Dana White Comments On Affliction Counter Programming UFC 100

Shortly after Affliction announced that they would indeed counter program against UFC 100, FiveOuncesOfPain texted UFC President Dana White.

This is what they got back: “How do I feel about them trying to counter-program UFC 100?,” White began his statement, before continuing, “I love it. I fucking love it. I love it. I don’t like these guys and I want to see them spend more of their t-shirt money. What they should be worrying about is — they’ve already seen first hand that nobody gives a shit about Affliction MMA — what they need to starting worrying about is nobody wants to wear their goofy fucking clothes anymore either. The fad is over and they better start saving as much of that t-shirt money as they can.”

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GSP-Penn Winner Gets Thiago Alves

Not surprisingly, Dana White announced that Thiago Alves is next in line to get a shot at the Welterweight Championship, whoever the champion may be.

"He's next in line for a title shot. If GSP beats B.J. Penn, then (Alves) fights GSP. If B.J. Penn wins, then he fights B.J. And then he'd have to defend that title for a while before I let him move up and try to fight Anderson.

-Dana White"

I say "not surprisingly" because Alves has been unstoppable as of late and he has some big victories under his belt. Alves is 9-2 in the UFC, winning his last 7 fights. He has some big wins, including a decision over Josh Koscheck and knockouts of Matt Hughes and Karo Parisyan. Look out for "The Pitbull".

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Jon Fitch Back in the UFC

In a nice "I was about to say..." moment, Jon Fitch is now a UFC fighter again. Apparently, communication broke down between him and Dana (go figure), however Lorenzo Fertitta saved the day. From MMA Rated:

“Communication kind of broke down with Dana (White) so we talked with Lorenzo,” Fitch told MMARated. “(I) just got off the phone with him and we came to an agreement. We’re going to move ahead and I’ll be back in the UFC. We’re going to sign off on the video game and I’m back. It was never even about the agreement or the contract. It was the approach that we felt Dana was being a little bit hot-headed and was threatening us right off the bat. It didn’t seem like a professional way of doing things.”

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Ken Shamrock Interview (Our Second)

Ben Zeidler recently chatted with legend Ken Shamrock about his own future in MMA, the future of his son, a potential match up with brother Frank, and of course…Dana White.

Ben Zeidler: What do you think of the IFL changing to a true camp format?

Ken Shamrock: I think that they tried to start out with one concept and it wasn’t working. No one could keep the teams together. We [Nevada Lions] were the only ones who could really do it. Since the guys don’t really train together all the time, they were going in different directions. Now, you can just pull the people in your camp who are ready and it’ll work out well.

Ben Zeidler: Can the IFL serve as a viable opposition to the UFC or should we not even be comparing the two organizations.

Ken Shamrock: They’re not even the same competition. The UFC has been there since the beginning and they’re a brand of individual fighting. Of course, it takes a team for an individual to get there, but saying that the IFL can or should compete with the UFC is very premature. The UFC is so strong because guys like me and Randy [Couture] and Royce [Gracie] built it into a strong brand.

Ben Zeidler: Recently, one of your biggest adversaries, Tito Ortiz, has been expressing the same displeasure you’ve exhibited regarding Dana White and how he handles his business. Why would Dana purposely cut off all of his “legends?”

Ken Shamrock: Everyone understands that he wants to be the show and if anyone threatens his popularity or strength, whether he’s right or wrong, Dana will go after them. He always says, verbatim, “I’m gonna bury him.” It’s this power thing for him and it’s gonna work for a while because myself, Chuck [Liddell], Tito [Ortiz], Randy [Couture] built this thing up. We gave Dana White the strength to do what he’s doing now but he’s hurting everything that we built. He can’t stop and just admit that this isn’t about him. It’s about the guys who went the distance with the UFC and kept them strong. Dana handles the UFC hall of fame and he inducted me. Even then, he had to be the center of attention. He needs to learn that it’s not about him. He calls fighters out. He calls managers out. Is Dana White a promoter or a fighter?

Ben Zeidler: Is it possible that Dana White is jealous of Tito’s success with The Apprentice and Punishment Athletics? Maybe Tito is becoming too big for Dana’s liking.

Ken Shamrock: Tito is not a “yes-man.” Dana White has a hard time people who have some edges and we all have them. We all know that being a fighter, you have to have some edges. One thing that I can say is that if you look down the history of the UFC and track and see what has happened with different guys, you’ll se a pattern. If you don’t follow Dana’s rules, he’ll pack up his toys and go home and he won’t let you play with his toys anymore. Somewhere along the line, as time goes on, the guys who built this will make him answer to his actions.

Ben Zeidler: I recently read that you’re in the best shape of your life. Can you talk a little bit about how you got there so late in your career?

Ken Shamrock: Unfortunately, I’ve gone through injuries stemming from my cutting weight. I blew my knee out and then that took some time to get that where it needed to be. Then my shoulder went out and I needed some things replaced. One after another plagued me during the last few years. I’m one of those guys who will not quit and I’ll keep fighting, which is important to me but I know it means even more to my fans. My injuries restricted what I like to do, which is grapple, and I haven’t been able to do that due to my serious injuries. I’ve fought through those and now I’m able to sit back and go, you know what? I’m back. I can go into training and grapple punch, kick, take down, throw in leg locks, and I don’t get tired or worse during training. I get better. It’s a good feeling, man, and it’s been four years since I felt this good. I need to get some matches under my belt now. I’ve got a fight on March 8th and I’m gonna put a hurting on him.

Ben Zeidler: Let’s talk about this fight. You’ll be fighting at Cage Rage 25 against Robert Berry. What do you know about this guy and what’s your game plan for the fight?

Ken Shamrock: He’s 11-7, 6’3”, 250 pounds. He doesn’t like to go past the first round and I respect that he doesn’t want it to go to a judge’s decision. I respect a guy like that. I’m looking forward to stepping in there. For four years, I’ve been struggling and it’s time. Knock on wood.

Ben Zeidler: I was gonna say. You better be careful during training.

Ken Shamrock: (Laughs) I know it, man. I’m gonna give it back to the fans. I know it’s been a hard time and it’s been very frustrating. But now, I can give it back.

Ben Zeidler: Your son, who is 1-0 in MMA competition, is also fighting at the event. What is more exciting, your comeback or your son’s first mainstream fight?

