Dominick Cruz retains title in hotly-contested clash with Urijah Faber at UFC 132

A month of non-stop weekend MMA action came to an end Saturday night but not before UFC perhaps the biggest card of the summer and “UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber II”. The show was headlined by a bantamweight battle between bitters rivals with champ Dominick Cruz avenging the only loss of his career against charismatic [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/07/02/ufc-132-cruz-vs-faber-live-results-and-coverage/

Kendall Grove Clay Guida Jason Guida Melvin Guillard

Yahya vs. Mendes and Gustafsson vs. Matyushenko Announced for ?UFC 133 Prelims?

After sticking it to UFC president Dana White with their counter-programming efforts a couple of Sundays ago, Spike TV has once again joined forces with the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion to broadcast a pair of free preliminary bouts. As expected, “UFC 133 Prelims” returns August 6th with a thrilling featherweight fight between Rani [...]

Source: http://www.5thRound.com/80571/yahya-vs-mendes-and-gustafsson-vs-matyushenko-officially-announced-for-ufc-133-prelims/

Ricardo Arona  Noboru Asahi Marcus Aurelio  Mikhail Avetisyan

Nate Marquardt points to testosterone replacement therapy as the reason for his suspension and firing

Nate Marquardt pointed to testosterone replacement therapy and high levels of testosterone in his system as the reasons he was suspended by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission, dropped from the main event at UFC on Versus 4 and subsequently fired by the UFC.

Marquardt stated his case to AOL on Ariel Helwani's show.

Bloody Elbow's Mike Fagan had a rundown of the conversation.

[1:06 p.m. ET] [...] Nate says he wasn't cleared to fight because of a situation he's dealt with since August. Feeling sluggish, horrible. Memory was off. Doctor did tests, which came back for low testosterone.

He went on testosterone therapy. Went to the UFC to discuss it. He went on treatment. Was on treatment until the first of this year. Applied for therapeutic-use exemption for fight against Dan Miller. Commission allowed it, but they wanted Nate to do tests after fight. Go off treatment for 8 weeks and take blood tests. Nate claims he went off treatment, took the three blood tests. Results came back and doctor wrote letter that said Nate had low testosterone and was a candidate for treatment.

Just three weeks before the Story, Marquardt then made the strange move of going back on TRT fight saying his doctor wanted more to go with a more aggressive approach.

[...] Nate took treatment for two weeks. Took a blood test to make sure he was within normal range, but that test came back high (out of range). Nate started to panic.

Nate admits he should have requested testing earlier from his doctor. Nate took several tests the week of the fight, which showed his levels falling, but still above acceptable range. Close by weigh-in, but still above. At that point, the Pennsylvania commission told him he wouldn't be able to fight, put on suspension.

Nate took another blood test on the day of the fight, and his levels were within proper range.

(His manager Lex) McMahon notes that Marquardt didn't do anything that wasn't communicated to the UFC, athletic commissions.

Marquardt explained why he went on TRT.

[...] Nate runs through symptoms: sluggish, no energy, poor memory, etc. Talks about other tests they ran: brain scans, mono test, blood test for other hormones. Nate runs through list of possible reasons: genetic, problem with testicles, pituitary gland problem. But Nate isn't sure why he personally has low testosterone.

According to Fagan, Marquardt got a little emotional

[1:17 p.m.] I'm not a doctor, but I need to take responsibility. I'm the one fighting, not my doctor. I'm the one in the main event. I'm the one that messed up. Nate choking up at this point.

Marquardt says he was approved while on TRT for his March fight against Dan Miller at UFC 128 in New Jersey.

Nate said he received a letter around January/February that said the NJSACB received his TUE, that his application seemed incomplete, that his treatment was not USADA approved. Nate explains his doctor was using an "off-label" medication. [...] Nate says his levels were within range for the Miller fight. When he went off to meet the NJSACB requirements -- three blood tests and eight weeks off treatment -- he was off for 10-11 weeks before he restarted.

Nate explains he felt even worse after going off treatment. He explains that his mood improved after starting treatment, may have saved his marriage.

Marquardt explained that this issue probably arose because he switched from taking pills to straight testosterone injections before UFC on Versus 4.

Nate laments not taking blood test after first injection. Nate was nervous about taking testosterone injections, wishes he hadn't in retrospect.

[...] Nate said he's talked to different doctors, who have recommended different things. Says he needs to do more research.

[...] Nate said he wants to go back to the oral medication if he can. He doesn't know his plan going forward, however.

[...]  McMahon says when New Jersey said doctors forms were incomplete, using treatment not approved by USADA, it should have been an indication for the team. Nate says he won't be using that doctor going forward.

Last week was incredibly hectic for Marquardt. Just 15 minutes before the weigh-in, he found out from the PSAC that his testosterone levels were still too high.

Marquardt hopes the UFC will change its mind.

Throughout today's conversation, the word transparent was used to describe how much the UFC was kept in the loop. That's where the confusion lies. It still seems by the reaction of Dana White and the UFC, that they were blindsided by this on Saturday.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Nate-Marquardt-points-to-testosterone-replacemen?urn=mma-wp4098

Rashad Evans Urijah Faber Wagnney Fabiano Kevin Kimbo Slice Ferguson

Sotiropoulos interview: It?s time to put an end to 155 contenders losing big fights

After Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard finally meet for a third time, it's anyone's guess who'll be standing next in the line for a title shot in the UFC's lightweight division.

