In unfamiliar territory, Martin Kampmann is playing the waiting game. The Dane was originally scheduled to return to action last June when he was originally pitted against John Howard in a welterweight bout for "UFC on Versus 4", though Martin subsequently suffered a knee injury which forced his removal from the bout. It's the same knee that forced him out of an originally scheduled middleweight bout with Rich Franklin at UFC 72 back in 2007--an opportunity of a lifetime that was cost due to the withered conditions of a knee that has seen the cutting board on three separate occasions. Now, Kampmann is left with the memory of his last outing, a controversial decision loss to "The Ultimate Fighter" season one winner, Diego Sanchez. The two met back in March, and while Martin displayed an impressive blend of striking and effective takedown defense, it wasn't enough to sway the judges in his favor. ...

Following his shocking twenty-second loss to BJ Penn back in November of last year, many fight fans wondered if we had seen the last of Matt Hughes. Hughes had won three straight prior to getting destroyed by Penn, and many were hopeful of a major comeback. After the Penn loss, Hughes openly wondered if maybe the time had come for him to retire. But Hughes has now decided to fight at least one more time, as the ufc recently confirmed Matt Hughes vs. Diego Sanchez for UFC 135 later this year. Here are all the details. ...

Recently, it’s been rumored that a bout pitting Matt Hughes against Diego Sanchez is nearing completion. Sanchez is coming off of a horrendously blown judge’s decision that gave him a victory over Martin Kampmann after Kampmann spent much of the fight leaving Diego a bruised and bloody mess. UFC Hall of Fame member Matt Hughes is coming off one of the fastest losses of his entire career. Both men are at an interesting point in their careers, and this could be an interesting fight. So here are my early thoughts on Diego Sanchez vs. Matt Hughes. ...

It's seems like everybody else but Matt Hughes has already predetermined that the UFC Hall of Famer would go into retirement after his swift knockout loss to BJ Penn last November. However, the former welterweight world champion doesn't seem like he's quite ready to hang it up quite yet. In fact, Hughes will be returning in the Fall and he will be taking on season one winner of "The Ultimate Fighter", Diego Sanchez. The bout is pivotal for both men. Sanchez, who wants to prove that he belongs in the upper echelon of the division, and Hughes, who wants to remain relevant in todays day and age of mixed martial arts. ...

The UFC’s recent outing on the Versus network was an entertaining show that featured several exciting finishes and several close encounters. Now once again it’s time to ask: what’s next? What does the future hold after “Sanchez vs. Kampmann”? Here’s my answer to just that: a new edition of my “What’s Next for the Winners and Losers” series of articles, now featuring “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”. ...

This past Thursday, both Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann battled it out in what will be considered an early candidate for "Fight of the Year". Both men had their moments, with Martin dropping Diego early in the first-round before "The Dream" was able to reverse fortunes and come out stronger in the second and third rounds, rocking Kampmann on multiple occasions. The fight was tight and contentious throughout, however Sanchez was able to pick up the very close decision win over the Xtreme Couture product. While the fight has since been hotly debated, both men didn't lose much in the eyes of the promotion, as they were both awarded an additional $160k in bonuses for their "Fight of the Night" performance. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to another new series! I really enjoy taking the time to give my detailed thoughts on a show after watching it, and although I’ve only shown it a few times on fighters.com, I’ve been told that I’ve got a pretty good sense of humor. So, after the serious discussion and debate I’ll raise in topics like “Top 5 Best Moments” and “Best Performance of the Night”, I figured it’d be nice to have a tongue-in-cheek topic where I give out some other “awards”. It’s all in good fun, so don’t take any of it too seriously. So let’s dive right into this new series that I’ll be calling “Best of the Rest”. ...

In many ways, “UFC on Versus 3” had some weighty shoes to fill. This was the first post-WEC Versus show, and the quality would have to be rather high to make up for the diminished schedule of live MMA on Versus. While it may not have been without its controversies, most of the fights lived up to their potential and as a whole, it was a good event. But which stars shined brightest, and what moments will fans be talking about in the following weeks? Here’s my take on the matter: my top 5 best moments of “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”. ...

“UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann” is now a thing of the past. The first Versus event of the post-WEC era saw the successful and dominating UFC debut of former WEC champion Brian Bowles as well as the successful UFC debut of hot prospect Chris Weidman. And in the main event, Diego Sanchez controversially won an epic three-round war. Here are the full results as well as some early commentary on “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to the start of a brand-new series! Recently I started up another series called “Sneak Peek”, a once-per-month, end-of-month series designed to give fans a look at what to expect for next month. Today’s new series follows the same vein, except it’ll be once per month at the start of every month, and whereas “Sneak Peek” focused on the events as a whole, this new series will focus on my most-anticipated fights in particular. So here we go: these are my most anticipated fights for March 2011. ...

