With UFC interim bantamweight champ Renan Barao officially out of a June 15 title-fight with Eddie Wineland at UFC 161, the question of how the company will handle the vacancy has now arisen. Whether Wineland’s contendership carry over to a future bout with Barao or the if the UFC would prefer to keep him on the card remains to be seen, but at least one fighter might be willing to step up on short notice if called upon.

According to a recent conversation between Urijah Faber and MMAMania, “The California Kid” is open to the idea as long as a win lands him a crack at divisional gold Wineland was set to receive.

“No one has reached out to me about filling in but if the opportunity comes knocking, I’ll definitely consider it,” said Faber. “I feel like in the rankings I’m number two. It’s kinda like waiting to see what happens. If an opportunity comes take it. That’s always been my mentality.”

Faber is 28-6 in his career and looked especially sharp in 2013 with submissions of Ivan Menjivar and Scott Jorgensen. Adding to his confidence, Faber picked up a decision win over Wineland in his UFC debut.

SOURCE: MMAMania
PHOTO CREDIT: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The post Urijah Faber Would Consider Fighting Eddie Wineland at UFC 161 If Asked appeared first on Fighters.com.

As reported on Fighters.com, Renan Barao is out his main event bout with Eddie Wineland. The UFC has announced that light heavyweights Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson is the new main event of UFC 161 scheduled for June 15. The UFC has also announced that the bout will be a three round fight, and they are still uncertain if they are going to get Wineland another opponent.

Barao is out of #UFC161 with an injury. Main event for 161 is now Evans vs Henderson.

— UFC (@ufc) May 21, 2013

Photo  Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The post Rashad Evans Vs Dan Henderson Is Your New Main Event For UFC 161 appeared first on Fighters.com.

The UFC has made it official. Over the UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold fight weekend in Brazil it was learned that Interim Bantamweight Champion Renan Barao had sustained an injury to his foot and his main event bout with Eddie Wineland was in jeopardy. According to reports, Barao has torn ligaments in his foot, and he will not be able to fight at UFC 161 which is scheduled for June 15 at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Canada.

MMAJunkie was the first to report the bout cancellation. The UFC has made announcement as to what plan B might be, or if they will choose to rely on the Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua and Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson bouts carry the card. Stay tuned to Fighters.com for any UFC 161 updates.

Photo  Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

The post Renan Barao Officially Out Of UFC 161 Main Event appeared first on Fighters.com.

One of the things the fans love about Donald Cerrone, is the way he always comes forward and fights. However, his UFC 160 opponent KJ Noons doesn’t think the fight will go down like that. The two are scheduled to meet this Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC 160: Velasquez Vs Silva II, and Noons thinks Cerrone will be going in there to wrestle him early in the fight to make his arms tired. While that may be the case, and Cerrone’s prerogative  Noons says he will be ready for anything that happen this weekend.

Noons told Sherdog

“There’s only been one person that’s stood and banged with me. It was Nick Diaz. I don’t know if that’s the smartest thing … . I train for every aspect of the game because it’s MMA. It might look like it’s going to be a standup war, but people want to put it wherever it’s going to be the most to their advantage. I feel like the biggest advantage for me is standing. He’s probably going to be wanting to take it anywhere, make my hands tired, make legs tired. I’m ready for wherever the fight goes. I think it’s going to be exciting anywhere.”

“I thought right away it’s a great matchup, great fireworks. I’ve got a lot of respect for the guy as a fighter … . He’s very well versed. He’s a very well-rounded fighter. He likes to stand and bang, and he can mix it up anywhere.”

“Stylistically, I believe I still have a lot of fights left. I’m an exciting fighter. I think that has a lot to play in what the UFC decides. … I’m pretty confident that my style of fighting is pretty exciting and people like to watch it. That’s what the UFC likes. They like exciting fights and what people want to see.”

Photo Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The post KJ Noons: “Only one guy has stood with me.” appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC lightweight Donald Cerrone has come close to challenging for a belt on two occasions since joining the organization including a recent run ended by Anthony Pettis’ superior striking earlier this year. Though Cerrone is only 30 years old, his all-out approach to action both in and out of the ring have led to questions about how much longer “Cowboy” can continue to compete at a high level.

Cerrone isn’t one to look too far down the road, focusing on life as it unfolds in front of him, but he does have one long-term goal in mind – becoming champion. The 19-5 Cerrone will have a chance to make another trek towards top contendership with the first step coming on Saturday night when he faces K.J. Noons at UFC 160.

Cerrone spoke about the scrap, as well as his career, in a recent interview with the UFC’s website, explaining…

“K.J. is coming to throw down and I’m excited about it. He likes to stand up and let it go. Stylistically it is going to be a hell of a fight and that’s what the crowd wants to see. It should be interesting.”

“I’m confident all around in this fight. For this training camp, I’ve been working on my weaknesses and making them my strengths. Every time after a loss, you always try to focus on what you did wrong and what you need to improve on. I feel confident in my ground game but I like to stand, man. I like to throw down and that is what people love to see. I never ever want to go out there and get booed. People like to see fighters come out there and throw and that’s what I love to do.”

“A champion is something I want to be. You always want to be able to say you are the best in the world. That is the overall goal. But do I mind fighting a lot and being at the top of the pile? No I don’t. But I plan on being a champion before my day is done.”

SOURCE: UFC.com
PHOTO CREDIT: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

The post Donald Cerrone: “I plan on being a champion before my day is done.” appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC President Dana White’s UFC 160: Velasquez Vs Silva II video blog has been posted and you can watch the whole thing below. After introducing the video, White explains that the contents are all about the backstage happenings at UFC 159: Jones Vs Sonnen which turned out to be one of the strangest nights in UFC history. Make sure you keep it locked to Fighters.com for complete UFC 160 coverage.

Courtesy of the UFC:

Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The post Dana White’s UFC 160: Velasquez Vs Silva II Video Blog appeared first on Fighters.com.

During the UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold post fight press conference, veteran reporter John Morgan tried to ask main event winner Vitor Belfort about having to answer the TRT question all of the time, and that’s when things got weird. Before Morgan could even finish asking the question, Belfort decided he wasn’t going to answer it, and began to mock Morgan. Belfort spoke in Portuguese, but later Brazilian members of the UFC media pool translated the words. Basically, Belfort said he wasn’t going to answer the question, and even said someone should be beat up Morgan for making the query. Obviously word has gotten back to the fighter, and although the proper time to apologize was days ago, Belfort is now backpedaling on his words.

Belfort tweeted (message left whole with errors):

To all my fans and to all the reporters that was there on the after press conference I would like to ask for forgiveness the way I answer about TRT I RECOGNIZE THAT I ANWSER IN A IMMATURE WAY BUT WAS THE 10 th time that that reporter ask the same question. No excuse!! I made a WORNG call and I am here to ask for forgiveness God bless all you guys love to do what I do and I am keeping moving UP SEEKING GROW AS A MEN OF GOD AND AS A FIGHTER “DONT DOUT ME I WILL PROUVE U WORNG” PEACE

Photo Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

The post Vitor Belfort Apologizes For Being Imature At Press Conference appeared first on Fighters.com.

Ultimate FIghter winner Uriah Hall received  a lot of text messages and emails when the main event ended on Saturday night. Hall wasn’t watching live, but he soon pieced together that Vitor Belfort had knocked out Luke Rockhold with same spinning back kick that he landed in the best knockout of TUF history. Hall spoke about what he thought of Vitor’s kick, what it was like being in the TUF house, and how UFC’s Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey has impacted his career. Check out the video below.

Courtesy of Rick J Lee

The post Uriah Hall Comments On Belfort’s Kick appeared first on Fighters.com.

