MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

Randy Couture hoping UFC 101 battle with Nogueira stays in Portland

While MMA legend Randy Couture (16-9 MMA, 13-6 UFC) was rumored for several months to be featured in the UFC's first trip to Germany, "The Natural" has instead committed to an August bout with fellow legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC).

"It's a fight that's been a long time coming," Couture recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunike.com/radio). "[Nogueira] has been in ton of huge fights. He's an amazing athlete."

With his foe settled, Couture will now work on fighting to keep UFC 101 in its tentatively planned Portland, Ore., location.

"I've been saying it for years, that we will blow the doors off of it up there," Couture said. "I grew up in Seattle. I lived in Portland for a long, long time. It's one of those areas that I think because it's so wet most of the year we spend a lot of time indoors wrestling. A lot of the combative sports are really popular there."

Couture said then when he agreed to the bout with Nogueira, he was under the impression the bout would be held in his native region.

"There's a lot of great fighters that come out of the Pacific Northwest," Couture said. "So to have the UFC finally stepping up, and to be the main event for that card, I'm very excited about it."

Recent reports have suggested that the UFC may be considering holding UFC 101 in Philadelphia rather than Portland. Couture said he was unaware of the possible move.

"That's the first I've heard of that is you telling me right now," Couture said. "I hope that's not the case. Not that I have anything against Philly, but obviously I'm very excited to fight in Portland and being part of the Pacific Northwest show having grown up there and lived there so long."

Couture was involved in a similar situation with UFC 91 in November 2008. Couture faced Brock Lesnar in the main event of that card which was relocated to Las Vegas after having originally been rumored for a Portland venue.

"There was some question whether or not Portland had the hotel rooms and could support the show," Couture said. "And the amount of ticket sales that it would garner at the gate in Portland is obviously different than when they fight here in Vegas. For that big of a fight, it made more sense for them to put it here in Vegas."

Additional recent reports have suggested that a lightweight title fight between current champion B.J. Penn and challenger Kenny Florian could headline UFC 101, but Couture's comments suggest he believes his bout with Nogueira is intended for a main event slot.

The date of the event also seems to be a minor uncertainty as previous published reports have pointed to Aug. 8, while Couture has said he will fight at the "end of August [from] what I understand."

So as MMA observers wait for the UFC to make an official announcement regarding the details of the card, Couture seems a bit less concerned.

"We haven't really talked about any of that other than saying, 'Hey, do you want to fight Nogueira in August?'" Couture said "And I said, 'Yes.'

"Things work out the way they're supposed to work out."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Wanderlei Silva pushing for addition of super middleweight class at UFC 99

When Wanderlei Silva (32-9-1 UFC, 2-4 UFC) and Rich Franklin (24-4 MMA, 11-3 MMA) meet in the main event of UFC 99 in June, the 195-pound catchweight bout will feature two of the UFC's most exciting fighters.

But as Silva recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio), he hopes the bout serves as more than just an interesting feature.

The Brazilian slugger hopes the bout will be the introduction of a new division to the UFC.

"I talked with (UFC President) Dana (White) three or four events ago, and I said, 'We need to create a new division at 195 (pounds),'" Silva said. "Because for me, my normal weight is 210 or 208 (pounds). For 205, it's not too much (weight to cut). For 185, it's a lot. For 195, it's perfect."

A feared striker, Silva has struggled in recent years. The 32-year-old has earned just one win in his past five fights, and has constantly been the smaller contestant in his matchups.

Silva knows White already has enough on his plate without the addition of a new division. But the former Chute Boxe fighter also believes a 195-pound class could benefit a range of contestants.

"[White] has got a lot of work," Silva said. "There's a lot of divisions, a lot of fighters. But now, maybe this is the first fight and in the future we'll have a new division. (There's) a lot of fighters in my situation."

In recent interviews with MMAjunkie.com Radio, fighters such as Dan Henderson, Renato "Babalu" Sobral and Houston Alexander have all said they walk around just above 205 pounds, but that the cut to 185 pounds is simply too much.

