Prepare for a bit of controversy, fans and friends. Today’s article focuses on current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and more specifically, why I think he won’t break the long streak of UFC Light Heavyweight Champions losing their gold in their first few fights. Mauricio Rua has always been a very popular fighter dating back to his glory days in the PRIDE Fighting Championships, and his fans have never had more of a reason to cheer now that he stands atop one of the UFC’s fiercest divisions. But Shogun’s reign is as doomed to failure as all the others before him, dating back to when Quinton Jackson ended Chuck Liddell’s two-year run as Light Heavyweight Champion at UFC 71. The Shogun we saw completely dismantled by Forrest Griffin is still in there. It’s just hidden. ...

The rematch all the fans had been calling for lived up to the hype as Fighters.com third-ranked light heavyweight "Shogun" Mauricio Rua went from being "the people's champion" to becoming UFC light heavyweight champion after knocking out top-ranked and now former UFC light heavyweight champion "Dragon" Lyoto Machida (16-1). ...

I have been spending a lot of time on mixed martial arts (MMA) message boards as of late and have seen an influx of new fans of the sport joining these sites. Many times we see their first ever post ridiculed by the more senior members and the self-anointed "MMA Hardcore". Could it be the most loyal fans of the sport are actually hampering the growth by their actions? ...

Fighters.com and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion "Dragon" Lyoto Machida (16-0) has announced he's healthy and training for the anticipated rematch with third-ranked "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (18-4) at UFC 113 in Montreal May 8. ...

UFC 113 in Montreal was shaping up to be a very big fight card on May 8 and it just got much bigger. The addition of "Minotoro" Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3) versus Fighters.com fifth-ranked light heavyweight Forrest Griffin (17-6) has made this a must see card for fight fans. ...

UFC light heavyweight "Minotoro" Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3) has emerged from a two-year hiatus from the top ten rankings, during which much of the new MMA fandom knew him only as the brother of Fighters.com's fourth-ranked heavyweight “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1). ...

In the words of UFC President Dana White, “Here we go again." Former UFC light heavyweight champion “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-7-1) labeled his return to the Octagon another run at the title and warned the light heavyweight division to “watch out, Tito Ortiz is back." ...

Fighters.com's fifth-ranked light heavyweight and former UFC champ Forrest Griffin (17-4) won a three-round split decision over “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-7-1) by judges scores of 30-27 and 29-28 in favor of Griffin and 29-28 in favor of Ortiz at UFC 106 in Las Vegas Saturday. ...

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. ...

The UFC officially confirmed the clash between Fighters.com seventh-ranked light heavyweight “Banha” Luis Arthur Cane (8-1) and fellow Brazilian "Minotoro" Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (12-3) to fill out the UFC 106 card following the postponement of the former main event title fight between Fighters.com and UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar (2-1) and sixth-ranked heavyweight Shane Carwin (9-0). ...

As controversial as the UFC 104 judges' unanimous decision in favor of Fighters.com and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion "Dragon" Lyoto Machida (16-0) over seemingly obvious victor, now-third-ranked "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (18-4), was among North American MMA fans, nothing compares to the heat over the fight among Brazilian MMA fans. ...

Fighters.com and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (15-0) will defend his championships from sixth-ranked "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (18-3) at UFC 104 in Los Angeles October 24. ...

UFC lightweight champ "Prodigy" B.J. Penn (14-5-1) tapped out longtime top contender "KenFlo" Kenny Florian (11-4) in rear naked choke in the fourth round at UFC 101 in Philadelphia Saturday. Penn stunned Florian with a pair of uppercuts, then dumped "KenFlo" to his back in half mount. Penn slashed at Florian with his elbows and pummeled Florian's head, opening a small gash in his jaw. Florian rolled and Penn briefly tooks his back, then transition to mount. Florian rolled to his stomach again, and Penn returned to his back, jabbing his heel into Florian's abdominal. Florian reached to defend and Penn locked in the rear naked choke until Florian tapped out. Until the last 90 seconds, Florian had worked a strategy to wear Penn down with wrestling. Penn had landed the more solid shots, but Florian was controlling the fight and seemed to be succeeding at wearing Penn out. ...

