Hello again fans and friends, and welcome to the start of a new series, several new ones in fact. Today marks the first time I take a concrete look at what happened in the previous month of action, with several definitive lists designed to give my full thoughts on all the MMA I watched the month before. Near the beginning of every new month, I’ll wrap up the previous month of action by counting down and listing off some of the month’s biggest moments and brightest stars. I’ll start out with this list: the top five fights of April 2011, featuring all the best and can’t-miss moments of April. Let’s dive right in. ...

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 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”. ...

It’s that time once again, fans and friends. Another major MMA event has come and gone, and it’s time for my unofficial “Best Performance of the Night” award. And to be honest, this was one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make since beginning my “BPOTN” posts. UFC 129 just had so many dramatic moments, so many can’t-miss finishes, and so many dramatic stoppages. It was honestly one of the greatest Mixed Martial Arts events I’ve ever seen. But above all else, one man’s knockout stands out. Here’s why Lyoto Machida’s dramatic KO win over Randy Couture took home “Best Performance of the Night”. ...

UFC 129 was a historic event for several reasons. It featured two title fights, it featured a UFC legend and Hall of Fame member retiring, and it featured over half the night’s fights ending with stoppages, many of which were dramatic and amazing. And now once again it’s time to ask: what’s next? What does the future hold for Georges St. Pierre, Jose Aldo, Lyoto Machida, and others?? 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 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”. ...

Randy Couture is one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all-time. He's simply a living legend in the sport. So when he gets knocked out by someone, it's remembered. In accordance with this, you've got to believe that the jumping front kick Lyoto Machida used to defeat Couture at UFC 129 will be remembered on another level. We're talking about a victory due to something out of a traditional Shotokan karate manual; it will be talked about for years to come. In fact, it reminds, albeit with a little more flare due to its' jumping nature, of the recent front kick that Anderson Silva used to fell Vitor Belfort at UFC 126. How do these Black House guys do it? ...

Another one went down in the history books tonight, fans and friends. Tonight the UFC presented UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields” in front of 55,000 screaming Canadians. With all twelve fights being available through some form or another, UFC fans in attendance and around the world were treated to a night of fantastic action, and by far the best MMA event of the year. Without hyperbole, UFC 129 should go down as the greatest UFC event of all time, one of (if not the) greatest MMA event of all time, and one of the most important events in UFC and MMA history. Here are the full results as well as some early commentary on UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”. ...

There's no denying that for Lyoto Machida, his UFC 120 performance against UFC Hall of Famer and 5-time world champion Randy Couture, would be the biggest fight of "The Dragon's" career. Prior to his recent stint at UFC 129 earlier tonight, Machida was riding a two-fight losing streak heading into the cage when he took on former champions Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, respectively, and another loss here could have certainly laid question as to whether or not the UFC would keep the Brazilian around, despite his accomplishments within the organization. Thankfully, Machida left the cage without pondering those same stifling questions as he pulled out the proverbial "Karate Kid" crane kick and capped off the evening with a fantastic knockout which earned him a bonus for his efforts. ...

It’s come down to this, fans and friends. After weeks of speculation and intense debate, after a twelve-part series and my usual rounds of predicting, previewing, and giving crash courses… this is my final say. UFC 129 takes place roughly twenty-four hours from now, in front of a sold-out crowd of over 55,000 people. I’ve done my best to cover each and every fight in detail, in the myriad amount of coverage I’ve given this very special event. And here’s where it ends: this is another “Finally Final Thoughts”, covering my last random, assorted thoughts on UFC 129. ...

We’re now only a few days away from UFC 129, which should go down as the most-important MMA event of the year. In the main event, Georges St. Pierre defends his UFC Welterweight Championship against former EliteXC and Strikeforce champion Jake Shields, in front of over 55,000 fans. The co-main event will also be an interesting match-up, as Jose Aldo makes his long-awaited UFC debut by defending his UFC Featherweight Championship against Mark Hominick. As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why), now featuring UFC 129. ...

On April 30, 2011, the UFC will hold its highly-anticipated “St. Pierre vs. Shields” event, featuring UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre defending his championship against former Strikeforce Middleweight and EliteXC Welterweight Champion Jake Shields in front of over 55,000 fans. Also, Featherweight engine of destruction Jose Aldo makes his long-awaited debut in the UFC, defending his newly-minted UFC Featherweight Championship against Mark Hominick. 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 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”. ...