Ken Shamrock: Definitely my comeback, but when my son is on the same card, that’s great too. It’s never been done in MMA fighting. People ask me if I’m scared about his fighting. I don’t get scared, I know what the dangers are, I know what he faces, and I am comfortable with him going in. I know that he’s trained well and he’s trained properly and he’s in no more danger than in a school fight.

Ben Zeidler: He’s probably safer than he would be in a school fight. He’s got a referee, a cutman, and set rules.

Ken Shamrock: Exactly! He’s definitely safer.

Ben Zeidler: What pieces of wisdom have you passed along to your son?

Ken Shamrock: Well, you know, one thing that comes to mind is when we were traveling on a train going to an IFL championship fight. I like to take the train, it’s about a two day trip, and they have a whole restaurant on there and everything. Anyway, he was still doing culinary arts school and fighting never entered my mind for him. If he wanted to, I would support it, but they had never expressed any interest in fighting as a profession. I’ll let their minds float and they’ll do what they want to do. So he says “Dad, I want to talk to you about something.” I was really nervous, but then he goes “I want to put college on hold and try fighting.” For me, it was just…wow. I stepped back for a second and asked him where this came from. He told me that he had been training and it was something he wanted to do. I told him that it was great, but I made him promise me that if we put college on hold, you’re gonna go back. He told me that it sounded good and that he just wanted to be able to focus 100% on his first few fights.

Ben Zeidler: Would you ever support him signing with the UFC?

Ken Shamrock: You know, the UFC is something that I built with the help of other people. White has taken that away from me and it’s not his to take. I’m hoping that options will open up and my son will able to fighting there and take back the UFC. For now, I want to be able to control his opponents until the changes are made to the UFC where Royce [Gracie] and Randy [Couture] could have their kids fight and not have to worry about the politics.

Ben Zeidler: Yeah, if he went in now, theyd probably throw him to the sharks. First opponent: Sean Sherk.

Ken Shamrock: Dana White hasn’t always been that way. He really loved the sport and now he’s let some animal take over.

Ben Zeidler: I’ve read that a fight with Frank [Shamrock] could be in the works. Can you confirm that with us?

Ken Shamrock: Yes. I have already said that this is something that I want to happen. Frank made the challenge and I accepted it. Frank loves that hype and then finds a way to drop the fight. We have lots of difference and we don’t see eye to eye and that’s why we’re gonna fight.

Ben Zeidler: Brother vs. Brother. That should be a media circus.

Ken Shamrock: I’ve done lots of firsts in MMA. First with my son and then my brother.

Ben Zeidler: If you do fight Frank, what would your game plan be? Where do you have the edge?

Ken Shamrock: Mentally. I have beaten him down so many times mentally, he’s never gotten the best of me and he knows that. Frank won’t wait though – we’ll do this soon. He keeps doing this show with his countdown but the date keeps getting pushed back. I think it’s a countdown of me getting older.

Ben Zeidler: I think it’s a countdown until you’re on your deathbed.

Ken Shamrock: (Laughs) Yeah, that’s when he’ll want this fight.

Ben Zeidler: He’s getting older too, though.

Ken Shamrock: Yeah, but he’s still ten years younger!

Ben Zeidler: Okay, okay, anything to say to your fans that have been waiting for the old Ken to return?

Ken Shamrock: I appreciate all of the support through the ups and downs. The last few years have been so difficult and I know it’s been difficult for you guys. These next couple of years, hey Ben, I’m giving those years back.

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Mayweather Considering A Move To MMA

The man who has most publicly derided the sport of MMA is considering trying his hand at the popular sport, of course, only if the money was right.

Check out our past articles on the topic:

April 12: "Mayweather: UFC Ain't Shit"
April 19: "Why Would He Go Home And Watch Basketball?"
May 23: "This Is Getting Out Of Hand"

Sherdog offers the following report on the possibility: Floyd Mayweather Jr. is discussing a deal with billionaire Mark Cuban that could put the best boxer on the planet in a mixed martial arts bout.

If an agreement is reached, Mayweather would join HDNet Fights, Cuban's fledgling MMA promotional arm, ESPN reported Friday.

"Floyd is considering fighting with HDNet Fights," Cuban told ESPN.com. "We are going to let him visit some gyms to talk to some folks about what it would take to learn. He knows it won't be easy. But he is getting involved with MMA and HDNet Fights one way or another. He is pumped about it. He wants to go on to the next big thing. Floyd is a brilliant marketer. He follows the money."

The undefeated Mayweather, a five-division world champion regarded as one of the purest pugilists in boxing history, stopped English challenger Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8 to retain his welterweight title.

Cuban and Mayweather, who struck up a friendship during the taping of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," met Thursday in Las Vegas to discuss a possible role for the boxer with HDNet Fights.

According to ESPN.com, Leonard Ellerbe, a close Mayweather associate, said a move from the sweet science to MMA is something that seriously interests the boxer.

"When Floyd makes his move, obviously it's going to be a mega event," Ellerbe told ESPN. "We don't have a timetable. Floyd is taking some time off, but Floyd understands what is involved. You have to take time to go out and understand what you're getting involved in, and he's ready to do that."

Mayweather, 30, was part of two events in 2007 that generated 3.25 million pay-per-view buys and $200 million in revenue. A defeat of Oscar de la Hoya in May broke PPV records with 2.4 million subscriptions. In all, Mayweather made $50 million for his bouts with de la Hoya and Hatton.

"If I said there's a guaranteed $30 million payday, Floyd would be lacing them up," Cuban told ESPN.com. "If not, I could see him working to train and develop and invest in MMA fighters, knowing the upside. He can teach them how to be a better boxer and add to their other skills."

Should he decide to compete in MMA, Mayweather would immediately become the best boxer to test himself in that arena. Others such as Francois Botha, Art Jimmerson, Melton Bowen and James Warring fared poorly in their respective MMA efforts.

Mayweather would likely compete in MMA's 145-pound featherweight division, which is currently dominated by WEC champion Urijah Faber.

