches in bunches' style that has stifled opponent after opponent for three years running. Recently, Diaz's boxing aspirations appeared to be taking priority in his professional life, but after Zuffa presented their offer, it's understandable that those same aspirations will see their way to the back-burner once more. The Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belt had asked for this fight after teammate and friend Jake Shields saw his streak snapped at the hands of the champion on April 29, at UFC 129, in Toronto, Canada; now he will get his crack without running the gauntlet that is the UFC welterweight division, and you can be sure he'll make the most of it.

Georges St. Pierre has simply been dominate since picking up the UFC welterweight championship for a second time. He is a winner in nine straight appearances, and has successfully defended his title six times while unanimously winning thirty-three consecutive rounds in that span. Taking out top-ten names like Fitch, Penn, Alves, Hardy, Koscheck, and Jake Shields, the level of competition these warriors have faced in the last five years is hardly comparable. That isn't to say that Diaz is not a dangerous match-up... St. Pierre has already proven he can out-grapple even the strongest wrestler in MMA competition, but Diaz presents an opponent that offers a furious number of combinations standing, while owning one of the better BJJ games in the sport without being hampered by a limited gas tank.

We can however, be mindful that Diaz has not faced an opponent with a strong wrestling base for nearly half a decade (Gleison Tibau being the last), and has dropped three of four bouts against such competition if you start with Diego Sanchez in 2005. Here lies the key to the match; can Nick Diaz develop his traditionally weak take-down-defense enough in the coming months to keep this fight standing?

Be sure to check back with MMA Combat for all the updates on UFC 137; with only one fight booked for the card at present, it already promises to be a great one!

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MMA Combat - Footnotes for May in the World of MMA

Rampage Jackson can still get it done!

MMA Combat - Footnotes for May in the World of MMA

Keeping in line with our monthly tradition MMA Combat presents to you the May addition of Footnotes for the Month, chronicling the major events and news that passed us by in the last 31 days. Please feel free to join the conversation, adding your own footnotes for anything that I may have missed, or was significant enough for you to feel it should be mentioned.

Footnotes for May in the World of MMA:

• A highly anticipated lightweight match-up pitting Evan Dunham vs. George Sotiropoulos at UFC 132 was thwarted when Dunham was forced to pull out due to an injury suffered while training; Dangerous Brazilian Rafael dos Anjos has replaced Dunham on the card.

• The Score Fighting Series announced its June 10, 2011, card in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, which will feature Strikeforce and UFC veterans in Marius Zaromskis, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, and Canada's own, Joe “El Dirte” Doerksen.

• **Honorable mention, Manny Pacquiao easily defended his crown against Shane Mosley who threw 5 combinations in 12 rounds of action.... Yes, you heard it right, 5.

• At the Fighter's Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada, Zuffa announced it would be extending full medical insurance to all of its contracted fighters, 365 days a year.

• Both Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard pull out of their UFC 130 main-event, 155lbs championship bout, citing injuries sustained during training. Thank God for that insurance.

• Surging heavyweight Brendan Schaub will get his opportunity to add another PRICE FC legend's feather to his cap when he takes on former PRIDE and UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 134 in Rio, Brazil.

• Former MFC welterweight champion Douglas "The Phenom" Lima (18-4-0) signs with Bellator FC, joining their ever-deepening roster of 170lbs talent.

• Top 10 lightweights Benson Henderson and Dan Miller sign on the dotted line to face each other at UFC Live 5, August 14, at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; this match-up will have title-shot implications.

• Reports surface regarding a conflict between sister of Charles "Mask" Lewis and TapouT apparel executives over the distribution of some cremated remains of the late TapouT co-founder at a service held in his memory.

• It is announced that UFC 131 in Vancouver, Canada will feature ringside monitors for judges to use as an alternative vantage point. The NSAC would follow-suit shortly after granting permission to use them at UFC 130.

