Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to another new edition of “Best of the Rest”! I really enjoy taking the time to give my detailed thoughts on a show after watching it, but after the serious discussion and debate I’ll raise in topics like “Top 5 Best Moments” and “Best Performance of the Night”, I think 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 latest edition, now featuring UFC 131 “Dos Santos vs. Carwin”. ...

Did anyone ever think this idea would become so big? After a string of successful, exciting “UFC Prelims Live” specials that have taken place on Spike TV, ION Television, and even over Facebook, the “Prelims Live” specials have now broken the two million mark. The UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort” live prelims special on Spike TV, featuring a free hour of MMA action and two free, live fights, is now the record-holder for the most-watched “Prelims Live” special since the debut of the series. Here are all the details. ...

"ufc 126: Silva vs. Belfort" featured an electrifying night of fights. Champion Anderson Silva deftly defended his title with a rousing first-round knockout of former friend and teammate Vitor Belfort with a surprising front kick which floored the Brazilian. Following up with a few additional blows was all that "The Spider" needed to end the night of the former light heavyweight titleholder. Forrest Griffin made a successful return to the cage, following a year-plus spent away from the cage, when he defeated former middleweight champ Rich Franklin, defeating the legend in a clean sweep decision victory. The night produced several more exciting fights over, however some of those bouts came with their price. ...

Following ufc 126 this past weekend, a lot of new story lines have arose. Anderson Silva re-solidified himself as not only the best middleweight in the world, but arguably best pound-for-pound fighter and the greatest of all time, when he knocked out Vitor Belfort in impressive fashion in his middleweight title bout. Forrest Griffin deftly defeated former champ Rich Franklin in a pivotal light heavyweight match-up, moving him closer to the title, however Jon Jones beat him to it when he submitted then-undefeated prospect Ryan Bader with a second-round submission. However nothing surprised me more then some of these fighter pay-outs with some seeming valid, while others have me scratching my head in humble confusion. ...

A pivotal featherweight match up has been added to the upcoming pay-per-view event this February, for UFC 126. Japanese import Michihiro Omigawa will make his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship on the aforementioned February card, this time in the 145-pound division. Since departing from the UFC in 2008 following back-to-back losses against notables Matt Wiman and Thiago Tavares (respectively), Omigawa has reinvigorated his career. ...

The ufc recently made an interesting pairs of signings in order to further beef up their newly-minted Featherweight and Bantamweight divisions in the days leading up to the UFC’s official merger with the wec. The UFC saw to draw on some big-name international talent, as it recently signed both Michihiro Omigawa and Norifumi Yamamoto out of Japan and into exclusive contracts. Unfortunately, the promotion also recently released a WEC veteran who had competed with the promotion five times. Despite going 3-2 in the promotion, LC Davis will have to work his way back up from the minor leagues before he’s able to call the UFC home. Here are all the details. ...

Speculation has run rampant as far as what Michihiro Omigawa's next move will be. Having traveled all around the world, including a two-fight stint in the UFC as a lightweight fighter, the Japanese Judoka reinvented himself as a featherweight, and since making the drop to the new weight class, has looked nearly unstoppable. After an adventure with both Sengoku and DREAM, where Omigawa has become a title contender in both organizations, it looks like he may give up infamy in his native country for a second shot here in the states, and what better organization to do that with then with the largest one in the sport. ...

A staple in Japan's growing featherweight division, it looks like the former UFC veteran could be making his mark once again in the U.S. After losing back-to-back fights in the UFC's lightweight division against standouts Matt Wiman and Thiago Tavares (respectively), Omigawa then decided to try his hand in the 145-pound weight class. Though his debut was spoiled by none other than "The Korean Zombie" in a DEEP event in 2008, the talented Judoka practitioner has since rattled off an impressive 8-1-1 record, with his only loss coming to the hands to former Sengoku featherweight champion, Masanori Kanehara in 2009, in an attempt to vie for the then vacant title. ...

While competing exclusively in the lightweight division for the majority of his career to mixed results, Michihiro Omigawa has always had a "never say die" attitude, which embodies most Japanese fighters today, in what may possibly the most flattering stereotype I can think of. However, since dropping down to the featherweight division, Omigawa has accomplished more than any other 145-pound in his weight class has. Recording victories over current Sengoku and Pancrase featherweight champion Marlon Sandro, Hatsu Hioki, Hiroyuki Takaya and former WEC champion Cole Escovdeo in his most recent outing, it's hard to argue with the results of the famed Judoka, who holds a pedestrian and deceiving 12-8-1 record. ...

Olympic Wrestling hopeful and current Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren was scheduled to meet fellow standout Michihiro Omigawa at DREAM 16. The bout was to determine a new top contender, conceivably, for the Japanese promotion's 139-pound strap, however due to some on going talks with his manager concerning Warren's safety. ...