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Window Of Opportunity For St. Pierre, Hughes

Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre gained a unique window of opportunity for the Welterweight Championship when Matt Serra suffered a training injury to his lower back. I.W.F made the correct prediction for UFC President Dana White to schedule Hughes-St. Pierre III rubber match, giving both men the opportunity to end the trilogy and win the championship. Hughes-St. Pierre III will be an explosive battle with contrasting styles -- it's a battle which has resulted in a different outcome each time. At UFC 50, Hughes defeated St. Pierre in the first round with a slick armbar submission to win the vacant Welterweight Championship. At UFC 65, St. Pierre defeated Hughes in the second round with a brutal and decisive TKO. In this, the finale, which fighter will execute their game plan better? An IWF original by Don Davenport

Hughes stated on "The Ultimate Fighter Finale" that "I would not have taken this fight unless I thought I was going to win. I have enough time to prepare for Georges fighting style, and Georges is taking this fight four weeks in, when he likes to take three months off to prepare for a fight." Hughes a two-time Division I All-American wrestler who will come in phenomenal shape, and despite his wrestling and submission background, Hughes will be working heavily on his striking. Hughes appears to be very confident and ready to reclaim the Welterweight Championship.

Meanwhile, St. Pierre, taking this fight on short notice, is the fighter with the most to gain in this contest. St. Pierre owns the last victory over Hughes, and proved that he is a determined fighter with his recent victory over Josh Koscheck at UFC 74. St. Pierre is a good striker and submission expert, but is often over looked for his equally excellent wrestling capabilities. St. Pierre showed those skills by out wrestling Koscheck, with great takedown defense and maintaining the top position almost through the entire fight. St. Pierre must see defining flaws in Hughes' fighting style to take this fight on short notice.

My analysis is that St. Pierre will prevent Hughes takedown attempts and dominate the fight on the feet leading to another TKO victory. St. Pierre has vastly improved since UFC 50 and has the necessary skills to stop Hughes' takedowns. Not many fighters can stop Hughes wrestling superiority, but St. Pierre is one who has shown he is capable. In order for Hughes to pull out the victory, he has to be the aggressor in the stand up position, and take the fight to the ground where he is most effective. The title scene is about to change and give one of these contenders the window of opportunity to win the coveted UFC Welterweight Championship.

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Sherk Eligible To Fight In January

According to information received from the CSAC, Sherk’s suspension has been reduced to six months, from one year. As is standard in suspensions, Sherk receives credit for time already served, which means he is eligible to return to mixed martial arts competition in January. (As reported by MMAJunkie.com)

Sherk, who defended his title with a unanimous-decision victory over Hermes Franca in July, tested positive for elevated testosterone levels and nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, during an event drug test. The event took place July 7 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif., and the California State Athletic Commission subsequently suspended Sherk one year and fined him $2,500.

Sherks’ original hearing was set for August. However, after securing the services of accomplished doping lawyer Howard Jacobs, Sherk was granted an extension for the appeal, which took place Oct. 31. However, key paperwork submitted by Jacobs was not distributed to commission members prior to the hearing, and the commission opted to delay the hearing an additional two weeks (to Nov. 13). The CSAC later announced an unspecified delay and a new date of Dec. 4 in early November.

At the time, Sherk called the CSAC behavior during the process “very unprofessional.“

As for Sherk’s title, UFC President Dana White recently told Yahoo! Sports that he was fed up with the CSAC’s handling of the appeal and that he wouldn’t strip the 34-year-old veteran fighter of the title regardless of the commission’s decision. However, last month, White said that he will “honor the commission’s decision” and strip Sherk of the title if the suspension is upheld. (It’s worth noting that the commission doesn’t have the power to strip a title; it can only issues suspensions and fines.)

With the committee’s decision, it is expected that Sherk will face the winner of a UFC 80 main event between B.J. Penn and Joe Stevenson which will award the winner the interim lightweight title.

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UFC 79 To Feature Hughes-GSP III For Interim

Exactly one day BEFORE the announcement of the Hughes-St. Pierre Interim Title fight, IWF reported the following: "If I were White, I would consider holding Hughes-St. Pierre III now, with the winner receiving a title shot. Hughes and St. Pierre will fight each other again soon enough, so it could make sense to get it out of the way now." Dana White must read IWF, because hours later, the blockbuster was booked.

In the UFC, when one door closes, another opens, and on December 29th, that adage will ring true once against when Matt Hughes battles Georges St. Pierre for the interim UFC Welterweight Championship in the main event of UFC 79: Nemesis, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

St-Pierre replaces UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra, who was forced to withdraw from his bout with Hughes last week due to a herniated disc in his back.

“Obviously, the loss of Matt Serra was brutal, but the great thing about the UFC is that we can put together great fights like Hughes-St-Pierre at a moment’s notice and bounce right back,” said UFC President Dana White. “I have the utmost respect for both Hughes and St-Pierre for stepping up for this fight, and not only are the fans going to see two of the greatest welterweights of all-time settle their score in a rubber match, but they're going to do it in a five round interim title fight, and the winner is going to face off next year against Matt Serra for the undisputed title.”

Hughes and St-Pierre are no strangers to one another, having fought twice with vastly different results. In their first bout at UFC 50 in October of 2004, Hughes won the vacant welterweight crown with a first round submission victory. In their November 2006 rematch, St-Pierre evened the score with a second round TKO of Hughes to win the 170-pound title. On December 29th, the two will settle matters once and for all.

“I’m so excited to get this fight,” said St-Pierre. “I’m fighting Matt Hughes for the interim title right now, and then after that I’m going to go after Serra. I’ve wanted that rematch against Serra, and this is the best scenario that can happen.”

Waiting in the wings will be the champion, Serra, who will have an odd rooting interest that night.

“I can’t believe the position this puts me in,” said the New Yorker, who won the title from St-Pierre and was looking forward to settling the score with the man he has been coaching against and trading barbs with on the sixth season of The Ultimate Fighter, Hughes. “I’m actually rooting for Matt Hughes so I can beat his ass.”

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Henderson To Challenge A. Silva At UFC 82

Ben Zeidler: Do you have any plans to capture the UFC MW belt or do you prefer to fight at 205 lbs now?
Dan Henderson: I think it's up to me. The thing that I'm focused on right now is winning this fight, nothing else, whatever happens after that you know, happens.

With the announcement of Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson booked for UFC 82, it appears that the biggest Middleweight bout in UFC history is about to happen.


MMA Junkie is reporting that Silva vs. Henderson was announced during the UFC 78 press conference:

Light heavyweight Dan Henderson will move down to 185 pounds to challenge UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (20-4 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in March.

