Tuesday, June 18, 2013

A knee injury has forced heavyweight Vinicius Spartan out of the summer series heavyweight tournament, and has been replaced by fellow heavyweight Ryan Martinez. With the change, the night will now see Rich Hale battle Martinez for a spot in the tournament finals.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Following two high-profile main card injury withdrawals, UFC 161 marches on June 15 from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in the province's first Ultimate Fighting Championship event. The headlining bout, once scheduled for a title contest pitting current bantamweight champion, Renan Barão against Eddie Wineland, now features a light heavyweight tilt as "Suga" Rashad Evans takes on former two-division Pride champion and former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, Dan Henderson. Evans hopes to return to his winning ways after suffering his first back-to-back losses, while Henderson aims for victory and the promise of a shot at the 205-pound belt.

Rival welterweight superstars Jon Fitch of Fort Wayne, Ind. and Josh Burkman of Salt Lake City, Utah weighed in at 171 pounds and 170 pounds, respectively, one day before their much-anticipated rematch in the main event of the World Series of Fighting four-bout telecast, live on NBC Sports Network from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, June 14.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship confirmed today the next international installment of its famed reality show will feature two leading Commonwealth mixed martial arts countries, as Canada meets Australia in "The Ultimate Fighter Nations." Series veterans Patrick Côté and Kyle Noke were officially named coaches of the 22nd edition of the show, which will feature welterweight  prospects.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

A leg injury has forced reigning Invicta Fighting Championships World Strawweight Champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza of Redondo Beach, Calif. to withdraw from her scheduled title defense against undefeated Jewels Champion Ayaka Hamasaki of Tokyo, Japan at the highly-anticipated Invicta Fighting Championships women’s world championship MMA event at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City on Saturday, July 13.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Former interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit returns to the Octagon to face top contender Martin Kampmann on Wednesday, August 28 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.  The two previously met in 2009, with Kampmann earning a razor-thin split decision. Now the two meet again to settle the score in the UFC’s first event in Indianapolis since UFC 119 in 2010.

Friday, June 07, 2013

Brian Bowles tested positive for an elevated testosterone to epitestosterone ratio violating the Nevada Athletic Commission's drug policy, according to a statement from Executive Director Keith Kizer. Bowles T/E ratio was 20-1, well above the 6-1 allowance. A complaint regarding the consequences of this failure will be forthcoming from the commission likely resulting in suspension and a monetary penalty.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Brazil has a history of boosting the morale of local fighters like no other, and especially against other countries, but the UFC on Fuel TV 10 card is almost all Brazilians. The event features the finals for the second season of "The Ultimate Fighter" from Fortaleza, Brazil, which is stacked and for free on Fuel TV. Topping the card, Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira goes head-to-head with Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum.

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

A wrist sprain has forced heavyweight rising star Rolles Gracie out of his World Series of Fighting matchup with Dave Huckaba.  Replacing the bout on the four-fight, live NBC Sports Network televised main card at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, June 14, will be the previously announced matchup between rival lightweight  sensations and grappling specialists Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm and Jacob Volkmann.

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, the mixed martial arts icon and action-movie star has agreed to a monumental, multi-year partnership with Bellator MMA, TNA Wrestling and Spike TV as it was jointly announced today by Bjorn Rebney, Bellator CEO, Kevin Kay, Spike TV president, and Dixie Carter, TNA Wrestling president. The landmark partnership includes Jackson competing in Bellator MMA, along with joining the superstars of TNA’s “Impact Wrestling,” which includes fellow Bellator fighter “King Mo” Lawal. Spike TV will also create a special reality series featuring Rampage that will lead into his debut with Bellator, as well as other entertainment initiatives.

Monday, June 03, 2013

The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced more than 50 UFC stars scheduled to appear at the UFC Fan Expo, presented by Fox Sports 1, on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The largest collection of the sport’s biggest names ever assembled will be featured under one roof in July at the can’t-miss fan event of the year. Also during the UFC Fan Expo, Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar will team up once again for another moment in UFC history.

After preparing for the biggest fight of his already impressive career, Dave Jansen’s title shot will be put on hold as the Oregon native has suffered an ACL injury that will keep the submission ace sidelined indefinitely. Originally slated to face reigning Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler on June 19, Chandler will instead face season eight lightweight tournament champion, David Rickels July 31 from The Santa Ana Star Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.