Coupled with the number of massive fighters that currently drop to 205 pounds, Silva believes 195 pounds would be a positive for the sport.

"I think in the future we'll have this division," Silva said. "I think it's a very good division. Guys like Forrest (Griffin) are 230-240 (pounds). For him 205 pounds is good because he's so much stronger."

Promoters can make fights at any weight they choose, but the Association of Boxing Commissions did make allowances for a 195-pound super-middleweight division in their heavily criticized July 2008 revision to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.

Whether the UFC ever chooses to utilize any of the additional weight classes remain to be seen. Silva said he will look for opponents in both the 205-pound and 185-pound class in the interim.

"There's a lot of guys in both divisions," Silva said. "I'll go back and fight again maybe in December. There's a lot of time to have other opponents."

And while "The Axe Murderer" will continue to push for a 195-pound class, Silva has never been one to turn down a fight - at any weight.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Cole Miller: I want to smash Junie Browning at UFN 18

Cole Miller (14-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) had no ill will toward his opponent when he accepted a UFC Fight Night 18 bout with Junie Browning (3-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC).

But as the April 1 fight draws near, things are quickly changing.

"I just really want to whoop his ass," Miller today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I really, really would like to just go in there and smash him."

Miller hasn't seen action since his UFC 86 "Submission of the Night" performance against Jorge Gurgel in July 2008. Knee surgery due to a torn meniscus suffered in the bout with Gurgel has kept him out until now.

"I had to wait two months to find out if it was going to heal itself," Miller said. "The recovery was about three months, then it took me about two or three months for a training camp. Here we are eight months later."

Miller took the fight with Browning when it was offered because he felt like it was a safe bout in his first action after the surgery.

"[The UFC] asked me if I'd be interested in Junie," Miller said. "I said, 'Yeah, sure. Why not? Sounds like a good fight to come back to off of a knee surgery.'"

Miller didn't voice his opinion publicly, but the 24-year-old also felt Browning wouldn't prove too stern of a test because if his overall skill set.

"As far as skill level, for sure [Browning] is a step down from some of the people I've been fighting," Miller said. "But he's young, hungry, and he got a lot of exposure from the show.

"A lot of people were talking about him because he's controversial. I think it was a good fight for me to take, but he's definitely a step down for sure, as far as a quality opponent."

Miller said he had heard of the buzz surrounding the controversial Browning, but never bothered to tune in to "The Ultimate Fighter 8" to check it out for himself.

But when Browning opened up recently to Fiveouncesofpain.com regarding his lack of regard for Miller's talent, the American Top Team fighter took offense to the claims.

"I personally don't care about his reputation," Miller said. "I just care about the [expletive] he said about me.

"I don't know if he's just trying to light a spark and get me pissed off, or just bring more attention to the fight because I've been keeping my mouth shut up until now. But now I definitely want to whip his ass."

Miller admitted he took Browning's swipe to heart.

"Even if his goal is to hype the fight, of course I take it personal," Miller said. "The things that he said about me as a fighter I take very personal.

"I've spent a lot of time training to be a good fighter. I hadn't said anything about him as far as his skills, so I don't know why he would have taken a jab at mine."

The two fighters, once linked only by the fact they had each appeared on different versions of "The Ultimate Fighter," now find themselves mired in a growing rivalry - one that will be quickly addressed at the UFC's first trip to Tennessee.

"I do not want this to be a competitive fight," Miller said. "I do not want this to be a 'Fight of the Night.' I want to go in there and just smash him and show him that he didn't belong in there with me in the first place."

"UFC Fight Night 18: Condit vs. Kampmann" takes place on April 1 at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. The main card airs live on Spike TV.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Bellator lands lightweight prospect Troy Gerhart in open tryout

Upstart promotion Bellator Fighting Championship has landed another prospect for its 155-pound division.

But while the organization has already attracted established talent such as Eddie Alvarez, Jorge Masvidal and Wilson Reis, Troy Gerhart (4-0) joined the organization in a completely different manner.

