MMA News Thread

[heyzel]

Pete Sell: Georges St. Pierre is a "mental midget"

by MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] on Apr 04, 2008 at 9:28 am in - News


Pete Sell, recovering from a torn labrum that's kept him sidelined for more than five months, will corner friend Matt Serra during his UFC 83 title defense with Georges St. Pierre, and he had some less-than-flattering things to say about the popular Canadian fighter.

"GSP is an awesome athlete," Sell told fightticker.com. "He has all the tools to dominate, but he is a mental midget. His mentality is very weak."

Sell's harsh critique could be the result of St. Pierre's comments after his April 2007 loss to Serra, one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. Sell took offense to the way St. Pierre "flip-flopped" when it came to justifying the loss.

"He is a very nice guy and I have hung out with him, but I don't like the way he flip-flopped after the first fight with Serra," Sell said. "GSP was cool right after the fight, but about five weeks afterwards, he started making excuses saying he didn't train properly, then GSP retracted and said Serra was the better man that night. Well what was it?

"I don't like how his story changed."

Serra and St. Pierre, whose relationship was once characterized as a respectful rivalry, took a turn for the worse after the comments by St. Pierre. Spurned also by St. Pierre's claims that he took the fight lightly and only decided to fight through an injury because he figured he could win anyway, Serra went on the offensive. He's never shied away from giving his honest opinions about "Frenchie" during recent interviews.

The rivalry has created a lot of hype for their UFC 83 main event fight, which takes place April 19 at Montreal's Bell Centre.

St. Pierre has the home-field advantage, but Sell doubts it'll be a factor.

"I believe that all the pressure is on GSP, especially considering he is fighting in front of his countrymen," Sell said. "Serra thrives on the pressure and likes the underdog role. Matt Serra is all heart, and GSP is the type of guy that if they were in a bar, GSP would back down from a fight while Serra is down for whatever."

In the fightticker.com interview, Sell (7-4 MMA, 1-4 UFC) also confirmed that he's making a move down to welterweight. Sell competed as a middleweight on a "comeback" season of "The Ultimate Fighter 4" and has dropped three straight fights at the weight class since then.

Sell is currently signed to a deal with the UFC, and his contract was extended six months because of his injury

 

[heyzel]

IFL Champs Defend at ‘New Blood, New Battles'

by Scott Holmes
The IFL returns Friday at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Topping the card, which airs live on HDNet (8:30 p.m. ET), are title defenses by champions Jay Hieron (Pictures), Vladimir Matyushenko (Pictures) and Waggney Fabiano. The undercard also features plenty of title contenders taking on new IFL talent.

Jay Hieron (Pictures) (170) vs. Mark Miller (170.4)

Hieron looked fantastic in his IFL welterweight championship fight against Delson Heleno (Pictures) in the IFL Grand Prix in December. Hard to say how things would have ended had Heleno not gotten injured, but in Hieron's defense, he was fighting like a man out to hurt someone.

Hieron was a good fighter before he entered the IFL, and he has done nothing but get better since then. The formidable wrestler has become a formidable striker as well. Combine those two skills with his athleticism, and it's very hard to plan a way to attack the man.

Miller's last fight was pretty impressive as well, seeing how he flattened UFC vet Josh Neer (Pictures) with a first-round knockout. That fight was almost a year ago, and all the while Hieron has been training with Xtreme Couture and bringing his game to another level.

Miller certainly has the skills to give Hieron some trouble, but with Hieron's strong wrestling background, he should be able to dictate where the fight goes. The scales will tip in Hieron's favor should he decide to set up takedowns with his strikes and get the fight on the ground, where Miller will have trouble submitting him.

Wagnney Fabiano (Pictures) (145.4) vs. Shad Lierley (Pictures) (145.8)

Lierley showcased his skills last year when he took on Chris Horodecki (Pictures) in a lightweight free-for-all that proved he could wrestle and bang with the best of them. He went toe-to-toe in one of the best fights of the year, proving that his heart and determination aren't in question. Now he's moved down a class to take on the best featherweight in the IFL.

Fabiano has been more than solid since he joined the league, submitting everyone he's faced. The good news for Lierley is that he should know there won't be any surprises. Fabiano can submit anybody from any angle, which makes pounding him out on the ground not an option. Stuffing takedowns and counterpunching could be.