• Zuffa announces that they will begin to award fighters with "twitter bonuses" who meet a certain criteria with concern to creativity, followship, and increase in followship quarterly. Read more: http://www.mmacombat.com/content/294...%94-zuffa.html

• Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesner pulls out of his UFC 131 title eliminator against Junior dos Santos as he underwent a second bout with diverticulitis, again requiring surgery. Shane Carwin steps into the main-event vs. dos Santos.

• Bellator 44, Hector Lombard extends his unbeaten streak to 23 appearances with a third round knockout over Falaniko Vitale, while All-American wrestler Michael Chandler was victorious over Patricky "Pitbull" Freire in the Season 4 Lightweight Tournament Finals

• Consequently, we now know Michael Chandler will be Eddie Alvarez's next test for the promotion's 155lbs title

• After a number of options fell through including Shane Nelson, Jamie Varner, and Antonio McKee, Dream - Fight for Japan finally secured UFC veteran Rich Clementi as a short notice opponent for promotion lightweight champion Shinya Aoki.

• Antonio "Big Foot" Silva was in the news when he had critical words for fellow Strikeforce heavyweight Josh Barnett; Silva believes Barnett has always slighted Brazilian fighters, and looks to face him at some point during the Strikeforce HWGP.

• B.J. Penn calls out Jake Shields via twitter; Shields welcomes the challenge

• One-time UFC middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen receives an indefinite suspension from the NSAC for testing positive for excessively high testosterone levels during his fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 117. The penalty would later be reduced to a 12 month suspension.

• Rumors swirl that Nick Diaz will face Georges St. Pierre at UFC 140, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada later this year. UFC preseident Dana White would later deny there is any truth to the speculation.

• Hermes Franca turns himself in on charges of sexual abuse in the State of Oregon and is released by MFC; Franca used to operate a BJJ facility out of Oregon, but now makes his home in Florida.

• Canadian Ryan Ford deals UFC veteran Karo Parisyan another disappointing loss after stopping the Armenian Judo ace at MMA Live 1 in London, Ontario, Canada via doctor stoppage when a thudding knee opened a severe gash on Parisyan's forehead.

• Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, despite sporadic activity of late remains in the title picture at 205lbs with an easy decision victory over Matt "The Hammer" Hamill at UFC 130. Rampage was tabbed to fight Jon Jones this fall for the title, but may face a 6-month medical suspension for a fractured hand (pending x-ray results).

• Brian Stann spoiled Jorge Santiago's return to the octagon with a second round TKO stoppage at UFC 130; Stann continues his march up the 185lbs ladder.

• Rick Story also climbed into the welterweight top-five with a solid decision victory over a game Thiago Alves. Story called out Jon Fitch immediately afterward, but Fitch has maintained he's not interested in the match-up (curiously)

• Frank Mir also stayed relevant in the heavyweight division with his second consecutive victory at UFC 130 when he defeated Roy Nelson via unanimous decision

• Dream 17, Shinya Aoki defeats Rich Clementi via neck-crank, while Masakazu Imanari and Hideo Tokoro advance to the Dream Bantamweight Tournament Final.

• Strikeforce announces Dan Henderson vs. Fedor Emelianenko for their July 30, 2011 card. The highly anticipated match-up which has been rumored for months will be contested at heavyweight

• Dream announces that promotion champions Gegard Mousasi and Hiroyuki Takaya will defend their titles at Dream 17, July 16, 2011

• Shooto and Sengoku 143lbs champion Hatsu Hioki announces that he will relinquish his titles under the Japanese promotions to pursue accolades on a 'new stage'. As well, the grappling ace will attend UFC 131 in Vancouver, Canada, hint hint**

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MMA Combat - Top-Five Featherweight Hatsu Hioki to UFC?

MMA Combat - Top-Five Featherweight Hatsu Hioki to UFC?

