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. ...

Jon Fitch is normally not an angry man. For the most part, he flies under the radar. Perhaps that’s why it took him so long to get a championship opportunity against Georges St. Pierre, and why it’s taken him so long to get another one. In a new interview, it appears that the long waits and the lack of appreciation may have finally driven Fitch over the edge. Here are all the details. ...

Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn doesn't have a whole lot of motivation to continue his career as a professional mixed martial artist. After consecutive losses to current lightweight kingpin Frankie Edgar, Penn moved back to 170-pounds in order to complete a trilogy with rival Matt Hughes. And while the cards were stacked against him, Penn was able to knock out the resurgent UFC Hall of Famer, who at the time was riding a three-fight win streak heading into their final meeting. Since the win, Penn has gone to a draw with consensus number two welterweight fighter Jon Fitch at UFC 127, and the two were expected to meet in a rematch to settle the score come UFC 132, however the American Kickboxing Academy protege has since bowed out of the bout due to injury. And while several fighters had begun campaigning to fight Penn in place of Fitch, namely Carlos Condit, the Hawaiian also has since suffered an injury which will keep him out of the pay-per-view event. ...

It has been reported earlier last week that a highly anticipated rematch between former champion BJ Penn and perennial contender Jon Fitch would be taking shape. In their first encounter, Fitch and Penn battled to a contentious majority draw, much to the ire of the fans and media alike who were split on the decision, with some saying Penn deserved the win while others made the case for the American Kickboxing Academy product. However, it has recently been revealed that Fitch has since suffered an injury and could not continue with the proposed match-up. ...

As they should rightfully be, all eyes are currently on ufc 128, which takes place tonight on Facebook, Spike TV, and then Pay-Per-View. After that comes UFC 129 in front of over 55,000 fans. But the UFC is always looking to the future, it’s one of the key ingredients of their success. And the UFC recently announced three marquee match-ups for their UFC 132 event, featuring a colossal rematch between BJ Penn and Jon Fitch. Here are all the details. ...

UFC 127 was a pretty solid night of fights, especially for an international event. The Australian fans at the Acer Arena were treated to several entertaining brawls, some great KO’s, and just a very competitive night in general. 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 127: “Penn vs. Fitch”. ...

UFC 127 “Penn vs. Fitch” certainly had its fair share of surprises. The main event ended in a draw, Brian Ebersole upset Chris Lytle, Dennis Siver upset George Sotiropoulos… the list goes on and on. Now once again it’s time to ask: what’s next? What does the future hold after so many unexpected happenings occurred at UFC 127? Here’s my answer to just that: a new edition of my “What’s Next” series of articles, featuring UFC 127 “Penn vs. Fitch”. ...

UFC 127 was a solid but not a great card.  The second ever UFC event in Australia brought out the best of Michael Bisping against an aging opponent, revealed the unique skills of a UFC newcomer, and provided a main event that featured surprising tactics by "The Prodigy" BJ Penn.  Click through for detailed notes on UFC 127. ...

Another one went into the history books tonight, fans and friends. And UFC 127 “Penn vs. Fitch” was a very interesting night of fights, to say the very least. It was a night full of upsets, dramatic finishes, free and entertaining preliminary fights on both Facebook and ION TV, and more. And in the main event, Jon Fitch and BJ Penn battled to a tough three-round decision, with neither man emerging the victor. Here are the full results as well as some early commentary on UFC 127: “Penn vs. Fitch”. ...

When UFC 127 “Penn vs. Fitch” airs live tomorrow, it will be the culmination of much hard work by all involved. Many of the fighters find themselves in can’t-lose situations, from BJ Penn to Jorge Rivera, from Jon Fitch to George Sotiropoulos. I’ve covered this event a whole lot, and now it’s time for my final say. This is another edition of “Finally Final Thoughts”, covering my final musings on what I hope will be one of the best cards of 2011. ...

We’re now only a few days away from UFC 127 "Penn vs. Fitch". In the main event, BJ Penn takes on Jon Fitch for the next shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship.. The co-main event will also be an interesting match-up, as Michael Bisping and Jorge Rivera look to settle a bitter war of words inside the Octagon. As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why), now featuring UFC 127 "Penn vs. Fitch". ...