An open tryout, held on Tuesday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., netted Bellator the Gracie Tampa Fighter.

The organization announced the addition in a recent press release.

"Troy is an extremely explosive wrestler with great technical grappling, and his record shows that he has very heavy hands," Matt Stansell, Matchmaker/Executive Director of Fighter Development for Bellator Fighting Championships, stated. "We are excited to give him a chance to show what he can do in Bellator's lightweight division."

Gerhart's first four professional bouts have all ended via knockout or TKO, with only one fight making it to the second round. Training with UFC veterans Matt Arroyo and Corey Hill at Gracie Tampa, Gerhart debuted professionally in December 2007.

Gerhart joins a group of previously announced lightweights that includes Alvarez, Masvidal, Thomas Schulte, Daniel Morales, Toby Imada, Ivan Iberico and Diego Garijo. Gerhart will not be taking part in the organization's inaugural lightweight tournament, but will be featured on an upcoming card.

Beginning with the April 3 event and running for 12 weeks, the Bellator shows will be held in the venues across the country on Friday nights. The events will then air on a one-day delay on ESPN Deportes in two-hour Saturday-night timeslots.

Bellator's debut is set for April 3 at the Hard Rock Live arena at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

 

[Shogun Locc]

DANA WHITE EXCITED ABOUT CONDIT'S UFC DEBUT

At virtually every WEC post fight press conference that involved welterweight champion Carlos Condit celebrating a win, the inevitable questions came from the media in attendance.

When are you going to go to the UFC? How do you think you'd do against the welterweights there?

The questions will finally be answered on April 1 as the WEC's final 170-pound champion makes his long awaited UFC debut against Martin Kampmann to headline UFC Fight Night 18 on Spike TV.

Condit has been a mainstay in the welterweight rankings for the past two years. After clearing out the WEC's 170-pound weight class, the New Mexico native will look to prove why there is so much hype around the "Natural Born Killer."

UFC president Dana White commented recently in an interview that he is looking forward to Condit's move to the Octagon. He's excited to see what he can do against the best welterweights in the world.

"I think it's exciting, it's interesting," White commented to MMAWeekly.com about Condit. "He's been so dominant over at the WEC in that weight division and it's going to be fun to see him come into the UFC and that's a free fight on Spike. I'm actually excited about that fight, a lot of people are pumped for that."

After winning the WEC title by defeating John Alessio, Condit went on to defend his title three times including wins over Brock Larson, Carlo Prater, and Hiromitsu Miura.

Now training at Arizona Combat Sports, Condit looks to make the same impact in the UFC's welterweight division. White believes that he could be in title contention very soon.

"Definitely," the UFC president responded when asked if Condit could get a title shot in his next few fights. "I think him coming over as the champ, we'll see how he looks in this fight here, and I'm excited about him. Excited to see how he does. He's a good kid and always exciting to watch, too."

First things first, Condit will lock horns with Martin Kampmann at UFC Fight Night 18 on April 1 in Nashville, Tenn.

 

[Shogun Locc]

AFFLICTION 3 ON JULY 11, FEDOR LIKELY

July 11 is shaping up to be a busy night for mixed martial arts enthusiasts.

Affliction will counter-program UFC 100 on the summer date with its third event at a location yet to be determined, according to sources close to the situation.

The card is just under a week from the first anniversary of “Banned,” the clothing company’s initial foray into MMA promotion.

Plans are to air the event to fans on non-premium cable television, although sources could not confirm the broadcast platform. Affliction Entertainment has partnered with Fox Sports Net and HD Net for the undercards of its first two events, so either would be a likely candidate for Affliction 3.

Additionally, WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett are expected to fight on the card, but likely not against each other. According to one source, the cost of the heavily anticipated fight would be too expensive for a non-pay-per-view broadcast. Other sources indicate that Affliction is trying to put together another heavyweight bout, pitting former UFC champion Tim Sylvia against Paul Buentello, though it has not yet been agreed to.

