As the year is coming closer to an end, the now annual World MMA Awards, which is hosted by Fighters Only Magazine, has recently announced their finalists for the December 1st event, which will take place once again in Las Vegas, Nev., which has become a hot bed for all things fighting related. The 2009 event opened up to a large audience, and has become a propellant in the mixed martial arts world, opening up the eyes to a mainstream audience, by the community taking leaps and bounds in order to legitimize itself as not only a legitimate sport, but one that deserves that same sort of recognition that most others receive, here in these United States. ...

There have been some pretty bright ideas in the creative think-tank behind the ufc. One of the most recent ideas has been showing UFC Pay-Per-Views in high definition in theaters. It all started at UFC 111, an event that saw Georges St. Pierre retain his UFC Welterweight Championship against Dan Hardy while Shane Carwin mercilessly manhandled Frank Mir to claim the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship. And now the UFC is heading to a theater near you once again, as it’s been confirmed that UFC 121 will be the next UFC event to be broadcast live in over 300 select theaters. Read on for all the details as well as why I think the whole "UFC in theaters" idea is a bit of a mixed bag. ...

As the fantastic year MMA had in 2010 draws closer and closer to a close, I’m left wondering what 2011 could bring us that could possibly hold a candle to some of the crazy events of this year. This year gave us amazing shows, unpredictable outcomes, the continued growth of the sport, new champions, new challengers, and so much more. It’s going to take a lot to outdo 2010. In that regard, here are five fantasy match-ups that I think could realistically happen in 2011 and would go a long way towards outdoing 2010 in terms of excitement, anticipation, and fight quality. ...

When current heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and top contender Cain Velasquez meet, it will be one of the biggest events of the year. The dynamic of Lesnar, who has seemed every bit of champion material with two title defenses under him, and Velasquez has sparked the interest of many MMA observers--but the interest apparently hasn't peaked yet. ...

2010 is drawing closer and closer to a close, and with UFC 118 now over and done with, there are only a handful of major-name events left for MMA in 2010. Despite that, I think the end of the year will have some of 2010’s best fights. There’s still a lot of great action left to look forward to, so here are my top 5 (officially announced) fights I’m looking forward to for the rest of 2010. ...

I can’t think of a good reason not to like current UFC Heavyweight Championship contender Cain Velasquez. He’s smart, agile, fast, and has some serious power in his hands. He’s remained relatively humble despite riding a skyrocket to the top of the UFC Heavyweight division. Leading up to his fights, he’s kept himself clean of almost all trash-talk. I myself have predicted that he’ll be able to beat current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar using a combination of quickness, relentless cardio, good punching power, and one of the best training camps an MMA athlete could ever hope to call himself a part of. But time and time again I see Cain Velasquez drawing a lot of criticism for the two words so garishly emblazoned on his chest. But it’s time to get over yourselves, people. “Brown Pride” isn’t racist. Here’s why. ...

A fairly new addition to the UFC's already massive exposure to it's fan base, SpikeTV officials were able to confirm in July that there would be a joint venture once again between the promotion and network company, in order to broadcast 2 selected fights, as part of a special "UFC Prelims" feature. SpikeTV officials were able to confirm that the one hour special will two bouts, both in the middleweight division. ...

In my previous article concerning the UFC’s upcoming UFC 121: “Lesnar vs. Velasquez” event, I noted that the PPV card was filled with excellent matches. My anticipation for this card remains very high, especially now that the UFC has released four preliminary matches. While not containing the sheer star power of fights like Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez, Tito Ortiz vs. Matt Hamill, or Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampmann, the UFC 121 undercard will be filled with championship contenders, submission specialists, knockout artists, tough veterans, and even the winner of the most-recent series of “The Ultimate Fighter”. Here’s how it all breaks down. ...