The announcement was made during the post-event press conference for UFC 78, which took place Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

The championship bout will likely take place at UFC 82. As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported, UFC 82 will take place March 1 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

The Middleweight title has only seen five champions in its short history, and no bout has ever matched the hype that this one will create. The champion is the most devastating and dominant fighter his division has ever seen. The challenger is PRIDE's former Middleweight and Welterweight champion, who ended his PRIDE career with a stunning KO of legend Wanderlei Silva. Never before have two men of such impressive caliber met under the auspices of a middleweight title fight. Until now.

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Sherk Not Stripped; Penn-Stevenson For Interim

According to UFC President Dana White, Sean Sherk will not be stripped of his Lightweight title, but BJ Penn and Joe Stevenson will have the opportunity to fight for an interim belt.

Yahoo! Sports reported this:

White had vowed to strip Sherk of the title, but said Friday that he no longer plans to do so.

"The way this whole thing has been handled has been a mess," White said.

He said Penn and Stevenson, who said he learned on Tuesday that he and his wife will have another son, will fight for the interim title as the main event of UFC 80 in Newcastle, England, likely on Jan. 19.

The winner of that bout would then presumably face Sherk once Sherk's status is defined by the commission.

White said heavyweights Gabriel Gonzaga and Fabricio Werdum would meet in the co-main on UFC 80.

This is an excellent move by Dana White. It would have been a mistake to let an entire division become stagnant for a year simply because the President felt the appeal was not handled properly. Instead, White has correctly decided to allow Sherk to keep his belt, while matching up the two most viable LW contenders in the UFC: Penn and Stevenson.

White has been known to let champions enjoy long layoffs due to injuries, scheduling difficulties, and a number of other excuses. One only needs to look at the current state of the Welterweight belt, which was defended once at the beginning of the year and once at the end. Compare this to the Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, and Middleweight belts which have already had their two defenses this year.

Luckily, White did not make the same mistake this time around. The booking of this match shows that he is committed to having the best fighters face the best fighters in what is the premiere MMA organization today.

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Around The Horn

Lots of little things to talk about in the world of MMA this week...

The Dayton Daily News is reporting that the result of Sean Sherk's suspension appeal will be announced later this week, essentially determining the fate of the LW division. Dana White, although a long time supporter of Sherk, has announced that if the suspension sticks, Sherk will be stripped of the belt. If this is the case, we should see BJ contend for the title soon or at least compete in some sort of unofficial 4 man tournament.

MMAJunkie is reporting that highly-regarded Middleweight (and probably the highest ranked outside of Silva/Hendo) has been knocked out in his first round fight with Yoshihiro Akiyama this past weekend at a HEROs event. With Paulo Filho's lackadaisical performances of late combined with this most recent disappointment in the division, it is clear that Silva stands alone.

Bubba The Love Sponge is reporting that Dan Henderson may fight at 185 lbs. at the December UFC 79 event. Although he would not fight Silva, who would have to come in on just two months rest, the addition of Henderson makes 79 one of the most stacked cards since UFC 52. Serra/Hughes, Wanderlei/Liddell, and now Henderson offer enough star power to headline three events, but we'll get to see it all in one night. Order it up now!

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White's Reaction Could Determine MMA's Future

In this new column by Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole, White's role in rebounding from losing its name-brand fighters is discussed in a clearer manner than ever before.

Dana White may be the man most responsible for the meteoric growth of the UFC. It has a national television contract, it does ever-larger pay-per-view sales, it routinely sells out major venues and it has one of the most passionate fan bases in sports.

Much of that is due to White's grit, guile and cunning.

But White, the UFC president, has a challenge before him, the likes of which he has never faced in his seven years at the helm of the world's most successful mixed martial arts promotional company.

Though White hardly seemed upset by UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture's announcement Thursday that he is retiring as a professional fighter and severing all ties with the company, how he handles the situation will determine whether the company will continue its rocket-like ascent toward mainstream acceptance or whether it will return to the netherworld of niche sports status.

Couture quit for the same reason that No. 1 NFL draft pick JaMarcus Russell didn't sign with the Raiders until after the regular season began, for the reason why Alex Rodriguez is probably going to opt out of his contract with the Yankees: Money.

The UFC has played hardball with its fighters for so long because it has been the only game in town. And, despite the emergence of a slew of promotions like the International Fight League, Elite XC, Strikeforce and, new this week, M-1 Mix Fight, it remains the only viable alternative for most fighters.

It has the most money, the most fans and the best fighters under contract. If you're a fighter and you're looking to increase your exposure and your bankroll, you sign with the UFC.

Couture's sudden retirement changes the dynamic remarkably.

Former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, who according to White is the company's highest-paid fighter, has lost two straight and has conceded that thoughts of retirement have wafted through his head.

Couture, whom White said was his second-highest paid fighter, retired on Thursday.

Matt Hughes, who fights Matt Serra for the welterweight title on Dec. 29, has said on The Ultimate Fighter reality show on Spike TV that he's only going to fight two or three more times before quitting.

Rich Franklin will lose a lot of his luster as a drawing card if he gets manhandled again by Anderson Silva when they meet for the middleweight title at UFC 77 on Oct. 20.

Tito Ortiz, who is down to one fight left on his UFC contract, is nowhere near the invincible force he seemed about five years ago.

And for as many great athletes who dot the UFC's roster of talent, none, with the possible exception of light heavyweight Forrest Griffin, have the capability of filling an arena like Couture and Liddell did.

White blamed what's becoming his personal whipping boy – MMA web sites and forums – for spreading phony rumors about fighter pay. Couture, who is in South Africa filming a movie and couldn't be reached for comment Thursday, released a statement in which he said he was retiring because the UFC didn't sign Fedor Emelianenko and no other fight mattered to him.

He also said he was upset with UFC management for what he believed was low pay. He made that point in a breakfast meeting last month with White and UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta.

"He felt he was not getting paid as much as Mirko Cro Cop, as much as this guy and as much as that guy," White said. "We told him he was our second-highest paid fighter, but he didn't believe us. Chuck's the only guy who makes more, but he kept hearing all these rumors and he wouldn't believe us."

White then launched into a tirade against what he called "the rumor mongerers on the Internet," whom he said are, "the lowest of the low."

He said fighters read those sites and believe them to be true, causing friction at the negotiating table.

