It’s recently been announced that Paul Daley would be the next man to challenge for the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship, and fans are already buzzing about a potentially epic showdown between “Semtex” and Strikeforce’s currently-reigning champion, Nick Diaz. Diaz will have to get past Evangelista Santos before that dream-fight comes to fruition, but many fans, including myself, are predicting that he will. So who wins between Daley and Diaz? I’m predicting that Diaz wins by a landside… and here are five reasons why. ...

The UFC continues to set a dubious precedent when it comes to firing under-performing fighters. Now more than ever the general consensus is that nobody’s job is safe and that everyone needs to perform at their best every single fight or else they can kiss their contracts goodbye. However, a recent firing of a fighter with a devoted fanbase came as no surprise to anyone that’s followed his recent developments. Meanwhile, another fighter has signed a new four-fight contract despite losing his last fight. Here are all the details on these two recent developments. ...

Season 12 coaches of "The Ultimate Fighter" Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck have been expected to tangle with one another at UFC 124, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in a welterweight clash. Champion GSP will look to make his fifth successful title defense against foe Koscheck. The two had met previously at UFC 74, where the American Kickboxing Academy product was riding a 5-fight win streak inside the cage coming into the bout, meanwhile, "Rush" was coming off of a disappointing and shocking knockout loss to the unheralded Matt Serra at UFC 69. While competitive in spots, St. Pierre was able to dominate the wrestling department against the former NCAA champion, en route to a unanimous decision victory. ...

The once would-be contender in the ufc's welterweight division, Dustin Hazelett is on shaky legs with the promotion, and he knows it. After dropping back-to-back fights to notables Paul Daley and Rick Story--which was his most recent fight at UFC 117, where the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist was eventually TKO'd in the second round by the surging welterweight contender--Dustin has decided to try his hand once again in the lightweight decision. ...

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. ...

Part 2 of this exciting extravaganza begins... Johny Hendricks vs Charlie Brenneman Will Hendricks ever see a UFC main card, ever again? ...

Quick-rising English MMA prospect “Semtex” Paul Daley (20-9-2) knocked out welterweight “McLovin” Dustin Hazelett (15-5) in 2:24 at UFC 108 in Las Vegas Saturday night. ...

"McLovin" Dustin Hazelett (15-4) is a fast rising star in the UFC and will be facing KO artist "Semtex" Paul Daley (19-9-2) at UFC 108 tonight. Dustin has made a name for himself by getting awarded three "Submission of the Night" honors coming by way of amazing set ups. Dustin joined myself and Gary Friedman live on MMA Gospel Radio to discuss this fight, his future in the sport and much more. MMA Gospel Radio (MGR): We are excited to have you on the show. You are on of the biggest up and coming fighters right now. Everyone is talking about Dustin Hazelett. You earned your black belt under Jorge Gurgel, you have three submission of the night honors. People see you as a jiu jitsu guy. Tell me about your stand up game because I know you have been working on it. ...

Billed as a welterweight prospect fight, the matchup between “McLovin” Dustin Hazelett (11-4) of America and “Semtex” Paul Daley (19-9-2) of England has been renegotiated as a 172-pound catchweight fight at UFC 108 in Las Vegas Saturday. Daley weighed-in one pound over the 171-pound welterweight division limit Friday.  According to MMA Weekly, Daley was prevented from attempting to lose the extra pound when the Nevada State Athletic Commission witnessed Daley wobbling. ...

UFC welterweight prospects “McLovin” Dustin Hazelett (11-4) of America and “Semtex” Paul Daley (19-9-2) of England will matchup in Las Vegas January 2, according to MMA Weekly. ...

The first thing UFC welterweight prospect "McLovin" Dustin Hazelett (11-4) told Fighters.com Thursday evening when I called him for comment on his scheduled UFC 106 opponent “The Heat” Karo Parisyan's (18-5) apparent withdrawal from their fight due to a recurring anxiety disorder was, "I just hope Karo gets the help he needs." ...

