Heavyweight “Hungarian Nightmare” Christian Wellisch (8-4) will fight “Irish” Jake O’Brien (10-2) and lightweight “No Regard” Matt Arroyo (3-2) will face Daniel Cramer (2-0) at UFC 94 in Las Vegas 31 January, the organization announced Monday. Wellisch was KO’d by Shane Carwin (9-0) at 0:44 of round one at UFC 84 in May. O’Brien is coming off two consecutive losses, first to Fighters.com’s third-ranked heavyweight “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-5) via second-round TKO in March, then to Cain Velasquez (4-0) via first-round TKO in July. Arroyo lost his last fight to “Immortal” Matt Brown (9-7) via second-round TKO in the TUF 7 Finale in June. Cramer’s last fight was a submission loss to Timothy Credeur (10-2) during The Ultimate Fighter 7. ...

Heavyweight "Hungarian Nightmare" Christian Wellisch (8-4) loves the UFC, and told Fighters.com about it Thursday at Javier Mendez's American Kickboxing Academy after the afternoon pro training session. Wellisch also told Fighters.com, "I was never out," after getting stung by a Shane Carwin (9-0) right hook 44 seconds into their fight 24 May in Las Vegas.  The referee ruled a knockout. ...

UFC heavyweights “Hungarian Nightmare” Christian Wellisch (8-4) and Cain Velasquez (3-0) roll on the mat at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose Thursday. Velasquez is a rising star in the UFC heavyweight division, debuting in the Octagon in April with a TKO of Brad Morris (9-3) in 2:10. Fighters.com confirmed Velasquez will fight "Irish" Jake O'Brien (10-1) next. Wellisch (8-4) is a veteran of four Octagon battles, going 2-2. After getting knocked out in May by Octagon debuting Shane Carwin (9-0), Wellisch awaits a call from the UFC for his next showing. ...

Thursday afternoon in San Jose, Fighters.com was welcomed into Javier Mendez's American Kickboxing Academy by fight manager "Crazy" Bob Cook (5-0) to watch the pros sweat, twist, and roll on the mat. AKA is home gym to Fighters.com's top welterweight contenderJon Fitch(17-2), fourth-ranked "Kos" Josh Koscheck (10-2), lightweight "Punk" Josh Thomson (14-2), UFC heavyweights "Hungarian Nightmare" Christian Wellisch (8-4) and Cain Velasquez (3-0), Affliction heavyweight "Headhunter" Paul Buentello (25-10), and other professional fighters. ...

“Satisfying!  Very satisfying,” described Fighters.com's fourth-ranked lightweight and UFC Lightweight Champion "Prodigy" B.J. Penn (13-4-1) after defeating fifth-ranked "Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (32-2-1) by TKO after the third round at UFC 84 in Las Vegas Saturday. Veteran referee Mario Yamasaki determined that Sherk was unable to continue after a Penn flurry at the cage that left Sherk on the mat at the end of the third round. The three five-minute rounds were fought entirely standing up, resembling a boxing match. Penn worked a slicker boxing style set-up with a long, snapping jab.  Sherk threw left and right hooks in a stiff, technical style. Penn established his jab in the first round as Sherk pressured. Sherk clinched to muffle “The Prodigy’s” reach advantage; but, Penn landed an uppercut to break the clinch. Sherk attempted to counter with his own jab, but threw it short as Penn followed down the pipe with his left.  Sherk clinched again; but, Penn threw him off. Sherk began round two with a cut under his right eye from Penn’s relentless jabbing.  He shrugged his shoulders before the bell, disappointed with his first-round performance. But, the Minnesotan took the fight to Penn in the second round.  Penn clinched inside Sherk’s left/right hook combo and hammered knees to “The Muscle Shark’s” body. Again, Penn clinched; but, Sherk overwhelmed him with a flurry.  Penn pushed out of the clinch. Unable to solve Penn’s boxing riddle, Sherk began to test his leg kick; but, Penn answered with a left hook. Penn had all the answers Saturday night. ...

UFC heavyweight "Hungarian Nightmare" Christian Wellisch (9-3) has prepared to crash into touted UFC newbie Shane Carwin (8-0) at UFC 84 Saturday, but Wellisch wasn't prepared for what crashed into him Thursday in Las Vegas. Note: Wellisch wasn't actually on his way to Deja Vu. I think it was the Spearmint Rhino... ...

Fighters.com was live Friday at the UFC 84 weigh-ins at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Fighters.com's seventh-ranked lightweight "KenFlo" Kenny Florian (9-3), former UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner (32-7), and "Hammer" Mark Coleman (15-8) signed autographs and third-ranked lightweight "JZ" Gesias Calvancanti (14-2-1) was in the crowd with his smokin' hot girlfriend. ...