"This business is like a beauty salon," he said. "These guys are all the toughest guys in the world, but they're like (expletives) in a beauty salon. They pass along rumors and gossip, which has no basis in reality and they believe all the (rumors) they hear. The Internet is very powerful and one of the best promotional tools we have, but it's a crazy place.

"They hear these rumors and they believe them and then they get insulted like (expletives) after we try to talk reality with them. They'll say, 'Well, this guy is getting this much,' but when I ask where they heard it, it's never a contract, it's always, 'I read it on the Internet.' It's crazy."

The Yankees won the World Series after Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson retired. The Lakers won NBA titles after Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson quit.

There is plenty of precedent in sports for teams and organizations succeeding after losing their biggest stars.

But those were established teams in established leagues with long records of success. MMA as we know it has only existed since 1993. And as recently as less than three years ago, few mainstream media paid it any mind.

Griffin and Stephan Bonnar helped change that with a slugfest in the finale of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV that was the equal of any held in boxing.

With a reach of 90 million homes, a fight which was like MMA's equivalent of the legendary Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns middleweight title brawl, forced a lot of people to begin tuning in.

There have been few bumps in the 30 months since that epic battle.

But if you believe – yep, Internet reports – then White has two major bumps he must hurdle. Several web sites have reported that Emelianenko has signed with a Russian promoter called M-1 Mix Fight.

White, who has been negotiating feverishly for the last six months in a bid to sign Emelianenko and match him with Couture, wasn't sure if the reports are true.

He demeaned Emelianenko, who is ranked No. 1 in the Y! Sports MMA poll, as a fighter, saying Couture would destroy him, and said Emelianenko's representatives were nearly impossible to work with.

"The negotiations with those guys were so nutty, that at this point, I don't give (an expletive) if he ever comes with us," White said. "If there were real rankings out there, he wouldn't be the No. 1 fighter in the world, believe me.

"Randy Couture is the top heavyweight. He's proven it. He's fought real guys. Who has this guy fought? Mark Coleman and Matt Lindland, who weighs 185 pounds. He's (an expletive) middleweight. My philosophy has always been to sign the best guys and make them fight, but you see that this guy didn't want to fight the best because he was impossible to deal with."

If Emelianenko had signed with the UFC and then subsequently defeated Couture, he would have been Couture's obvious successor as a drawing card.

On the other hand, had Couture, as White predicts, destroyed Emelianenko, it would have exponentially improved Couture's drawing power for as long as he wanted to stay around. Now, White is forced to find replacements for two high-level talents.

White isn't the coolest guy in the world, but he plays one on TV and he tried to pass off Couture's decision as one of those things that happen in the fight game.

"No matter how great they are, fighters come and go, but it's the sport that survives," White said. "Randy Couture retired once before and we didn't collapse, did we? I love Randy Couture and what he represented.

"He's a great guy and was a bad dude in that octagon. He's the kind of guy I want to associate my company with, but I also know that as a fighter, he wouldn't be around forever no matter what. We'll survive. This is just another day in my life. Believe me, as much as I would like to be promoting another Couture fight, it's not the news that is going to kill the UFC."

White is going to need all his cunning and guile to survive this one, though.

He said Thursday he's not certain he's going to go ahead with the long-rumored Liddell-Wanderlei Silva fight as the main event of UFC 79 on Dec. 29 and said he may just headline that card with Hughes challenging Matt Serra for the welterweight title.

In part, that could be a way for White to make up for the loss of a Couture-Emelianenko fight at UFC 80 on Feb. 2. He can slide Liddell-Silva into that slot as the main event on one of the biggest MMA weekends of the year and hope that the fight captures the public's imagination.

But until those drawing cards emerge to replace Couture, Liddell and Hughes, it's going to be difficult for the UFC to escape niche status and convince the Fortune 100 companies it craves as sponsors that it has reached the mainstream.

It's going to be White's greatest challenge yet.

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FEDOR SIGNS WITH M-1

Top-ranked fighter and PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko — the most sought-after free agent in mixed-martial arts — has reportedly inked a new deal with the Russian-based M-1 Mix-Fight Championship promotion.

News of the possible signing was first reported by Frank Trigg as part of his TAGG Radio program earlier this month, and The Fight Network today reportedly confirmed the signing with an anonymous source close to the deal.

If the reports prove true, the UFC has seen perhaps the biggest name in MMA slip through its fingers.

Trigg broke news of the signing on Oct. 4 (which, ironically, was the same day I was a guest on the show) and said Emelianenko was offered a $10 million contract from “a new organization out of Russia… that used to be M-1.“

According to today’s report from The Fight Network, though, the organization will still be known as M-1 but that the fight promotion was recently purchased by an “American entertainment-related company” that pumped additional funds into the 10-year-old promotion. M-1 had been owned by Russian businessman Vadim Finkelstein, who also serves as manager of Emelianenko and his Red Devil Sports Club teammates.

The news will come as a disappointment to UFC fans who were hopeful that current UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture would next defend his title against Emelianenko at a Feb. 2 show in Las Vegas. Fight fans had been teased by the possible matchup for much of 2007.

Soon after UFC officials announced they had purchased PRIDE earlier this year, the organization began negotiations to sign Emelianenko when it was learned his contract was non-transferable. In less than a year, the UFC had taken one of its weakest divisions and stocked it with a stable of world-class heavyweights, including Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovoc, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Fabricio Werdum and — thanks to an unimaginable return from retirement — Couture. However, the heavyweight division was lacking the world’s consensus No. 1 fighter.

Earlier this year, a source inside the UFC told MMAjunkie.com that the general consensus among staffers was that the Emelianenko signing was “inevitable.” UFC President Dana White has said as much during the past few months, though he admitted that one sticking point of his proposed contract — that Emelianenko would not be permitted to fight outside the UFC — was met with resistance.

Now, it appears, the sticking point was a real deal-breaker.

(Originally reported by MMAjunkie.com)

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White: Fedor Won't Relate To UFC Fans

Dana White, while talking about the most talented free agent (and martial artist) in the universe, said that he just wouldn't relate to UFC fans. Now whether this is simply an excuse for the lack of contract or White actually believes this, no one knows. But what is known is that the man simply recognized by his first name, Fedor, needs a place to fight. Never has one man been so dominant. Even Matt Hughes suffered a legendary defeat at the hands of BJ Penn at UFC 46, but Fedor has no such blemish.