Vitor Belfort emerged victorious Saturday night when he took out Strikeforce’s last middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in the main event of UFC on FX 8. Using an often seen but rarely effective spinning heel-kick, Belfort connected flush on Rockhold’s chin then finished him on the ground in typical Belfort-blitzkrieg fashion. In all of Belfort’s victories in this UFC stint, only one has been by submission, the rest have all been knockouts. Now this is something that shouldn’t come as a surprise considering who we’re talking about. Out of 23 wins, he has 16 knockouts, not to mention he started his career with four straight KO wins. That was then, and this is now. So what has changed since then? Besides an entire decade, Belfort has been on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for some time now.

He turned 36 early last month and in the fight game, he’s not exactly a spring chicken. Perhaps Belfort felt like he had a good enough reason to turn to TRT and for all we know, he probably did. But in doing so, he may have just tainted every victory from here on out, including his last several wins. His last two opponents, Michael Bisping and Rockhold, have spoken openly about their disapproval of Belfort’s use of TRT, calling it everything from “cheating” to “bullshit” and that Belfort is “lacking something”.  It should come as no surprise that Belfort has made himself a target not only for critics, but basically to every opponent on the way to a second chance at the UFC middleweight title. Fair or not, Belfort has, for all intents and purposes, tainted every victory since being on TRT – and he’s not getting any younger, which means he’ll most likely continue using TRT until the day he retires.

As long as Belfort continues to TRT, every opponent will use that as a sticking point on whether or not to accept the fight, and rightfully so. “The Phenom” tested positive for a banned substance back in 2006 and now he’s using testosterone. Realistically Belfort’s image has been tarnished and his current use of the hormone isn’t helping matters. Every opponent from here on out will think that Belfort is using TRT to gain an unfair advantage. His TRT was approved in his last two bouts, both of which occurred in Brazil. Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic commission Keith Kizer has said that it is unlikely that Belfort would be approved for therapeutic-use exemption due to his previous failed test, and because of that, it is likely that Belfort will continue to fight in Brazil, if not another state where he can be approved for therapeutic-use exemption.

Fair or not, in the back of all our minds, fighters and fight fans alike, Belfort’s use of TRT will always be questioned, especially since Belfort often avoids the topic like he has in recent interviews. It’s unfortunate, but as long as Belfort continues to use TRT, his victories will continue to be tainted.

PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The post Vitor Belfort and His Tainted Victories appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC Light Heavyweight Chael Sonnen recently spent some time calling out Wanderlei Silva across all sorts of social media and to anyone who would listen. Sonnen even went as far as to say he would donate part of his purse to a charity if Silva agreed to fight him with in 24 hours of the post, and when Silva didn’t respond he let everyone know. Silva later said he was never given an offer by the UFC, and now Sonnen is saying he is no longer interested in the fight Silva. There is a very good possibility that this is just more lobbying from Sonnen to get the fight made on the Boston card.

Sonnen told MMAHeat:

“I’m not looking for it anymore, I don’t like to bully guys. I tried to fight him, he doesn’t want to fight. I’m not gonna stick a finger in a guy’s chest. If a guy says ‘no,’ I’m not gonna be a jerk about it.”

Photo Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The post Chael Sonnen No Longer Looking For Wanderlei Silva Fight appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC featherweight Nik Lentz piled up his share of dings and bruises, but what fans don’t know is that he got his most severe injury following the fight. As it turns out, Lentz was getting the hand wraps cut from his hand following his unanimous decision win over Hacran Dias at UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold, when the doctor made a mistake. Instead of just cutting the wraps off his hands, the doctor on hand managed to slice into Lentz’s hand with the scissors. Lentz posted a picture of the injury Saturday night after he got it stitched up.

Lentz via Twttier:

Hand is still bleeding a day after the doc cut it trying to get my hand wraps off!! Damn noob!! twitter.com/NikLentz/statu…

— Nik Lentz Ufc mma (@NikLentz) May 19, 2013

Photo  Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

The post Nik Lentz Cut By Doctor After Dias Bout appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC middleweight Chris Weidman is the latest in a long line of competitors to express confidence entering an effort against champion Anderson Silva despite the Brazilian’s unbeaten mark inside the Octagon. However, Weidman’s words seem to have more weight considering the upside he’s shown in his young career and background as an accomplished amateur wrestler.

Weidman elaborated on his mindset entering their UFC 162 showdown in a recent conversation with MMAWeekly, saying his self-belief stemmed from a realization he had years ago before he was even in the UFC.

“I always thought I had better wrestling. I thought I had the length and athleticism to be aware on the feet to when I could strike for my takedowns and look to punch. And when I hit the ground, I always felt confident in my jiu-jitsu. So it wasn’t like I saw the Chael Sonnen fight and said, ‘Oh, my God! Look! I can beat him!’ It was way before that.”

“On paper I think I have him beat in more areas than he has me beat. I don’t think he’s ever fought a guy who has him beat in as many areas as I do. I’m young. I’m hungry. I don’t have the biggest name, so people are going to expect him to beat me. I think he knows being a smart guy and being around the MMA game that it’s not going to be an easy fight.”

SOURCE: MMAWeekly
PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The post Chris Weidman Believes He’s Better than Anderson Silva in Multiple Areas appeared first on Fighters.com.

Former UFC fighter Luke Cummo is still fighting, but instead of fighting other people, Cummo is fighting against MMA. Cummo has posted a video on youtube talking about the dangers of fighting, and how as a parent he would never let his children fight. Cummo says the business is a “mindless, stupid industry profiting from the spilled blood of the innocent.” Cummo left the UFC in 2008 and hasn’t fought as a professional since. He left the promotion 3-4 in the octagon after a unanimous decision loss to Tamdan McCrory. Check out the video below.

Luke Cummo Via Youtube:

Random Cage – Photo: John Petit

The post Luke Cummo Has Come Out Against MMA appeared first on Fighters.com.

Bellator MMA has officially announced that they have picked up former UFC welterweight Matt Riddle, and that he will fight in the season 9 welterweight tournament. Riddle would be a on a four fight win streak, but he has failed two drug tests for marijuana that has turned two of his victories into no contests. Things became heated between Riddle and the UFC prior to his final fight, and the positive test was all they needed to cut him from the promotion. Bellator MMA CEO Bjorn Rebney, who has said time and time again he doesn’t want Bellator to be depository for struggling UFC talent, said that when Riddle became available they took notice.

Bjorn Rebney said:

“Matt’s got all the tools to be a force in our welterweight division. When I saw Matt get released from the UFC coming off 4 straight wins including his dominant win over Mills in February, we took notice. We both realize that Matt will have a target on his back for his past indiscretions. But having discussed it with him, I’m comfortable that he’s in the right place to enter the Bellator cage this fall in what will be the most loaded Bellator Welterweight Tournament in the promotions history.”

Matt Riddle on the new deal:
“I had so many options after I left the UFC, but knowing that I was able to compete in a tournament against guys like Paul Daley, Ben Saunders, and Douglas Lima, signing with Bellator was an easy decision. This division is just so stacked, and being able to fight in a tournament makes it even better. Bellator is doing a lot of great things right now, and I want to be a part of it.”

“No questions asked, I want to win the next Bellator Welterweight Tournament, get my shot at the title and take my beautiful wife to the MTV Awards and meet Snoop Dogg. I’ve seen all the pictures of Bellator guys walking red carpets and it’s something I want to earn and be able to do. What could be better than that?”

Photo Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

The post Matt Riddle To Fight In Bellator’s Season 9 Tournament appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC star Chael Sonnen is 36-year old, has a blossoming career in broadcasting, and is coming off back-to-back losses. However, Sonnen is determined to continue competing and understandably so considering his consecutive defeats came against two of the top pound-for-pound fighters in MMA, champions Anderson Silva and Jon Jones.