While chatting with Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked lightweight “KenFlo” Kenny Florian (9-3) Tuesday afternoon, he broached two myths that frustrate him and I.  Let’s quash them. Myth one: “I can beat Rich Franklin.” Or, whoever you have a delusional cage fantasy about.  I only say second-ranked middleweight “Ace” Rich Franklin (23-3) because I live in Greater Cincinnati and most often hear his name when I reveal I write about MMA; but, I’m sure, if you live in Vancouver, it’s Denis Kang (29-10-1) and, in Boston, it’s Florian. You can’t beat any of them, even if you saw them get thrashed by another elite fighter. Neither can your cousin who just got out of jail, nor your friend who just reached brown belt in BJJ. What is it about mixed martial arts, the most grueling and graceful athletic endeavor in organized sport, that makes couch potatoes think they can put down their Cheetos, brush the orange dust from their stained fingers, and compete at an elite level? No one watches baseball and thinks they can hit a 95 mph cut fastball 450 feet like Alex Rodriguez.  No one watches gymnastics and thinks they can roll out of bed into a triple axel.  (Well…no one watches gymnastics…) UFC fighters, as well as many mixed martial artists in other promotions, are elite athletes.  They’re experts in the fighting skills of many disciplines, but that’s just where it begins.  Their cardio and strength training is as regimented and diligently-followed as the top athletes in any other sport, perhaps more so. The fact is, even if you are as skilled in martial arts as a UFC fighter, there’s a genetic element that most of us just aren’t born with.  Just like many of us will never run a 4.4 forty or bench press 700 pounds, no matter how dedicated we are. It’s often a comment from someone who’s never trained or hasn’t trained since they were in high school wrestling and doesn’t realize they’re neither 18-years old, nor in any kind of athletic shape anymore. The only thing worse than saying, “I can beat Rich Franklin,” is saying, “I still think I can beat Rich Franklin,” a week after he picks you apart like a chicken carcass in front of 22,000 at the Centre Bell.  That’s not ignorant; that’s insane. Myth two: “Kenny Florian: Not Your Average Fighter.” Again, Florian or whoever in the sport can pack a coherent sentence with more than eight words is considered unique.  Often, it makes a headline in main stream media; but, I’ve seen it creep into MMA media too. Elite fighters are as intelligent as computer geeks.  Wait,that’s “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (16-4).  Well, they’re as intelligent as people with master's degrees.  Well, that’s Rich Franklin.  OK, they’re as intelligent as lawyers.  Oops…that’s first-ranked heavyweight “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) and "Hungarian Nightmare" Christian Wellisch (8-3).  As intelligent as Ph.D.s?  Yeah…that’s “The Snowman” Jeff Monson (24-7) and UFC fighter Terry Martin (16-4).  None of them are unique among fighters in their intellect, they're just a few names off the top of my head. I think the stereotype of the meathead fighter stems from a self-consciousness that prevents some people from allowing for a guy who can both kick their ass and outwit them in a debate on ontological empiricism.  It's a way some people protect their own egos by reducing fighters to cavemen, regardless of the truth. Now, of course there are meatheads in MMA; but, if you scan the top of the sport, most of the elite fighters are college-educated, artistically gifted, or intellectually interesting. Intelligence is not unique among mixed martial artists, just like ignorance isn't unique among those who're surprised to meet a fighter who isn't beating their chest. Notes from around MMA * Rich Franklin (23-3) turned down a fight versus ninth-ranked “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-7) that was offered while the UFC rushed to bolster their London fight card after seventh-ranked light heavyweight “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) was pulled from the main event with a pulled hamstring. * Despite Franklin’s agent Monte Cox’s assertions on MMAWeekly Radio, Franklin is not considering a career move to 205-pounds, but would consider a one-off in the heavier division “if it was an interesting match-up”.  But for an unlikely challenge of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and first-ranked light heavyweight “Rampage” Quinton Jackson, what meaningful fight could lure Franklin into a one-off?  Maybe a rematch with “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (12-0)?  That's interesting... * TUF 7 contestant Brandon Sene (2-0) was robbed on Wednesday night’s episode of the the UFC’s reality program.  Fighters.com scored both of the first two rounds 10-9 for Sene, who was more aggressive and intent on inflicting damage to his opponent, Dante Rivera (10-2).  BJJ player Rivera was able to take the fight to the mat, but managed few serious attempts to end the fight with a submission and was largely unable to avoid Sene’s striking from his back.  Fighters.com did score the final, sudden-death round 10-9 for Rivera; but, the fight should’ve never made it to sudden death. * The Tennessee House of Representatives will vote Tuesday on a bill to create a state athletic commission with the goal of attracting a UFC fight card and the $100 million in revenue that the big show’s events generate for local economies.  Now, which Tennessee native son might like to belt out a howl in a main event on the Mississippi? *  According to the Winnipeg Sun, “Road Warrior” Jonathan Goulet (22-9) and his girlfriend will put the $75,000 bonus he won for “Fight of the Night” versus Kuniyoshi Hironaka (11-5) at UFC 83 towards a down payment on a home.  Goulet hits the road to London 7 June to fight Paul Kelly (7-0). * UFC glove maker, Century, revealed to Fighters.com contributor Jason Wawro that the legend of Brock Lesnar’s (1-1) 4X-sized glove is a myth.  Despite rumors that Lesnar was the first MMA fighter to wear 4X gloves since “Techno Goliath” Hong Man Choi (1-1), a Century executive claimed, “I have the receipts right here and Brock Lesnar, Cheick Kongo, and Heath Herring all ordered 3X-sized gloves.” * When asked about the CBS deal to air EliteXC MMA events, Fox Sports president Ed Goren replied that his company hasn't struck a deal to air the sport because, "We don't need money that badly."  This from an executive of a company popular for such high-brow entertainment as When Animals Attack! and Celebrity Boxing featuring matches between Todd Bridges and Vanilla Ice and Paula Jones and Tonya Harding. ...

