VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The UFC's fighters will be getting even smaller.
UFC president Dana White today confirmed that the organization is moving forward on its plan to add a 125-pound flyweight division to its existing seven weight classes.
White said it could come "like, really soon," possibly by year's end.
White and other officials have hinted at the weight class over the past few years, first with the since-folded WEC and then with the UFC. Talk of the division really heated up in 2010, when the UFC adopted the WEC's featherweight (145-pound) and bantamweight (135-pound) divisions, but fizzled until recently.
While the organization already has been talking to flyweight fighters about contracts, White said it'll take time to truly build the division and crown a champion.
"We have to get out there; we have to create the division," he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) at today's pre-UFC 131 press conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. "We bring the guys in, sign them and start putting on fights. You figure out who the best is, and you have a title fight."
In fact, while the executive traditionally shies away from tournaments, he said a grand-prix format could be used to determine the UFC's first-ever flyweight champion.
"Maybe," he said. "There's a lot of options we could do."
Currently, a host of Japanese organizations and the California-based Tachi Palace Fights have had a stronghold on the world's top 125-pounders. But with the UFC offering unrivaled paydays and exposure, many of those fighters certainly could be wooed to the octagon.
Additionally, some of the sport's top flyweights could come from the existing UFC roster. While they've discussed their satisfaction with fighting at bantamweight, smaller 135-pounders such as Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson could make for intriguing options for the new weight class.
After Evans-Davis, All UFC Main Events Will be 5 Rounds
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Five-round non-title fights are officially making their way to the UFC.
UFC president Dana White today told a small group of reporters that the promotion has decided that all main-event non-title bouts – whether on pay-per-view, Spike TV or Versus – will now be scheduled as five-rounders.
However, the adjustment will not apply to any currently scheduled bouts, such as UFC 133's Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis tilt, or UFC on Versus 5's Dan Hardy vs. Chris Lytle contest.
"From this day forward, as we speak right here, right now today, every fight that is a main event that is not a title fight will be a five-round fight," White said following a UFC 131 pre-fight press conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
When immediately asked if that applied to Evans vs. Davis, White corrected himself.
"Except that one," White said with a laugh. "It should be, but what I don't want to do to guys is fights that we've already made and they've signed the bout agreement, you're mentally training for a three-round fight. To come back and say, 'Oh, it's five rounds now,' you can't do that to a guy.
"So all the fights that will be made from this day forward will be five rounds."
In a special Q&A session in conjunction with April's UFC 129 event, White revealed UFC 131's originally scheduled main event of Brock Lesnar vs. Junior Dos Santos nearly took the honors of the promotion's first five-round non-title matchup.
"I'm in to that," White said when asked by a fan about five-round non-title fights. "I like it. I think there's some fights that aren't title fights that are main events, and it ends up being three (rounds), and it should have been five. I'm a big fan of it, and we're working on that right now.
"We were actually going to start it with Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos, but we had already made the fight, so it's kind of hard to go back to those guys after you've already made the fight and say, 'You know what? This is going to be five (rounds) instead of three.'"
And now it's done.
White doesn't yet know who will be featured in the UFC's first five-round non-title fight, but potential main-eventers might want to start upping their cardio sessions because the change is coming.
"From this day forward, any main-event fight that is signed after right now today will be five rounds instead of three," White said.
love that 5 round thing now. see what some of these guys are really made of. gonna suck for the fights with people like clay guida but oh well it's better for the long run
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – UFC 135 is set for Sept. 24 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, and a light-heavyweight title fight between champ Jon Jones and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is expected to headline.
UFC president Dana White today confirmed the news to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) following a pre-event press conference for UFC 131, which takes place June 11 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
White said the headliner hinges on the health of Jones' hand, which needs to be cleared by a doctor.
"Doctors have got to say his hand is OK, and he's got to get in the gym and prove it," the executive said.
According to a representative for the champ, that proving ground is already set. Malki Kawa said today that Jones is seeing a hand specialist on Friday.
"His hand feels fine, so tomorrow it should be cleared," he said.
Jones this past week revealed that Jackson is his next opponent. He declined to provide a date, but said the bout would happen in September. With just two events scheduled for that month – one a "Fight Night" card on Spike TV and the other a pay-per-view event – it wasn't hard to read between the lines.