White compared Fedor's potential entrance to that of Cro Cop, citing over and over again that for whatever reason, Fedor is simply not ready:

The hard core fans who know who Fedor is are a minority. Believe me when I tell you that. My (UFC) fans don't know who he is. I'd have to build him up. You can't just say 'Fedor's here,' and open the doors and expect people to come in. It doesn't work that way.

I even had to build up Cro Cop. It's taking a while for us to do that. After we introduce him to our fans, then you can do that kind of a thing.

Okay, so there's probably something to be said for the bloodthirsty fans who come to the events just to see a knockout. But for every one of those, I'd bet that there are two fans who have taken the time to understand the intricacies of the ground game and other minutia of the sport. It is growing rapidly and newer fans will take the time to learn MMA the right way. Whether or not White thinks Fedor can relate to these fans (it obvious he doesn't), he has a duty to the fans to bring Fedor in. When Zuffa purchased PRIDE, White made it clear that his intention was to huddle the world's best under one tent. Until Fedor is under that tent, White hasn't done anything.

Originally published on martialbase.com

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Update: Sherk Files For Extension on Appeal

UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, who tested positive for steroids (Nandrolone Metabolite, has filed for an extension with the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), delaying his appeal to the steroid allegations.

Sherk's appeal was originally set to take place today, August 6, as well as UFC president Dana White's decision of whether or not to strip Sherk of his belt.

It seems if everyone will have to wait till October for Sherk's hearing and possibilities of Sherk vs. Penn remain hazy.

Sherk had this to say:

“I don’t want this to take any longer than it has to, but I hired my lawyer just a couple of weeks ago. I want to get this done as soon as possible so I can fight B.J. [Penn] in November, but the next hearing wouldn’t be until October.”

I will keep you posted on this prolonged drama series.

The Lianger

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Steroids Update: White Speaks About Sherk, Franca

In a recent interview conducted by ESPN The Magazine, Dana white is speaks about the recent steroid frenzy and his thoughts on the situation.

ESPN The Magazine conducted a pretty in-depth interview on White's thoughts on the steroid situation going on in the UFC.

White expresses his beliefs about UFC Lightweight champion Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk and Hermes Franca, both whom tested positive after their showdown at UFC 73.

Dana White's opinions about Sherk are the following:

ESPN The Magazine: How did you feel personally when Sherk [allegedly] flunked his test?
White: I've known Sean Sherk for a long time. He's a really good man. He trains hard and has worked hard to get where he's at. You and me probably have six nanograms [of the steroid Nandrolone] in our system; he had 12. Other guys who've been busted for the same steroid have had over 50 nanograms in their system. What my experts tell me is, there's no way that he would only have 12 in his system. I'm not his father. If he did it, he'll have to face the consequences. People make mistakes. If your life was over every time you make a mistake, that's pretty f---ing harsh. How many times do I have to tell people not to use steroids? It's to the point where it's just stupid.

A bit on the positive side, however, White couldn't have said the same for Sherk's challenger

ESPN The Magazine: One of the things Hermes Franca hinted at was that he was forced to take steroids because he had an injury but he had to fight.
White: That's one of the dumbest things ever said. He said he twisted his ankle. It happens all the time. He called us and said he was hurt. Two days later, he said he could fight. Nobody is ever forced to fight. I can go down the list and tell you 50 guys who've pulled out of fights because of an injury.

Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca will go before the CSAC in a hearing this Monday, August 6. Sherk will be appealing the steroid claims and Franca will be asking for a lighter sentence.

Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk is the UFC's current lightweight champion. Sherk won the lightweight title, vacant at the time, to Kenny Florian by unanimous decision at UFC 64: Unstoppable on Oct. 14, 2006. Sherk recently made his first title defense against challenger Hermes Franca at UFC 73: stacked on July 7, 2007. Sherk tested positive for Nandrolone Metabolite following his title defense, which he has chosen to appeal on August 6.

Hermes Franca was Sherk's challenger for the lightweight title and lost by unanimous decision. Franca was on an eight-fight-win streak before falling to Sean Sherk. Hermes Franca also tested for steroids after his bout with Sherk, which he will be asking for a lighter sentence for on August 6.

Franca had released an apology and confession prior to the tests to MMAWeekly.com.

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Updates on Fedor's Status in the UFC

Sherdog.com recently sat down with Red Devil Manager Vadim Finkelstein, who is ultimately in charge of the career of PRIDE's heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko. In this interview, Finkelstein discusses Fedor's status on the UFC.

It seems as if the UFC is in the crosshairs of Fedor and his contract negotiations.

When Sherdog.com asked Fedor's manager for the current status of their contract negotiations, he had this to say:

"At the moment we are in negotiations with a number of organizations who have put offers on the table. I'll be blunt in saying that the UFC offer is the most financially attractive one. However they are very harsh in their terms and are not very flexible in actually negotiating them.

Fedor has now been the PRIDE heavyweight champion for four years and I think we have earned the right to negotiate a contract that suits both parties. Instead we are faced with a blunt "you are either in or you're out." This does not really suit us. If the negotiations continue in a similar manner, we'll prefer to fight for less money but with an organization which is more flexible.

The problem is that Fedor is the face of Combat Sambo in Russia. His popularity is at a level where he is acquainted with president Putin himself, in part because he is so successful and well known for Combat Sambo here.

Combat Sambo is a Russian sport that's not at a level of difficulty of MMA, but is hugely popular with our public. Fedor must represent Russia in Combat Sambo and at world championships, specifically the ones coming up in September. All we want him to do is compete something like once a year in Combat Sambo. But the UFC is not happy with that.

Their proposal has all kinds of clauses, all kinds of fines etc. that do not suit us. The UFC is not really that eager to communicate and negotiate. The negotiations are still continuing, and we will try very hard to get our demands met, if not Fedor will simply not compete in the UFC, even though that will be unfortunate as they currently have one of the, if not the, strongest, heavyweight divisions in the world."

The interview also touches upon their preferences as to how the UFC should adopt Fedor, as far as opponents go. Finkelstein says that he'd prefer that Fedor fight not the best immediately, in order to adapt to the cage format and etc.