It's seems like each time someone is on the verge of locking up No. 1 contender status they flop in their next fight. It just happened to Anthony Pettis at "The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale," and George Sotiropoulos felt that same sting against Denis Siver back at UFC 127.

Sotiropoulos (14-3, 7-1 UFC) is back this weekend and isn't too down about his loss to Siver. He wasn't blown out in the fight, plus the UFC is also very high on Siver's game. Aussie knows he can get right in line behind the champ and challenger with a few good performances.

"The contenders ... it's a big mess in there right now," Sotiropoulos told RawVegas.tv. "The guys who are up there, a lot of us, have lost recently. I think a lot of us are still up there, but it's just changed the timing of everything."

Sotiropoulous admitted he just wasn't on his game that night.

"It's never the same. You always want to be at a certain point. I've always noticed something is always a little different in every fight, whether it's good or bad," Sotiropoulos said. "You've gotta roll through it, and move through it and press on regardless."

Sotiropoulos may have been a little off because of the short time between his fight at UFC 127 and his previous tilt as UFC 123, just 13 weeks earlier.

The challenges this time around is game planning for an opponent change. Sotiropoulos is facing Rafael dos Anjos (14-5, 3-3 UFC), who replaced Evan Dunham in early May. Both are good grapplers, but Dunham is a guy who works behind a nice jab while dos Anjos throws his punches like a wild man.

Sotiropoulos is a minus-270 favorite over the Brazilian.

You can watch UFC 132 right here on Yahoo! Sports

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Sotiropoulos-interview-It-s-time-to-put-an-end-?urn=mma-wp4139

Matt Andersen  Alex Andrade  Jermaine Andrè  Yoji Anjo 

UFC and Bellator bantamweights take center stage

The old adage in combat sports is that smaller athletes never bring the same amount of interest as the big fighters. That truism will be put to the test this weekend for the UFC and this fall for Bellator, as both promotions rely on the little guys to bring in plenty of pay-per-view buys and ratings.

At UFC 132, the UFC is putting their faith in the hands of two exciting bantamweights on what is traditionally one of their biggest weekends. Over the past two years, PPV king Brock Lesnar has headlined the 4th of July card. This year, the UFC has swung to the other end of the weight classes, as they rely on 135-lb. champ Dominick Cruz and former champ Urijah Faber to bring in the eyeballs.

Faber is already a big name who has headlined a pay-per-view. At WEC 48, Faber and Jose Aldo headlined a card that was considered a success by WEC standards. Through lots of promotion and smart sponsorships, Faber has become more well-known than any other WEC fighters, even among those who still hold their belts.

Cruz is not in the same boat. Though he's defended his championship belt twice, all of his fights have been on WEC cards. What will help fans get to know Cruz is his beef with the normally mild-mannered Faber.

The two fought early in Faber's run as the WEC featherweight champ, and since Faber won that bout with a guillotine, enmity has simmered between them. On Twitter, in interviews and in the "Countdown" show, they've talked about their dislike for each other. That will add heat to what promises to be an exciting bout.

Similarly, Bellator is hoping that their bantamweight tournament will draw in fans when its season starts on September 24. It has firepower. Featherweight champ Joe Warren is dropping down, and in the first round will face Alexis Vila, an Olympic bronze medal-winning wrestler from Cuba who like Warren, holds a world championship in wrestling.

The other first-round match-ups are Eduardo Dantas vs. Joe Soto (a former Bellator FW champ), Luiz Nogueira vs. Ed West, and Chase Beebe (former WEC champ) vs. Marcos Galvao (WEC veteran).

Will the 135-lbers deliver? Speak your mind in the comment section or on Facebook.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/UFC-and-Bellator-bantamweights-take-center-stage?urn=mma-wp4129

Ian Freeman Don Frye Tony Fryklund Kazuyuki Fujita

UFC 132 Post-Fight Press Conference Recap: Bonuses, Attendance, Wanderlei?s Future, and More

Last night at UFC 132 fans were treated to an early display of fireworks as the fighters of the UFC put on one of the better cards in recent memory. The card took place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Cruz, Faber, Ortiz, and Condit all picked up $75,000 bonuses for their efforts. Also, UFC President Dana White comments on the future of Wanderlei Silva and more.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/19042/ufc-132-post-fight-press-conference-recap-bonuses-attendance-wanderleis-future-and-more/

Mikhail Avetisyan Luiz Azeredo  Luciano Azevedo  Ba Te er 

The Walk Out ? ?UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber?

UFC is bringing the fireworks this 4th of July weekend with one of the most stacked cards, top to bottom, in recent months. UFC 132 is not only a great card from the first fight to the main event, it?s also a great way to cap off a very busy month of MMA action. And [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/07/01/the-walk-out-ufc-132-cruz-vs-faber/

Stav Crazy Bear Economou  Yves Edwards  Justin Eilers  Jon Olav Einemo