UFC 135 also features a welterweight bout between UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes and onetime lightweight contender Diego Sanchez. The UFC hasn't hosted an event in Denver since "UFC: Ultimate Ultimate 1995" (also known as UFC 7.5) back in 1995. The Colorado city also hosted UFC 1 and UFC 2 in 1993 and 1994, respectively. The Pepsi Center holds up to 21,000 people.
Jackson's readiness is apparently not a concern for the pay-per-view card. The former champ said he injured his left hand prior to a fight with Matt Hamill at UFC 130, and the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which oversaw the May 30 bout, issued him a medical suspension that said he needed to get his hand cleared or otherwise face a six-month suspension.
White, however, said the holdup rests with Jones. The 23-year-old champion was expected to undergo surgery on a long-bothersome hand ligament, which scratched a potential fight with Evans at UFC 133. The promotion instead booked Evans to meet standout Phil Davis at the Aug. 6 event.
Soon afterward, Jones caught fans by surprise when he announced that his doctor ruled against surgery and that he expected to return to the cage in the fall. But officials said it was too late to scratch Evans' UFC 133 headliner with Davis.
Jones said this past Thursday that his hand is "totally fine" and will be good to go for a fight with Jackson.
With the doctor's OK, that statement will be proven true.
Seems to me that they don't rreally care bout rampage's injured hand, as long as jones hand is okay...I think is quinton has a shot he needs to be 100% and I don't think he will be
my bro made a good point about fighters slowing their pace & being more cautious in 5 round fights, as well as the lack of finishes in championship rounds overall, & the lack of fights worthy of the extra time. it sounds like a great idea to me, but we'll see how it pans out. there have been plenty of main events that i wished could have went to extra rounds, but @ the same time who knows how it will affect the pacing...
also, fuck flyweights. 125lbs?? i'd rather watch real midgets fight. if you weigh less than gina corrano & you're a man, whats the point? cyborg could shit on you
Paul Daley Faces Evangelista ‘Cyborg’ Santos at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson on July 30
The last two fighters to face Nick Diaz in Strikeforce will now face each other on July 30 in Chicago.
Paul Daley has signed on to face Evangelista ‘Cyborg’ Santos on the upcoming Fedor vs. Henderson card set to go down at the Sears Center in Chicago.
Daley’s management team, Fight Management announced the fight to MMAWeekly.com on Sunday.
Originally, Santos was scheduled to face Team Quest fighter Tarec Saffiedine, but it appears Strikeforce has opted to go a difference direction for the July 30 card.
Daley returns to action following one of the most action packed single rounds in MMA history in his war, albeit brief, fight with Nick Diaz back in April.
Before succumbing to the champion to close the fight, Daley dropped Diaz midway through the first round and almost finished him, but he survived to battle back and finish the Brit with just seconds remaining.
Daley will now face another striker in Chute Boxe fighter Evangelista ‘Cyborg’ Santos.
“I’m happy to be fighting again. It’s a big fight. For those who haven’t seen the Melvin Manhoef vs. Cyborg fight, watch it and expect the same outcome for Cyborg … He’ll be knocked out,” Daley said.
“Just like me, Cyborg’s been around since the Cage Rage days. He brings experience and power to the cage, like me. He’s an aggressive guy, like me. And it will be an entertaining fight, like mine always are.”
Santos hasn’t fought since he lost to Diaz by armbar in January this year. Prior to that, Santos knocked out former Dream welterweight champion Marius Zaromskis in his first fight at 170lbs.
The bout between Daley and Santos will be a featured fight on the Chicago card coming up on July 30, headlined by the heavyweight super fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Dan Henderson.
Currently, the Strikeforce welterweight title remains up for grabs after Diaz vacated the belt to head over to the UFC to face champion Georges St-Pierre. While no announcement has been made if this fight has title implications, all signs would point to the winner being directly in the line for a shot at the belt in the future.
“Coming off the back of the Diaz fight, which a lot of people are talking about as one of the most exciting one round fights in MMA history, we’re looking forward to an equally if not more entertaining fight against another proven fighter in Cyborg,” said Daley’s manager Wad Alameddine. “These two guys are the top two Welterweights in Strikeforce behind Nick and it’s a fight all the fans are looking forward to. Let’s be honest, someone’s getting knocked out.”
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson takes place on Saturday night July 30 in Chicago’s Sears Center.
- An MMA organization called 'One Fighting Championship' is starting in Asia, and it appears to have some massive money backing them. The organization has one goal: to dominate MMA in Asia and they will have their first event on September 3rd in the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Expect a lot of your favorite Japanese fighters to make the transition to this new organization. Remember where you heard it first.