The most likely opponent for Sonnen’s next scrap appears to be Wanderlei Silva based on a constant stream of smack-talk between the two dating back to a confrontation a few years back that’s recently heated up. Sonnen took aim at Silva again over the weekend while offering commentary on Fuel TV for UFC on FX 8, though didn’t go so far as to say the tilt was set in stone at this point.

“At some point, my skills will diminish and my athletic abilities will go down. And when they do, I’ll either join the NFL or fight Wanderlei Silva. But at this point, I’m looking ahead and I don’t know what’s next,” said Sonnen.

The anticipated bout between Sonnen-Silva has been rumored to be taking place on August 17 in Boston at UFC on FS1.

SOURCE: Fuel TV
PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The post Chael Sonnen: “I don’t know what’s next.” appeared first on Fighters.com.

Once again the UFC will be testing the dexterity of the famed octagon when they pack it full of heavyweights on Saturday night at UFC 160: Velasquez Vs Silva II. In the main event, UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez will put his belt on the line in a rematch against Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva. Despite Mark Hunt almost not making it into the country, he has obtained his VISA and he will meet former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos in the co main event. All of the action takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand, and Fighters.com will be bringing you wall to wall coverage of the entire event.

You can keep up with the real time results here, and below you can follow the action round by round as the event unfolds. The first fight is scheduled to take place at 6:30 PM EST, and remember to refresh your page for the most current updates.

UFC 160: Velasquez Vs Silva II

Date: May 25, 2013
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena

Main Card (PPV / 10:00 EST)

Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva*
Junior dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt
James Te Huna vs. Glover Teixeira
T.J. Grant vs. Gray Maynard
Donald Cerrone vs. K.J. Noons

Preliminary Card (FX / 8:00 EST)

Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story
Dennis Bermudez vs. Max Holloway
Colton Smith vs. Robert Whittaker
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Abel Trujillo

Preliminary Card (Facebook / 6:35 EST)

Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Stephen Thompson
Brian Bowles vs. George Roop
Estevan Payan vs. Jeremy Stephens

The post UFC 160: Velasquez Vs Silva II Live Results/Play-By-Play (Saturday/6:30 PM EST) appeared first on Fighters.com.

There was a lot going on on Saturday night but you may have a missed a comment by Daniel Cormier where he said where he would like to fight next. Cormier told the panel of the UFC ON FX coverage that he would like to fight at the Boston card where the UFC will be kicking off the first day of UFC On Fox Sports 1. There has been no mention as to if he will in fact fight on that card yet, or who his opponent might be, but the UFC has promised that this will be the best free fight card they have ever done.

Cormier on FUEL TV:

“I want to fight on the first card on FOX Sports 1 in Boston on Aug. 17. And I hope my man Chael Sonnen is fighting Wanderlei Silva next to me. Put us on the card, boss!”

Photo Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The post Daniel Cormier Wants Fight In Boston On FS1 Card appeared first on Fighters.com.

According to a tweet by UFC Heavyweight Mark Hunt, Hunt has obtained the VISA he needed to travel to the USA, and his fight with Junior dos Santos will take place as planned. As reported on Fighters.com, Hunt attempted to travel to the US about two weeks ago, but an issue prevented him from obtaining his VISA and he was turned away. Last Friday, the state of Nevada granted him a license to fight in the state next Saturday at UFC 160: Velasquez Vs Silva II, but they also granted Roy Nelson a license as well in case he couldn’t get into the country. Nelson won’t be needed afteral as Hunt is likely already enroute to get to the states.

Hunt via Twitter:    Thank u for my visa father

The post Mark Hunt Obtains VISA, Fight With Dos Santos All Set appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC middleweight Vitor Belfort has accomplished a lot in his career yet he seems to be the underdog in most of his match-ups based on age and a singular approach to scoring wins inside the Octagon. In his last two tilts, many felt a changing of the guard would occur with fresher fighters coming out on top after stymieing his aggressive stand-up. However, Belfort came out on top in each, blasting Michael Bisping with a head kick in January and doing similar damage with a spinning heel kick last night in a match-up with Luke Rockhold.

Belfort spoke about his career in a conversation with Fuel TV after his UFC on FX 8 win, saying his love of competition will keep him going in the cage for as long as his body will allow.

“I was part of two jungles. I’m a T-Rex surviving in this new jungle. I’m revealing myself and God gave me the strength. I used to be strong then. I’m strong now. I think it’s just a burning inside of me that said: you didn’t accomplish what you did. I lacked so many things in my career. I did so many mistakes, and Dana White gave me the chance. And I promised him, I sat down in a meeting and said I’m going to promise him, I’m going to give him my best. I’m going to finish as strong as I can finish. If I don’t have the desire to go to the gym, if I don’t have the desire to train to improve new skills, I should retire. I still have a lot of gas in my tank. I thank God to give me that strength, that burning inside.”

The full interview with Belfort can be seen below:

SOURCE: Fuel TV
PHOTO CREDIT: Jason da Silva-USA Today Sports

The post Vitor Belfort: “I still have a lot of gas in my tank.” appeared first on Fighters.com.

As expected, and as we reported on Fighters.com, UFC 163 will be headlined by a title fight between current featherweight champion Jose Aldo Jr and Anthony Pettis, but the UFC also made another fight for the card last night at the UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold post fight press conference. UFC Rep Doug Marshall announced that Demian Maia will take on Josh Koscheck at the card scheduled for Rio in August. Marshall made no mention of where it will be placed on the card, but one could assume that at the very least it will be on the main card.

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The post Demian Maia And Josh Koscheck Signed For UFC 163 appeared first on Fighters.com.

Middleweight Luke Rockhold didn’t have a lot of nice things to say about Vitor Belfort leading up to their bout at UFC on FX 8. Though respectful of Belfort’s contribution to Mixed Martial Arts over a sixteen-year career, Rockhold felt as though “The Phenom” lacked the mental make-up to still succeed at a high level and attributed much of the Brazilian’s recent success to testosterone replacement therapy.

After getting knocked out in the opening round of last night’s main event it appears Rockhold has a different take on the 36-year old. Rockhold spoke to MMAJunkie after the bout, explaining that he lost fair and square to the better man.

“I felt good. I saw his punches. I saw everything. I was landing some shots. I felt like I was starting to control things, and then I got caught. It happens.”

“TRT had nothing to do with that kick.”

“I lost to one of the best guys in the world, and it was something pretty spectacular. I don’t know what to really think about anything right now. I just want to get back and fight and beat someone up. That’s what I’m focused on. Good job by Vitor. What can I say?”

SOURCE: MMAJunkie
PHOTO CREDIT: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

The post Luke Rockhold: “Good job by Vitor. What can I say?” appeared first on Fighters.com.

The UFC was unable to stream the postfight  press conference last night from UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold in Brazil, but it did in fact happen, and we have the video.  Vitor Belfort, Luke Rockhold, Ronaldo Souza, and others were all on hand to discuss how the card went down, and you can watch it all right here.

Courtesy of the UFC:

The post UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold Post Fight Press Conference (VIDEO) appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC Lightweight Rafael dos Anjos picked up the biggest win of his career last night when he narrowly defeated Evan Dunham by unanimous decision at UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold in Brazil. Fans across social media seem to be in agreement that Dunham should have been the winner of the bout, but dos Anjos said he knew he did enough in the second and third round to get him the win on Saturday night in Brazil. Dos Anjos also said the cut he received didn’t bother him, and he is ready to step in the octagon with anyone the UFC wants him too.

