Donald Cerrone scored a very impressive win during the recent wec 53: “Henderson vs. Pettis” event, locking in a tight triangle over former IFL standout Chris Horodecki. This latest win puts Cerrone on a two-fight win-streak, his previous fight being a five-round thrashing of arch-rival Jamie Varner in the rematch that was several years in the making. Never one to rest on his laurels, “The Cowboy” recently spoke candidly about the mistakes he made against Horodecki and who he wants to fight now that his place in the ufc is almost certainly assured. Here are the highlights. ...

As the clock turns ever-closer to 2011, the UFC has several big fights and events lined up to kick off the new year in style. Perhaps one of those most important events is not the New Year’s Day UFC 125 or the Super Bowl Weekend UFC 127, but the second edition of “UFC Fight for the Troops”, a “Fight Night Live” event designed to raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. 11 fights have recently been made official for the card, and while not PPV-caliber, it is star-studded nonetheless. Here are all the details. ...

Dan Lauzon (13-4), brother of UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon, and youngest ever UFC competitor begins the long road back to the big time on December 2^nd in Lincoln, Rhode Island when he headlines the “Snow Brawl” facing Damien “The Omen” Trites (5-3).  Snow Brawl is promoted by Jimmy Crutchfield’s CES MMA and is his third event. It is back to the regional circuit for Dan Lauzon, who many tabbed as an MMA wunderkind when he first broke on the national scene at UFC 64 fighting Spencer Fisher. ...

A battle of former housemates, Cole Miller will be looking for his third win in a row when he meets former cast member Matt Wiman at ufc 125 this January. The two lightweight standouts first became familiar with one another on the fifth season of "The Ultimate Fighter". Early on, Wiman was pegged as one of the favorites to win the show's coveted six-figure contract in the end, while Miller (in stark contrast) was considered to be one of the series weaker competitors. Well, the roles have certainly been reversed. ...

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. ...

A fighter winning a season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, the popular and long-running UFC reality TV show, usually signals the debut of a can’t-miss prospect. TUF winners carry a huge pedigree: several have been champions, several have competed for championships, and many have found themselves in a consistent state of mid-to-upper-level status. However, a recent bit of news signaled the end of the favoritism usually shown to TUF winners (the standouts from past seasons are usually given multiple second chances if they go on losing streaks). Efrain Escudero, the winner of TUF Season 8, has been given his walking papers. ...

After an exciting night of fights turned just under a day ago, many fighters came out on top, both notching another win to their records, while picking up a hefty bonus in addition to their performances. The bonuses were delivered last night following the conclusion of "UFC Fight Night 22", which took place in Austin, Texas in front of a stellar crowd at the Frank Erwin Center before an estimated 7,724 people in attendance. ...

Xtreme Couture's "Phenom" Vitor Belfort (18-8) scored his bulliest victory in four-plus years TKOing Fighters.com's ninth-ranked middleweight "Ace" Rich Franklin (26-5) at 3:02 of round one in a 195-pound catch weight main event at UFC 103 in Dallas Saturday night. "Jesus, I love you," shouted Belfort in the Octagon after the fight, and in his dressing room he added,  "God gave me a gift and I'm using it.  And, I'm ready.  A lot of people thought I was done, you know, and that's what I'm bringing to this game - hope, faith, and hard work. ...

From TUF to top! New UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) demoralized and upset former Champ "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-6) by unanimous decision Saturday night in Las Vegas. "This is the greatest night of my life," Griffin said after toppling the odds. Though Jackson won the first round by staggering Griffin with a left, then dropping the challenger with a right uppercut, Griffin laid the groundwork for his decision victory by whittling away at Jackson's lead leg with low kicks. “He jacked my leg up,” Jackson admitted. In the second round, Griffin buckled the champ with a leg kick and passed to mount on the mat, grinding elbows into Rampage's head, but doing little damage. Rampage limped into round three searching for a knockout, but managed only a combination that Griffin weathered, though he admitted, "Every punch that motherfucker threw hurt.” Jackson scored a fourth-round takedown; but, Griffin wrapped a leg triangle, then transitioned to an omoplata when Jackson freed himself from the triangle. Jackson stood out of the submission and cracked Griffin with a right hand, opening a cut on the challenger's right eyelid, then followed with a left as the bell ended the round. It was back-and-forth and both fighters felt they needed the final round to win; but, Jackson seemed disappointed by the situation, while Griffin was inspired. Griffin got back to game plan in the fifth round, stinging Rampage's lead leg, as Jackson threw desperate haymakers without landing. The judges scored the fight 48-46 twice and 49-46 once for Griffin. Fighters.com scored it 48-46 for Griffin, our new champion. “He whupped my ass,” Jackson admitted after the battle; but, Griffin said, "It was close and I think we’re gonna have to do it again.” ...

"For all you Rampage haters, you might as well get used to me," Fighters.com's Light Heavyweight Champion "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-6) announced to the crowd at the UFC 86 weigh-ins in Las Vegas Friday.  "I'ma be here for a long time," he added, then flashed the peace sign. Rampage weighed in at 205-pounds, as did eighth-ranked title challenger Forrest Griffin (15-4). Xtreme Couture's Griffin said, "It's nice to fight in your hometown.  Thank you, guys." Griffin smirked in the gaze of an intense Rampage stare down. All fighters on Saturday night's card made weight. Only lightweight Gleison Tibau (15-5) missed the mark, but by the allowed one pound at 156-pounds.  Tibau will fight "Daddy" Joe Stevenson (33-8). 6'4" lightweight Corey Hill (2-0) looked absolutely emaciated at 155-pounds. ...

The UFC has announced three additional fights on 5 July's UFC 86 card in Las Vegas. Fighters.com's fourth-ranked welterweight "Kos" Josh Koscheck (10-2) is set to face rugged vet "Lights Out" Chris Lytle (25-15-5). Both fighters come off exciting TKOs in their previous bouts. In February, Lytle ran roughshod over UFC debuting Kyle Bradley (13-5) in just 33 seconds. "Kos" and "McLovin" Dustin Hazelett (10-4) traded evenly for a round before Koschek tagged "McLovin" with punches and kicks 1:24 into round two in March. Hazelett's trainer, Jorge Gurgel (12-3), will fight 6'1" "Magrino" Cole Miller (13-3) at 86. Miller of Georgia comes off his first UFC loss to Jeremy Stephens (13-2), a second-round TKO in January. Gurgel won a unanimous decision over John Halverson (16-6) in March. Rising middleweight "Cachorrao" Ricardo Almeida (9-2) will face streaking "The Predator" Patrick Cote (12-4) on the card. Cote has won four straight, three consecutive by first-round stoppage.  Most recently "The Predator" devoured Andrew McFedries (6-3) in 1:44. Almeida returned to MMA after a four-year hiatus to submit Rob Yundt(6-1) in a guillotine choke in February. "Cachorrao" boasts wins over Fighters.com's eighth-ranked middleweight "Grabaka Hitman" Kazuo Misaki (19-8-2) and UFC title contender Nathan Marquardt (26-7-2) in the early '90s. ...