UFC middleweight champ "Spider” Anderson Silva (25-4) left no questions about whose the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world after TKOing Fighters.com's third-ranked light heavyweight Forrest Griffin (16-6) in the first round at UFC 101 in Philadelphia Saturday night. "Spider" spent two minutes timing the former UFC light heavyweight champion before making Griffin look downright silly. Griffin charged at Silva, who consistently left his hands at his waist, and threw a 1-2 combo. Silva dodged the combo and stung Griffing with a single straight right that dropped Griffin and left him flailing. It was the second time Griffin had been dropped in the fight, previously with a right hook and a straight left. The referee waved his hands over Griffin, declaring Silva the winner by TKO and a new contender at 205 pounds. ...

Fighters.com will post real-time results after each UFC 101 Declaration fight Saturday night. Post your predictions here before the fights. Logon often tonight and chat about the fights immediately after they end. The fight card from Philadelphia includes: "Prodigy" B.J. Penn (13-5-1) v "KenFlo" Kenny Florian (11-3) for the UFC lightweight strap Fighters.com's third-ranked light heavyweight Forrest Griffin (16-5) v UFC middleweight champ "“Spider” Anderson Silva (24-4) in 205-pound matchup ...

After knocking Fighters.com's second-ranked light heavyweight "Sugar" Rashad Evans (13-1-1) silly at UFC 98 in Las Vegas in May, undefeated Fighters.com and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion "Dragon" Lyoto Machida (15-0) reigns atop the division with an awkward, frustrating style. In October, he'll defend his title from fifth-ranked "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (18-3) who's coming off a first-round KO of eighth-ranked "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-7).

UFC President Dana White has publicly pleaded for Liddell to retire. Liddell had barely woken up from his last knockout before the UFC put all Chuck Liddell merchandise on sale. But, is losing four out of five, three by knockout, a fitting end to a storied career? Does Liddell have one more big win in him so he can retire with dignity?

Evans and fourth-ranked "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-7) have been pegged to coach The Ultimate Fighter 10 and meet in the Octagon in December.

Third-ranked Forrest Griffin (16-5) has drawn the honor of finding out whether Fighters.com's Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (24-4) is ready for the big time at 205 next month in Philadelphia at UFC 101.

Fighters.com spoke with "Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-8) as he prepares for a week of fights in December when he will have the opportunity to redeem his 2002 loss to "Suave" Ricco Rodriguez (30-8) and then venture to Switzerland just days later to compete in the World Grappling Championship.  Fighters.com: Jeff, the last time we spoke was just before your win over "Smashing Machine" Mark Kerr (14-9) at Vengeance Fighting Championship in Concord, north of Charlotte, 27 September.  You have a fight coming up at Mixed Fight Alliance  in Miami 13 December against Ricco Rodriguez.  It's a rematch of a fight you originally lost at UFC 35 in 2002.  What are your thoughts on facing Rodriguez again? Jeff Monson: Well, I like Ricco.  He's a good fighter and a big name; but, I'd like to get back at him for losing to him the first time.  [laughing]  Hopefully it'll be a different result this time around.  But I don't really have revenge in mind or anything.  It's been seven years or whatever.  But, I think I definitely put a lot more into my fighting than I think he does, so, you know, I should to go out and get the win. Fighters.com:  You're on a two-fight win streak in recent months with the Kerr victory and a win over "Titan" Jimmy Ambriz (12-8) at Beatdown in New Town, northwest of Bismark, 11 October.  Where do you think a victory over Rodriguez will put your career? Jeff Monson: Well, I need to win a few more in a row.  So, I want to take them, you know, like the old cliché, "one fight at a time."  I'm taking this particular fight very seriously.  Ricco's a big name.  And he kicked my ass before.  It was probably one of the worse beatdowns I ever experienced in a fight from start to finish.  [laughing]  So, I know he's capable of doing well. Ricco has fought a lot of big names.  He's beat about everybody and, even the fights he's lost were to top fighters, you know, so Ricco's tough.   I just think I need to win every fight right now.  My career cannot take another loss at this point.  Saying that, I am taking this fight very serious.  I know I need to win a few in a row to get a shot at a title somewhere or get back to the top again.  Fighters.com: Will a win in December take you back to Sengoku in Japan?  The last loss on your record was to Fighters.com's seventh-ranked heavyweight "Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (19-5) at Sengoku in Tokyo 18 May. ...