On February 27 (26 in the United States), the UFC will hold its highly-anticipated “Penn vs. Fitch” event, featuring a major welterweight showdown between top stars BJ Penn and Jon Fitch, with a shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship on the line. Also, heavy-handed Middleweight fighters Jorge Rivera and Michael Bisping will look to settle a bitter and heated rivalry when they step into the Octagon in the night’s co-main event. 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 127 “Penn vs. Fitch”. ...

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 UFC 127: “Penn vs. Fitch”. ...

It’s now time, fans and friends, for the finale of my special one-day-only four-part series where I give my in-depth thoughts on the upcoming major welterweight showdown between Jon Fitch and BJ Penn. For those coming in at this point, Part 1 of the series is up here, Part 2 can be seen by clicking here, and Part 3 is available right here. This final entry into the series is the reverse of Part 3, and details five reasons why I think BJ Penn could defeat Jon Fitch. Let’s get right to it. ...

Welcome back fans and friends, it’s now time for the third part of my one-day-only four-part series covering UFC 127’s main event: a showdown between BJ Penn and Jon Fitch, with a shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship on the line. Part 1 of the series is up here, Part 2 can be seen by clicking here. Parts 3 and 4 are a new installment in my “Five Reasons Why” series, so let’s dive right in with five reasons why Jon Fitch could beat BJ Penn, with the reverse soon to follow. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to part 2 of my one-day-only four-part series focusing on the major UFC 127 showdown between BJ Penn and Jon Fitch. The first entry in the series, where I say what I think will happen if Jon Fitch beats BJ Penn, is available right here. Now it’s time for the reverse: here’s what I think will happen if BJ Penn beats Jon Fitch. It’s another new edition of “What If He Wins?”, and it features one of my favorite fighters of all time. Let’s get to it. ...

Hello again fans and friends and welcome to part one of a special one-day-only four-part mini-series focusing on the upcoming encounter between top UFC welterweights Jon Fitch and BJ Penn. Today’s four-part series will see two new entries into my “What If He Wins” series of columns, as well as a new “5 Reasons Why” two-parter focusing on the five reasons why Jon Fitch could beat BJ Penn and vice-versa. So let’s dive right in with part 1: a new “What If He Wins”, where I say what I think the future holds for an MMA fighter if he wins his next fight, featuring Jon Fitch. ...

A much anticipated welterweight showdown just got a little bit more exciting. While it was widely considered that Jon Fitch, the number two man in the welterweight division for the last several years, would likely earn a title shot with a win over former champion BJ Penn, seems like the same would be at stake for the "Hilo Boy" should he record a victory here. Current champion Georges St. Pierre will be taking on Jake Shields in his sixth consecutive title defense, and should the French Canadian leave the bout the victor, he will be moving up to the middleweight division in order to face titleholder Anderson Silva, leaving the 170-pound class wide open for either Penn or Fitch to rule. ...

There's a lot of things in the world of mixed martial arts that I presumed would never happen. Brock Lesnar becoming a mixed martial artist, let alone champion, is right up there. Randy Couture recapturing a heavyweight title in his 40's almost tops the list. Fedor Emelianenko losing, EVER, was another big one. But to see Matt Hughes and BJ Penn train with one another was almost mind boggling, that I've had to re-watch the tape time, and time again. And it's true. The former two-time welterweight champion Hughes, who has gone 1-2 in bouts with Penn, is training the Hilo Boy for his upcoming bout with perennial contender Jon Fitch on February 26. ...

Welcome back to “All I Want for Christmas”, fans and friends, my special Christmas Day mini-series where I share some thoughts and hopes on what I’m looking forward to as we head towards the second decade of the new millennium. Next up is everyone’s favorite topic: dream fights. Even fans who don’t like to play “armchair promoter” love to trot out their personal picks for the fights they’d like to see. So here are my “Top 5 Dream Fights for 2011”, focusing on high-profile fights that could conceivably happen next year. Let’s get to it. ...