Courtesy of FUEL TV:

Photo  Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

The post Rafael dos Anjos Says He Thinks He Did Enough To Beat Evan Dunham appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC Interim Champion Renan Barao is likely injured and out of next month’s UFC 161 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. According to reports, Barao injured his right foot in training and right doctors are trying to determine if he can still fight. When UFC officials were asked about the report, reporters were told Barao was ‘probably out.’

The UFC needs to make a decision soon as UFC 161 Barao Vs Wineland takes place on June 15th at the MTS Centre. If Barao is injured, this would make the second UFC Banatamweight belt that will sit on a shelf as Barao won his Interim because UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz has been injured for close to two years now. Stay close to Fighters.com as we will be recovering this as the story unfolds.

Photo  Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

The post Renen Barao Likely Out Of UFC 161 appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold is wrapped up and in the books, and it was Vitor Belfort who closed the night by dropping jaws around the world to the floor. Belfort landed a spinning back kick to the side of Luke Rockhold‘s head sending him the canvas. Belfort smelled the blood in the water and finished Rockhold off with strikes from half guard. Once again, Belfort went against the odds, finished in the first round, and added a knockout to his highlight reel. Belfort also picked up the knock out of the night bonus earning him an extra $50,000.

When asked in the ring if he wanted a crack at the middleweight belt, Belfort said he did not want a belt, and the MMA blogosphere is already clamoring for a fight between Belfort and the night’s co main event winner Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza. There is no word yet from the UFC on any fights to be made from the event, but a middleweight title fight between Anderson SIlva and Chris Weidman will likely happen before any fight gets made.

UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold took place May 18 at Arena Jaragua in Santa Catarina, Brazil.

PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The post Vitor Belfort Knocks Out Luke Rockhold In Highlight Reel Fashion appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold is in the books and when the dust cleared it was Vitor Belfort who knocked out Luke Rockhold in the main event. As always, the UFC is giving $50,000 to the night’s top performers, and you can find the full list below.

Submission of the night: Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza
Knockout of the night: Vitor Belfort
Fight of the night: Jeremy Larsen vs. Lucas Martins

The post UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold Fight Night Bonuses appeared first on Fighters.com.

Iconic Brazilian Vitor Belfort entered his 2012 tilt against light heavyweight champ Jon Jones as a major underdog and understandably so. Not only did “The Phenom” take the fight on short notice as a smaller individual, but Jones is seen by most as one of the Top 3 pound-for-pound pugilists in MMA. While Belfort went on to lose the bout, he nearly pulled off a huge upset with an early Armbar and even injured Jones in the process.

Though the odds aren’t as stacked against him tonight in his UFC on FX 8 rumble with Luke Rockhold, Belfort knows there are a lot of fans who have counted him out based on the former Strikeforce champion’s grappling background and crisp kickboxing. However, that’s not to say he’s bothered.

“You doubt me, I prove you wrong,” said Belfort of his critics after offering up an assessment of Rockhold. “He’s scared already. He feels the heat.”

The full interview with Belfort can be seen below:

SOURCE: Fuel TV
PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The post Vitor Belfort: “You doubt me, I prove you wrong.” appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC middleweight Luke Rockhold has been quick to criticize UFC on FX 8 foe Vitor Belfort for the elder statesman’s use of testosterone replacement therapy despite having been popped for PEDs in the past. However, Rockhold has a new bone to pick with “The Phenom” based on the Brazilian’s behavior during the final build up to this evening’s action.

Rockhold spoke with Fuel TV shortly after he and Belfort had a minor scuffle at the weigh-ins, saying he was annoyed with Belfort’s decision to put his fist up to his face during a photo op. As a result, according to Rockhold, he’s even more fired up to flatten Belfort in tonight’s tilt…

“I’ve got no respect for that. I’m a fighter. I’m gonna come in there and do my job.”

“I’m scared? I’ve got no words for that. I became champion, I stayed champion, and Belfort’s gonna find that out…”

“Vitor’s always explosive off the bat but he’s messed up in his own head.”

“I’m coming for him and I’m gonna kick his ass!”

The full interview with Rockhold can be seen below:

SOURCE: Fuel TV
PHOTO CREDIT: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

The post Luke Rockhold: “I’m coming for him and I’m gonna kick his a**!” appeared first on Fighters.com.

This has been a rough week if you are the PR department at the UFC, but the bottom line to all of this is that one of the standout fighters from UFC 159: Jones Vs Sonnen tested positive for marijuana. Pat Healy and his management have been very forward about the details surrounding his positive drug test, but until now there has been no official statement from the UFC on the matters. All said and done, Healy finds himself $130,000 poorer as the UFC has rescinded the bonuses he won for his performance against Jim Miller. Also, the result of the bout has been turned to a no contest, he will be suspended for 90 days, and upon return he will have to pass a drug test.

The complete statement on UFC 159:

Zuffa, LLC, owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, released the following statement today regarding drug test results conducted by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board (NJSACB) at UFC® 159 in Newark, N.J. on April 27, 2013:

The UFC has been informed by the NJSACB that lightweight Pat Healy tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his bout against Jim Miller at UFC® 159. The NJSACB issued Healy a 90-day suspension retroactive to the date of the event. He must pass a drug test upon completion of the suspension before receiving clearance to compete again. The outcome of his bout against Miller will be changed to a no contest and he will forfeit $130,000 in bonus money from Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night. Miller will keep his Fight of the Night bonus and Bryan Caraway will receive the $65,000 Submission of the Night bonus.

The UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents. The UFC also fully supports the drug testing efforts of all regulatory agencies including NJSACB. All fighters on the UFC® 159 card were drug tested at the event. The results of all positive tests are reported to the official Association of Boxing Commissions record-keeper.

The post UFC Releases Statement On Pat Healy And UFC 159 appeared first on Fighters.com.

It is now exactly one week before Mark Hunt is supposed to step into the octagon for a number one contender match with former UFC Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 160: Velasquez Vs Silva II, but Hunt is still 8 thousand miles away in Australia dealing with visa issues. Although the UFC is saying they are confident that Hunt will still be able to fight, they have also been saying “Hunt should be cleared by tomorrow” for a week now. The Nevada State Athletic Commission held a hearing on Friday which granted Hunt a license to fight (despite not being in Las Vegas), but they have also given a license to Roy Nelson at the off chance Hunt can’t make it.

Hunt told MMAFighting:

“I’m still waiting.I think I should be getting one on Monday. Hopefully Monday.”

Photo Credit John Petit

The post Mark Hunt Still Trying To Obtain Visa For UFC 160 appeared first on Fighters.com.

Former UFC welterweight Matt Riddle recently announced that he would be heading to Legacy Fighting Championships to continue fighting. However, it is now being reported that Riddle will not go to to Legacy FC, but will head to Bellator MMA instead. It’s no secret that Riddle left the UFC under bad terms after testing positive for marijuana twice in 6 months, but according to reports and rumors Bellator is looking to fill a slot in a welterweight tournament left open by Paul Daley who can’t get into the country because of legal trouble of his own in England.

Inside MMA reported:

BREAKING NEWS – Matt Riddle is leaving @legacyfighting for @BellatorMMA details of contracts are being hammered out.

The post Matt Riddle Headed To Bellator appeared first on Fighters.com.

It wouldn’t be a UFC event with a video blog from UFC President Dana White, and your favorite combat sports CEO doesn’t disappoint. The video centers around the backstage happenings during UFC On FOX 7: Henderson Vs Melendez. At the chance you forgot how the card went, it came close to being the card with the most knockouts in UFC history. This is not the vlog you should skip as there is some very compelling footage on this video offering.