The event is a bold move for the MMA startup, which has seen both of its events shadowed by UFC programming. UFC 100 has long been touted as a special event in the Las Vegas-based promotion’s history, and is scheduled to feature two title bouts – a heavyweight unification bout between Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar and the third title defense of Georges St. Pierre – as well as “The Ultimate Fighter” season nine battle between coaches Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping.

As for speculation that Affliction's third offering will be it's grand exit from MMA, all sources close to the promotion are in agreement with Affliction Entertainment COO Michael D. Cohen. The executive told Versus.com blogger Ariel Helwani, “It’s absolutely untrue... Trump’s Affliction Entertainment is going nowhere except to the top, and the company will continue throughout 2009 and well into 2010."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Thiago: fight Griffin is a “good opportunity”

After eight knockout victories in a row, the undefeated Thiago Silva got to Las Vegas to fight Lyoto Machida at UFC 94, but was knocked out on the first round and put Machida right on his track for the title shot. Coming back to trainings at American Top Team, Silva spoke to TATAME.com about the rumors of a possible fight against former champion Forrest Griffin. “The fight is still on negotiation. It’s a good opportunity that UFC is giving me and I’m going to go after it. Besides the loss, I didn’t walk back”, said Thiago, without thinking in strategy for the fight yet. “It’s not confirmed yet, so I’m just training. No strategy yet”.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC Quick Quote: Marcus Davis convincing himself he can beat Dan Hardy in Germany

“Well, his boxing is a strong area of his game but he seems to be having more success with the grappling side of the sport in his last few fights. I wouldn’t say he has any weaknesses in particular, just that I am either as good or better in every range. I’m also younger, faster and better looking!… At about the 60 second mark, he will realize that I have every range covered and the fight is going too fast for him to keep up with. After that, it’s only a matter of time before my hand is raised. He can say what he likes about me, I get the feeling that he is trying to convince himself he can win. If that’s what he needs to do to give me a good fight, then so be it. This fight was asked for by the fans and I’m just happy to be able to give them what they want.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

'Babalu,' Jones and Assuncao Featured on HDNet’s ‘Inside MMA’
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/recent/Babalu-Jones-and-Assuncao-Featured-on-HDNets-Inside-MMA-1959
On this week's HDNet "Inside MMA," Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are joined by Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato Sobral, Jon Jones and Rafael Assuncao.

Ron Kruck takes a look at Xtreme Couture heading out to the soccer fields in Kruck's Korner.

 

[Robby2Slobby]

Wanderlei Silva pushing for addition of super middleweight class at UFC 99

When Wanderlei Silva (32-9-1 UFC, 2-4 UFC) and Rich Franklin (24-4 MMA, 11-3 MMA) meet in the main event of UFC 99 in June, the 195-pound catchweight bout will feature two of the UFC's most exciting fighters.

But as Silva recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio), he hopes the bout serves as more than just an interesting feature.

The Brazilian slugger hopes the bout will be the introduction of a new division to the UFC.

"I talked with (UFC President) Dana (White) three or four events ago, and I said, 'We need to create a new division at 195 (pounds),'" Silva said. "Because for me, my normal weight is 210 or 208 (pounds). For 205, it's not too much (weight to cut). For 185, it's a lot. For 195, it's perfect."

A feared striker, Silva has struggled in recent years. The 32-year-old has earned just one win in his past five fights, and has constantly been the smaller contestant in his matchups.

Silva knows White already has enough on his plate without the addition of a new division. But the former Chute Boxe fighter also believes a 195-pound class could benefit a range of contestants.

"[White] has got a lot of work," Silva said. "There's a lot of divisions, a lot of fighters. But now, maybe this is the first fight and in the future we'll have a new division. (There's) a lot of fighters in my situation."

In recent interviews with MMAjunkie.com Radio, fighters such as Dan Henderson, Renato "Babalu" Sobral and Houston Alexander have all said they walk around just above 205 pounds, but that the cut to 185 pounds is simply too much.

Coupled with the number of massive fighters that currently drop to 205 pounds, Silva believes 195 pounds would be a positive for the sport.