Unfortunately for Lierley, he doesn't have much experience, and any plan for Fabiano is easier said than executed.

Vladimir Matyushenko (Pictures) (205.4) vs. Jamal Patterson (Pictures) (205.6)

Jamal Patterson (Pictures) is a sick athlete and a quick learner in the MMA game. He's scored two wins over a smaller Matt Horwich (Pictures), but for a guy that hasn't been fighting too long that is still an impressive feat.

He also guillotined Alex Schoenauer (Pictures) in his second fight, showing that he's very dangerous and only scratching the surface. His fights are very short, but the man he's facing almost never goes down and certainly not quickly.

Youth and athleticism can go a long way in any sport, but there's always something to be said for "old man strength." Technically Vladimir Matyushenko (Pictures) isn't that old. In fight years, though, he's getting up there.

For more than 10 years he's steadily been doing the same work by keeping a dominant position and overwhelming opponents with pressure. Patterson has submissions, but so does Vlady. It's hard to imagine that Patterson will be able to throw anything at "The Janitor" that he hasn't mopped up before, and Matyushenko should retain the IFL light heavyweight belt.

Heleno has recovered from his leg injury in the IFL Grand Prix and now steps up to take on "Bad" Brad Blackburn (Pictures) in a match he should be able to control. Blackburn is a hit-or-miss fighter than can look great one night and poor the next. He won't have that luxury against Heleno, who is basically a larger version of Wagnney Fabiano (Pictures) and just as dominant.

Blackburn's best chance is to let his fists fly, but that will be hard to do with the constant threat of Heleno's takedowns. Heleno should be able to get another win streak going.

Alex Schoenauer (Pictures) (204) vs. Brendan Barrett (205.5)

Schoenauer is coming off a two-fight skid. He lost hard-fought battles with Matyushenko and Mike Ciesnolevicz (Pictures), but he's also another Xtreme Couture/Team Tompkins fighter who seems to be getting better with each outing.

Brendan Barrett is a newcomer to the IFL and will have his hands full with Schoenauer. He's a Jersey local, though, so he'll be very motivated. His wrestling and muay Thai will get a pretty good litmus test against the much more experienced Schoenauer.

Jim Miller (155) vs. Bart Palaszewski (Pictures) (155.5)

Interesting matchup at lightweight with the always-tough Palaszewski taking on another IFL newcomer in Jim Miller. Palaszewski has lost his last two fights, one a controversial stoppage against an impressive Deividas Taurosevicius (Pictures) and the other against his nemesis Horodecki.

The only knock on Palaszewski is that sometimes he chooses to fight opponents at their own strength, albeit much to the delight of the fans. Miller's only loss came at the hands of the UFC's Frank Edgar (Pictures), whom he fought to a decision. Miller's strength is submissions, so Palaszewski would be wise to keep things standing and give the crowd his typical effort while brawling and sprawling.

Nate Lamotte (Pictures) (155.8) vs. Chris Horodecki (Pictures) (154.6)

Horodecki makes his return after a crushing loss in December in a match that was to be his championship coronation. Once again he'll face a tough wrestler in local fighter Nate Lamotte (Pictures), who is making the jump up in competition to face the baby-faced Canadian.

Horodecki's standup is never in question. He always presses with combos and never seems to tire. However, the chink in his armor has been spotted, and the test will be to see if he can stay off his back to keep things in his favor.

The true test for Horodecki will be in his head. The young fighter has had his first loss, and now we'll see if he can pick himself up after being knocked down.

Mike Ciesnolevicz (Pictures) (206) vs. Carmelo Marrero (Pictures) (205.8)

A leaner, meaner Mike Ciesnolevicz (Pictures) rolled into Jersey after changing up his diet during training. He has looked great in the IFL with the exception of facing Andre Gusmao (Pictures), who was one of the best fighters to ever come through the league.

Now would be a perfect time for Ciesnolevicz to put his name back in the top three of the IFL's light heavyweight ranks, and a win over Marrero could get him there.

Marrero is also stepping into the IFL for the first time, but having faced Wilson Gouveia (Pictures), Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) and Cheick Kongo (Pictures), he's no stranger to top-tier competition. He has proven to be susceptible to submissions, though, and that should be where Ciesnolevicz can make the difference.

