MMA News Thread
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this fight... *sheds tear* this is all I ever wanted in life
Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz targeted for UFC 141 in Las Vegas
A clash of hard-swinging lightweights is likely headed to the UFC's year-end show.
Multiple sources close to the event today informed MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Donald Cerrone (17-3 MMA 4-0 UFC) and Nate Diaz (14-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) have verbally agreed to meet at UFC 141.
UFC 141 takes place Dec. 30 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Cerrone vs. Diaz is expected to be part of the event's main card, which airs live on pay-per-view. As MMAjunkie.com first reported, the event also gets a two-fight "UFC Prelims" special on Spike TV.
Cerrone is fresh off a sweeping victory over top prospect Dennis Siver at this past weekend's UFC 137 event. After rocking the German on two occasions with head kicks, "Cowboy" cinched a rear-naked choke that brought the tapout at the midway point of round one. The victory, which earned him a $75,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus, was his sixth straight, all of which have come in the past 13 months.
Diaz, meanwhile, emerged from a two-fight skid in his most recent performance and picked up significant momentum with a first-round submission victory over Takanori Gomi at UFC 135. It was his first fight as a lightweight since he squared off with Gray Maynard at UFC Fight Night 23, after which he served a 2-2 stint as a welterweight.
The latest UFC 141 card now includes:
Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem
Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz
Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Sean Pierson
T.J. Grant vs. Jacob Volkmann
Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz targeted for UFC 141 in Las Vegas
A clash of hard-swinging lightweights is likely headed to the UFC's year-end show.
Multiple sources close to the event today informed MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Donald Cerrone (17-3 MMA 4-0 UFC) and Nate Diaz (14-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) have verbally agreed to meet at UFC 141.
UFC 141 takes place Dec. 30 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Cerrone vs. Diaz is expected to be part of the event's main card, which airs live on pay-per-view. As MMAjunkie.com first reported, the event also gets a two-fight "UFC Prelims" special on Spike TV.
Cerrone is fresh off a sweeping victory over top prospect Dennis Siver at this past weekend's UFC 137 event. After rocking the German on two occasions with head kicks, "Cowboy" cinched a rear-naked choke that brought the tapout at the midway point of round one. The victory, which earned him a $75,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus, was his sixth straight, all of which have come in the past 13 months.
Diaz, meanwhile, emerged from a two-fight skid in his most recent performance and picked up significant momentum with a first-round submission victory over Takanori Gomi at UFC 135. It was his first fight as a lightweight since he squared off with Gray Maynard at UFC Fight Night 23, after which he served a 2-2 stint as a welterweight.
The latest UFC 141 card now includes:
Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem
Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz
Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Sean Pierson
T.J. Grant vs. Jacob Volkmann
UFC 141 is insane.
The Reem destroying Brock
Cerrone vs. Nate FOTY possibility
Gustafsson vs The Janitor should be a war
Fitch crushing that Hendricks hype (something about Hendricks I just don't like)
Stun Gun beating down Sean Pierson (something about Pierson I don't like either, maybe that wack ass Matt Riddle trash fight)
The Reem destroying Brock
Cerrone vs. Nate FOTY possibility
Gustafsson vs The Janitor should be a war
Fitch crushing that Hendricks hype (something about Hendricks I just don't like)
Stun Gun beating down Sean Pierson (something about Pierson I don't like either, maybe that wack ass Matt Riddle trash fight)
'M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson' comes with $30 PPV pricetag, 7:30 a.m. ET start time
If you want to see Fedor Emelianenko's next fight, be prepared to set your alarm clocks.
The former PRIDE great and recent Strikeforce fighter meets onetime UFC title challenger Jeff Monson on Sunday, Nov. 20, at "M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson," which takes place at Olympic Arena in Moscow.
The pay-per-view event comes with a $29.95 pricetag, and the broadcast begins at 7:30 a.m. ET (4:30 a.m. PT). Same-day replays are available.
The PPV can be purchased through iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN.
Emelianenko (31-4) fights for the first time since a three-fight losing skid to notables Dan Henderson, Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum under the Strikeforce banner. Monson (43-12) is 9-1 over his past 10 fights, and the lone loss came to fast-rising Daniel Cormier at a June Strikeforce event.