"I think in the future we'll have this division," Silva said. "I think it's a very good division. Guys like Forrest (Griffin) are 230-240 (pounds). For him 205 pounds is good because he's so much stronger."

Promoters can make fights at any weight they choose, but the Association of Boxing Commissions did make allowances for a 195-pound super-middleweight division in their heavily criticized July 2008 revision to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.

Whether the UFC ever chooses to utilize any of the additional weight classes remain to be seen. Silva said he will look for opponents in both the 205-pound and 185-pound class in the interim.

"There's a lot of guys in both divisions," Silva said. "I'll go back and fight again maybe in December. There's a lot of time to have other opponents."

And while "The Axe Murderer" will continue to push for a 195-pound class, Silva has never been one to turn down a fight - at any weight.

Eh. I don't know about this. There's already slim pickings at 185 for Silva. And if this happened, Silva would probably move up and win both titles for sure.

But it kinda kills matchups between Silva and Silva and a Silva-Henderson rematch, unless they want to do it at 195..

And in the new classifications that the boxing committee put out last year, 195 was actually the middleweight division and 205 was super middleweight and 185 was super welterweight..

But I'd like to stay away from the Super- term. i don't like it.. They should go with a name like cruiserweight or something that could fit there.

 

[lenbiasyayo]

^^ not boxing rules MMA rules .

 

[B-Buzz]

they need a weight between 205 and 265 first, imo

 

[Robby2Slobby]

^^ not boxing rules MMA rules .

The boxing committee does MMA rules..

And there isn't enough depth in the heavyweight division to have a 225 weight class and a 265 weight class. You'd have four heavyweights in the UFC. And only around 8 or so legitimately talented ones in the world of MMA.

 

[rylor206]

Randy Couture hoping UFC 101 battle with Nogueira stays in Portland

While MMA legend Randy Couture (16-9 MMA, 13-6 UFC) was rumored for several months to be featured in the UFC's first trip to Germany, "The Natural" has instead committed to an August bout with fellow legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC).

"It's a fight that's been a long time coming," Couture recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunike.com/radio). "[Nogueira] has been in ton of huge fights. He's an amazing athlete."

With his foe settled, Couture will now work on fighting to keep UFC 101 in its tentatively planned Portland, Ore., location.

"I've been saying it for years, that we will blow the doors off of it up there," Couture said. "I grew up in Seattle. I lived in Portland for a long, long time. It's one of those areas that I think because it's so wet most of the year we spend a lot of time indoors wrestling. A lot of the combative sports are really popular there."

Couture said then when he agreed to the bout with Nogueira, he was under the impression the bout would be held in his native region.

"There's a lot of great fighters that come out of the Pacific Northwest," Couture said. "So to have the UFC finally stepping up, and to be the main event for that card, I'm very excited about it."

Recent reports have suggested that the UFC may be considering holding UFC 101 in Philadelphia rather than Portland. Couture said he was unaware of the possible move.

"That's the first I've heard of that is you telling me right now," Couture said. "I hope that's not the case. Not that I have anything against Philly, but obviously I'm very excited to fight in Portland and being part of the Pacific Northwest show having grown up there and lived there so long."

Couture was involved in a similar situation with UFC 91 in November 2008. Couture faced Brock Lesnar in the main event of that card which was relocated to Las Vegas after having originally been rumored for a Portland venue.

"There was some question whether or not Portland had the hotel rooms and could support the show," Couture said. "And the amount of ticket sales that it would garner at the gate in Portland is obviously different than when they fight here in Vegas. For that big of a fight, it made more sense for them to put it here in Vegas."

Additional recent reports have suggested that a lightweight title fight between current champion B.J. Penn and challenger Kenny Florian could headline UFC 101, but Couture's comments suggest he believes his bout with Nogueira is intended for a main event slot.

The date of the event also seems to be a minor uncertainty as previous published reports have pointed to Aug. 8, while Couture has said he will fight at the "end of August [from] what I understand."