Rafael Dias (Pictures) (145.6) vs. L.C. Davis (145.6)

L.C. Davis knows he didn't fight the way he wanted to when he lost to Wagnney Fabiano (Pictures) back in December. He'll get a second chance to impose his will and ground-and-pound another submission specialist when he faces Rafael Dias (Pictures).

This fight will come down to what is going on between Davis' ears. His athleticism can help him unload on Dias, but if he doesn't do it smartly, he'll get submitted quickly once again.

Emyr Bussade (170) vs. Jesse Lennox (170)

Bussade has the American Top Team pedigree that will make him dangerous on the ground, but he's facing Lennox, who is still undefeated. Lennox may have a sterling record, but he's getting a bigger challenge going against Bussade, who has been through some battles and has more experience. Both will get a chance to make a name for themselves as they fight live on HDNet.

 

[heyzel]

Mo. Asked to Ban 'Cage Fighting' by Kids

By MARCUS KABEL


JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — Legislators are seeking to ban mixed martial arts competitions — sometimes called "cage fighting" — among children in Missouri, which appears to be the only state where youth matches are allowed.

The sport is a blend of martial arts styles made popular by cable television's "Ultimate Fighting Championship." Republican state Reps. Bryan Stevenson of Webb City and Steve Hunter of Joplin introduced the measure Monday, days after an Associated Press report about the practice.

"I think it borders on child abuse. I just don't think it's appropriate behavior at all," said Stevenson, adding that he has never attended a youth fight but has seen video clips.

A trainer in mixed martial arts who is trying to organize a national youth league warned that bans will just drive an increasingly popular sport underground.

Nathan Orand, owner of a fighting studio in Tulsa, Okla., whose young students have fought in Missouri, also defended the kids' version as having safety rules and protective gear that make it no more dangerous than more established children's sports such as wrestling.

Stevenson said he believes mixed martial arts is brutal and more dangerous for kids than other sports. He also said he was already alarmed by reports of youth competitions in southwest Missouri before the AP report.

Missouri law allows sanctioning bodies to permit youth fights. It is a misdemeanor in many states for children to participate, while a few states have no regulations.

Stevenson said doctors told him maneuvers used in mixed martial arts can cause permanent damage in children by putting pressure on still-developing joints.

Orand said his startup youth MMA league, called Freestyle Combat League, is adding new safety rules on top of ones already in place to make sure joints and bones aren't damaged.

Youth MMA, as Orand teaches it in Tulsa, requires padded head gear, shin guards, groin protectors and gloves. It also bars elbows and any strikes to the head of an opponent who is on the ground.

For the new league, Orand said he is adding chest and stomach protectors for fighters younger than 14 and a rule allowing referees to stop a match if they see the danger of a joint injury.

He's also taking away the cage, the chain-link fence that typically surrounds the fighting area. Orand and other MMA supporters say the cage is safer for fighters than the ropes of a boxing ring, but Orand said youth matches will be fought only on wrestling mats.

"One of the main concerns I've run into is the fact that it's in a cage. It can look brutal at first glance. In the interests of the youth sport, we're taking it out of the cage," he said.

 

[heyzel]

Kenny Florian: "The elbows that I threw were completely legal!"

Kenny Florian talks about the Lauzon fight. He talks about the elbows that were considered to be illegal, his performance and a future fight with Roger Huerta

I hit him with some tough shots; not all of them were landing, but I did land a hell of a lot of punches to his face. He let out a couple of grunts and I knew he was injured and hurt. He was kind of looking at the referee like he wanted the referee to stop it."

"We didn’t really see Joe do too much of that in his last few fights, but we knew he had the potential to do that. He was always dangerous on the local scene and we knew we had to be ready for it and I was prepared. I never felt any pressure on the knee or anything like that, or my ankle. Thankfully, no injuries or nothing like that so I just knew to stay calm and use my technique and counter any attempt that he did on my leg."

"This is the thing that a lot of people are confused with. The elbows that I threw are completely legal and even where I struck him on the head was actually still legal. You could see where the cut actually was and that was on the top of the head. An illegal strike is any kind of strike to the back of the head is considered illegal, but the elbows, and even the downward elbows, are fine so as long as you’re not going from 12:00 to 6:00. If I’m standing up and I throw an elbow that goes straight up and straight down 12 to 6, that’s an illegal elbow. The elbows that were thrown were completely legal."