- After Kenny Florian wore his Boston Bruins jersey at the UFC 131 weigh-ins, he received verbal death threats from avid Vancouver Canuck fans later that evening.
- It's rumored that the UFC hired a law firm from New York to deal with the impending FTC investigation.
- Developers of UFC Undisputed 3 started a heavy campaign to get the game sanctioned in the Evo Championship Series.
- Unfortunately, MMA super agent, Ken Pavia (Pavia Holdings, LLC) is on the verge of going bankrupt.
- Apparently ADCC is charging upwards of $655 just to obtain media credentials for their event this year in Nottingham, England.
- It appears that since UFC is leaving Spike TV pending the completion of the G4 deal, M-1 Global has also thrown their hats in the Spike TV 'lottery.'
- Another heavy rumor is that an undisclosed deal was made with Showtime to relieve Nick Diaz of his Strikeforce contract. It seemed as if Showtime put up a good fight to prevent Diaz from vacating his belt and signing with the UFC, but within the undisclosed deal (and I really wish I knew what it was), it benefited both parties.
- Despite rumors early last week, Josh Barnett will have zero problems getting licensed for his upcoming Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix bout in Dallas, TX.
- Spike TV executives are calling The Ultimate Fighter Season 14 their 'final season.'
- As most of you have probably inferred by now, the G4/UFC deal is no where near complete.
- While it's a rumor that we introduced a few months ago, EA Sports may still be exploring developing a kickboxing game using the 'Fight Night Champion' engine.
- Not really a rumor, more of a fact, but after it was announced that Nick Diaz would face Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title, Gilbert Melendez personally contacted Dana White to simply ask where his title shot was.
- Late last week I made some phone calls to see what the deal is with NY MMA bill. Hate to say it folks, but MMA in New York will not pass this year. I bet all the money in my left pocket that it will not pass -- and yes I am wearing pants.
- A source out of Paul Daley's camp informed me that Cyborg Santos and Paul Daley will battle for possession of the now vacant Strikeforce welterweight belt.
- It's rumored that Gina Carano pulled out of her return fight in Strkeforce due to contractual obligations from Relativity Media and Overture Films.
- Former OZ star, Chuck Zito, is in talks to compete in an MMA organization based out of North Texas.
- Even though Dana White explicitly said UFC will go after the creators of animated gifs, there is nothing in the DMCA act that prevents these creations from being made.
- Look for Bellator to hold a contest starting this Fall/Winter for MMA highlight reel makers across the world to create a three-minute long highlight video depicting Bellator's greatest moments. No clue as to what prizes will be awarded, though.
- Many of you were wondering what happened with MiddleEasy's YouTube broadcast of the UFC 131 prelims yesterday. It appears that the UFC disabled embedding request for all sites at some point after the Omigawa fight.
- I also feel the need to dispel this rumor. No one at MiddleEasy/WorldOverEasy paid for this thread on The Underground to be created to sell more 'Angry Wallid' shirts. Although the controversy enabled us to sell a lot of Angry Wallid shirts, we did not plan this. However, a massive thanks goes out to everyone who bumped the thread.
- While it's not definite, don't be surprised if Joe Rogan is once again the host of 'Fear Factor.'
Two potent 135-pound punchers will do battle on Sept. 24, as the UFC announced Monday that Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto (Pictured; file photo) and Damacio Page have agreed to meet at UFC 135.
“These are two of the most aggressive sluggers in the always-exciting bantamweight division,” UFC President Dana White stated in a posting on UFC.com.
The matchup will mark the sophomore UFC outings of both Yamamoto, 34, and Page, 28. Both men faltered in their Octagon debuts, with the Japanese star dropping a unanimous decision to Demetrious Johnson in February, and Page being guillotine-choked for the second time by Brian Bowles in March.
Onetime K-1 Hero’s star Yamamoto has lost three of his last four on the judges’ scorecards, also falling by decision to current Bellator featherweight champ Joe Warren and former Sengoku ace Masanori Kanehara in Japan. The Krazy Bee gym leader’s only win since returning from knee surgery in 2009 came in a first-round knockout of Federico Lopez in May 2010.
Page has been guillotined in back-to-back bouts, falling also to “Mighty Mouse” Johnson in his final WEC appearance last November. The “Angel of Death” had previously won two straight, submitting Will Campuzano and viciously KO’ing Marcos Galvao in 2009.