On Tuesday, May 31, Shooto 143lbs champion Hatsu Hioki officially relinquished his promotion title to pursue accolades on a new stage within the sport of MMA. Hioki (24-4-2), is a nine-year veteran of the sport and is widely considered a World top-five featherweight on most accredited ranking outlets.

Hatsu Hioki is a top-five featherweight world-wide

A native of Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, the 27-year old grappling ace is a winner in four straight appearances and holds notable victories over Jeff Curran, Mark Hominick, Takeshi Inoue, and Marlon Sandro whom he defeated in December of 2010 for the Sengoku RC 143lbs title.

In a statement released by the fighter on Tuesday, Hioki was slightly ambiguous in his words, although a move to the UFC has been rumored for some time now:

“At this time, I’ve returned the Shooto world lightweight title... There is a pride in wearing the Shooto world title, but I think that in the near future I would like to challenge a new stage of pride.”

When speaking with mmafighting.com, UFC match-maker Sean Shelby indicated he would welcome the Japanese star with open arms should the opportunity for negotiations ever present itself. “If Hioki wanted in the UFC, I would be happy to have him.” stated Shelby.

While neither side has confirmed talks at this time, sherdog.com was able to verify from a source close to the fighter that he will be in attendance at UFC 131 - Carwin vs. dos Santos, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, June 11, 2011; a sure sign of where Hioki's intent lies for the future, an intent that would represent a much needed infusion into the promotion's 145lbs division.


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MMA Combat - Dream 17 - Fight for Japan

MMA Combat - Dream 17 - Fight for Japan

May 29, 2011, the Saitama Super Arena, in Saitama, Japan hosted Dream 17 - Fight for Japan. The event featured the promotion's Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal and Semifinal match-ups, as well as a highly publicized appearance for Shinya Aoki who's opponent for the evening was uncertain until a mere 10 days ago when UFC veteran Rich Clementi took the fight on short notice.

Reports from the event, which did not air live in Japan or the United States, speak of Aoki (28-5-0) utilizing his superior grappling ability, achieving a back-mount on his opponent for nearly the duration of the first round, while peppering Clementi (40-20-1) with shots. "No Love" survived the first frame but experienced much of the same in the second when Aoki took his back once more; softening the American with blows, the Dream lightweight ace stopped Clementi at 2:32 of the second round via neck-crank.

In tournament action, Masakazu Imanari (23-8-2) and Hideo Tokoro (29-23-1) saw their way through to Bantamweight Grand Prix Finals defeating Kenji Osawa and Atsushi Yamamoto respectively in the semifinals.

Other results from the evening can be found below:

Bantamweight Tournament Semifinals
Masakazu Imanari def. Kenji Osawa via submission (Achilles lock) - Round 2, 0:58
Bantamweight Tournament Semifinals
Hideo Tokoro def. Atsushi Yamamoto via split decision

Shinya Aoki def. Rich Clementi via submission (neck crank) - Round 2, 2:17
Katsunori Kikuno def. Daisuke Nakamura via unanimous decision
Caol Uno def. Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura via unanimous decision
Takeshi Inoue def. Koichiro Matsumoto via TKO (strikes) - Round, 6:51
Joachim Hansen def. Mitsuhiro Ishida via split decision

Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Kenji Osawa def. Takafumi Otsuka via split decision
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Masakazu Imanari def. Keisuke Fujiwara via unanimous decision
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Hideo Tokoro def. Yoshiro Maeda via TKO (corner's stoppage) - Round 2, 0:43
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Atsushi Yamamoto def. Yusaku Nakamura via TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 8:43


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MMA Combat - Ford Victorious, Stops Parisyan via Doctor Stoppage

MMA Combat - Ford Victorious, Stops Parisyan via Doctor Stoppage

The tough times continue for UFC veteran Karo Parisyan (19-7-0) as the Armenian dropped his second-straight contest on Thursday, May 19 at MMA Live 1 at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario, Canada; "The Heat" - who has picked up a victory once once in his last five bouts - went toe-to-toe with Canadian, Ryan "The Real Deal" Ford (15-3-0) in a welterweight showdown that headlined the evening's card.