The remaining bouts for UFC 106 on November 21 in Las Vegas Nevada are now finalized, the UFC announced today. Topping the bill is the return of former UFC light heavyweight champion "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz (15-6-1) as he is set to face former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) in a rematch of the 2006 fight that was Griffin's first loss in the UFC. ...

UFC welterweights “Heat” Karo Parisyan (18-5) and “McLovin’” Dustin Hazelett (15-4) will fight at UFC 106 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas November 21, the UFC officially announced Saturday. ...

UFC welterweights "Heat" Karo Parisyan (18-5) and "McLovin'" Dustin Hazelett (15-4) have agreed to fight at UFC 106 in Las Vegas 21 November, according to MMA Weekly. And, according to "Mayhem" Jason Miller (22-5) in a forum post, "I'm set to take on Jake Shields for the middleweight championship of the world in Strikeforce." Fighters.com was not able to verify either fight. ...

UFC 170-pound prospect "McLovin'" Dustin Hazelett (15-4) wants to return to the Octagon at 106 in Las Vegas 21 November or 107 in Memphis 12 December, he told Fighters.com Wednesday. McLovin' withdrew from a fight versus "Kill B" Ben Saunders (7-1-2) at UFC 96 in Columbus 7 March with a torn right ACL and has since had surgery to repair the injury. "Well, I'm back training," Hazelett said, "and, I'll be ready to fight late November or early December." ...

“Lil’ Heathen” Jeremy Stephens (15-3), “McLovin” Dustin Hazelett (13-4), Aaron Riley (26-10-1), and Jorge Gurgel (12-5), each pocketed an extra $60,000 on top of their regular fight purse Saturday night at UFC 91 in Las Vegas. Lightweight Stephens earned “Knockout of the Night” with an epic third-round uppercut delivered to the chin of Rafael dos Anjos (12-1). Welterweight Hazelett secured the second “Submission of the Night” of his career with his “armbar from the omoplata”, forcing “Barn Cat” Tamdan McCrory (10-2) in round one. The back-and-forth lightweight scrap between Riley and Gurgel was “Fight of the Night”, which Riley took in a narrow unanimous decision. ...

Team Gurgel's hirsute welterweight "McLovin'" Dustin Hazelett (13-4) tapped "Barn Cat" Tamden McCrory (10-2) at 3:59 of round one at UFC 91 in Las Vegas Saturday night. "It was an armbar from the omoplata," described Hazelett after the fight.  The fight-ending technique began as an omoplata, but Hazelett straightened out, then twisted McCrory's arm over even further when McCrory refused to tap. "I hated that it had to be him," lamented Hazelett.  "I want him to be successful too, coming from a similar background." ...

TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah (1-0) has been forced off the UFC 91 card due to a leg infection, the UFC announced Tuesday. Sadollah was scheduled to face UFC newcomer Nick Catone (6-0) Saturday in Las Vegas. The UFC was unable to secure a replacement, so the middleweight match has been cancelled.  Instead, the welterweight match-up between “McLovin” Dustin Hazelett (12-4) and “Barn Cat” Tamdan McCrory (10-1) has been bumped up to the main card on pay-per-view. Hazelett submitted “People’s Warrior” Josh Burkman via armbar in round two at the TUF 7 finale in June. McCrory won a unanimous decision over Luke Cummo (6-6) at UFC 87 in August. ...

The UFC has officially confirmed a welterweight bout between “McLovin” Dustin Hazelett (11-4) and “Barn Cat” Tamdan McCrory (9-1) and a lightweight bout between “Kid” Alvin Robinson (9-3) and Mark Bocek (5-2) on the UFC 91 card, 15 November in Las Vegas. Hazelett, a member of Team Jorge Gurgel, submitted Josh Burkman (18-7) via second-round armbar in June. McCrory won a unanimous decision over Luke Cummo (6-6) in August. Robinson’s last fight was a loss to Nathan Diaz (10-2) via third-round triangle choke in January.  He reportedly took time off this year to deal with injuries. Bocek, of Toronto, was submitted by Mac Danzig (18-5-1) in April via third-round rear naked choke. ...