The only man to ever be called Elite XC Heavyweight Champion, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva recently came down hard on industry insiders ranking current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar as the top Heavyweight in the world. Silva recently spoke to tatame.com and asserted that Fabricio Werdum should be the number-one Heavyweight following his surprise submission win over “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianeko, who had sat atop the #1 Heavyweight slot for several years running, at least according to many major news outlets and insider websites. Silva also expressed shock over a fighter having a 5-1 record being considered the best in the world. I, personally, am more shocked that people are taking Antonio Silva seriously when he says things like this. ...

According to MMAJunkie, MMAWeekly and among other media outlets, UFC executives officially made official the main event of UFC 119, Frank Mir will in fact take on former Pride Grand Prix Champion Mirko "Cro Cop" at the Conseco Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis, Minn. on September 25th. ...

Now that UFC 117 is now in the books, after one of the promotion's best night of fights in recent memory, where middleweight champion Anderson Silva defended his title against top contender Chael Sonnen, Matt Hughes solidified himself in the 170 pound division, and Junior dos Santos became the next challenger after Cain Velasquez, for the UFC heavyweight title. ...

The Ultimate Fighting Championship recently released the official lineup for their upcoming UFC 121 event, and it should come as no surprise that Brock Lesnar defending his UFC Heavyweight Championship against Cain Velasquez has taken center stage as the show’s main event. Brock Lesnar was last seen pulling off one of the biggest, best comebacks of 2010, absorbing all former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin had to give him for five full minutes, then submitting Carwin via Arm Triangle Choke early in the second round. Cain Velasquez’s last fight saw him demolish the once-unbreakable chin of PRIDE FC legend Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira. UFC 121 will take place October 23 in Anaheim, California, and features a star-studded main card in addition to the big-money main event. ...

Despite setbacks here and there, the old guard of MMA has proven that they aren’t going anywhere. Chief among the veteran MMA stars still competing and still actually doing well is Antonio Rogerio Nogueira or “Little Nog” as he’s affectionately known. While big brother Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was last seen getting flash-KO’d by the seemingly-unstoppable Cain Velasquez, the smaller Nogueira hasn’t lost since PRIDE 33 all the way back in 2007. Despite winning a close Split-Decision over Jason Brilz, the Brilz fight in particular drew a lot of ire, as many think that Brilz deserved the nod and that Nogueira has finally begun to show his age (for those pointing out that Nogueira is only 34, more on that later). Heading into his fight with Ryan Bader, “Little Nog” recently stated that he was looking to stand with his opponent. Unfortunately for him, if Rogerio Nogueira does adopt this gameplan, he’ll more likely than not find himself in the same position as his brother. ...

While most fans we're hoping for Fedor's inception into the UFC sometime ago, it looks like we will have to wait just a little bit longer than anticipated. Emelianeko, legend and former Pride and WAMMA heavyweight champion, is apparently in good standings with his new home with Strikeforce. ...

It's no secret that Roy Nelson is a big man. A big, big man. And that's just fine by Junior dos Santos, who has emerged as one of the UFC's most exciting fighter's in the heavyweight division. ...

It’s been a long road back for UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. Lesnar’s short career as a professional Mixed Martial Artist nearly came to an abrupt end when he developed a severe form of diverticulitis that, in a modern-day medical miracle, eventually healed up without the help of a major surgery. Perpetual questions surrounding the former World Wrestling Entertainment performer, such as his heart and his chin, were seemingly answered in his UFC 116 fight against former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion and fellow powerhouse/hulking behemoth Shane Carwin. Lesnar’s career has never looked brighter…which is unfortunate, considering that I have very, very little doubt in my mind that Cain Velasquez is going to beat him. ...

Wrestling Olympian and American Kickboxing Academy product, Daniel Cormier has returned from Australia, on the heels of his third win in mixed martial arts. Traveling to the land down under, Cormier made his third mixed martial arts appearance when he took on native Aussie, Lucas Browne. A true heavyweight, who stood at a staggering 6'6 and weighed in at the limit of 265 pounds, Cormier put his wrestling to the test, taking down his much larger opponent, before opening up a ground and pound assault that would halt the contest, inside of the first round. ...