Parisyan utilized his superior grappling technique early to gain favorable positions on the ground, but had to survive some scary moments standing as Ford pressed forward with an aggressive attack. Just as the Judoka seemed to be settling in for the decision victory, Ford landed a thudding knee that buckled his opponent, while opening a huge gash on his forehead. The ringside physician stopped the contest at 1:26 of the third round, handing Edmonton's Ryan Ford his third win in a row.

“My corner said 'get your head together and do something. Finish this fight now'... So I made sure to go out and finish the fight.” stated Ford in his post-fight interview.

Parisyan's next move is anyone's guess; many fighters have difficulty coping with losses, but Karo's recent past is one highlighted by struggles with anxiety, among other things, and it's increasingly difficult to say whether or not he'll bounce back stronger. At only 28 years old, Parisyan is still a remarkable talent with plenty of mileage left if he plays his cards right. Will "The Heat" re-capture the desire that made him one of the UFC's top welterweight contenders? Only time will tell, but we'll stay optimistic.


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MMA Combat - Hermes Franca Arrested, Released by MFC

MMA Combat - Hermes Franca Arrested, Released by MFC

One-time UFC lightweight title challenger and nine-year veteran of sport, Hermes Franca (22-12-0), has been arrested in the State of Oregon on alleged charges of sexual abuse.

Franca formerly owned and operated a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school out of Clackamas, Oregon, which is where the charges were laid; he turned himself into state authorities on Monday, May 16. Examiner.com broke the news on Thursday, and it has since been reported that the 36-year old had bail set at $250 000 with a trial scheduled for July 12 at 9 am PST in the Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City, Ore.

Maximum Fighting Championship had matched up Franca with fellow UFC veteran Drew Fickett (41-13-0) for their June 10 event, where the two would contest the promotion's lightweight title. Plans have since changed; MFC Owner and President Mark Pavelich had the following remarks regarding Franca's pending charges, and his relationship with the organization after competing three times in the month of April:

“Mr. Franca’s legal situation is a matter in the hands of law enforcement officials and soon to be going before the courts... Because of that, there will not be any further comment on those allegations, but I have taken immediate action to indicate that he is no longer going to be part of my organization.”

“Mr. Franca breached his contract by fighting outside of the organization only 15 days after his bout at MFC 29, and then he fought again six days after that in Brazil and lost,” said Pavelich. “I find these actions to be incredibly disrespectful to my company and Mr. Franca is no longer welcome as part of the Maximum Fighting Championship.”


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MMA Combat - St. Pierre vs. Diaz at UFC 140?

MMA Combat - St. Pierre vs. Diaz at UFC 140?

Montreal’s David Simon, host of Ringside Report Radio on ‘The Team’ 990 AM and owner/writer for www.ringsidereport.net posted yesterday on his official twitter account that not only would the UFC return to “La Belle Province” for UFC 140 – expected to take place December 10, 2011 – but that UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre (22-2-0) would likely defend his belt at the event, most probably, against Stockton, California’s favorite son, Nick Diaz (25-7-0).

“#UFC140 December 10 at the Bell Centre. Get ready #Montreal. The #UFC is coming back!!!!”

“Nick Diaz vs. GSP is a possibility for the main event of #UFC140 on December 10 in #Montreal.”

The speculation comes on the heels of a radio interview Simon conducted with UFC Director of Operations Tom Wright on Wednesday, May 18. The promotion has achieved great successes in Montreal thus far, and looks to maintain close ties with the city and market going forward.

“We know how important this market is to us and putting on great fights,” Wright said. “It’s a great venue (Bell Centre), it’s a great fan-base, it’s a great environment. The energy in that building is as good as any building in North America. We’ll always have a soft spot for Montreal.”