He talks more about the fight, Lauzon, the elbows and some other stuff in the full interview

http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content2365.html

 

[heyzel]

MARCUS HICKS: "I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT FOR THE TITLE!"

By Percy Crawford | April 04, 2008


"I'm very well-rounded, but nobody really got a chance to see it and if you don't see it, it's hard to believe," stated undefeated WEC lightweight contender Marcus Hicks as he talked about his recent win over Ed Ratcliff at WEC 33. Check out what he had to say about his performance, his future plans and much more as he hopes to get in line for a shot at the title. read more
http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content2364.html?PHPSESSID=b6d5bd8af5c564ba8bee89fa8f03c674

 

[Shogun Locc]

Video: Hieron on IFL Title Defense
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=1517
Sherdog.com's Greg Savage caught up with Jay Hieron (Pictures) at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, where the welterweight prepared for his first title defense against Mark Miller Friday night in N.J.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Aleksander Emelianenko wins in Russia

Highly ranked heavyweight Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) picked up his first victory in nearly six months with a first-round TKO of Silvao Santos (1-1) at Thursday's M-1 Challenge.

The event took place at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Emelianenko, who picked up his fourth consecutive win, dominated the fight from the opening bell, scoring a takedown, nearly securing a guillotine choke, and then battering his outmatched opponent with a flying knee and a series of punches for the TKO victory.

The bout capped off a 14-fight event, which included victories for Emelianenko's fellow Red Devil fighters Roman Zentsov (17-12) and Amar Suloev (24-7).

Emelianenko, the younger brother of former longtime PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko, has now posted first-round stoppages in his past nine victories.

The full results of the event are available at m1mixfight.com.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Spike Releases UFN and TUF Ratings

Spike TV today announced the UFC Fight Night 13 and The Ultimate Fighter Season 7 ratings today to impressive results.
UFC Fight Night 13 earned a 1.1 household rating holding an average audience of 1.3 million viewers and topping a Celtics vs. Pacers game that was shown on ESPN in the same time slot.

The Ultimate Fighter Season Seven faired even better earning a 1.3 rating and held an average audience of 1.7 million viewers.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Nate Diaz On Tyson Griffin: "I just beat a guy that's better than him."

Nate Diaz showed tremendous heart and poise in his fight this past Wednesday at UFN 13. He took tremendous punishment from a very game Kurt Pelligrino before catching Pelligrino in a triangle choke midway through the second round. Diaz wasted no time in calling another lightweight contender, Tyson Griffin:
"That guy doesn't want to fight me because he thinks he's somewhere higher up than me? I just beat a guy that's better than him. When was the last time he finished a fight anyways against any 155 pounder that was half decent on the ground..oh yeah never.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Manny Gamburyan Calls Out Nate Diaz In Exclusive Q And A With Fightline.com

A few days ago, Fightline.com brought you an exclusive pre-fight interview with Manny Gamburyan. Manny was kind enough to also answer a couple of questions for us regarding his future after his big win over Jeff Cox.
Fightline.com: Who would you like to face next Manny?

Nate Diaz. He's a good fighter, I'm a good fighter so definitely the whole world needs to see this fight. It's gonna be either this year, next year, ten years from now...it has to happen. It's not that we have to prove something but it's a continuation and I promise you guys that I will continue where I left off [before the injury]. In my last fight against Diaz it was part of my plan just to dominate him and just go out there and whoop his ass.

Fightline.com: And what will be the result of that fight?

I'm gonna win it for sure. At the end my hand is gonna be raised. Whether it's a TKO, or submission, decision...I'll take anything.

 

[Shogun Locc]

MMA Quick Quote: Jake Shields vs. Drew Fickett EliteXC fight rescheduled for June 14

“I had to pull out of the March 29 fight due to a back injury. I just wanted to apologize to EliteXC, Drew Fickett and of course the fans. Pulling out of this fight is not something I wanted to do, but I’ll be back stronger. It’s just a minor setback and I’ll be taking the title soon. Thanks to to everyone for all of the support.”

– EliteXC welterweight contender Jake Shields — one of the best 170-pound fighters on the planet — shares his thoughts via his MySpace on withdrawing from the vacant title fight with Drew Fickett last Saturday. Fickett went on to beat the replacement — Jae Suk Lim — in pretty dominating fashion. Afterwards, Shields was called to the ring and it was announced that the two would finally get it on for the belt June 14 in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the Blaisdell Arena. EliteXC Lightweight Champion KJ Noons is also set to defend his EliteXC lightweight belt against Yves Edwards that night.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC 86 tickets sale for Jackson vs. Griffin Las Vegas event

Tickets for UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, July 5, will be available to purchase during an exclusive presale that begins next Wednesday (April 9).