Hmm, it looks to me that they would definitely like to join the UFC, but there are still some kinks in the contracts that Dana White is reluctant to hand over. Fedor is probably the last big heavyweight the UFC needs to compelete their new and improved superior heavyweight division and I think White should really reason with Fedor's managers to have him in the UFC.

Well, this is still an inkling of hope for Fedor in the UFC and I'll take what I can get. I'll keep you posted on further news on the situation.

The Lianger

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Hermes Apologizes; Sherk Appeals

As we all know, UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk recently tested positive for Nandrolone Metabolite following his title defense July 7, along with his challenger Hermes Franca. Both fighters have been fined and suspended for a year. Franca released a sincere apology on MMAWeekly.com however, Sherk has decided upon a different approach.

Hermes Franca has proved himself to be a class act. Franca has confessed and released a statement to MMAweekly.com, admitting that he knew he was going to fail the drug test.

Franca goes on to explain that eight weeks out from the fight, he endured a severe ankle injury that held him back from training to his full potential against Sherk. Franca requested a postponing of the fight to which the UFC denied. For this reason, Franca looked to steroids for his answer.

Here is a snippet from Franca's apology:

“At this point I was desperate and needed anything I could to get my injury as
close to healing as possible and be able to recover from the daily training
regimen I was going through. I made the shortsighted choice to hopefully
accelerate the healing process and allow me to keep training. Under the pressure
of literally not being able to pay next months bills I made a choice. I had to
fight and did whatever I could to do so.”

Franca continues by showing much regret for what he has done and how he has ultimately affected his family.

"I had not fought for 5 months. Fighting is literally how I put food on my wife
and childs table and how I pay my bills. As a fighter though, even at this
level, I live a simple life and I literally live from fight to fight. Not
getting a paycheck for another few months and losing my chance to fight Sean for
the title was overpowering. Fighting is the life I chose and I love it."

I feel pretty bad for Franca, but he chose to do what he did and unfortunately, he needs to face the consequences fair and square.

UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, on the other hand, has decided to take a different path in this steroid dilemma.

According to the Los Angeles Times , Sherk has appealed a one=year suspension and $2,500 fine that resulted from his UFC 73 failed drug test.

Sherk's hearding before CSAC will be held on August 6. After the hearing and a final ruling is reached, UFC President Dana White will decide whether or not the lightweight title will be stripped from Sean Sherk.

After retaining his UFC lightweight title with a unanimous decision over challenger Hermes Franca at UFC 73, CSAC announced that Sherk had failed his drug test, testing positive for Nandrolone Metabolite. Upon which he was suspended for a year and fined $2,500.

All this steroid bullshit is giving MMA such a bad name and horrible attention from the media, gaining much coverage from major news sites. I really hope this all blows over well and Sherk is stripped of the belt. I love Sherk, don't get me wrong, but he needs to be made an example of. The recent influx of steroids is getting ridiculous.

-The Lianger

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Top 10 Fighters the UFC Need to Sign...NOW!

With the recent influx of PRIDE fighters into the UFC, there have definitely been some exciting fights and even more set to come in the future. However, there are still some fighters out there that White have yet to bring over to solidify the UFC as the top MMA organization, as far as talent goes. Here is my list of ten fighters not in the UFC, that includes WEC, I think White should definitely be going after for UFC's roster.

Fedor Emelianenko
Come on, the UFC need to grab Fedor already while he's still young. I have no interest in getting Fedor to the UFC five years down the line and watch young talent beat on him. The Fedor UFC deal has been so back and forth, I don't care what UFC president Dana White has to pay him, just pay the man what he wants and get him over here! I want it, the fans want it, the big man upstairs even wants it for his sake.

PRIDE's run out of competition to throw at Fedor, I mean, he's taken out everyone with the exception of Barnett. I'm sorry but I don't want to see another Fedor vs. Zulu again, that's just me. White's managed to snatch the majority of PRIDE's talent with Cro Cop, Noguiera, Herring, Filho (WEC), and "Shogun" Rua. Think of all the great possible matchups in the UFC, Emelianenko-Nog 4, Emelianenko-CC 2, Emelianenko-Couture, or how about, Emelianenko-ANY UFC HEAVYWEIGHT THEY THROW AT HIM.

Denis Kang
Now I know Denis Kang isn't the most popular fighter amongst the casual UFC fan but he has every right to be. Denis Kang is a damn exciting fighter. There's just something about him that catches my attention. Kang holds 27 wins in his fight record, composed of 15 submissions and 8 (T)KOs, pretty serious business if you ask me. I don't really know Kang's status as far as joining
the UFC, he was spotted in UFC lightweight Din Thomas' corner at UFC 71 - Liddell vs. Jackson, but who knows if that means anything. Kang is known mostly for his incredible explosiveness and well-rounded style of fighting, almost like Georges St. Pierre. Kind of reminds me of him too. Kang would be a solid addition to the UFC's middleweight division and would definitely pose a threat to any in that class. Kang is just in your face at all times and keeps the pressure on his
opponents. I think a fight against Anderson Silva and/or Rich Franklin could easily be dubbed as a "fight of the year."

Takanori Gomi
"The Fireball Kid" would definitely be a historical addition to the UFC's lightweight roster. BJ Penn's decision to remain a lightweight and Sean Sherk's growing popularity, the UFC's lightweight division can only further grow from here. With Gomi in the mix, it could make fights a lot more interesting. Penn actually scored a victory over Gomi back in 2003, but that would definitely be a rematch I'd like to see again. Gomi also knocked out Jens Pulver in 2004 at PRIDE's Shockwave 2004, a rematch between them would've been nice, though Pulver has recently moved to the WEC. I digress, my point is, Gomi has some solid talent, holds a current record of 27-3 and is still a pretty young guy with a bright future ahead of him.

Fantasy UFC matchups I'd stick around to see would be a rematch with Penn, Gomi-Sherk, and/or Gomi-Huerta. Haven't really heard any rumors or commotion about White making attempts to grab Gomi, but you never know. Let's just hope rumors arise sometime soon!

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto
"Kid" is an absolute ANIMAL in the ring. With 11 out of 15 wins ending in some way of knockout, he is DEFINITELY what drunk UFC want to see. "Kid" gained much popularity in Shooto for his aggressive, well-rounded and controversial persona. Yamamoto is considered to be a top lightweight fighter.