Courtesy of the UFC

Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The post Dana White’s UFC on FX 8 Video Blog appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold

Date: May 18, 2013
Location: Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Venue: Arena Jaragua

Main Card (FX / 9:00 EST)

• Vitor Belfort def. Luke Rockhold via Knockout at 2:32 of round 1(strikes)
• Ronaldo Souza def Chris Camozzi via technical submission at 3:37 of round 1 (head and arm choke)
• Rafael dos Anjos def. Evan Dunham via Unanimous Decision (29-28×3)
• Rafael Natal def. Joao Zeferino via Unanimous Decision (29-28×2,30-27)

Preliminary Card (Fuel TV / 6:00 EST)

• Nik Lentz def Hacran Dias via Unanimous Decision (28-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Francisco Trinaldo def Mike Rio via submission at 3:06 of round 1 (head and arm choke)
• Gleison Tibau def. John Cholish via Submission at 2:34 of round 2 (guillotine choke)
• Paulo Thiago def. Michel Prazeres via Unanimous Decision (29-28×3)
• Yuri Alcantara def. Iliarde Santos via Technical Knockout at 2:31 of round 1 (Strikes)
• Fabio Maldonado def. Roger Hollett via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-27)

Preliminary Card (Facebook / 4:30 EST)

• John Lineker def. Azamat Gashimov via Technical Knockout at 1:07 of Round 2
• Jussier Formiga def. Chris Cariaso via Unanimous Decision (29-28×3)
• Lucas Martins def Jeremy Larsen via knockout at :13 of round 3 (punches)

The post UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold appeared first on Fighters.com.

The UFC has concluded their internal inquiries with regard to Nate Diaz’s homophobic slur on twitter on Thursday. The UFC has suspended the fighter for 90 days and they have also fined him $20,000. The money will be donated to charity. The full text of the statement from the UFC is posted in full.

UFC:
UFC lightweight Nate Diaz has received an immediate 90-day suspension and $20,000 fine for violating the UFC’s fighter code of conduct. The language used in his tweet was regrettable, offensive and inconsistent with the values and culture of the organization, and is not tolerated.

The money will be donated to charity.

The post Nate Diaz Fined 20k, Suspended appeared first on Fighters.com.

Future UFC Hall of Famer, pound for pound best fighter on the planet, and greatest mixed martial artist of all time are just a few of the things you will hear about Anderson Silva. The reigning, defending, middleweight champion recently sat down with FUEL TV for one of the most compelling Silva interviews ever done. In the video, Silva discusses how he doesn’t like fighting his fellow countrymen, and he definitely would not take a fight with a member of his team. Silva also talks about landing one of the most iconic kicks in UFC history.

Courtesy of FUEL TV

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The post Anderson Silva: “I don’t like to fight fellow Brazilians.” appeared first on Fighters.com.

In a recent interview, UFC Lightweight Nate Diaz was as candid as I have ever heard him. He said many things that were over the top, and many things I do not agree with, but I had never heard him as relatable as he was during that conversation. It was so fascinating that it prompted me to tweet his manager to encourage him to do more of them.

However, Diaz’s recent comments on Twitter – while not the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen in cyberspace – are probably in my top ten. For those that don’t know, Diaz insulted Bryan Caraway for ending up with the bonus money that would have gone to Pat Healy had he not tested positive for marijuana after his UFC 159 bout with Jim Miller. While it’s easy to understand his support, the problem with Diaz’s reaction is that he chose to call Caraway “the biggest fag in the world.”

Diaz’s disciplinary problems started as an unlicensed cornerman at the famous “Strikeforce Brawl” in Nashville when he decided to jump into the foray in the cage that night. For his actions, Diaz was suspended for three months and was fined $7,500. This would be the first bad decision  Diaz would make in a long line of them.

With the new UFC Code of Conduct policy now firmly in place, the hammer came down hard and fast. As soon as UFC President Dana White heard of the post, he vowed action from the UFC, and before the story was six hours old, the UFC had issued a statement and suspended Diaz indefinitely. As I write this, the post is twenty hours old and Diaz has not apologized nor even deleted the tweet. As if things weren’t ugly enough, his manager isn’t doing his client any favors.

Diaz representative Mike Kogan vehemently defended his client, and tried (and failed miserably) to rationalize the unfortunate choice of words from his fighter. Kogan, who obviously doesn’t understand that you don’t get to decide how people take the things you say, basically said by calling him that, he meant Caraway was “a punk, or a bitch.” Does this sound shocking to you? How could the guy who manages such high-profile athletes like Royce Gracie, Roy Nelson and Mo Lawal choose his words so poorly? The answer is because that’s what Kogan does.

Not only was I not shocked by Kogan’s comments, I expected them. A while back Kogan wrote an article and he chose to use the term “house niggas” when referring to Quinton Jackson and Jon Jones. While explaining that the racism among MMA fans bothered him, Kogan would go on to say the most ignorant things I have ever heard from a manager.

That’s why Rampage and Jon Jones are so popular. They are “house niggas”, they are for the white folk, you know what I mean? I’m not trying to put down black folk, but if you sit down and listen to Jon Jones, ain’t no black folk saying that shit man, come on. The last person that said that shit is Barack Obama, and that nigga the President, so of course he gonna say that shit- Mike Kogan  (link)

What does this have to do with Diaz? Diaz decided that this was the man who should represent him professionally. Kogan isn’t even telling the fighter to delete the tweet. In this case, Kogan does not have his client’s interest ahead of his. Any smart manager would go into damage-control mode and put together a multi-step plan that included apologies, communicating to the UFC that they would accept any and all punishments, and that they would do all they could to undo the damage done. Part of a good manager’s job is to protect their client 365 days a year, and yes they need to protect them from themselves.

If the UFC was going to make an example out of someone since implementing their code of conduct policy, can you imagine a better candidate than Diaz? Diaz has a tremendous amount of abilities as a fighter that I predict will one day outshine his brothers, but it really seems like he is hellbent on squandering them. Diaz’s decision-making GPS seems to be set on Bellator or WSOF.

Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The post Nate Diaz’s Decision Making Problem appeared first on Fighters.com.

The stakes are high UFC middleweight Ronaldo Souza this weekend when he locks horns with Chris Camozzi in a co-headlining clash at UFC on FX 8. “Jacare” will enter the effort as the favorite based on his past accomplishments, plus the bout happens to be taking place in Brazil where Souza hails from.

Though Souza had to switch things up on short notice after original opponent Costa Philippou, the 33-year old recently told the UFC’s website he is confident he will come out on top despite the added pressure to perform.

“For sure it is a little difficult to prepare for someone and then fight a different guy. I was training for a 5-10 body frame person and now I am fighting someone with a 6-3 frame with more reach and it’s two weeks away, when my training is pretty much done. But it doesn’t change a lot; we have so many training partners at XGym, so I am used to training with all kind of bodies and shapes and I will always be ready to fight anyone.”

“It means a lot to me. Not only I will debut in the biggest event of the world, I will debut in Brazil. That pumps me up to be ready, to be more focused, and to put my emotions on the side and bring the action into the cage.”

“I still need a couple more fights to move up. It’s a very tough division. They are all tough guys and any of them can put a great fight. But I see myself reaching the top of my division, step by step. I am aware of the responsibilities and challenges ahead of me and I am ready for it.”

SOURCE: UFC.com
PHOTO CREDIT: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The post Ronaldo Souza: “I will always be ready to fight anyone.” appeared first on Fighters.com.

After some contract confusion with Bellator, UFC Light Heavyweight Roger Hollett made his debut in front of his countrymen in Canada at UFC 152. Hollett dropped the fight to Matt Hamill, but now that his UFC debut is out of the way and he is fighting overseas for the first time in his career, Hollett seems more relaxed than ever. Hollett faces Fabio Maldonado at UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold this Saturday night, and he is wondering if Maldonado is feeling the same pressure he felt at 152.