"I cannot wait to compete again," Emelianenko stated. "Monson is a great athlete who is skilled in many areas. He is a very worthy opponent."
In the night's co-feature, M-1 Challenge light-heavyweight champion Jose Figueroa (10-4) puts his belt on the line against Daniel Weichel (27-7).
In all, the PPV broadcast features five fights.
The full card includes:
Fedor Emelianenko (31-4) vs. Jeff Monson (43-12)
Jose Figueroa (10-4) vs. Daniel Weichel (27-7) - for light-heavyweight title
Juan Manuel Suarez (8-0) vs. Aleksander Yakoviev (12-3)
Mairbek Taisumov (15-3) vs. Josh Thorpe (10-6)
Xavier Foupa-Pokam (21-16) vs. Arthur Guseinov (9-2)
If you want to see Fedor Emelianenko's next fight, be prepared to set your alarm clocks.
The former PRIDE great and recent Strikeforce fighter meets onetime UFC title challenger Jeff Monson on Sunday, Nov. 20, at "M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson," which takes place at Olympic Arena in Moscow.
The pay-per-view event comes with a $29.95 pricetag, and the broadcast begins at 7:30 a.m. ET (4:30 a.m. PT). Same-day replays are available.
The PPV can be purchased through iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN.
Emelianenko (31-4) fights for the first time since a three-fight losing skid to notables Dan Henderson, Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum under the Strikeforce banner. Monson (43-12) is 9-1 over his past 10 fights, and the lone loss came to fast-rising Daniel Cormier at a June Strikeforce event.
"I cannot wait to compete again," Emelianenko stated. "Monson is a great athlete who is skilled in many areas. He is a very worthy opponent."
In the night's co-feature, M-1 Challenge light-heavyweight champion Jose Figueroa (10-4) puts his belt on the line against Daniel Weichel (27-7).
In all, the PPV broadcast features five fights.
The full card includes:
Fedor Emelianenko (31-4) vs. Jeff Monson (43-12)
Jose Figueroa (10-4) vs. Daniel Weichel (27-7) - for light-heavyweight title
Juan Manuel Suarez (8-0) vs. Aleksander Yakoviev (12-3)
Mairbek Taisumov (15-3) vs. Josh Thorpe (10-6)
Xavier Foupa-Pokam (21-16) vs. Arthur Guseinov (9-2)
Saturday's ProElite 2 card set with 11 bouts, including seven on HDNet
The fight card for ProElite's sophomore effort under its new ownership group is set with 11 bouts.
Seven of them, including heavyweight co-headliners of Tim Sylvia (29-7) vs. Andres Kraniotakes (12-4) and Andrei Arlovski (16-9) vs Travis Fulton (247-48-10), air live Saturday on HDNet at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT).
"ProElite 2: Big Guns" takes place at iWireless Center in Moline, Ill.
As the organization previously announced, the main card also features a welterweight bout between Reagan Penn (1-0) vs. Evan Cutts (2-0). Additionally, an eight-man grand prix featuring heavyweight prospects kicks off with Mark Ellis (1-0) vs. Ryan Martinez (5-1), Ed Carpenter (5-1) vs. Jake Heun (1-1), Cody Griffin (4-2) vs. Justyn Riley (4-2), and Richard Odoms (5-0) vs. Rodney Housley (4-1).
In the featured untelevised preliminary-card bouts, recent UFC fighter Waylon Lowe (10-4) takes on fellow featherweight Floyd Hodges (9-2), and Todd Monaghan (4-2) takes on Richard McCray (0-0) in a tourney-reserve fight.
Rounding out the prelims is a pair of amateur bouts: a 165-pound catchweight fight between Jonathon Thomson (5-3) and Kelly Skeffington (4-2), as well as flyweights Daniel DeCamp (3-1) vs. Nick McClean (3-0).