Fighters.com’s second-ranked light heavyweight “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) will face sixth-ranked “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1), and Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) will defend his title against “Sugar” Rashad Evans (12-0-1) in Las Vegas 27 December at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, reported Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports Thursday. Also headlining the event is an interim heavyweight title match between Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) and Frank Mir (11-3). Jackson and Silva previously fought twice before in PRIDE, with Silva coming out the victor both times. Jackson last fought in July when he lost his title to Griffin in a unanimous decision. Silva is coming of a 36-second KO of “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1) in May. Griffin will be defending his title for the first time against Evans. Evans most recently upset fourth-ranked “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-6) in September by second-round KO. Nogueira and Mir are coaches in the current season of The Ultimate Fighter. ...

"Sugar" Rashad Evans (12-0-1) found out about his title fight versus Fighters.com's Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) with the rest of us. Evans detractors should notice Evans's humility after the fight. ...

UFC President Dana White fielded questions on various subjects from the media after UFC 88 in Atlanta 6 September. ...

SpikeTV announced Monday that it will air all twelve episodes of the debut season of reality show The Ultimate Fighter, as well as the finale, on 13 September. Clips of a reunion special filmed recently at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas will air throughout the marathon. TUF 1 cast members involved in the reunion are Fighters.com’s Light Heavyweight Champion and current UFC champion Forrest Griffin (16-4), Chris Leben (18-4), “American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (11-4), Josh Koscheck (11-2), “Rock” Nathan Quarry (10-2), “KenFlo” Kenny Florian (10-3), “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (19-2), Bobby Southworth (9-5), and “Quick” Mike Swick (12-2). The reunion special will be hosted by Joe Rogan, and UFC President Dana White will also be on hand to discuss the impact the show has had on the UFC and on the sport of mixed martial arts. ...

“Sugar” Rashad Evans (12-0-1) will fight Fighters.com's Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) for the UFC 205 title, announced UFC President Dana White Sunday morning in Atlanta. Evans viciously knocked out Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-6) in the second round Saturday night in Atlanta. "How can you say he doesn't deserve a title shot," White told media after the surprise "W". White wouldn't specify a date, but said he had a date in mind.  Fighters.com has speculated that Griffin will defend his title in Las Vegas 27 December. Griffin won a five-round unanimous decision over top contender "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-7) for the UFC and Fighters.com titles in Las Vegas 5 July. ...

Fighters.com’s Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) won a decision over second-ranked "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-7), but was TKO’d by seventh-ranked "Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine (13-4-1). Jackson lost a decision to Griffin, but won a decision over third-ranked "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-7) and knocked out fourth-ranked "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5)...twice. ...

"The Ultimate Fighter" is now truly the ultimate fighter in the UFC's ultimate weight class. In Las Vegas 4 July, Fighters.com's new Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) worked over now top contender "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-7) with leg kicks in a close unanimous decision. Though Griffin hopped seven spots to take the championship, the decision loss was close enough that Jackson only drops one rank. Jackson has declared his next opponent to be sixth-ranked "Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1), who drops a rank on Griffin's ascension; but, no official word has come from the UFC. Jackson versus Silva would make a trilogy that Silva dominated 2-0 in PRIDE. Griffin will probably fight the winner of fourth-ranked "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) versus "Sugar" Rashad Evans (11-0-1), which gets on in Atlanta 6 September, but may also take on the winner of fifth-ranked "Dragon" Lyoto Machida (13-0) versus tenth-ranked Thiago Silva (13-0) in Birmingham 18 October. The debate rages across Internet message boards about who the top contender to Griffin's title is: Jackson, Liddell, or Machida? ...