It’s the week building up to Fighters.com Welterweight Champion “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (16-2) versus top contender Jon Fitch (17-2); and, honestly, I’m kind of bored with the division. Long-time 170-pound ruler Matt Hughes (42-7) has lost…something. Specifically, his last two fights and, all too early in his career, his competitiveness. Hughes’s eventual grudge match with “Terror” Matt Serra (9-5) has lingered so long it seems almost a chore now. EliteXC Welterweight Champion Jake Shields (21-4-1) mauled his top non-UFC challenger “Goat” Nick Thompson (36-10-1) in 1:03. His next opponent will only be anti-climactic and prospects for a legitimate challenge in the foreseeable future are dim. A shame, a damned shame. Yes, there is the “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (15-3) versus “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (19-2) on the October horizon. But, it’s still questionable whether Alves can consistently make 170-pounds; and, Sanchez is, well, questionable after losing his two biggest fights versus Josh Koschek (11-2) and Fitch. Besides, Shields takes them both out in the first round. Please, argue if you disagree so that I have something to get excited about in the welterweight division. Really, email me at chad@fighters.com and tell me how wrong I am. Anyway, there is one potential match-up that excites me, right at the cusp of the 170-pound elite. ...

Three TUF champions highlighted the action in Las Vegas Saturday night: the original, the past, and the future. The future shines brilliantly for The Ultimate Fighter's newest blast into the mainstream consciousness, Amir Sadollah (1-0). In his professional debut, Sadollah tapped "Doberman" CB Dollaway (6-1) in an armbar at 3:02 of round one to win the seventh season of the popular SpikeTV reality show contest. "Nightmare" Diego Sanchez (19-2), one of the two original Ultimate Fighters, looked physically fitter than ever in his third-round TKO of American Top Team's Luigi Fioravanti (12-4) at 4:07. After back-to-back "embarrasing" losses, "Spyder" Kendall Grove (9-5), TUF 3 champion, recaptured past glory in a three-round split decision over former UFC titlist Evan Tanner (32-8). The likeable young TUF walk-on from Virginia, Sadollah, versus the cocky All-American favorite, Dollaway, was a rematch of an exhibition fight fought on the final episode of last season's The Ultimate Fighter. Saturday's finish was almost a replay of that fight's end. ...

UFC welterweight "McLovin'" Dustin Hazelett (10-4) impressed many in the first round of his PPV-televised match-up versus Fighters.com's third-ranked welterweight "Kos" Josh Koscheck (10-2) last March. But, in the second round, Hazelett was rattled by a Kos overhand and eventually TKO'd in a flurry. But, "McLovin'" has a sense of humor about it. He invited Fighters.com to Jorge Gurgel's (12-3) Martial Arts Academy in West Chester, north of Cincinnati, to observe his training for his fight Saturday in Las Vegas versus "The People's Champion" Josh Burkman (9-5). After training, Hazelett pulled his mouthpiece from his mouth and said, "Koscheck must not have read this." ...

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion, "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski pocketed the biggest purse Saturday night in Columbus, $105,000 to show plus a $65,000 win bonus.  His victory over "Irish" Jake O'Brien completed his UFC contract. However, it was UFC Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva who left Nationwide Arena big pimpin' with a total disclosed payday of $260,000 for his second round submission of "Hollywood" Dan Henderson. Silva received $70,000 to show, a $70,000 win bonus, a $60,000 Submission of the Night bonus, and a $60,000 Fight of the Night bonus.  Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money! Henderson received a $60,000 bonus for participating in Fight of the Night.  "The Crippler" Chris Leben received $60,000 for Knockout of the Night in his victory over "Legionarius" Alessio Sakara. Despite making the PPV broadcast in an non-stop stand-up war, Josh Koscheck and Dustin Hazelett lost out to Silva v Henderson for Fight of the Night. The entire run-down below: Andrei Arlovski: $170,000 Anderson Silva: $140,000 Heath Herring: $140,000 Dan Henderson: $100,000 Diego Sanchez: $60,000 Chris Leben: $50,000 Cheick Kongo: $30,000 Yushin Okami: $28,000 Evan Tanner: $25,000 Josh Koscheck: $20,000 Alessio Sakara: $17,000 Luigi Fioravanti: $16,000 Luke Cummo: $16,000 Jorge Gurgel: $14,000 Dustin Hazelett: $12,000 Jake O’Brien: $11,000 David Bielkheden: $8,000 John Halverson: $3,000 ...