While not yet formally announced by the promotion, the event is expected to take place at Denver’s Pepsi Center, and could be headlined by a light heavyweight title bout between champion Jon Jones and Quinton Jackson. A welterweight clash pitting Matt Hughes against Diego Sanchez has also been confirmed for the card.
Jorge Masvidal Talks Streetfighting, Machetes and KJ Noons Shooting On Him
If there are two things that should be taken away from this interview with top Strikeforce lightweight and star of Miami Hustle Jorge Masvidal, they are this: his fight this weekend with KJ Noons will probably be the fight of the night and Battlefield is better than Call of Duty. I'm sorry if you don't feel the same way, and I know Chadd Griggs might think differently, but it's the truth. Please accept it.
Jorge Masvidal took down the undefeated Billy Evangelista back in March and now he is poised to be the next in line to take away Gilbert's strap if he can get past KJ. In this exclusive interview, Jorge enlightens us on his streetfighting past, machetes, and why he thinks KJ Noons will stop standing and shoot on him this Saturday, only at MiddleEasy.com.
You're only 26 years old, you have 27 pro MMA fights and were an avid streetfighter, what's your lifetime fight total?
Oh total? Man, I don't know, I have many more street fights than just the two on film but, I mean since I was little...I've been fighting. I have so many fights in the street. Counting street fights or even a party street fight? I don't even know. You go out on a weekend and you might get in two or three fights just at a house party or a club. House parties, you gotta defend yourself. I had more than a couple scraps.
What is the best lesson you have learned in street fights that has transitioned to pro MMA?
Well the best lesson I can't do in MMA...
What is that?
Always hit first! Sucker punch the guy hahaha, yeah. On the street there are no rules. You don't know if a guy will pull out a machete or his friends are gonna hit you with a pair of brass knuckles, you never know. In the street you just gotta survive, it's not like MMA. But just be tough man, people might be bigger or faster than you but you can't give up, you can't ever give up.
Wait, so has someone pulled a machete on you?
Yeah man some guy tried to fight me at a house party so I kicked his ass. After awhile the guy and his brother showed up with a big machete knife. I saw them coming t=so I left out the back door and walked home 20 blocks.
Do you miss street fighting?
Like the organized street fights or just like scrapping?
Both I guess?
Well I don't miss getting in random scraps, I don't miss defending myself. As far as organized, it's fun going out there and just throwing hands and going to kick some but but I don't miss it too much. It may have been the beginning of my career but it doesn't pay the bills so I'm not interested. The only reason I would do it again though is because I know the fans love it. That's what the fans like, the bare knuckle, in the grass just throwing down style. I would do it for the fans.
How did you get hooked up with Juan Carlos Faraldo and American Top Team?
Back in the day in high school I would wrestle during the season and box during the off season just because I liked it. I boxed at like, this little government funded gym. Then I joined a little hole in the wall gym that now is kinda big or whatever. I was doing my stand up at one gym, and I already had a foundation in my training going in, but they gave me an ultimatum while I was doing all of my MMA training at this place, like BJJ, to leave the other gym and come with them. So i said no. That door shut but it opened a ton of other options for me, so I joined ATT... then I had never done strength and conditioning, that's where Juan came in. Now I'm getting in shape for fights the right way.
When Jorge Santiago, JZ and those guys left ATT down in Florida, were you part of the exodus?
No I'm 100% ATT, I have nothing to do with that split. Those are my boys and are good, good friends of mine, Jorge, JZ, everyone we were sparring partners and beat the crap out of each other for four years, we got along alright. I'm ATT, they just had a falling out and didn't see eye to eye, I don't know the exact details, I know that as far as training things aren't going exactly how they wanted, it just sucks that they couldn't come to an agreement.
Where does the 'Gamebred' nickname come from?
I was always a fan of pitbulls, not the dog fighting aspect of it, but just the animal is incredible. You ask them to pull weight and they will just do it and pull weight no matter what just because it's bred into them, not to give up because of pain and fatigue. My brother was always the one who told me that I should use that nickname because back when I first started fighting, I didn't have the technique, but I had that aggressiveness.
So even though you have a wrestling background, you are known as a striker...is it safe to say this match with KJ Noons will not see the ground?