Yamamoto fights as a natural Featherweight @ 145 lbs. but has fought numerous lightweight fights @ 155 lbs., so I'm sure the transition wouldn't be too harsh on him.
I could most DEF. see "Kid" taking out Sean "The Muscle Shark," both possessing similar skills I see Kid taking the edge in the striking game and ultimately over Sherk. I think Yamamoto-Sherk would be an jaw-dropping fight through and through.

Wanderlei Silva
There is no need as to why the UFC should sign "The Axe Murderer." With a lethal combination of knees, punches, and kicks, there's so telling what Silva could bring to the UFC with elbows allowed. Wanderlei Silva would definitely be a nice addition to the light heavyweight division, although it would cause a bit of a conflict if Shogun ever was to hold the belt soon because Shogun stated in early interviews that he'd never fight Wanderlei Silva, though that may quickly change down the line.

With Silva in the picture, we could see a much needed rematch between him and Tito Ortiz, who LnP'd Silva for a decision in their first meeting. The fickleness of the Liddell-Silva fantasy matchup would have a stronger basis of happening and we could just see some bad ass action from Silva inside the Octagon.

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Sokoudjou has certainly proved his skills and made a name for himself with his recent knockouts of Lil' Nog and Ricardo Arona. He definitely possess the skills to play with the big boys and now that he's actually looking for another organization to head to, I think White needs to step it up a notch and make sure he gets first dibs on Sokoudjou. There was actually news about Sokoudjou looking into the UFC, but he ended up not liking some things with the contract and he recently turned down EliteXC.

Nonetheless, White needs to work out the kinks in the contract that Sokoudjou doesn't like and bring him to the UFC. Sokoudjou is extremely talented and is well versed on his feet and was also the 2001 Open Judo competition.

Ricardo Arona
Yeah, Arona hasn't done much recently other than pounding Alistair Overeem's face in at PRIDE's Final Conflict Absolute back in '06, but the man still has some talent left in his tank. Arona holds a win over Wanderlei Silva, Kazushi Sakuraba, Jeremy Horn, PRIDE champion Dan Henderson and others. Arona is best recognized for his strength and considered by many to the best light heavyweights in MMA.

Though Arona has been shunned by many MMA fans for not trying to finish fight and rather settling for decision wins, I still think he'd be pretty exciting in the UFC.

Mark Hunt
Oh dear God, Mark Hunt is a must have in the UFC in my opinion. Hunt, the 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix champion, has most probably the most solid chin in MMA today. Hunt has also won K-1's 2001 Oceania GP and K-1's 2000 Oceania GP. Holding wins over Mirko "Cro Cop," Wanderlei Silva, and putting up a damn good fight against MMA God Fedor Emelianenko, I think Mark Hunt would definitely be a top contender in UFC's heavyweight division.
Hunt not only has a granite chin, that was able to take a CLEAN kick to the head from Cro Cop, he has world class striking abilities.

Hunt has showed the world what he's capable of Mark Hunt in his epic battle with K-1 top kickboxer Ray Sefo, where the two Samoans had one of the greatest fights in history to date. Also, in another battle Hunt faced Fedor in PRIDE Shockwave 2006, where he controlled Emelianenko most of the fight and was even able to counter what looked to be a threatening armbar. Hunt would be a major threat to every current UFC heavyweight I could think of. I would love to see Hunt crush Tim Sylvia. But then again, I'd love to see anyone crush Tim Sylvia, thanks Couture!

Great possible matchups with Hunt would include: Hunt-Sylvia, Hunt-CC rematch, Hunt-Monson, Hunt-Arlovski, and Hunt-Nogueira.

Josh Barnett
Josh Barnett needs to come BACK to the UFC. Barnett was the youngest UFC heavyweight champion after he defeated current UFC HW champion Randy couture, in early 2002. Barnett holds wins over Rodrigo Nogueira, Semmy Schilt, Randy Couture, and Dan Severn. Barnett was also a runner-up in PRIDE's 2006 World OWGP, but ultimately lost to Mirko "Cro Cop."
Now that PRIDE is on a rapid decline, I think it's time for Barnett to hop back on the UFC bandwagon and give his try at becoming the UFC heavyweight champion for the second time.

Cung Le
Cung Le brings a unique style to any organization he fights in. A San Shou kickboxing world competitor, Le brings to MMA a new style of striking. Le has the wildest Kung-Fu esque kicks you couldn't even imagine. Combining crisp punching, spinning back kicks, backward axe kicks, Le has won all his 4 MMA fights by way of knockout. Le also holds a 3-0 record in K-1 competitions.

Although many critics wonder if Cung Le has what it takes on the ground, he has shown impressive takedowns in his San Shou matches. Le has yet to have to take any fight to the ground, quickly dominating most of his opponents on the feet in the first round.
Cung Le currently fights for Strikeforce but, I'm sure Dana White could easily mold his future to the UFC with the help of some green paper.

I'm sure all MMA fans wouldn't mind seeing Cung Le and current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva square off in the Octagon!

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UFC 75 to Air FREE on Spike TV!

So it looks like UFC president Dana White isn't as Satanic as he makes himself seem, he can do us some good deeds from time to time. White recently announced that UFC's next "stacked" card, UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion, will be aired for FREE on Spike TV via tape delay, as UFC 70 was.

Spike TV will be airing UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion, scheduled for September 8 from the O2 Arena in London, English, free of charge at 9 P.M. E/T via tape delay.

Official word and specifics regarding the free airing of UFC 75 can be found in this press release issued by the UFC.

Last time a major UFC event was aired on television was of course UFC 70: Nations Collide in Manchester, England, where we all got to see Mirko "Cro Cop's" head ripped off my Gonzaga's foot.

Nonetheless, we're going to get to see yet another UFC event without having to dish out fifty big ones. The card's main event includes a light heavyweight title fight with UFC light heavyweight champ Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and PRIDE's welterweight and middleweight champ Dan "Hollywood" Henderson.

Mirko "Cro Cop" will also be facing Cheick Kongo, let's just hope he comes serious this time. The Ultimate Fighter 3 light heavyweight winner Michael Bisping will also be joining the card as he is set to face off against former castmate Matt Hamill.

And just to remind you, the Jackson-Henderson main event will in fact be the first ever title unification bout, which was confirmed earlier this month.

I can't wait for this fight, I'll just have to keep myself from checking the live play-by-play's this time around!

Thank you Mr. White for this. :)

The Lianger

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