While the phrase “quietly making waves” can be considered a bit of an oxymoron, it almost-perfectly describes the situation UFC Welterweight Rick Story finds himself in. The three-year MMA veteran has been a bit of a background fighter in his time with the UFC, but that’s a bit unfair when you consider that he’s on a five-fight win-streak with two finishes and hasn’t lost since June 2009. Now more than ever, Story is looking to break away from the shackles of obscurity and emerge as a legitimate threat in the crowded, highly-competitive Welterweight division of the UFC. And according to a recent interview, Story would like to use former UFC Welterweight Championship contender Thiago Alves as the first stepping stone towards an inevitable title shot. ...

Perennial contender and former title challenger Jon Fitch is back on the hunt for a second chance at UFC gold. After initially claiming eight-victories in a row since his initial inception into the worlds largest mixed martial arts promotion, Fitch was granted a title shot against current champion Georges St. Pierre, though he came up short in his bid as he was on the losing side of a unanimous decision. Since then, the American Kickboxing Academy product has rattled off five straight wins against top competition, which includes victories over Paulo Thiago and most recently former title challenger Thiago Alves at UFC 117 last August. Now, Jon will be gearing up for arguably one of his most toughest challenges to date when he takes on former welterweight and lightweight champion BJ Penn. ...

What an interesting year it’s been for the top-ranked and resurgent Thiago Alves. Alves entered 2010 coming off of undoubtedly the biggest loss of his career, a five-round all-out thrashing courtesy of Georges St. Pierre that happened at UFC 100. After a long, sordid history of postponements, Alves finally fought rival Jon Fitch in August in the rematch that seemingly refused to be made. Not only would Alves lose convincingly once again, he would come in overweight by almost two pounds. However, “The Pitbull” seemed to make a triumphant return at the recent UFC 124 event, as Alves practically mauled John Howard and made it look easy. In a new interview Alves officially put the Welterweight division on notice… but isn’t he getting ahead of himself? ...

From the moment its main event was first announced, fans around the world started buzzing about ufc 127. This will mark the second time the UFC has visited the Land Down Under, as the event is scheduled for February 27 at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia. Jon Fitch and BJ Penn clash in the main event in a key welterweight showdown that has serious title implications. The official and complete card was recently announced, so here are all the details. ...

Thiago Alves has left the MMA world with many questions since his last fight against Jon Fitch, in which he was dominated on the ground.  The primary question is basic – Will we ever see again the intimidating version of Thiago Alves, who dropped the flying knee on Matt Hughes? Can the fierce, bomb throwing, attacking version of Thiago Alves make a return against John Howard on Saturday night in Montreal at UFC 124? ...

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. ...

From Jake Ellenberger to one of the toughest tests of his entire career, perhaps the absolute toughest… Jon Fitch certainly has a lot to look forward to in 2011. The former UFC Welterweight Championship contender, who is 13-1 in the biggest and most competitive MMA organization in the world, will face former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion BJ Penn at UFC 127 in Australia. In a recent interview, Fitch talked about how he’s thankful for the opportunity and will be looking to make the most out of it. Read on for all the details and why I personally think that Jon Fitch can and will beat BJ Penn. ...

From the ashes of UFC 123 in Detroit just last night, a few match ups have been announced for the imminent future. Most surprisingly was the announcement of former champion BJ Penn remaining in the welterweight division for the time being, where he will next face former title challenger and current top contender Jon Fitch in his next bout. Dan White confirmed the news during the post-fight press conference following last nights affair in Michigan at the Palace in Auburn Hills before a loud and ruckus crowd. ...

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. ...

Jon Fitch, the black sheep of the welterweight division, has been passed over for his promised title shot by the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, Jake Shields. The two are very familiar with one another. Not only have they trained together over the years out of the American Kickboxing Academy where Fitch is coveted as the team's "Captain" and Shield's is known to split his time there and of course the Cesar Gracie Academy, but they have also competed against one another in the past, albeit a grappling tournament where Jake was victorious. After his win over former title challenger Thiago Alves last August at ufc 117, Fitch was considered by many to be the number one contender to the welterweight title, but UFC President Dana White has been known to make some quick and hasty decisions. And after an impressive 15-fight win streak coupled with a not so impressive debut in the organization by Shields against veteran Martin Kampmann at UFC 121, winning by split-decision, he was granted his title shot and now Fitch will have to get through a dangerous welterweight standout in Jake Ellenberger to reclaim his number one spot. ...