The 205-pound showdown between The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 coaches, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Forrest Griffin, is slated to headline the pay-per-view (PPV) event.

Here are all the particulars:

UFC Fight Club presale: Wednesday, April 9 at 1. p.m. ET
UFC Newsletter presale: Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m. ET
General ticket sale: Saturday, April 12 at 1 p.m. ET

UFC 86 tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com or StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is “sold out.&#8221

Frank Mir — fresh off his massive win (literally) over Brock Lesnar at UFC 81: “Breaking Point” — is expected to return against Justin McCully in a heavyweight showdown. Welterweights Josh Koscheck and Chris Lytle are also expected to lock horns during the main card broadcast.

This fight card is still developing; therefore, there’s room to add some more great fights — stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, check out the latest rumored UFC 86 line up right here.

 

[Shogun Locc]

ShoXC Elite Challenger Series back on Showtime Saturday night

Lately it feels like there is quality mixed martial arts action available around the clock and EliteXC has been a big part of that.

Tomorrow night is no different.

EliteXC will stage its latest ShoXC Challenger event on Saturday, April 5, on the Showtime premium cable channel at 11:30 p.m. ET from the Table Mountain Casino in Friant, Calif.

It’s the fifth show in 29 days for Pro Elite, which is the parent company of EliteXC. For a little refresher: March 8 (London, Cage Rage), March 15 (Honolulu, Icon Sport), March 21 (Santa Ynez., Calif. ShoXC), and March 29 (San Jose, Calif., Strikeforce) have all been successful quality events for EliteXC Live Events President, Gary Shaw, and Pro Elite.

Here’s a quote from Shaw himself:

“There are a lot of willing fighters out there, but it takes excellent matchmaking to make the best fights happen, and we have an outstanding, hard-working fight team that continually puts together the kinds of fights that always offer a bit of everything to those in attendance and watching on Showtime.”

It looks like the Pro Elite team has put together another solid show for us this weekend. Read a little bit about the featured bouts of the evening and get some predictions after the jump.


Jared Hamman (9-0) vs. Poai Suganuma (8-1) — (205-pound main event)

Hamman is one hell of a prospect for EliteXC. No fighter has even been able to take him past the second round. In his nine career wins, seven of them have been by technical knockout and two via submission.

In his last two fights Hamman has scored huge victories over two quality opponents. In July of last year at an IFC show he knocked out a very tough and experienced Travis Wiuff (49-11), and in October slapped a rear naked choke on the then undefeated and Tito Ortiz-trained Aaron Rosa.

He has stepped up the competition level in his last two fights and continues that trend against the 26-year-old Hawaiian, Poai Suganuma.

Suganuma’s lone loss is from a cut he sustained at a Pancrase show back in 2006. Since then he’s reeled off three straight wins against some less than stellar competition.

He has shown he has a nice all around game with three technical knockouts and three submissions to his credit; however, none of those fights have been against the caliber of a fighter like Hamman. This fight is a big step up for Suganuma and a real opportunity to prove he can beat a quality opponent.

I think Hamman will continue his undefeated streak in this fight. He’s clearly fought the tougher fights out of the two and still has yet to be truly tested.

Prediction: Hamman wins this one in the second round with a technical knockout of some sort.

Joe Camacho (10-11-3) vs. Fabricio Camoes (7-4) — (160-pound limit)

Camacho is a King of the Cage veteran and while his record doesn’t say much, he is actually a solid fighter. Some of his losses are to guys like Joe Stevenson (twice), Roger Huerta and Wander Braga, which is nothing to be ashamed of.

Camoes has won four fights in a row and three of those via submission. He has looked sharp as of late and will look to extend that good fortune in what will be his EliteXC debut.

Camoes is a naturally bigger guy and is fighting with more confidence right now. I think his size advantage will allow him to wear down Camacho and pull off a sub sometime in this fight.

Prediction: Camoes round two submission (rear naked choke)

Matt Lucas (9-0) vs. Giva Santana (10-0) — (185-pound limit)

The battle of the unbeatens showcases two fighters who have both fought for EliteXC before and have earned there way on to the main card of a Showtime telecast.