Hollett told MMAJunkie:

“It’s nice to get out and see the world a bit. There’s no pressure on me – this is just fun for me. I get to travel and visit Brazil. I don’t know if the pressure’s on him or not, but we’ll see the night of the fight. I’m very relaxed. There’s no game face now, after the weigh-ins for me, then the game face starts coming on.”

“I had a full camp this time. I’m going to go out there and fight, and if I get put on the chopping block, at least I went down fighting.”

“You train your ass off with lots of conditioning, and you have it in your head that you’re going to be in for a war. You’ve got to be mentally ready, too, for a guy like this. He’s definitely tough. It’s going to be a great fight for me, I think, and I think the fans are really going to enjoy the show.”

Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The post Roger Hollett: “There’s no pressure on me, this is just fun for me” appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC Featherweight Hacran Diaz is now training along some of the best fighters in the world, and while he isn’t literally betting his house on getting the win, he is hoping to end up with one if he gets his hand raised on Saturday. Diaz was originally supposed to fight Manny Gamburyan, but Gamburyan was forced out off the card with an injury and replace by Nik Lentz. With a winning streak of nine fights going Diaz seems to be picking up momentum, and he has no doubt that the momentum will carry him through Saturday night at UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold.

Courtesy of the UFC:

Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The post Hacran Diaz Is Looking For A Life Changing Win On Saturday Night (VIDEO) appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC 159 was a great night for Strikeforce refugee Pat Healy. He waged an absolute war against the affable Jim Miller, came out on top via a gutsy performance and tap out via rear naked choke, and was awarded a hefty “submission of the night” and “fight of the night” bonus to go with his winnings. Sadly, his good fortune ended there – or rather, it ended when his mandatory drug screening came back positive for marijuana. Cue sad trombone music, because from that lapse in judgment, Healy saw his win turned into a “no contest”, and saw his bonus dough go to fellow UFC 159er Bryan Caraway (who also won by sub that night).

That sucks for “Bam Bam”, does it not? After all, he fought his heart out against Miller. While the “no contest” is of course fitting, is it possible that the loss of the bonus money might be a bit too harsh of a punishment for being caught with a drug that isn’t really much of a performance enhancer?

Cue drumroll, because here’s what the Rebellion team had to say on the matter.

Chris McDevitt, MMALinker:

Maybe now that someone has smoked a proverbial “six-figure” bowl, fighters will realize that marijuana has absolutely no place in their training camps.  It doesn’t matter how many weeks out you quit, that last session is the one that tears up your winning lottery ticket. Pat Healy was given a full training camp to prepare for Jim Miller and during that camp, he toked; one would assume he tapered his usage as the fight grew closer.  Bryan Caraway took his fight on five days notice, losing 23.5 pounds in the interim, and pissed clean. It sucks that they even test for non-performance enhancing substances but it is reassuring to see Caraway rewarded for positive behavior. Wait until after the post-fight autographs are signed and the cups are filled and THEN spark a spliff with Rogan in the parking lot.  Dammit, Bam Bam, if you don’t want to be drug tested, go sign with Bellator.

Dana Becker, MMAConvert and FightLine:

No, Pat Healy does not deserve either bonus because the UFC made it quite clear: you fail the drug test, you get no bonus. Pat, and every other fighter in the promotion, was told the same thing. Hey, don’t smoke the green stuff before a fight, stupid!

Casey Hodgin, MMALinker:

I definitely think Zuffa is being too harsh on him. The NC and suspension is bad enough for a fighter. A fighter’s success is based around his activity, and how often he wins. They already took that away, and now they’re robbing him?! Healy deserves that money 100%! He fought one of the toughest fighters in the world, put on a hell of a performance and a fight, and even managed to finish him! I guess we’ll see how Healy can deal with adversity. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Healy turn into a bonus-hunter. He has the style and attitude to be incredibly exciting, and now with a setback just after his UFC debut, we could see him fight with a bit of desperation.

Chris Leslie, MMAFrenzy:

Earlier this year the powers at be at Zuffa announced they would penalize fighters who failed their drug tests in addition to local rules. Part of that decree was that the company would take back bonuses. So when Pat Healy failed a test due to marijuana, they did just that. Healy had a fantastic evening at UFC 159, but knew the rules beforehand and still broke the rules. People can get angry at the commissions and the rules, but the fighters know they will likely be tested and should act accordingly. Until the rules are changed regarding marijuana, fighters have been warned and have only themselves to blame when they fail a test.

Miguel Barragan, FightLine and Fighters.com:

Let’s just be honest here, we all know that the sweet leaf is by no means a performance-enhancing drug (PED), at least not for mixed martial arts. I mean I’ve heard of archers using it for its calming benefits but let’s be realistic, the UFC has decided to take back the two “Of The Night” rewards from Healy for reasons that hold no substance. Healy took a beating before coming on late in the third round to earn the victory, the hard way. Dana White has commented several times that, in his opinion, marijuana is not a PED. It is however still illegal, no debate there. But taking in consideration that it’s the UFC’s discretion who wins these “locker room bonuses”, it’s blatantly obvious the UFC’s reason or reasons for this cheap move has no merit. If Dana White truly feels how he says he does about marijuana, there should be no reason for him to take the prize money back since it’s up to them who gets it to begin with. It’s not a fight purse, it’s a bonus and everything from an athletic commission standpoint has already been taken care of. From the outside, it looks like the UFC is retrieving the award money for PR reasons. It has to look good in the public’s eye, but since when has the UFC done things others want them to do? It’s a bogus decision and the UFC knows it, bottom line. And people still talk shit about Bellator’s business practices.

John Petit, Fighters.com:

I heard the head of USADA Travis Tygart say once, “The easiest drug test to pass is the one you know thats coming.” Healy knew that there was a drug test coming, and he made the decision to smoke pot anyway. This has NOTHING to do with whether weed is legal or not (its legal all over the world, yet you will find it on the WADA list), and if you think that once they make marijuana legal in the Unites States it won’t be on the banned list anymore, you should go take a look at how the process to change the rules works. Fighters must think that these tests for marijuana aren’t getting more sophisticated, but you better believe that these tests will evolve exponentially as these fights go on and they catch more of them. Healy lost $130,000 for being stupid, and had a big win overturned for poor decision making. In this case, the weed was a symptom, not the problem.

Sam Genovese, MMAConvert and MMAFrenzy:

Don’t break the rules. If you want to keep your bonuses, don’t break the rules. You shouldn’t be rewarded for breaking the rules. I think the ban on marijuana is stupid but until it is legalized in fight sport, do it at your own risk.

Joe Lisnow, FightLine:

Pat Healy being popped for marijuana and losing his two bonus honors was justified. The main argument should be that the effects of marijuana are the opposite of other banned substances fighters use, namely steroids. There is no advantage for a fighter who uses marijuana. It’s not a strong opiate pain killer or one of the hundreds of drugs that can create a case of ‘roid rage. Healy broke the rules set by the athletic commission, and federal law, so he deserves to lose that extra cash. He admitted the mistake on his part, but it was a little too late. If he went to Dana White after the fight and came clean, it would be a different story. He only told the truth when the drug test results came in.

Marco Scolari, CagedInsider:

This marijuana issue is getting silly. Now the UFC, who has advocated against weed being deemed a “performance enhancer”, is taking well-deserved pay from its guys!? Never mind that Healy generated a fair amount of income for them and, because of that performance, will no doubt generate future revenue as well. Suspend the guy so he is unable to make a living presently as he made a bad decision, but don’t take his bonus.