The full card includes:
MAIN CARD (HDNet)
Andreas Kraniotakes vs. Tim Sylvia
Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Fulton
Evan Cutts vs. Reagan Penn
Mark Ellis vs. Ryan Martinez (heavyweight-tourney opening round)
Ed Carpenter vs. Jake Heun (heavyweight-tourney opening round)
Cody Griffin vs. Justyn Riley (heavyweight-tourney opening round)
Richard Odoms vs. Rodney Housley (heavyweight-tourney opening round)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Floyd Hodges vs. Waylon Lowe
Richard McCraw vs. Todd Monaghan (heavyweight-tourney reserve bout)
Kelly Skeffington vs. Jonathan Thomson (amateur bout)
Daniel DeCamp vs. Nick McClean (amateur bout)
The fight card for ProElite's sophomore effort under its new ownership group is set with 11 bouts.
Seven of them, including heavyweight co-headliners of Tim Sylvia (29-7) vs. Andres Kraniotakes (12-4) and Andrei Arlovski (16-9) vs Travis Fulton (247-48-10), air live Saturday on HDNet at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT).
"ProElite 2: Big Guns" takes place at iWireless Center in Moline, Ill.
As the organization previously announced, the main card also features a welterweight bout between Reagan Penn (1-0) vs. Evan Cutts (2-0). Additionally, an eight-man grand prix featuring heavyweight prospects kicks off with Mark Ellis (1-0) vs. Ryan Martinez (5-1), Ed Carpenter (5-1) vs. Jake Heun (1-1), Cody Griffin (4-2) vs. Justyn Riley (4-2), and Richard Odoms (5-0) vs. Rodney Housley (4-1).
In the featured untelevised preliminary-card bouts, recent UFC fighter Waylon Lowe (10-4) takes on fellow featherweight Floyd Hodges (9-2), and Todd Monaghan (4-2) takes on Richard McCray (0-0) in a tourney-reserve fight.
Rounding out the prelims is a pair of amateur bouts: a 165-pound catchweight fight between Jonathon Thomson (5-3) and Kelly Skeffington (4-2), as well as flyweights Daniel DeCamp (3-1) vs. Nick McClean (3-0).
The full card includes:
MAIN CARD (HDNet)
Andreas Kraniotakes vs. Tim Sylvia
Andrei Arlovski vs. Travis Fulton
Evan Cutts vs. Reagan Penn
Mark Ellis vs. Ryan Martinez (heavyweight-tourney opening round)
Ed Carpenter vs. Jake Heun (heavyweight-tourney opening round)
Cody Griffin vs. Justyn Riley (heavyweight-tourney opening round)
Richard Odoms vs. Rodney Housley (heavyweight-tourney opening round)
PRELIMINARY CARD
Floyd Hodges vs. Waylon Lowe
Richard McCraw vs. Todd Monaghan (heavyweight-tourney reserve bout)
Kelly Skeffington vs. Jonathan Thomson (amateur bout)
Daniel DeCamp vs. Nick McClean (amateur bout)
MiddleEasy.com's Sunday Evening Rumor Mill
- According to Dave Meltzer, UFC agreed to not push the 'UFC on FOX' during the UFC 138 broadcast because Spike agreed not to push their counter-programming 'Junior Dos Santos/Cain Velasquez' special against FOX.
- The Shinya Aoki vs. Eddie Alvarez fight has been on the horizon for some time now. Initially it was scheduled to go down in Japan at an upcoming 'DREAM' event, possibly even the newly announced 'DREAM New Year's Eve' event. However, with the aid of a well-known figure in the MMA industry, the fight was organized solely for Bellator.
- It's rumored that Ariel Helwani will give somewhat of a 'tell all' on his 'The MMA Hour' this Monday regarding the purchase of MMAFighting by SBNation.
- It appears that Takanori Gomi will be fighting on UFC on Japan.
- Despite the rumors that have been going around since ProElite aired last night, Paige Chapman, otherwise known as the 'porn star ring girl' is still employed by ProElite.
- Shinya Aoki will most likely be fighting on ONE FC's first card of 2012.
- Reports are premature, but Showtime Sports is paying attention to the recent events of K-1 in hopes of featuring kickboxing on the network, essentially replacing their 'MMA' sports slot once the Strikeforce deal is finished.
- The Federal Trade Commission seems to still be silently investigating ZUFFA. Apparently, the FTC has been interviewing the owner of one particular nutritional beverage company (not Xyience) along with a few other past/current owners of MMA promotions. It's rumored that the investigation will go public at some point in Spring/Summer 2012, however by now it's no longer a secret.