So as MMA observers wait for the UFC to make an official announcement regarding the details of the card, Couture seems a bit less concerned.

"We haven't really talked about any of that other than saying, 'Hey, do you want to fight Nogueira in August?'" Couture said "And I said, 'Yes.'

"Things work out the way they're supposed to work out."

Much props Randy now bring em up to Seattle next. We have a fucking empty ass Basketball arena for the next decade

 

[Shaniac]

If ufc comes here im definitely going.

 

[rylor206]

Yup me too i really want to go to a live UFC event. I dont know if i can make the five hour drive to the rose garden or wherever they are having it.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Josh Neer vs. Kurt Pellegrino shifted to UFC 101

A previously reported lightweight bout between Josh Neer (25-7-1 MMA, 4-4 UFC) and Kurt Pellegrino (13-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) tentatively scheduled for August's UFC Fight Night 19 event has instead been shifted to UFC 101.

A source close to Neer told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the fighter has been contacted about the change, but as of Monday morning, bout agreements have not been signed.

UFC 101 is expected to take place Aug. 8 – possibly in Philadelphia.

(Additionally, a UFC 102 event is expected to take place Aug. 29 in Portland, Ore.)

Neer and Pellegrino are both coming off victories at February's UFC Fight Night 17 event.

Neer, fighting on the Spike TV-televised main card, defeated "The Ultimate Fighter 6" winner Mac Danzig via second-round triangle choke and earned a $30,000 Fight of the Night bonus. It was Neer's fourth win in his past five fights, two of which have come in the UFC.

Pellegrino will go for his fourth win in five fights when he meets Neer. Pellegrino most recently defeated Rob Emerson via second-round rear-naked choke at UFC Fight Night 17. It was his ninth submission victory in 13 career victories and his third win in his past four fights.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Former NFL player and heavyweight Rex Richards heading to "TUF" tryouts

Not a single fighter on the UFC's current roster of heavyweights entered the organization through "The Ultimate Fighter."

While the Spike TV-televised competition reality series has launched the careers of more than 100 UFC fighters during its eight seasons on air, the show has failed to introduce any current top-level heavyweights to the organization.

That could soon change, though, now that former NFL player and MMA prospect Rex Richards (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has decided to try out for the upcoming 10th season of the show.

Mickey Dubberly, CEO of KO Dynasty, today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that his 29-year-old client will head to the show's open tryouts, which take place April 6 in Seattle.

"The Ultimate Fighter 10" begins taping this summer and is tentatively scheduled for a September debut. Producers are inviting middleweights, light heavyweights and heavyweights to the tryout (though the show has never featured more than two weight classes in a season).

Richards, a former super heavyweight, recently dropped to heavyweight with the goal of joining the UFC's ranks. (That process was detailed in our recent "Fight Path" feature on Richards.)

"With Rex making the transition from super heavyweight to heavyweight, we feel it will be a good career move in making it in the UFC." Dubberly said. "With the weight cut to heavyweight, Rex is more explosive than ever. Not only does Rex have KO power, but he just earned his black belt in (Brazilian) jiu jitsu last week after eight years (of study)."

Richards, a decorated offensive lineman at Texas Tech, was a practice-squad member for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts in 2003, and he later played for the Arena Football League's San Jose SaberCats. However, he took up jiu jitsu during his playing days, and the lure of MMA soon became too strong.

He made his MMA debut in November 2005 and has posted an 8-1 record since then. All eight victories have come via first-round stoppage, and his lone loss came to current undefeated UFC heavyweight contender Shane Carwin at a 2007 Art of War show.

"Rex wants to fight in the NFL of MMA, which is in the UFC," Dubberly said. "He also wants to avenge his only loss against Shane Carwin."

Richards isn't guaranteed a spot on the cast, but he's likely to be an early favorite. After all, the pool of top-level heavyweight prospects is thin, and most competitors end up dropping to light heavyweight anyway. Take for instance "The Ultimate Fighter 2," the last installment of "TUF" to feature the big guys. Show winner Rashad Evans and semifinalist Keith Jardine soon dropped to light heavyweight, and none of the other competitors, such as show runner-up Brad Imes and Dan Christison, is currently with the UFC.