Jake Norris, FightLine:

Fighters test positive for testosterone levels and get fined/suspended.  But get a doctor’s note and it becomes a legal TRT exemption.  Yet Matt Riddle gets fired over marijuana, even though he has a medical card.  Then Dana White tweets that the NSAC has “lost its mind” when JCC Jr. is fined $900k over weed.  But now Pat Healy loses $130k over the same thing.  Make sense to you?  Me neither.  We can talk all day about whether Healy really deserved to lose his bonus, but the real takeaway is that the UFC needs to find some consistency on its drug policy.

Brendhan Conlan, FiveOuncesofPain and Fighters.com:

It’s amazing how a little green can ultimately result in a lot less green, if you know what I’m saying. Though I may not agree with the current policy regarding marijuana use in MMA, especially in a situation like Healy’s where it clearly wasn’t performance enhancing or abused, the reality is smoking pot is against the rules and “Bam Bam” broke them by doing so. Since the win over Miller was changed to a No Contest, no “submission” technically existed nor did any “fight” so thereby no bonuses could be issued to Healy. It’s really as simple as that.

On a side note, I’d have zero problem with Dana White paying Healy a little something off the books for the excellent effort involved at UFC 159 coupled with the UFC President’s past disgust with athletic commissions’ approach to weed.

PHOTO CREDIT: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The post Rebellion Roundtable: Pat Healy’s $135,000 Bong Hit appeared first on Fighters.com.

An odd story has unraveled around UFC welterweight Paulo Thiago heading into UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold. Thiago was Lance Benoist but Benoist was forced off of the card with an injury. UFC newcomer Michel ‘Trator’ dos Prazeres stepped in to take the fight on a months notice and prevented the bout from being scrapped. Thiago, who has moved his camp ahead of this bout, is a B.O.P.E / police officer in Brazil, and that also happens to be the profession of his new opponent. Check out the interview below where Thiago explains how it will be fun to fight a fellow officer and how the his preparation heading into this weekend’s card has gone.

UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold takes place on on May 18 at Arena Jaragua in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Middleweights Vitor Belfort and former Strikeforce Champion Luke Rockhold will meet in the main event.

Courtesy of the UFC:

The post Paulo Thiago Looking Forward To Fighting Another Police Officer On Saturday appeared first on Fighters.com.

Just a few weeks removed from his UFC On FOX loss to Josh Thomson, UFC Lightweight Nate Diaz may find himself out of a job. The mma blogosphere has been a buzz about the punishment that was levied against Pat Healy for failing his UFC 159 drug test, and Diaz took to twitter to criticize UFC Bantamweight Bryan Caraway(who ended up with Healy’s bonus money) with a homophobic slur. UFC President Dana White has since learned about the tweet, and is obviously not happy with Diaz right now.

MMAJunkie Reported:

Just received this from Dana White on Nate Diaz tweet: “He will be either fined and suspended or cut for that tweet.”

Photo  Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The post Dana White Responds To Nate Diaz’s Inappropriate Twitter Post appeared first on Fighters.com.

The UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold weigh ins take place Friday afternoon to make all of the fights official for Saturday’s card, and you can keep up with the results and watch the video right here on Fighters.com. In the main event, Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold will lock horns to see who takes one step close to middleweight dominance, and in the co-main slot Chris Camozzi rolls out the welcome mat for jiu jitsu ace Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza.

You can watch the video right here at 3:00 PM EST on Friday, but we will also be updating the live results below and on twitter (Make sure you hit refresh to stay up to speed.)

Courtesy of the UFC:

UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold
Date: May 18, 2013
Location: Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Venue: Arena Jaragua

Main Card

• Vitor Belfort (186 lbs) vs. Luke Rockhold (186 lbs)
• Chris Camozzi (186 lbs) vs. Ronaldo Souza (186 lbs)
• Rafael dos Anjos (156 lbs) vs. Evan Dunham (156 lbs)
• Rafael Natal (186 lbs) vs. Joao Zeferino (185 lbs)

Preliminary Card

• Hacran Dias (146 lbs) vs. Nik Lentz (146 lbs)
• Mike Rio (156 lbs) vs. Francisco Trinaldo (154 lbs)
• John Cholish (156.2 lbs) vs. Gleison Tibau (156 lbs)
• Michel Richard dos Prazeres (171 lbs) vs. Paulo Thiago (170 lbs)
• Yuri Alcantara (136 lbs) vs. Iliarde Santos (134 lbs)
• Roger Hollett (204 lbs) vs. Fabio Maldonado (205 lbs)
• Azamat Gashimov (126 lbs) vs. John Lineker (126 lbs)
• Chris Cariaso (126 lbs) vs. Jussier Formiga (126 lbs)
• Jeremy Larsen (155 lbs) vs. Lucas Martins (153 lbs)

The post UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold Live Weigh-In Results and Video (Friday, 3:00 PM EST) appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC Bantamweight Cat ‘Alpha’ Zingano has found a new home, and is now training at Black House. The 30 year old took a lot of people by surprise when she finished Miesha Tate in the third at their fight at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, and she now finds herself coaching opposite of UFC Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey on the next season of TUF. At the conclusion of the season, Zingano will be the second woman to take a shot at Rousey’s title. Zingano is now 8-0 as a professional, and now that she is training with one of the best gyms in the world the sky’s the limit.

You can check out Zingano’s profile on Black House’s web site here.

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The post Cat Zingano Joins Black House appeared first on Fighters.com.

UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre is seen by most as one of the greatest fighters to compete in Mixed Martial Arts and for good reason considering his record/past accomplishments. While GSP is physically gifted and works as hard as any of his peers inside the training room, he recently revealed his mental approach to in-ring action is equally responsible for the success he’s encountered in his career.

Specifically, St-Pierre peeled back the layers for an autobiography titled The Way of the Fight where he explained his ability to adapt to situations, no matter how adverse, has been crucial to his climb up to the top of the sport.

“My whole life, I’ve been fascinated by the natural world and how animals survive or become extinct. The study of dinosaurs is especially interesting because those creatures aren’t here anymore, and they were the biggest, fiercest living things on the planet. Meanwhile, rats and cockroaches survive.”

“How is that? A cockroach can’t defeat a dinosaur. But the cockroach is better at one thing, and it has ensured its survival through the ages: adaptation. One could adapt to the environment and the other one couldn’t.”

“Most people don’t realize this basic, fundamental and crucial thing, and it’s key for mixed martial arts–and all sports, in fact. Your opponent constantly changes too. In the mixed martial arts world you fight wrestlers, leg lockers, punchers. Every time you fight, your opponent doesn’t look anything like the previous opponent. Taking it a step further, if it’s the second time you fight an opponent, he often doesn’t look like the previous version.”

“I fight knockout artists, grapplers, kickers, wrestlers, punchers–the whole gamut. I have to keep adapting to new hostile environments because what happens in the Octagon is ever-changing. This is ingrained in my mind, and I’ve adapted my training to accept and prepare for it.”

“I’ve learned that my innovative capacities seem to rise up when there’s a crisis, a conflict. Like losing my title, for example, or hurting my knee badly. Those situations told me I needed to continue my innovation to recapture my title, my place in martial arts. The way I see it, innovation is a discipline, not a lottery. It’s got nothing to do with luck, or even eureka moments, because those are unplanned, unscripted. For me, it comes from the combination of two elements within my control: hard work and open-mindedness.”

SOURCE: The Way of the Fight
PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The post Georges St-Pierre Credits Ability to Adapt as Key to His Success appeared first on Fighters.com.

MMA fans will get a double-dose of tournament action from Bellator on June 19 when the organization returns to Spike TV for the annual Summer Series of shows. Already featuring a light heavyweight quartet including Muhammed Lawal and Renato Sobral, heavyweights will also take to the cage at Bellator 96 in the form of a four-man field out to earn a crack at divisional gold.