Yeah it's safe to say I want to punch him in the face and he wants to do the same. It's very safe to say that this fight isn't going to the ground. I wouldn't be surprised if he went for a take down. Every striker I've fought, bigger, faster, stronger: they have all shot for a take down on me. Not because I'm the most explosive puncher in the division, but it's because I can frustrate people with my footwork and my defense and head movement. I frustrate them so they go for the shot. Every striker that has been called a 'striker' or a 1 dimensional stand up guy, has shot on me. I won't be surprised if he shoots for a take down.
A lot of people thought that since this fight was originally on the prelim card, you and KJ got a raw deal. Are you under rated?
Yeah you know what I am under rated. I had that loss to Toby Imada and I was supposed to win that fight you know? I think that set me back a lot. In Japan I had that fight where he hits me and sits me down. I wasn't out cold or anything but as soon as my butt hit that canvas the referee got in. Good shot but I wasn't hurt. Then I fought Paul Daley and I thought I beat him fair and square, they just didn't give it to me.Some ups and down.
Well Strikeforce is a little different now, they say winner of this fight between you and KJ gets a shot at Gilbert, and Nick Diaz just vacated the welterweight title. Would you move up?
Definitely. I wouldn't mind fighting at 170 as long as I got paid cause I'm giving up a little weight at 170...Even if the money is just good I will go to 170...I got some buddies in that weight class but I wouldn't mind. Other than that I would fight Nick Diaz, Paul Daley anyone.
Well Diaz vacated.
Oh shit.
Yeah
That's crazy. I'm positive no one will be able to stop my boy Woodley though.
Would you be open to a Paul Daley rematch?
Oh most definitely. Not cause I don't like Paul, he's a cool dude and a great fighter but I would love to kick his ass again man. I just, I thought I won that fight and it was on 3 weeks notice...I want a training camp behind me then lets go to war.
What's the story behind you and Miami Hustle?
Well we were all together already, but Genghis Con came in later and he and Juan had the idea and invited me to come along so I was like hell yeah. Genghis wanted to do a little something for my fight leading up to the Paul Daley fight so I guess he just saw something he liked.
So in the latest episode you are made out to be a pretty big Call of Duty addict. Are you a big gamer?
Shit man, I'm like a ten year old when it comes to gaming man. I was just on CoD before I got to the gym today, going on there talking trash. I love that game you are going against real people and when you come in first place oh it feels so...ohhh.
So you are playing Black Ops right now?
Some of my boys don't like Treyarch they like Infinity Ward, so we play Modern Warfare. That and Street Fighter is big for me.
What do I have to do to get you to drop CoD and pick up Battlefield?
Battlefield? What is that? I don't even know what that is man.
Battlefield? Really?
Yeah man, the thing is for upcoming games I don't even pay attention, I don't ever watch TV. I might watch some boxing or wrestling then play games. I never know.
You gotta expand your horizons, Battlefield is far superior to CoD.
Nahhhhhhhhh, man. No man, nothing is better than Call of Duty...(kinda long pause) Maannnn.
I swear to you I played CoD for years, Battlefield is the better shooter.
It's like a 1st person shooter then like old school or modern?
It's currently modern warfare, but it's more squad based and tactical with destructive environments. A more cerebral shooter than CoD.
(sounds genuinely impressed) That's awesome. Battlefield 3? I'm gonna look at a preview of it tonight.
How is Jorge Santiago handling the loss to Brian Stann?
Personally Ive been a little busy and I'm not sure if he is back in Florida.
What happened to your leg at the end of the Yves Edwards fight in BoDog?
In the first round I kicked him and he did a fucking amazing check he nailed his knee into my foot, not even on my foot but between my shin and my foot, that little gap there. He just nailed it and it hurt the nerves. At the end of the first in the corner it was swollen like a football and they were putting ice on it. So I go back out there and in the heat of the battle I threw more kicks and he checked em again and my foot was swollen man. It hurt so bad. He kept throwing this jab or something and I saw an opening, so I said pain or no pain I gotta throw this kick to counter. So I'm looking for it and looking for it, and as soon as I caught him and took him down and the ref stopped it. It was like all the pain just rushed in from like nothing to: I thought I broke my fucking leg.
As a Strikeforce fighter, what are your thoughts on the Zuffa purchase?
I think it's awesome, as a fighter, no one but like, me and you know this shit, the sport of MMA. When I talk to people they are like 'oh you do that UFC stuff?' No I don't do that UFC stuff. I fight. Then I tell them I fight in Japan and they are wondering if it's pro...yeah it's fucking pro you asshole man. So it's awesome to have the UFC and the brand to market you.
