Paulo Thiago out of UFC 142 with elbow injury

Brazilian fans were likely left with a strong sense of disappointment this morning when news surfaced relating to popular fighter Paulo Thiago?s health, as it appears he will no longer be able to fight next month in Rio de Janeiro at UFC 142 as had been expected after injuring his elbow while training. The 30-year [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/12/16/paulo-thiago-out-of-ufc-142-with-elbow-injury

Luiz Cane  Dos Caras Jr   Phil Cardella Roan Jucao Carneiro

Alistair Overeem: ?I?m gonna beat up Brock Lesnar??

Typically opposing fighters enter a bout full of confidence but rarely is it at the level exuded by heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem a few weeks out from their main event match-up on December 30 at UFC 141. Ask either behemoth and he?s likely to tell you he will not only beat the other [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/12/16/alistair-overeem-%e2%80%9ci%e2%80%99m-gonna-beat-up-brock-lesnar%e2%80%a6%e2%80%9d

Takanori The Fireball Kid Gomi Akihiro Gono Gabriel Gonzaga Lyman Good

Scott Jorgensen fighting Renan Barao at UFC 143

The UFC?s Super Bowl Weekend event grew today with the addition of a battle between highly-touted bantamweights Scott Jorgensen and Renan Barao. Both 135ers have the momentum of winning streaks at their back and the bout is certain to have major implications on the division?s contendership picture in 2012, possibly even earning the winner a [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/12/09/scott-jorgensen-fighting-renan-barao-at-ufc-143

Ba Te er  Ryan Bader  Siyar Bahadurzada Bao Ligao 

Ian McCall Welcomes Challenge Against Demetrious Johnson at UFC on FX 2

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Ian McCall will make his UFC debut in March at UFC on FX 2 in Australia against recent UFC bantamweight title challenger Demetrious Johnson. And as a representative of UFC's new flyweight division, McCall (11-2) wants to introduce himself to fans in a dramatic way.

"I became No. 1 for a reason," McCall said Monday on The MMA Hour. "I rededicated myself, I think that [135-pounders] don't finish people enough. I'm a finisher. I can make it exciting. I can make it what people want to see. That's one thing I can promise that people will be always be happy after I fight."

McCall admits his first experience under the Zuffa banner was underwhelming. Fighting for the Zuffa-era WEC in 2007 and 2009, McCall compiled a 1-2 record with the promotion.

"I kinda blew it in the WEC," the 27-year-old said. "I took it for granted. I didn't work very hard."

Since his last WEC fight, McCall has won four straight, including a win over Jussier da Silva to earn his No. 1 standing at flyweight.

Now, McCall will take on Johnson in the semifinals of an unofficial tournament to crown the first-ever UFC flyweight champion. Top contender Joseph Benavidez will take on 123-pound Shooto champ Yasuhiro Urushitani on the other side of the bracket.

McCall thinks Johnson is the ideal opponent to show what he's all about.

"i really, really wanted this fight because he's so talented," McCall said. "And also because he's riding so high and everyone is so stoked on him. I think it's a good fight for me. I think I match up well -- not only to win but to make it exciting. I like challenging myself. I don't want to go in there and fight some random guy who sucks. I want to fight the best."

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/12/14/ian-mccall-welcomes-challenge-against-demetrious-johnson-at-ufc/

Todd Duffee  Marvin Eastman  Stav Crazy Bear Economou  Yves Edwards 

Fabricio Werdum Returns to the UFC

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Former Strikeforce heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum is headed back to the UFC.

UFC president Dana White confirmed with MMAFighting.com on Thursday that Werdum "is a UFC fighter." Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

White would not confirm when Werdum would make his return to the organization, however, MMAWeekly.com and other outlets reported on Wednesday that "Vai Cavalo" would meet Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas.

Werdum (14-5-1) last appeared in the UFC in Oct. 2009 when he lost via first-round knockout to Junior dos Santos. The promotion released the Brazilian following the fight, which led to him subsequently signing with Strikeforce. The 34-year-old went 3-1 in Strikeforce, with his defining moment coming in June 2010 when he submitted Fedor Emelianenko in the first round. Werdum was last seen in a Strikeforce cage losing to Alistair Overeem via unanimous decision. He went 2-2 in the UFC.

On Thursday, White announced that the Strikeforce heavyweight division would be abolished in 2012, following the conclusion of the heavyweight grand prix and the GP winner fighting one more time in the organization.

 

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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/12/15/fabricio-werdum-returns-to-the-ufc/

Edson Drago  Tomasz Drwal Joe Hybrid Duarte Aldrin de Jesus 

UFC 140 headliner between Jones-Machida named ?Fight of the Night?

Last night?s bout between UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones and former title-holder Lyoto Machida lived up to the high expectations most had entering UFC 140 after the Brazilian challenger came out strong only for ?Bones? to take over in the second round, putting him away with a Standing Guillotine Choke. Not only was it [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/12/11/ufc-140-headliner-between-jones-machida-named-%e2%80%9cfight-of-the-night%e2%80%9d

Justin Eilers  Jon Olav Einemo Per Eklund Jason Ellis

Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort named as coaches for TUF: Brasil

A rematch nearly fifteen years in the making will take center stage this spring when UFC middleweights Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort each take the reins of an Ultimate Fighter team as part of the recently announced TUF: Brasil, then face off against each other in June to settle the score stemming from their first [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/12/13/wanderlei-silva-vitor-belfort-named-as-coaches-for-tuf-brasil

Jai Bradney  Ebenezer Fontes Braga Chris Brennan Marcelo Brito 

The UFC, coming to an online slot machine near you

The UFC, coming to an online slot machine near you

The UFC is inextricably linked to gambling. Owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta also own Station Casinos, and several of the promotions biggest events took place in Las Vegas casinos. Soon, you'll be able to see fighters as you gamble your millions away on online slot machines.

SportsBusiness Journal reports that the UFC struck a deal with Endemol, a company that creates online slot machines. Though the deal will only be in the United Kingdom to start, they're hoping to expand to more places where online gaming is legal.

"Everybody wants to make money, but even more important than that, this is a great extension of our brand," Lawrence Epstein, UFC executive vice president said.

I can't wait to see how this turns out. If you hit the jackpot, does Dana White come on to congratulate you? If you bet conservatively, does he ask, "Do you want to be a [expletive] fighter?" When you bust, does an Anderson Silva punch come at your monitor?

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/The-UFC-coming-to-an-online-slot-machine-near-y?urn=mma-wp10721

Jon Olav Einemo Per Eklund Jason Ellis Aleksander Emelianenko