What a year it’s been, and what a year it’s shaping up to be. 2010 has been filled with incredible moments running the gamut of the MMA landscape. Yet there are still so many good fights lined up for the rest of 2010. So here are my top five fights that I’m still looking forward to. ...

It’s recently been announced that the winner of the upcoming fight between Roy Nelson and Junior dos Santos will receive a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship after current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar faces current #1 Contender Cain Velasquez. Whether it’s “Cigano” or “Big Country”, here’s what I think both men will have to do in order to beat both Lesnar and Velasquez. ...

With the July 3 mega-fight between ufc Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin and UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar closer than ever, many fight fans are coming around to the idea that the Heavyweight division is one of the UFC’s strongest, most diverse divisions. Long thought of as the weakest of the UFC’s divisions, barring a few notable exceptions, the Heavyweights have finally taken center stage, and it’s all thanks to several massive men who continue to break and even redefine the mold of a UFC Heavyweight. Looking forward, here are three men that I think will define the UFC’s Heavyweight division for the next several years. ...

Nothing gets an MMA fan talking quite like dream matches. Even with MMA being bigger and better than it’s ever been, there are a number of dream matches that consistently elude reality. So here are my top five “dream matches” that still need to happen. ...

At UFC's Ultimate Fight Night 21 in Charlotte Wednesday night The Ultimate Fighter 10 champion “Big Country” Roy Nelson(15-4) knocked out 6'11" heavyweight prospect “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (23-4) in 39 seconds, an impressive win for a "fat guy" with a nearly one-foot height disadvantage. I noted to a friend recently that an MMA Junkie article listing the UFC's top heavyweight talent included, of course, UFC champion and Fighters.com's second-ranked heavyweight Brock Lesnar (4-1), his title challenger Shane Carwin (10-0), next in line Cain Velasquez(9-0), ”Cigano” Junior dos Santos (10-1), recently defeated former UFC champion Frank Mir(13-4), and former PRIDE and interim UFC champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira(32-6-1).  The article also threw Struve and Cheick Kongo(14-6-1) into the mix at the top of the UFC's heavyweight division...but no Nelson.  My point to my friend was that I wouldn't mind leaving Nelson out of a discussion of the UFC's top heavyweights, but if you're going to throw in Struve and Kongo, you have to include Nelson. ...

UFC President Dana White called Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked heavyweight “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (11-1) "the real deal" after dos Santos TKO'd former title challenger “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (11-5) in the first round at UFC on Versus 1 in Denver Sunday night. ...

The man who Fighters.com fourth-ranked heavyweight "Minotauro"Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1) called his lucky charm, Luiz Alves, passed away Friday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ...

After UFC 110 in Sydney Saturday night, UFC President Dana White told the post-event press conference, "In my opinion, [Fighters.com's fourth-ranked heavyweight “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1)] is probably the best heavyweight of all time, and [Cain Velasquez (9-0)] absolutely demolished him tonight. He’s for real and he’s in the line right now.” ...

UFC heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez (9-0) shocked fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1) in a first-round knockout win at UFC 110 in Sydney Saturday night. Velasquez's stand-up victory catapults him into title contention versus UFC champion and second-ranked Brock Lesnar (4-1). ...

All fighters on the UFC 110 card in Sydney Saturday made weight. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (233.2 lbs./106 kg) vs. Cain Velasquez (242 lbs./110 kg) ...

Saturday the UFC will debut in Sydney, Australia with UFC 110 featuring Fighters.com's fourth-ranked heavyweight “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) versus Cain Velasquez (7-0) for a shot at UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1). And, UFC President Dana White expects to return to Australia. ...

Both Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1) and ninth-ranked "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1) won at M-1 Global/Strikeforce in Chicago November 7 and now the top ten heavyweights seem on a collision course for a matchup versus each other.  But will it be for the Strikeforce title or not? ...