On a night in Columbus when the original UFC Heavyweight Champion and tactician behind the ground'n'pound "The Hammer" Mark Coleman became a legend joining the UFC Hall of Fame, UFC Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva knocked on that same hallowed door. The kickboxer from Curitiba vanquished former PRIDE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion "Hollywood" Dan Henderson in a rear naked choke at 4:52 of the second round. The first round illustrated why Henderson, 22-7, was pegged as Silva's last great challenge at 185-pounds. The wrestler from California nixed the champion's world class stand-up with lateral movement that prevented Silva from setting and delivering his laser-like strikes. Henderson grabbed hold of the "Spider" and dumped him to the mat in an awkward half guard that allowed "Hollywood" to smother Silva while peppering him with hammer fists. The frustrated champion endured to the second frame. In a sloppy Thai clinch, Silva slammed a knee to Henderson's chiseled chin, causing the the top contender to crumble. Silva pounced!  A barrage of strikes convinced Henderson to give up his back, the fatal flaw leading to a rear naked choke submission with just eight seconds to spare in the round. While UFC broadcasters Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan wondered allowed who could challenge the champion, Silva seemed to indicate a third tussle with former UFC Middleweight Champion "Ace" Rich Franklin was due. In the broadcasted card's only heavyweight rumble, "The Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring tumbled into a split decision "W" over Cheick Kongo of France. The Parisian kickboxer insisted on wrestling, to the surprise of everyone including Herring.  Kongo dumped the Texan by force of will, but never capitalized on his advantageous ground positions as Herring consistently swept and reversed into safer territory. In the end, Herring's pitter-patter of pounding and Kongo's cluelessness on the mat served Herring the "W" and a possible rematch with current interim UFC belt holder Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, whom Herring came within a hair of beating last year. In untelevised heavyweight action, former UFC titlist "The Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski wrapped-up his current UFC contract and possibly his Octagon career with second round TKO of Jake O'Brien. Arlovski has openly entertained the idea of quitting the UFC for greener opportunities. Another pair of middleweights made the PPV broadcast when former UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner was knocked silly...er with a knee from the Thai clinch by Yushin Okami. The fight was Tanner's first since April 2006 and the vet seemed to gas late into the first round before eating the death blow at 3:00 of the second. 18-4 Chris Leben TKO'd 185-pound newbie "Legionarius" Alessio Sakara of Italy at 3:16 of round one. "The Crippler" Leben knocked Sakara to his back with a left hook behind the ear, then pounced on the Roman with six unanswered punches before referee Herb Dean waved the affair closed. Welterweights Josh Koscheck and Dustin Hazelett lit each other up for a round before a Koscheck kick found the button behind Hazelett's ear a minute into round two.  Koschek pummeled the fallen fighter until the referee called it a TKO for Koscheck. The PPV opened with the longest three rounds of my life between welterweight contender Jon Fitch and UFC-debuting Chris Wilson of Team Quest. Wilson spent most of his Octagon initiation on his bicycle while Fitch tried to chase him down.  The judges awarded Fitch a unanimous decision for aggression and superior wrestling positioning. The rest of the untelevised portion of the card included a unanimous decision  "W" for 12-3 welterweight Luigi Fioravanti over Luke Cummo, who falls to 6-5. "Nightmare" Diego Sanchez was tossed a bit of red meat in Sweden's David Bielkheden after dropping two consecutive fights.  Sanchez devoured Bielkheden in a first round strikes submission. Lightweight Jorge Gurgel took a unanimous decision over John Halverson to improve to 12-3, 3-2 in the Octagon.  UFC 82 sold out Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. ...