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MMA Combat - A -250 Favorite, dos Santos Predicts Knockout

Shane Carwin has big KO power

MMA Combat - A -250 Favorite, dos Santos Predicts Knockout

Zuffa Extends Additional Medical-Insurance to All Contracted Fighters

Zuffa CEO Lorenzo Fertitta

Monday, May 9, Zuffa officials announced today - at a four-day fighter summit in Las Vegas, Nevada - that all fighters under contract with their promotions, the UFC and Strikeforce, would now be afforded accident-insurance coverage.

Formerly, only injuries sustained during a contracted fight would be covered in full by the organization, which was in compliance with requirements by the regulatory state-athletic commissions; but today's announcement ensures that all injuries, including those suffered in training, will be taken care of by the parent company.

UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta had to follow to say:

"Our athletes are some of the very best in the world, and we've committed significant financial resources to provide them with insurance that complements the gold standard we have set for event-related coverage," UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta stated in today's announcement. "We’re pleased to provide coverage that enables our athletes to seek and receive treatment for injuries sustained while preparing for bouts."

The organization's policy will now include 24-hour worldwide medical-life insurance and dental coverage with Zuffa picking up 100% of all premiums; Houston Casualty is the third party provider and a full-time claims processor will reportedly be in-house.

"As this sport continues to grow, we have been working hard to secure additional insurance coverage so that our athletes can perform at the highest levels," UFC president Dana White added. "We're proud to give our athletes access to this type of insurance."

How much the additional coverage will cost Zuffa is yet to be reported, but with 350+ athletes under contract further elaboration on the subject is expected shortly.


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The Score Fighting Series in Mississauga, Ontario

Wednesday April 4, Score Media Inc. officially announced that they will be holding an event at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, scheduled for June 10, 2011. Mississauga is Ontario’s third largest city by population and ranks sixth inside Canada with nearly 700 000 inhabitants; the show will mark the first time the city has hosted a mixed martial arts event and the venue has a capacity of 5400-6000 persons depending on seating arrangements.

Hershey Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Although the card is yet to be announced, there are a number of fighters already signed to participate in the event including UFC veterans Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (11-8-0), and Canada’s own Joe “El Dirte” Doerksen (45-15-0). Other notable competitors include Shooto veteran Antonio Carvalho, Jordan Mein (who recently bested Josh Burkman this past month in Orillia, Ontario), Adrian Wooley, and BJJ ace Jorge Britto.

Team Quest’s Sokoudjou burst onto the scene in 2007 when he knocked out perennial top ten, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in 23 seconds of the first round at PRIDE 33; less than two months later, “The African Assassin” would follow that up with a knockout of world ranked Ricardo Arona in under two minutes at PRIDE 44. Since that time Sokoudjou has traded wins and losses in pairs, but with his latest two appearances being the former, he will look to snap that pattern June 10, in Canada.

Doerksen, out of Winnipeg, Canada, is a twelve-year veteran of the sport and holds one of the more impressive resumes in Canadian mixed martial arts history. The 33 year old has secured 33 victories by way of submission, and holds notable wins over Tom Lawlor, Patrick Cote, Ed Herman, Chris Leben, and Denis Kang to name a few. “El Dirte” has made several stints with the UFC but was recently cut after his split decision defeat to Dan Miller at UFC 124; a loser in three-straight, Doerksen will look to regain his winning form this June in front of a partisan crowd.

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Footnotes for April in the World of MMA

After some positive feedback regarding our "Footnotes" piece for the month of March, MMACombat will compile one for every month going forward; please feel free to contribute to the discussion... adding any moments and/or highlights that caught your attention!

Georges St. Pierre defended against Jake Shields Apr30

• FRIDAY APRIL 1, UFC president Dana White announced that the promotion will begin to air additional fights on their myspace account as they continue to utilize social networking in order to expand their product and fanbase.