Japan, eat your heart out. Your boy Joe Warren is making a name for himself, elsewhere. Joe Soto, arguably a top-10 caliber fighter, looked every bit of that in the opening frame against the Olympic wrestling hopeful in their 145-pound clash at Bellator 27, just yesterday. After staggering Warren numerous times on the feet with effective close-quarters boxing, it looked like the end was imminent and Soto was in control. I guess somebody just forgot to tell Warren that. ...

While this might not be as cataclysmic as the DREAM tag team with Sengoku for last years Dynamite!! 2009 show at the Saitama Super Arena before a near 50,000 seated crowd, this is important none the less. Recently crowned Sengoku featherweight champion Marlon Sandro, the proverbial knockout king with a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt to boot, is rumored for the September 25th event for DREAM 16. ...

While DREAM is moving forward with it's 16th event, one man intended to be on the card is holding out for something better. DREAM, one of the more popular Japan based organizations following the demise of Pride, is holding an event for September 25th in Nagoya, Japan--a card that was intended to be headlined by current featherweight (139 pounds) champion, Bibiano Fernandes. ...

A featherweight title fight in September apparently won't stop the Joe Warren train from booking a second fight, overseas at that, in the same month. The aforementioned featherweight will be facing Bellator 145-pound champion Joe Soto on September 2. in San Antonio, Tex. for the title. Earning his crack at the belt, Warren fought his way through the season two, 8-man featherweight tourney, after claiming victories over Eric Marriott, Georgi Karakhanyan, and finally a split decision over the previously undefeated Patricio Freire for the season's $100,000 check and number one contenders spot. ...

DREAM lightweight champion “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (24-5) forced "Crusher" Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-6-2) to tap out in an Achilles lock at 1:53 of their DREAM.15 title fight in Saitama Saturday. Aoki returned from a drubbing by Strikeforce champion “El Niño” Gilbert Melendez (18-2) at Strikeforce in Nashville April 17 to defeat his longtime Japanese rival. ...

Former WEC featherweight "Maverick" Micah Miller (13-3) and former UFC lightweight Michihiro Omigawa  (9-8-1) will matchup in a 145-pound bout at ASTRA's inaugural event in Tokyo April 25. American Top Team's Miller went 2-2 in the WEC in 2007 and 2008, but enters ASTRA with a three fight win streak.  Most recently, Miller submitted "Cheesesteak" Anthony Morrison (15-8) at SHINE Fights 2 in Miami last September. ...

Featherweights Yuji Hoshino (12-7-6) of Japan and Marlon Sandro (13-1) of Brazil will matchup at Sengoku's Eleventh Battle in Tokyo November 7, World Victory Road announced Thursday. Pancrase vet Hoshino will come in to the fight off three consecutive victories at CageForce, most recently winning a three-round UD over "Wicky" Akiyo Nishiura (6-3-1). ...

Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago (21-7) will defend his title at Sengoku Eleventh Battle in Tokyo 7 November, Sengoku announced on its website Friday. Also announced are former UFC heavyweight champion "Monster" Kevin Randleman (17-13), who now competes at 185 pounds, and former UFC lightweight Michihiro Omigawa (3-7). No opponents were announced for any of the fighters. A report Thursday claimed that Randleman could fight “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal (4-0), but Fighters.com has not confirmed that report. ...

The rise of Japanese lightweight Mizuto Hirota (10-3) left many breathless Sunday after he upset Sengoku lightweight champion Satoru Kitaoka (24-9-7) by TKO at 2:50 of round four at Ninth Battle in Tokyo. Masanori Kanehara (5-2) stole the Featherweight Grand Prix Championship in a controversial final that featured Kanehara despite losing his semi-final fight by unanimous decision to Hatsu Hioki (16-3-2) versus Michihiro Omigawa (4-8) who was given a hometown free pass into the finals after majority draw on the cards versus Marlon Sandro (13-1) in the semi-finals. Strikeforce middleweight champ “Grabaka Hitman” Kazuo Misaki (23-9-2) strangled judoka Kazuhiro Nakamura's (13-10) hopes of challenging Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago (21-7) in a guillotine at 3:03 of round one, leaving Kaz' out on the mat. Denied a title challenge himself by Sengoku after pleading guilty to interfering with the duties of a public official following a March traffic stop, Misaki said nothing after playing spoiler, refusing the microphone in the ring. ...

Sengoku lightweight champion Satoru Kitaoka (24-9-7) and challenger Mizuto Hirota (9-3) both made weight for their main event at Ninth Battle in Tokyo Sunday. Kitaoka weighed 69.9 kg while Hirota tipped the scales at 70 kg. The card also features the semi-finals and finals of Sengoku's featherweight grand prix and all competing fighters also made weight. ...