According to an official press release from Bellator, Vitaly Minakov (10-0) vs. Ron Sparks (8-1) and Vinicius Queiroz (6-3) vs. Rich Hale (21-5) have been added to the lineup.

The festivities are also set to host a title-fight between unbeaten lightweight champion Michael Chandler and Season 8 tournament winner Dave Jansen. Things will kick off at a special start time of 7:00 PM EST based on the number of high-profile pairings being planned.

Read below for the full card:

Brandon Halsey (3-0) vs. Mike Brown (3-1)
Justin McNally (1-1) vs. Steven Artoff (5-1)
Keith Miner (5-4) vs. Damon Jackson (4-0)
Mike Maldonado (4-0) vs. Jason Sampson (10-1)
Brandon Girtz (8-2) vs. TBA (0-0)
Keith Berry (14-10) vs. Cortez Coleman (9-3)
War Machine (12-4) vs. Blas Avena (8-6)
Vinicius Queiroz (6-3) vs. Rich Hale (21-5)
Vitaly Minakov (10-0) vs. Ron Sparks (8-1)
Muhammed Lawal (9-2) vs. Seth Petruzelli (14-7)
Renato Sobral (37-10) vs. Jacob Noe (11-2)
Michael Chandler (11-0) vs. Dave Jansen (19-2)

SOURCE: Bellator
PHOTO CREDIT: Bellator

The post Bellator Reveals Heavyweight Lineup for Summer Series Tournament appeared first on Fighters.com.

The UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold pre fight press conference takes place today in Brazil and you can watch the main card fighters discuss the event right here on Fighters.com. Luke Rockhold, Vitor Belfort, Chris Camozzi and Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza will all be on hand to answer questions from the media and fans.
UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold takes place on on May 18 at Arena Jaragua in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Middleweights Vitor Belfort and former Strikeforce Champion Luke Rockhold will meet in the main event.

Courtesy of the UFC:

The post UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold Press Conference (VIDEO @ 10:30 EST AM) appeared first on Fighters.com.

It has been sort of weird in the build up to the main event at UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold, with a convincing win either fighter could find themselves in a title fight. One thing I have noticed is both Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold have been doing very little talking about the fight. It would seem, as far as hype and promotion is concerned, Rockhold is looking to put a stamp on Belfort’s TRT exemption and Belfort is focused on thanking god and convincing people he is in good shape by posting videos of strength and conditioning sessions. Rockhold is the reigning middleweight Strikeforce champion that went undefeated with the promotion. No one would have batted an eye at if they give him a crack at Anderson Silva right out of the gate. Although you can ‘only’ call Belfort a UFC tournament champion, he did come VERY close to ‘de-winging’ the light heavyweight champion Jon Jones with an armbar. The video of him fighting Jones, and him lighting up Michael Bisping should be on a permanent loop in all of the promo videos, but we just aren’t seeing very much promotion.

What does Vitor Belfort have going for him in this fight? Thats the $100,000 question going into Saturday night in Brazil, and its a bigger list than you think it is. The first feather in his camp is obviously the home country advantage, but the octagon experience is one thing you shouldn’t ignore. Belfort has been through the wars, been through an original UFC one night tournament, and there is nothing Rockhold is going to do in the cage that he has never seen before. Keeping that in mind, Rockhold is coming into the fight making his octagon debut, and coming off of an eleven month lay off. Sure, Belfort isn’t the ‘Phenom’ who won UFC 12 anymore, but when you lay it out like this, he has more than just a punchers chance.

Luke Rockhold should be walking into this fight with a lot of confidence, but you have to think a ten month layoff has to play a little on your nerves. Also, If we are to believe the reports, Rockhold is also coming off an injury to his shoulder. Injury or not, this is Rockhold’s fight to win or lose. This is a five round fight, and everyone knows that Belfort falls apart late in fights. All Rockhold really has to do in the first round is not get hit, and remind Belfort that he is in a fight. Rockhold’s footwork is more than good enough to keep from getting sucked into a brawl with Belfort, and later in the fight the punches will add up on Belfort as he slows down.

Rockhold should get the finish in this fight, and I expect it to come from strikes from mount. The road is all laid out for Rockhold, and although its a rough road, all he has to do is follow the map.

The post Breaking Down UFC On FX 8: Belfort Vs Rockhold – Main Event appeared first on Fighters.com.

Former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold has not lost in over five years.  The 10-1 fighter didn’t even get to see what the second round looked like until his ninth fight.  That fight was against Ronaldo Souza for the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. It would seem athleticism is embedded in Luke Rockhold’s DNA.  The professional fighter is the child of a former European leagues professional basketball player and the brother of a professional surfer. At the early age of six, Rockhold embarked on his martial arts journey studying judo for four years before quitting at the age of ten.  A few years later, in the seventh grade, Rockhold began competitive wrestling at the middle school-level and continued through his high school graduation.

Whilst on the wrestling team, Rockhold also took jiu-jitsu classes at a local academy.  After his high school graduation, he tried wrestling for a local community college but found his passion burned brighter for BJJ than JUCO wrestling.  His successes at blue belt and purple belt lead him to try mixed martial arts. He started training at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, C.A.,  and he never looked back.

He took his first professional fight at Melee on the Mountain, where he defeated Mike Martinez via armbar less than three minutes into the first round. Rockhold’s second fight, three months later, yielded his first and only defeat. Tony Rubalcava TKO’ed Luke at two minutes, 46 seconds of Round 1. Three months later, the 1-1 Rockhold made his Strikeforce debut.

At Strikeforce: “Young Guns II”, Rockhold forced his opponent Josh Neal to tap to strikes within two minutes of the opening bell. Rockhold then put together a four-fight string of first-round rear naked choke finishes, tapping Nik Theotikos, Buck Meredith, Cory Devala and Jesse Taylor. Rockhold broke his RNC streak with a TKO victory over Paul Bradley at Strikeforce Challengers: “Kaufman vs. Hashi”.

At 7-1, Rockhold was poised for bigger name fights with the likes of Matt Lindland and Tim Kennedy, but a series of training injuries kept him out of the cage.  After a year and a half hiatus, Rockhold returned to the Strikeforce promotion opposite their middleweight champion, “Jacare”.  Rockhold went on to win the belt via unanimous decision.  He defended his championship strap twice – once with a first-round TKO stoppage over UFC veteran Keith Jardine, and then again against his earlier would-be opponent, Tim Kennedy. Going the five-round championship distance for the second time in his career, Rockhold defeated Kennedy by unanimous decision.

Following the purchase of Strikeforce by Zuffa and the absorption of the middleweight division into the UFC, Rockhold will make his promotional debut against Vitor Belfort in Brazil on May 18, 2013 at UFC on FX 8.  The two fighters’ records combine for a total of 23 first-round finishes. When the bell rings, don’t blink.

PHOTO CREDIT: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

The post Luke Rockhold: UFC on FX 8 Fighter Profile appeared first on Fighters.com.

As reported earlier on Fighters.com, Wanderlei Silva is pretty angry at Chael Sonnen, and it sounds like he wants to teach him a lesson in the . The fans that have been following Silva’s career closely would probably say that Silva is in the sunset years. Even hardcore Silva fans must be wondering about his chances against Sonnen in a fight, but if you ask Silva’s striking coach Rafael Cordeiro, Sonnen doesn’t have a prayer. Coredeiro said in a recent interview that Silva is fighting like he was years ago, and that Sonnen wouldn’t even make it out of the first round with ‘The Axe Murderer.”

Cordeiro told Bleacher Report:

The post Rafael Cordeiro: “Chael Sonnen will get knocked out in the first round.” (VIDEO) appeared first on Fighters.com.