Any matchups you want from the UFC?
You know it don't matter. I want to clean out Strikeforce from top to bottom first. When the fans want it, the fights will happen. So I gotta just make the fans want it. I'm fighting who I want to fight right now.
(if you've never seen Jorge's fights against Ray...)
lol this is the most Japanese fight you could make that doesn't involve Minowa or Sapp
Todd Duffee vs. Nick "Afrozilla" Gaston, Osawa vs. Fujiwara Added To DREAM.17
Two new fights are official for next month's DREAM.17 event: heavyweights Todd Duffee (6-2 MMA, 0-1 DREAM) vs. Nick Gaston (5-0 MMA, 0-0 DREAM) and a Japan bantamweight grand-prix third-place fight of Kenji Osawa (17-10-2 MMA, 2-1 DREAM) vs. Keisuke Fujiwara (11-3-4 MMA, 1-0 DREAM).
DREAM.17 is slated for July 16 at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo.
The Japan bantamweight tournament's finale also concludes at the show.
No North American broadcast plans have been announced for the show.
Duffee, a former top UFC heavyweight prospect who eventually butted heads with management, was released from the organization following a UFC 114 loss to Mike Russow. The 25-year-old, who owns the fastest knockout in UFC history (seven seconds), then took a late-notice booking with Alistair Overeem for the vacant DREAM heavyweight championship back in December. Duffee, though, quickly suffered a 19-second knockout loss due to knee strikes and punches.
He looks to avoid a third straight loss when he meets Gaston. "Afrozilla" fights for the first time outside of KOTC, where he's gone undefeated with wins over Josh Watson (6-1 at the time) and UFC vet Darrill Schoonover. The Ohio-based fighter's past four victories have come via stoppage.
Osawa, meanwhile, joined DREAM earlier this year after a four-fight (1-2-1) stint with the WEC. In the opening round of the Japan bantamweight grand prix, he picked up his fourth win in five fights with a split-decision victory over Takafumi Otsuka. But later that night, Masakazu Imanari submitted him in a semifinal-round fight.
Osawa was expected to fight fellow semifinalist Atsushi Yamamoto in the third-place fight, and the winner would gain entry into a worldwide DREAM bantamweight grand prix expected to kick off later this year. Yamamoto, though, pulled out of the fight with an eye injury, which opened the door for Fujiwara.
Fujiwara competed in the grand prix and suffered a decision loss to Masakazu Imanari in an opening-round fight. Prior to the defeat, the ZST champion went 4-0-1 in his previous five fights.
The latest DREAM.17 card now includes:
Champ Gegard Mousasi vs. Hiroshi Izumi (for light-heavyweight title)
Champ Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Kazuyuki Miyata (for featherweight title)
Masakazu Imanari vs. Hideo Tokoro (Japan bantamweight-tourney finale)
Keisuke Fujiwara vs. Kenji Osawa (Japan bantamweight-tourney third-place fight)
Todd Duffee vs. Nick Gaston
Willamy Freire vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Former World Victory Road/Sengoku featherweight champion Hatsu Hioki (24-4-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) officially is octagon-bound.
UFC officials today announced the top-ranked Japanese star is the newest addition to the roster of the world's biggest MMA promotion.
Officials did not reveal Hioki's debut appearance and first opponent.
"FYI – guard-smashing savant Hatsu Hioki, a top-ranked featherweight, has been signed to the UFC roster," UFC officials stated on the promotion's official Twitter account. "Welcome!"
The 27-year-old holds an incredible 12-1-1 record in his past 14 outings, with the lone loss coming in controversial split-decision fashion to current UFC fighter Michihiro Omigawa in a Novemebr 2009 Sengoku bout.
Fighting almost exclusively in Japan during his near-nine-year career, Hioki has earned 16 of his 24 career wins via stoppage, including 12 via submission. Hioki has fought three times in Canada, a run that includes a pair of victories over recent UFC 145-pound title-challenger Mark Hominick.
Hioki also owns career victories over notables Jeff Curran, Ronnie Mann, Marlon Sandro and Rumina Sato, among others.
Hioki, who was the reigning Sengoku champion, follows the path of Brazilian middleweight Jorge Santiago, who also recently vacated his title in Japan in favor of fighting for the UFC.