I'm not lying!  However, the headline of this article is not a fact, but a probability. 'Page in Memphis The fact is that the UFC, led by Vice President Mark Ratner, and the FedExForum in Memphis lobbied diligently this year to set-up a commission to regulate mixed martial arts in Tennessee. Success at last!  And, as I write this, the State of Tennessee is scrambling to staff and organize their new commission. (Tennessee readers should contact their State representatives immediately to be considered for the commission.) FedExForum's reward is the return of Memphis native son "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (29-7), who testified before the Tennessee legislature on behalf of MMA regulation. FedExForum's collaboration with the UFC was all but predicated on an eventual Rampage main event in Memphis. ...

Despite former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion "Rampage" Quinton Jackson's (29-6) post-fight declaration Saturday night in the Octagon that "[Forrest Griffin] whupped my ass,” Jackson reconsidered in the locker room and demanded a title rematch with the new Champion right away. "I know I won the first one, but I know I lost the second round," Jackson argued.  "I gave him the second round.  Then, I figured he probably won most of the last round.  But, the other rounds I figured I won." Fighters.com scored the fight 48-46 for Griffin. Jackson reasoned, "I dropped him a couple times.  I slammed him, took him down twice or something like that." Jackson admitted he had trouble with Griffin (16-4), "I didn't think the time off would affect me this bad, but it did." Jackson hadn't fought since defending his UFC title and claiming the defunct PRIDE title from third-ranked "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (22-6) in September 2007.  ...

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 Ultimate Fighter wasted no time this week in getting into the action as the final semi-final match got on between middleweight “The Doberman” CB Dollaway (6-0) and Amir Sadollah (0-0). Immediately, both fighters came out striking and spent the first part of the round striking and circling, feeling each other out.  Amir landed a left roundhouse kick to the body of CB, knocking CB to the mat. However, Amir moved in too quickly and CB was able to get a double leg take down that he turned into a slam. Amir then pulled guard and attempted and arm bar as CB worked the ground'n'pound that has thus far been successful for him.  Amir was able to avoid most shots as well as stopping CB from passing his guard. Eventually, Amir was able to sweep CB off of him and get to his feet where he landed a body shot that visibly shook up CB.  However, CB recovered and was able to get another take down.  He passed to half guard, then took Amir’s back with 15 seconds to go in the round.  The round ended with CB in mount on Amir. ...

Fighters.com's second-ranked heavyweight,current UFC co-Heavyweight Champion, and UFC Hall of Famer "The Natural" Randy Couture(16-8) spoke exclusively with Fighters.com from his Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas Monday afternoon. Couture graciously confronted and answered questions about his beef with the Zuffa, LLC and UFC President Dana White and third-ranked "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia's (24-4) and his own prospective fight with sixth-ranked "Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1), shared opinions about fifth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes (42-7), "Kimbo Slice" Kevin Ferguson (3-0), and Brock Lesnar (1-1), and made picks on future fights. Fighters.com: You've said you've accepted that you might get a bad court ruling and not fight again. Have you lost some competitiveness from being inactive for so long? The Natural: I still want to compete. I'm still in training as much as I can be with all this other stuff going on. I still seem to be able to hold my own, even with the lack of serious, hardcore training, with all the top guys that I have in the gym. I'm having fun being in the gym learning new tools, new skills and being there with a lot of the other guys that have been there for me, so I'm not too worried about that. The courts are going to do what the courts are going to do. We'll deal with it when it comes in. Fighters.com: Not many fighters have wives who also train. Does that give you both a different perspective and more understanding? ...