Santana is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission expert and Lucas can beat you with his hands and his submissions. This fight could be the show stealer.

Prediction: Santana via split decision

Also on the main card will be Wilson Reis (3-0) of Philadelphia vs. Doug Evans (5-2) of Anchorage, Alaska, at 140 pounds, as well as talented Shayna “The Queen Of Spades'’ Baszler of Sioux Falls, S.D., taking on Japan’s Keiko Tamai (16-14) at 140 pounds.

The main card fights will all be three five-minute rounds.

These rest of the under card, which will be three three-minute rounds, include:

Melanie LaCroix (1-0) vs. KC Noland (1-2) at 140 pounds
Jaime Iracheta (debut) vs. Brent Cooper (1-0) at 185 pounds
Telly Sanders (debut) vs. Roberto Vargas (1-0) at 165 pounds
Yasser Pezzat (debut) vs. Luke Riddering (debut) at 265 pounds
Carl Saumantafa (2-0) vs. Amadeo Viola (0-1) at 265 pounds
Yoko Takahashi (13-9) vs. an opponent to be announced at 150 pounds

It should be entertaining MMA action once again. Check it out if you have the time.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Quinton Rampage Jackson on Forrest Griffin, Shogun Rua, TUF and more

 

[Shogun Locc]

Dan Henderson autograph session this weekend in Costa Mesa, Calif.

 

[rylor206]

"Ultimate fighter made the UFC i am glad i thought of it." Rampage.
That is some funny shit.

 

[naner12]

Bao Quach added to Saturday’s ShoXC telecast on SHOWTIME
April 04, 2008 By: Sam Caplan Category: ShoXC

Featherweight prospect Wilson Reis is no longer scheduled to fight on Saturday night’s ShoXC card that is to be televised on SHOWTIME, sources have revealed exclusively to FiveOuncesOfPain.com (www.FiveOuncesOfPain.com).

Reis had been scheduled to fight UFC veteran Doug Evans. The reason for Reis’ departure from the card has not been disclosed. He made his ShoXC debut on January 25 in Atlantic City, submitting Zach Makovsky in impressive fashion at 1:15 of round 2.

Evans is now set to face Team Oyama fighter Bao Quach. Quach also made his debut on the Jan. 25 show, where recorded a unanimous decision victory over Bobby McMaster

................................

Extremely late notice for Quach but I'm really hoping he can pull out the victory. I remember someone on here said they trained with Quach (I think it was YOUNGNUTT but I'm not sure) .. good luck to Quach.

 

[rylor206]

GOOD READ.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Ricco Rodriguez Featured on 'Inside MMA'
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=1518
On this week's HDNet "Inside MMA," featured exclusively on the Internet via Sherdog.com, Bas Rutten (Pictures) and Kenny Rice were joined by former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) and mixed martial arts writer Mike Carlson.

Ron Kruck reported all the latest MMA news and provided the week's best highlights.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Bouts confirmed for UFC 85

The UFC today confirmed a handful of previously reported bouts for UFC 85, an event that takes place June 7 at the 02 Arena in London, England.

The organization previously announced a main event between former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell and undefeated winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 2," Rashad Evans. Liddell was originally slated to face Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, but the former PRIDE star had to pull out of the bout with a knee injury.

Joining that light heavyweight bout on the night's televised, as well as a previously confirmed heavyweight bout between Brandon Vera and Fabricio Werdum, are Thales Leites vs. Nate Marquardt, Martin Kampmann vs. Jorge Rivera, and Marcus Davis vs. Mike Swick.

Additionally, the UFC confirmed preliminary-card bouts of Luiz Cane vs. Jason Lambert
and Thiago Tavares vs. Matt Wiman.

The full card for the event now includes:

MAIN CARD (TELEVISED)

Rashad Evans vs. Chuck Liddell
Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum
Thales Leites vs. Nate Marquardt
Martin Kampmann vs. Jorge Rivera
Marcus Davis vs. Mike Swick
PRELIMINARY CARD (NOT TELEVISED)

Roan Carneiro vs. Ryo Chonan*
Luiz Cane vs. Jason Lambert
Thiago Tavares vs. Matt Wiman
Jess Liaudin vs. Paul Taylor*
Antoni Hardonk vs. Neil Wain*