UFC.com has added lightweights Terry Etim (10-1) of Liverpool and Team Oyama's "The Saint" Robert Emerson (7-6) to their UFC 84 schedule to be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas 24 May. Etim lost his last fight by unanimous decision to Gleison Tibau (15-5), the only "L" on his record. Vale Tudo fighter Emerson enters the fight with five straight wins and a No Contest.  His last fight ended in a split decision over "K-Taro" Keita Nakamura (14-3-2). Also announced, "The Hungarian Nightmare" Christian Wellisch (8-3) will welcome undefeated heavyweight Shane Carwin (8-0) to the Octagon. Wellisch, a recent law school graduate, has been publicly frustrated with what will be a eight-month layoff. Last September he submitted Scott Junk (6-2) in a heel hook at UFC 76. Carwin is a ballyhooed wrestler entering the Octagon off a TKO over "The Tank" Sherman Pedergarst (10-8). ...

Last February in Vegas, North County Fight Club heavyweight Eddie Sanchez took one for the team. Sanchez looked like a lamb being lead to slaughter entering the Octagon to become Cro Cop's cage debut.  He took an "L" at 4:33 of round one by TKO. He was to become Cro Cop's only cage victim in three starts. Had Sanchez known Cro Cop was...human (as we found out in fights versus Gabriel Gonzaga and Cheick Kongo), he may have done enough to see the final bell, maybe even win. Sanchez may be given a second chance, this time with the vital intel' going in. The rumor among fighters is that Sanchez is getting the call to face Brock Lesnar at UFC 85 in London. Lesnar debuted in the Octagon versus Frank Mir and was quickly submitted via knee bar. Neither Sanchez nor Lesnar has confirmed.  Mum is the consistently official word at the UFC; so, I didn't even ask for official confirmation. Also rumored for the UFC's return to 02 Arena is a welterweight scrap between "The Irish Hand Grenade" Marcus Davis and "Quick" Mike Swick. The fight is tabled and awaiting signatures from the principles. Davis comes off a one-minute knockout of Jess Liaudin in Newcastle, making four stoppages and 11 wins in a row.  Swick's last night's work was a lackluster majority decision debut at 170-pounds versus Josh Burkman. Sokoudjou has confirmed judoka on judoka violence at UFC 84 in Vegas versus Kazuhiro Nakamura. "He's someone I respect," Sokou says.  "It's just business.  Nothing personal." Both return from losses to "The Dragon" Ryoto Machida. "The Hungarian Nightmare" Christian Wellisch says,  "I have not signed a contract for another fight." Wellisch is rumored to welcome hulking wrestler Shane Carwin to the Octagon at UFC 84. ...

Tuesday the UFC officially scheduled a home and an away game slotted for 24 May in Vegas and 7 June in London. Loose lips had already divulged details for both events. At the MGM Grand Garden Arena 24 May, "The Prodigy" BJ Penn will defend his UFC Lightweight Championship against the improper advances of former 155-pound champ Sean Sherk, returning from a banned substances suspension. My Portuguese is a little rusty, but Wanderlei Silva has also confirmed via his blog that he's signed to fight Keith Jardine on the Vegas strip. Other rumored bouts include: Ryoto Machida v Tito Ortiz Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou v Kazuhiro Nakamura Rashad Evans v Thiago Silva Wilson Gouveia v Goran Reljic Rousimar Palhares v Ivan Salaverry Dong-hyun Kim v Jason Tan Terry Etim v Jeremy Stephens Shane Carwin v Christian Wellisch At 02 Arena in London 7 June, light heavyweights Chuck Liddell and  Mauricio Rua will headline in a fight that not too long ago would've been considered the king-maker at 205. Brandon Vera has also confirmed he'll return versus Fabricio Werdum in London. Brock Lesnar is also rumored to return on this fight card. ...