We’re now only three days away from the UFC’s “UFC on Versus 3” event, featuring a stacked card highlighted by Diego Sanchez taking on Martin Kampmann. As the sole live MMA outings UFC and MMA fans are going to get on the Versus network, this show has a lot to live up to. I’ve been covering this event extensively, but now it’s time for my final say. And so here it is: it’s time for another edition of “Finally Final Thoughts”, featuring my last assorted thoughts and predictions for “UFC on Versus 3”. ...

We’re now only a few days away from “UFC on Versus 3”, also known as “UFC Live 3”. In the main event, a resurgent Diego Sanchez takes on the tough Martin Kampmann. Sanchez is coming off of a great victory over Paulo Thiago, and many are wondering what’s next for the one-time UFC Lightweight Championship contender. What happens if he beats Martin Kampmann? Here’s my take on just that: a new edition of “What If He Wins?” featuring Diego Sanchez. ...

We’re now only a few days away from the third installment of the UFC’s “UFC on Versus” series, also known as “UFC Live”. In the main event, Diego Sanchez battles Martin Kampmann in a bout where both men’s divisional relevancy will be at stake. The co-main event will also be an interesting match-up, as tough Middleweights CB Dollaway and Mark Munoz lock horns. As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why), now featuring “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”. ...

Hello once again fans and friends and welcome to the second part of today’s entry into my ongoing series “5 Reasons Why”. For the first part of today’s two-part special, covering five reasons why I think Martin Kampmann could beat Diego Sanchez when the two meet at the upcoming “UFC on Versus 3” event, please click here. Now it’s time for the reverse: here are five reasons why Diego Sanchez could beat Martin Kampmann. ...

We’re now only a few days away from the third installment of the UFC’s “UFC on Versus” or “UFC Live” series, a show that usually measures somewhere above a “Fight Night Live” outing but below a Pay-Per-Per Event. In the main event, a resurgent Diego Sanchez looks to tackle tough challenger Martin Kampmann, who recently came very close to spoiling the UFC debut of former Strikeforce and EliteXC Champion Jake Shields. So who will win this encounter? Here’s my answer to just that: it’s time for another “5 Reasons Why”, and first up we have the five reasons why I think Martin Kampmann could beat Diego Sanchez. Let’s get right to it, with the reverse soon to follow. ...

On March 3, 2011, the UFC will hold its “UFC on Versus 3” event, featuring a major Welterweight showdown between Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann. The card also features Alessio Sakara, and former WEC champion Brian Bowles, and even several interesting preliminary fights. Still, some fans may be asking themselves: what are the best reasons to check out this card? Here’s my answer to just that: 5 reasons to watch “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to the latest edition of “Crash Course”. “Crash Course” is a series of articles designed to give readers a quick rundown on all the relevant information they need to know heading into an upcoming major MMA event. Everything from why you should watch, what you should expect in the co-main and main event, and even where and when you can find it on TV is all covered in detail. So let’s get right to it with today’s edition, featuring the UFC’s upcoming event “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”. ...

Hello again fans and friends and welcome to the start of a new series tentatively called “Sneak Peek”. This new once-a-month series will be posted near the end of each month in order to give fans a look at the major events occurring next month. The big shows, the colossal encounters, the fights that you just simply shouldn’t miss no matter what… all of it’s covered in detail, with a heaping helping of commentary thrown in. So let’s dive right in with the first edition of “Sneak Peek”, covering the month of March 2011. ...

Now that the WEC has officially become a part of the ufc, the only Zuffa-owned outings on the Versus network will be the “UFC On Versus” series of live events. In order to battle the negativity that goes alongside a drastically reduced live event schedule, the UFC is looking to give back to Versus fans with a stellar “UFC on Versus 3” card. To further that goal, four new fights have been announced for the event, featuring several notable  former WEC stars as well as some of the UFC's emerging talent. Here are all the details. ...

Now that WEC 53: “Henderson vs. Pettis” has come and gone, the WEC now only exists in the memories of its legions of fans. The Versus network, home to the WEC for many years, can now only offer up “ufc on Versus” live specials for its MMA-hungry fans. But make no mistake, the UFC is bringing the big guns now that they’ll be solely judged by those live specials on the Versus network. Here are the latest developments on “UFC on Versus” 3, featuring names like Diego Sanchez, Martin Kampmann, and Takeya Mizugaki. ...

The next “ufc on Versus” show, which is currently scheduled for March 2011, will be a pivotal event for several reasons. It will be the first Versus event to feature the “new” UFC, complete with Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions courtesy of the planned WEC/UFC merger. It will be one of only a handful of events the UFC broadcasts on Versus for the year. This is a show that must deliver, and to help reach that goal, news recently spread of a big pair of matches slated for the first “UFC on Versus” card of 2011. Here are all the details. ...