• Justin Wilcox continues his ascend up the lightweight ladder, completely dismantling Rodrigo Damm at Strikeforce - Challengers 15

• Bellator FC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez once again shows why he is the most dominate 155lbs force outside of Zuffa owned promotions; Alvarez defended his title against game challenger Pat Curran.

• Keith Jardine steps in on late notice and stifles Gegard Mousasi's momentum, and a shot at the light heavyweight title at Strikeforce - Diaz vs. Daley. The two fought to a controversial unanimous draw.

• The Reckoning at Casino Rama, in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, was the province's first legalized mixed martial arts event (Apr2). The evening was brought to you by Knockout Entertainment Canada.

• Wrestling standouts Ben Askren (170lbs) and Joe Warren (145lbs) kept their Bellator FC momentum going with wins in April. Heavyweight champion Cole Konrad will likely be the next title holder to compete for the promotion.

• The UFC announced that fan favorite Wanderlei Silva will make his return to the octagon at UFC 132 when he squares off with slugger Chris Leben.

• Rumors spiral about Fedor Emelianenko's potential debut at 205lbs against Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson. M-1 is hesitant to commit to light heavyweight, but Henderson has stated he would gladly accept a fight at heavyweight.

• Thiago Silva is given his punishment for failing a post UFC 125 urine test for banned substances; the Brazilian will have to re-apply for his license with the NSAC on January 2, 2011 and was handed a financial penalty of $33 750.

• Maximum Fighting Championship hosts Ontario, Canada's second legal MMA event at The Colosseum at Caesar's Windsor in Windsor, Ontario. MFC 29 was highlighted by Douglas Lima's brutal KO of UFC vet. Terry Martin.

• Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami is made official for UFC 134 in Rio, Brazil. Okami represents Silva's last defeat, albeit from disqualification (illegal upkick).

• Teammates Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez set the MMA world on fire when they defended their Strikeforce titles in thrilling fashion Apr9, in San Diego, CA. Shinya Aoki also managed his first win in North America.

• Ben Askren announces his intention to move to Milwaukee, WI to train under Duke Roufus at RoufuSport.

• Jake Ellenberger replaces Brian Foster vs. Sean Pearson at UFC 129; Ellenberger would steamroll through Pearson as he continues to impress the UFC brass at 170lbs.

• Shogun vs. Griffin II is booked for UFC - Rio as well. Forest Griffin was able to stop the surging Rua in his UFC debut via rear-naked choke, but rumors persisted that the Brazilian's health was not up to par heading into the contest.

• Former bantamweight champion Brian Bowles signs to meet Japanese slugger Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 132.

• Randy "The Natural" Couture announces his intention to retire, win, lose or draw after his bout with Lyoto Machida at UFC 129; Couture would fall short in his last UFC appearance as "The Dragon" managed a devastating KO in the second round.

• Former middleweight champion Rich Franklin signs on to face perennial top-10 light heavyweight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 133.

• The UFC announces that "Mr. Wonderful" Phil Davis will replace an injured Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 133.

• Zuffa appeals to the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the use of television monitors for all ringside judges beginning with UFC 130 - Edgar vs. Maynard. The monitors are intended to provide a second vantage point in-case of obstructed views.

• Dana White announces that UFC legend Matt Hughes will take on TUF season one winner Diego Sanchez in a welterweight contest this fall; a date is yet to be determined.

• The UFC touches down in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, marking the promotion's first event inside Canada's most populous province. UFC 129 set several records, including live gate at +12 million and a live attendance record of 55 724.

• Jose Aldo successfully defends his title against game challenger Mark Hominick. Hominick took the Brazilian all five rounds despite early set-backs, including a dominate 5th that saw an eventful finish. Aldo however retains his title at featherweight, setting the stage for Chad Mendes later this summer.

• Georges St. Pierre once again defends his welterweight crown defeating challenger Jake Shields via unanimous decision. There are few names if any, deserving of the next crack at 170lbs, which has opened the doors to speculation that perhaps Zuffa will arrange a superfight with Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz.