- Pretty silly rumor, but I've heard from a reliable source that Nick Diaz plans to exploit GSP's fear of aliens by showing up to the UFC 143 press conference/weigh-in wearing an alien mask.
- It appears that Daniel Herbertson is the first person to be released from MMAFighting since the buyout by SBNation.
- Don King has made it apparent that he wants to dive into the MMA industry and go head-to-head with Dana White. It appears that Don King will cut a few promos in the Los Angeles area this month, but we're not sure for what.
- According to Dave Meltzer, UFC agreed to not push the 'UFC on FOX' during the UFC 138 broadcast because Spike agreed not to push their counter-programming 'Junior Dos Santos/Cain Velasquez' special against FOX.
- The Shinya Aoki vs. Eddie Alvarez fight has been on the horizon for some time now. Initially it was scheduled to go down in Japan at an upcoming 'DREAM' event, possibly even the newly announced 'DREAM New Year's Eve' event. However, with the aid of a well-known figure in the MMA industry, the fight was organized solely for Bellator.
- It's rumored that Ariel Helwani will give somewhat of a 'tell all' on his 'The MMA Hour' this Monday regarding the purchase of MMAFighting by SBNation.
- It appears that Takanori Gomi will be fighting on UFC on Japan.
- Despite the rumors that have been going around since ProElite aired last night, Paige Chapman, otherwise known as the 'porn star ring girl' is still employed by ProElite.
- Shinya Aoki will most likely be fighting on ONE FC's first card of 2012.
- Reports are premature, but Showtime Sports is paying attention to the recent events of K-1 in hopes of featuring kickboxing on the network, essentially replacing their 'MMA' sports slot once the Strikeforce deal is finished.
- The Federal Trade Commission seems to still be silently investigating ZUFFA. Apparently, the FTC has been interviewing the owner of one particular nutritional beverage company (not Xyience) along with a few other past/current owners of MMA promotions. It's rumored that the investigation will go public at some point in Spring/Summer 2012, however by now it's no longer a secret.
- Pretty silly rumor, but I've heard from a reliable source that Nick Diaz plans to exploit GSP's fear of aliens by showing up to the UFC 143 press conference/weigh-in wearing an alien mask.
- It appears that Daniel Herbertson is the first person to be released from MMAFighting since the buyout by SBNation.
- Don King has made it apparent that he wants to dive into the MMA industry and go head-to-head with Dana White. It appears that Don King will cut a few promos in the Los Angeles area this month, but we're not sure for what.
FUEL TV to become UFC programming hub, 2012 prelims moving off Facebook
FUEL TV will have a bigger UFC presence than initially expected.
In fact FUEL TV general manager George Greenberg today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on a media call with company executives that that the FOX-owned cable station will have approximately 25 percent of its content devoted to the UFC beginning in 2012.
Additionally, the channel, which currently is available only in about 26 million homes, will be the new home for prelims that currently stream on Facebook.
Also, as part of the seven-year FOX-UFC deal that officially kicks off in 2012, all of the two-fight "UFC Prelims" special that currently air on Spike TV (after Facebook prelims and prior to pay-per-view events) instead will be shifted to FOX-owned FX. Both Spike TV and FX are available in approximately 100 million homes.
In other words, instead of an event airing/streaming on Facebook then Spike TV and then PPV, it'll air on FUEL TV, then FX and then PPV.
Facebook, which became the home for previously untelevised prelim fights earlier this year, won't stream any live bouts in 2012.
In addition to the prelim fights, FUEL TV will feature weigh-in specials (including Friday's for Saturday's UFC on FOX one-hour "teaser" event), "Countdown" and "Primetime" shows, past fights and other specialty programming. Additionally, it'll likely air upcoming international editions of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series (while the regular version of the show moves from Spike TV to FX).
However, though officials initially suggested the channel wouldn't air live events, UFC and FOX executives today said non-PPV overseas events will air live on FUEL TV, as well.
Officials said the FUEL TV events will run approximately three hours, live events on FX will run two hours, and the four annual shows on the FOX network are expected to run 90 minutes.
FUEL TV will have a bigger UFC presence than initially expected.
In fact FUEL TV general manager George Greenberg today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on a media call with company executives that that the FOX-owned cable station will have approximately 25 percent of its content devoted to the UFC beginning in 2012.