The drought could soon change, though.

 

[Shogun Locc]

WEC's Danillo Villefort heading to the UFC's welterweight division

World Extreme Cagefighting welterweight Danillo Villefort (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is heading to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

With the recent elimination of the WEC's welterweight division, the 25-year-old former WEC and IFL fighter has agreed to enter the UFC's stacked 170-pound division.

Alex Davis from American Top Team today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the move.

According to Davis, Villefort, who had already dropped from middleweight to welterweight for his WEC debut, wasn't interested in dropping from 170 to 155 pounds to stay in the WEC, which recently eliminated its 205-, 185- and 170-pound divisions. Villefort would have needed to drop to lightweight to stay in the organization.

Villefort, a black belt in both Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo, enters the UFC with a five-fight win streak, which included an upset submission win over Mike Massenzio at a May 2008 IFL event and a recent first-round TKO of Mike Campbell at WEC 38 in January.

Eight of Villefort's nine career victories have come via stoppage (five via submission and three via TKO).

The UFC has yet to determine a debut date or opponent for Villefort's promotional debut.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Agallar vs. Masvidal headlines Bellator's April 3 debut, full fight card set

With Bellator Fighting Championships' debut rapidly approaching, the upstart promotion today revealed the full card for the April 3 event to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Among the evening's 10 bouts, Bellator's two highest profile lightweights will be in action with Jorge Masvidal (16-3) meeting Nick Agallar (21-5) in the evening's main event, while Eddie Alvarez (16-2) will face Greg Loughran (18-11).

Bellator's debut event is scheduled for April 3 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The main card will air on ESPN Deportes on a 24-hour tape delay.

An American Top Team product, Masvidal has won 10 of his past 11 bouts. With notable career wins over Ryan Schultz, Yves Edwards, Nuri Shakir, Joe Lauzon and Roli Delgado, Masvidal counts eight knockout or TKO wins among his 16 career victories.

Agallar has fought for a host of organizations in his nine-year-career, including the UFC, WEC and BodogFIGHT. Agallar is currently on a four-fight win streak, but will be in action for the first time since a May 2008 TKO win.

Alvarez in currently the No. 3-ranked lightweight contender by WAMMA. The 24-year-old is an obvious favorite in the eight-man 155-pound tournament, but he will be looking to bounce back from a submission loss to Shinya Aoki in December 2008.

Loughran has been fighting professionally in Europe since 2002. After beginning his career with an unimpressive 1-6 record, Loughran has since gone 17-5. The 25-year-old has won 10 of his past 11 bouts, and owns 10 submission and six knockout or TKO wins in his 18 career wins.

The full card will feature 10 bouts, including three 145-pound tournament matchups, three 155-pound tournament contests and four non-tournament affairs. The final first-round matchups in the featherweight and lightweight tournaments will be contested at Bellator's April 10 event.

The full debut card will include:

* 155 tourney: Nick Agallar (21-5) vs. Jorge Masvidal (16-3)
* 155 tourney: Eddie Alvarez (16-2) vs. Greg Loughran (18-11)
* 145 tourney: Nick Gonzalez (14-6) vs. Yahir Reyes (12-5)
* 145 tourney: Estevan Payan (6-1) vs. Luis Palomino (9-4)
* 145 tourney: Joe Soto (4-0) vs. Ben Greer (11-4)
* 155 tourney: Alonzo Martinez (22-12-1) vs. Toby Imada (20-11)
* Non-tourney: Lorenzo Borgomeo (4-1) vs. Daniel Morales (5-1)
* Non-tourney: Daniel Sarafian (3-1) vs. Moses Gavin (0-0)
* Non-tourney: Jonathan Brookins (8-3) vs. Stephen Ledbetter (6-2)
* Non-tourney: Jessica Aguilar (5-2) vs. Rosi Sexton (9-1)