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UFC 129 Results

Saturday Apr30, The Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada hosted a fantastic evening of UFC action highlighted by two title defenses, successful promotion debuts, and the end of an era as "The Natural" will likely call it quits after a storied 14 year career.

Randy "The Natural" Couture has done it all inside the octagon, but this past weekend against Brazilian star Lyoto Machida it was not to be. Many onlookers in attendance were hoping for that storybook finish and after a competitive first, it seemed likely that as the fight wore on, Couture would become more effective with his grinding clinch-work style. Machida had other plans however, and in the second frame after a series of faints, found the opening he was looking for as he landed a thunderous switch front-kick not unlike that thrown by teammate Anderson Silva a couple months ago. Machida found his mark right under the 47 year old Couture's jaw sending him to the canvas for the last time.

Jose Aldo successfully defended his UFC featherweight title when he toppled Canadian Mark Hominick via unanimous decision. Despite a late surge by "The Machine" that saw Hominick pour on the ground and pound for nearly the duration of the fifth round, Aldo did enough in the first three and a half to secure the win. A victory of sorts, Hominick not only went the distance in a fight odds-makers tabbed him to lose and lose big, but the local favorite even managed to steal a round or two on the cards, a feat accomplished by few if any of late against the reigning champ.

The main-event of the evening went as anticipated by many, although sight troubles early had St. Pierre bothered and perhaps even more conservative than he is known for being of late. Regardless, the champ controlled the action throughout the contest and was never put in danger by challenger Shields. A unanimous nod was final result, but the match certainly presented its challenges for the reigning welterweight champ. With Roberts, Diaz, and Shields all dropping decisions it was a rough night for the Cesar Gracie camp who had been riding a high of late on the backs of their Strikeforce talent.

See other results from UFC 129 below:

1 Pablo Garza def. Yves Jabouin via Submission (Flying Triangle Choke) rd1 4:31
2 John Makdessi def. Kyle Watson via KO (Spinning Back Fist) rd3 1:27
3 Jason MacDonald def. Ryan Jensen via Submission (Triangle Choke) rd1 1:37
4 Ivan Menjivar def. Charlie Valencia via TKO (Elbow and Punches) rd1 1:30
5 Claude Patrick def. Daniel Roberts via Decision (Unanimous) rd3 5:00
6 Jake Ellenberger def. Sean Pierson via KO (Punch) rd1 2:42
7 Rory MacDonald def. Nate Diaz via Decision (Unanimous) rd3 5:00
8 Benson Henderson def. Mark Bocek via Decision (Unanimous) rd3 5:00
9 Vladimir Matyushenko def. Jason Brilz via KO (Punches) rd1 0:20
10 Lyoto Machida def. Randy Couture via KO (Front Kick) rd2 1:05
11 Jose Aldo def. Mark Hominick via Decision (Unanimous) rd5 5:00
12 Georges St. Pierre def. Jake Shields via Decision (Unanimous) rd5 5:00



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The Re-introduction of "Mayhem"

Jason "Mayhem" Miller's re-introduction to the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight division is a much needed infusion of a hard-nosed marketable personality, but don't expect a title run.

Known for his eccentric entrances Miller (24-7-0) is a gritty scrapper with strong jiu jitsu ability boasting 14 finishes by way of submission. The thirty year old Atlanta, Georgia, native is a winner in two straight bouts and brings with him a nearly cult-like following, which the UFC's 185lbs division is sorely lacking.

Saturday, the UFC announced that the newly signed veteran who will now make his second stint with the promotion is tabbed to face "A-Train" Aaron Simpson (8-2-0) in his return to the octagon at UFC 132, July 2, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Miller is a smart fighter, able to adjust his game depending on the direction of the bout or opportunities provided by his opposition; he possess above average conditioning and is often able to push the pace as the fight wears on, however, his wrestling and speed remain the weaker parts of his arsenal and the former will have to be addressed if he is to become more than a gatekeeper with great entertainment value.