Additionally, the channel, which currently is available only in about 26 million homes, will be the new home for prelims that currently stream on Facebook.
Also, as part of the seven-year FOX-UFC deal that officially kicks off in 2012, all of the two-fight "UFC Prelims" special that currently air on Spike TV (after Facebook prelims and prior to pay-per-view events) instead will be shifted to FOX-owned FX. Both Spike TV and FX are available in approximately 100 million homes.
In other words, instead of an event airing/streaming on Facebook then Spike TV and then PPV, it'll air on FUEL TV, then FX and then PPV.
Facebook, which became the home for previously untelevised prelim fights earlier this year, won't stream any live bouts in 2012.
In addition to the prelim fights, FUEL TV will feature weigh-in specials (including Friday's for Saturday's UFC on FOX one-hour "teaser" event), "Countdown" and "Primetime" shows, past fights and other specialty programming. Additionally, it'll likely air upcoming international editions of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series (while the regular version of the show moves from Spike TV to FX).
However, though officials initially suggested the channel wouldn't air live events, UFC and FOX executives today said non-PPV overseas events will air live on FUEL TV, as well.
Officials said the FUEL TV events will run approximately three hours, live events on FX will run two hours, and the four annual shows on the FOX network are expected to run 90 minutes.
As expected, Chael Sonnen up next for UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva
As expected, Chael Sonnen will be the next fighter to challenge for UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva's title.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the plans on Wednesday's edition of "The Jim Rome Show."
However, no date has been selected for the long-awaited rematch because Silva currently is recovering from a shoulder injury.
"It's the fight everyone wants to see," White said. "People want to see Chael vs. Anderson. Anderson is in this position where he feels this guy is so disrespectful he doesn't want to give him a shot and everything else, but Anderson will end up fighting Chael Sonnen."
Although Silva vs. Sonnen II was always the plan, fellow contender Mark Munoz's recent shellacking of Chris Leben in this past weekend's UFC 138 main event may have cast some doubt on it. Munoz, who's now 6-1 over his past seven fights, immediately campaigned for a title shot after the second-round TKO.
After the event, though, White made it sound unlikely that Munoz would get to cut in line.
Of course, Sonnen did some campaigning of his own recently. After submitting Brian Stann at UFC 136, Sonnen made the champ a boastful proposition (though he later said the offer is off the table).
"Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck," Sonnen said at the Oct. 8 event. "Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business. I'm calling you out Silva, but we're upping the stakes.
"I beat you, (and) you leave the division. You beat me, and I will leave the UFC forever."
Sonnen isn't willing to fulfill those terms now, but he clearly got under the skin of Team Silva.
Silva (29-4 MMA, 14-0 UFC) and Sonnen (26-11-1 MMA, 5-4 UFC) first met 14 months ago at UFC 117 and delivered a fight for the ages. Sonnen dominated the action for four rounds before getting caught in a triangle choke midway through the fifth and final round. The pair was scheduled to meet again early this year, but the immediate rematch was nixed when the California State Athletic Commission suspended Sonnen for elevated levels of testosterone.
Currently, Silva is recovering from bursitis in his shoulder. Although the UFC returns to his native Brazil on Jan. 14 for UFC 142, even UFC 143 on Super Bowl weekend (Feb. 4) would be a quick turnaround after the champ's recovery and a full training camp
As expected, Chael Sonnen will be the next fighter to challenge for UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva's title.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the plans on Wednesday's edition of "The Jim Rome Show."
However, no date has been selected for the long-awaited rematch because Silva currently is recovering from a shoulder injury.
"It's the fight everyone wants to see," White said. "People want to see Chael vs. Anderson. Anderson is in this position where he feels this guy is so disrespectful he doesn't want to give him a shot and everything else, but Anderson will end up fighting Chael Sonnen."
Although Silva vs. Sonnen II was always the plan, fellow contender Mark Munoz's recent shellacking of Chris Leben in this past weekend's UFC 138 main event may have cast some doubt on it. Munoz, who's now 6-1 over his past seven fights, immediately campaigned for a title shot after the second-round TKO.
After the event, though, White made it sound unlikely that Munoz would get to cut in line.