Like many other fighters in the increasingly competitive ufc, the former highly-touted prospect Paulo Thiago knows full well that he’s fighting for his career each and every time he steps into the Octagon. Since famously making his debut by pulling off a monumental upset and TKO’ing current UFC Welterweight Championship contender Josh Koscheck, Thiago has struggled to find a secure foothold in the UFC. And now more than ever he knows that another defeat may mark the end of his UFC career. ...

After bursting onto the scene in February of 2009 with a shocking KO win over current top welterweight contender Josh Koscheck, the UFC’s Paulo Thiago has struggled to find both relevancy and a foothold as he faces increasingly stiffer competition in one of the UFC’s most stacked divisions. Thiago is 3-3 in the UFC, with big victories over the aforementioned Koscheck as well as Mike Swick coupled with deflating losses to the likes of Jon Fitch and most recently Diego Sanchez. But Thiago has and likely always will be an entertaining fighter, which is why it’s recently been revealed that he’s signed a new four-fight contract with the UFC. ...

We’re only a day removed from the shocking news that the UFC and WEC would be merging at the start of 2011, and already both fans and insiders have been tossing around several fantasy match-ups that would see the WEC's best and brightest take on the UFC's biggest stars. So, of course, you know I just had to get in on the fun. Without further ado, here’s my personal Top 5 list of the “WEC vs. UFC” match-ups I’d love to see. ...

ufc 121: “Lesnar vs. Velasquez” will featured former title contender Diego Sanchez’s second fight at Welterweight after returning to the division earlier this year. Before that, the “Ultimate Fighter” alum had dropped down to Lightweight in February of 2009 and worked his way up to a title shot in the UFC’s 155 division. Of course, he would end up losing the fight, to then-champion BJ Penn, in dominating fashion. Many criticized Sanchez for “running” from the division when he announced he’d be moving back up to Welterweight, but now that the UFC’s Lightweight division is ruled by Frank Edgar, it appears that “Nightmare” is ready to settle a few scores back in the land of 155. Here are the highlights, straight from Sanchez himself, courtesy of an interview posted on UFC.com. ...

After a prolonged period of restless uncertainty, the future is now set for famed ufc fighter BJ Penn. Widely regarded as the best Lightweight Mixed Martial Artist of all time, “Baby Jay” has hit some tough times recently, and although a November return was seemingly confirmed, an opponent was still very much unknown. No longer. It’s recently been confirmed by MMAFighting that BJ Penn will meet arch-rival Matt Hughes at UFC 123, which is scheduled to take place November 20 in Detroit, Michigan. It is widely believed that the fight will be the co-main event of a show headlined by a Light Heavyweight showdown between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions Lyoto Machida and Quinton Jackson. ...

It’s hard to be a fan of BJ Penn nowadays. It amazes me that a man so many people, including myself, consider the best Lightweight Mixed Martial Artist ever is 2-3 in his last five fights. What’s worse, there’s no more excuses for Penn’s seemingly declining ability. Against Georges St. Pierre, Penn was faced with a large opponent that is also frequently in the middle of the “best of all time” argument, and of course, there was the whole “greasing” controversy. Against Frank Edgar at UFC 112, the fight was so close that many in Penn’s corner cried foul and fluke. But UFC 118 had no controversy: a natural Lightweight dominated BJ Penn for five straight rounds. So naturally, everyone is wondering: where does BJ Penn go from here? Here are my thoughts on the entire situation. ...

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Diego Sanchez is making changes. After his losses to former champion BJ Penn at lightweight, and then budding welterweight star John Hathaway, Diego will try his hand once again at the 170-pound division at UFC 121 against Paulo Thiago. Sanchez largely made his name after winnings "The Ultimate Fighter" season one as a middleweight, before dropping down to the welterweight division in dominating fashion. After defeating fellow finalist Kenny Florian at the TUF finale, Diego would make a name for himself in victories over Karo Parisyan, Nick Diaz, and Joe Riggs. While Diego can attribute a large amount of his success to his hard work and dedication, but in some respects a little of that success also needs to be addressed to the man, the myth, the legend--Greg Jackson. ...

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. ...

Welcome back fans and friends to another edition of “Great Moments in MMA History”. Today’s moment celebrates what many consider to be the launching point of the UFC into the mainstream, at a point where Mixed Martial Arts was still widely considered “human cockfighting”. The parent company of the UFC, Zuffa, was having trouble turning a profit after acquiring the UFC back in 2001, and all involved were aware of how increasingly sink-or-swim their predicament was becoming. Despite UFC President Dana White’s early hesitations, a plan was put forth, a TV show was pitched, and history was made. It was one of the most refreshing ideas to come to reality television in ages, and helped introduced the nation to the UFC and its varied casts of characters. It’s “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1, and what a season it was. ...