The middleweight division is one with balance at the top, but like others before it, the future suggests that an increasing number of wrestlers are on their way to prominence. Those who are already there such as Aaron Simpson, Yushin Okami, Mark Munoz, and Chael Sonnen all possess the tools to stifle Miller's attack with their grinding top control styles.

The good news? Santiago, Bisping, W. Silva, Maia, and Belfort are all exciting style match-ups for Miller and his immense durability will likely be his greatest asset in such encounters.

The problem? Several of those top contenders are larger and physically stronger than "Mayhem" - who used to compete as light as 170lbs - and could very well take close wins on the back of that strength advantage.

My guess is that Miller will provide some much needed excitement at 185lbs, but will drop a close decision to Simpson in his return to promotion; the UFC will want to capitalize on his draw power, throwing him a better match-up if the first plays out like I imagine it will. Santiago, Silva, or Bisping would all be thrilling but sooner than later Miller will need to re-invent himself to stay relevant, returning to 170lbs.

Jason "Mayhem" Miller is an incredibly durable fighter who often improves as the contest wears on, but his place is not among the 185lbs top 5 elite. You should expect the excitement that makes him so endearing to his fans, but this commentator does not see a title shot in his future. It is however, probably that he can become the mainstay that fighters such as Chris Leben, and/or Lytle have become; there's nothing wrong with building a career like that!


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MMA Combat - Diego Sanchez vs. Matt Hughes – An interesting decision

MMA Combat - Diego Sanchez vs. Matt Hughes – An interesting decision



UFC President Dana White announced Thursday, April 28, that Diego Sanchez (23-4-0) will square off against UFC legend Matt Hughes (45-8-0) in a welterweight match this fall, although no specific event or date has been determined.

Diego "The Dream" Sanchez

Matt Hughes last competed at UFC 123 – Rampage vs. Machida, where he was knocked out in 21 seconds by a free-swinging B.J. Penn; prior to that bout the Hillsboro, Il. native compiled three consecutive wins against the likes of Matt Serra, Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida, and owns a record 18 career victories inside the octagon.

Sanchez, a Team Jackson representative out of Albuquerque, New Mexico has posted back-to-back wins, including a controversial unanimous decision over Martin Kampmann this past March, but a win nonetheless. “The Dream” is 2-1 since returning to welterweight ranks and has been stopped inside the distance only once in 27 professional appearances.

Why Matt Hughes though? This fight puzzles me for a couple reasons; Diego has been outspoken on his twitter account regarding his desire to face someone coming off a win or with considerable standing in the UFC’s welterweight division; fans have called for Thiago Silva, Carlos Condit, even a rematch with John Hathaway makes sense. At one time, Matt Hughes was as big as it got, but today the 37 year-old Midwest farmer is no longer in the prime of his career.

If styles make matches, this one has all the makings of a stalwart. Diego is more than adequate standing, but has never shown the kind of dynamism demonstrated by the sport’s top strikers. Although Hughes is more vulnerable to the knockout today than in years past, he still possess the kind of defense that should handle Diego’s onslaught. With his strength and wrestling pedigree, I expect Hughes to challenge Sanchez in the wrestling department as well, while holding his own in the submission exchanges.

This is the kind of fresh challenge that could bring out the best in Matt Hughes; should the 13-year veteran of the sport regain the conditioning that made him a terror early in his career, it’s quite possible he could stifle “The Dream’s” momentum at 170lbs.

For Sanchez, there is far more on the line here… A loss would drop his stock significantly at welterweight and he has already expressed the desire to avoid a cut back down to 155lbs. Sanchez like many before him, may find himself as one of those men simply not afforded the opportunity to fight at a weight best suited to his frame; but not to worry, his entertainment value has secured his job for some time to come.


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