Of course, Sonnen did some campaigning of his own recently. After submitting Brian Stann at UFC 136, Sonnen made the champ a boastful proposition (though he later said the offer is off the table).
"Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck," Sonnen said at the Oct. 8 event. "Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business. I'm calling you out Silva, but we're upping the stakes.
"I beat you, (and) you leave the division. You beat me, and I will leave the UFC forever."
Sonnen isn't willing to fulfill those terms now, but he clearly got under the skin of Team Silva.
Silva (29-4 MMA, 14-0 UFC) and Sonnen (26-11-1 MMA, 5-4 UFC) first met 14 months ago at UFC 117 and delivered a fight for the ages. Sonnen dominated the action for four rounds before getting caught in a triangle choke midway through the fifth and final round. The pair was scheduled to meet again early this year, but the immediate rematch was nixed when the California State Athletic Commission suspended Sonnen for elevated levels of testosterone.
Currently, Silva is recovering from bursitis in his shoulder. Although the UFC returns to his native Brazil on Jan. 14 for UFC 142, even UFC 143 on Super Bowl weekend (Feb. 4) would be a quick turnaround after the champ's recovery and a full training camp
Yoshihiro Akiyama drops to 170 pounds, faces Jake Shields at UFC 144 in Japan
"Sexyama" is making his welterweight debut.
UFC officials today announced Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) will drop to 170 pounds for a February meeting with former Strikeforce champ Jake Shields (26-6-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC).
The two meet on the main card of UFC 144, which takes place Feb. 26 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
A lightweight title fight between current champ Frankie Edgar and top contender Ben Henderson takes the headlining role.
Akiyama made his professional debut in 2004 and quickly rose to prominence while fighting under the K-1 and DREAM banners. While controversy followed Akiyama from his judo career into a few hotly-debated bouts with Kazushi Sakuraba and Kazuo Misaki, Akiyama continued to rise in popularity throughout the Asian market.
In July 2009, Akiyama made his UFC debut with a controversial split-decision win over Alan Belcher. However, he's struggled in recent contests, dropping consecutive fights to Vitor Belfort, Michael Bisping and Chris Leben. While the bouts with Bisping and Leben were competitive and each earned Akiyama additional "Fight of the Night" bonuses, he looked fatigued in the latter rounds of both contests.
Meanwhile, Shields looks to snap a two-fight losing streak. The former Strikeforce middleweight title holder vacated his belt in 2010 in favor of a welterweight UFC run. After defeating Martin Kampmann in a hotly-contested split decision, Shields met UFC champ Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129. Shields was defeated via unanimous decision.
Shields fought most recently in September, where he suffered a first-round knockout loss to fast-rising contender Jake Ellenberger. The defeat came just weeks after the loss of his father and manager, Jack Shields
"Sexyama" is making his welterweight debut.
UFC officials today announced Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) will drop to 170 pounds for a February meeting with former Strikeforce champ Jake Shields (26-6-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC).
The two meet on the main card of UFC 144, which takes place Feb. 26 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
A lightweight title fight between current champ Frankie Edgar and top contender Ben Henderson takes the headlining role.
Akiyama made his professional debut in 2004 and quickly rose to prominence while fighting under the K-1 and DREAM banners. While controversy followed Akiyama from his judo career into a few hotly-debated bouts with Kazushi Sakuraba and Kazuo Misaki, Akiyama continued to rise in popularity throughout the Asian market.
In July 2009, Akiyama made his UFC debut with a controversial split-decision win over Alan Belcher. However, he's struggled in recent contests, dropping consecutive fights to Vitor Belfort, Michael Bisping and Chris Leben. While the bouts with Bisping and Leben were competitive and each earned Akiyama additional "Fight of the Night" bonuses, he looked fatigued in the latter rounds of both contests.
Meanwhile, Shields looks to snap a two-fight losing streak. The former Strikeforce middleweight title holder vacated his belt in 2010 in favor of a welterweight UFC run. After defeating Martin Kampmann in a hotly-contested split decision, Shields met UFC champ Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129. Shields was defeated via unanimous decision.
Shields fought most recently in September, where he suffered a first-round knockout loss to fast-rising contender Jake Ellenberger. The defeat came just weeks after the loss of his father and manager, Jack Shields