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 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to the third and final day of “ufc 129 Complete Collection”. This three-day, twelve-part series was designed with one goal in mind: to both educate and excite fans. UFC 129 is only a few days away, and it should go down as the event of the year and perhaps become a defining moment in UFC history. With that in mind, “Complete Collection” aims to look at and examine each and every UFC 129 fight in detail. With all fights being available through either Facebook, Spike TV, or Pay-Per-View, I figured this was the least I could do. For the previous entry in the series, please click here. And now, we begin the final leg of “UFC 129 Complete Collection” with a battle that pits a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion against a UFC Hall of Fame member. Let’s dive right in. ...

Canada go nuts!  UFC 100 was a milestone in the history of MMA, for sure.  However, UFC 129 in Toronto may just be the calling card, must-see event that shoves this sport over the mountain into the mainstream. ESPN2 is now airing the UFC Primetime special, which should be noticed as a big step, Just a few short years ago, the house run by Mickey Mouse up I-84 in Bristol, CT was afraid to touch the sport, due to the lingering stigma from the 90's.  Now 55,000 screaming fans will pack a massive stadium to watch some of the greatest athletes in the world compete.  It will be interesting to see, not only who wins, but how the media at large covers this event and the penetration UFC 129 makes on a sports weekend heavy in NBA and NHL playoffs. What do the fighters think about the biggest night of their professional life ... just seven days away? From GSP to Randy Couture to Jose Aldo to Pablo Garza - here are some fighter comments from the UFC press conference earlier this week. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to another entry into my series “What If He Wins?” There’s no set timetable for a new “WIHW?”, I just like to do them when there’s a really big fight coming up that I’ve taken a special interest in. And I’m very, very interested in the upcoming fight that pits Lyoto Machida against Randy Couture. I’m a huge, huge fan of both men, but I think Machida will win this bout. But here’s the thing: when has Randy Couture not done the impossible? Simply competing at his level at his age is considered impossible by many. So with that said, here’s what I think will happen if “Captain America” shocks us all one last time and beats Lyoto Machida. ...

Hello again fans and friends and welcome back to my latest two-part entry into my “5 Reasons Why” series of articles. Today I’m focusing on the UFC 129 mega-match between Randy Couture and Lyoto Machida. For five reasons why Couture could beat Machida, please click here. Now here’s the opposite: these are five reasons why Lyoto Machida could beat Randy Couture. ...

After a hectic March where it felt like a good show was on each and every single week, even sometimes twice in one day, the UFC seems to be sitting out much of April. Fight fans will have to wait until the very end of the month before they get a chance to see UFC 129, but thankfully it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest cards of the year. And today’s entry into my “5 Reasons Why” series focuses on one of the high-profile match-ups for that card: MMA legend and UFC Hall of Fame Member Randy Couture taking on Lyoto Machida. Let’s begin with the five reasons why Couture could beat Machida, with the reverse soon to follow. ...

It’s that time again, fans and friends. A new month is upon us, which means all-new fights and much-anticipated epic encounters. Near the start of every month I’ll be counting down the five fights I’m looking forward to the most, and why I’m looking forward to them. This is “Top 5 Most Anticipated Fights of April 2011”. Let’s get started. ...

You know they’re coming. I know they’re coming. Perhaps they’ve been here all along, or maybe they’ve been spying on us for decades. They could want our water, or it could be their one weakness. They could come in peace, or they could just as easily come to kill us all. Aliens, my friends. The truth is out there, but the real question is: what do we do with that knowledge? In order to prepare us all for the inevitable, here are the top five fighters I believe could survive an alien apocalypse. ...

Everyone has been talking about it: Strikeforce is now a Zuffa-owned company. It’s become apparent that the upstart promotion will continue to operate as its own entity for at least the next two years or so, but after that it’s anyone’s guess. So of course, many are hoping that there comes a day where the UFC’s best meets Strikeforce’s best. I too can’t wait for that day, so here’s a little something we’ve all been discussing lately: my top 5 Strikeforce vs. UFC matches. Let’s get to it. ...

Without an ounce of hyperbole, ufc 129 is shaping up to be one of the biggest and most important events in UFC history. How else do you describe a fight card held inside a stadium with somewhere in the neighborhood of 40,000 seats available? The UFC’s debut in Toronto is quickly shaping up to be the can’t-miss event of the year, and recently the UFC confirmed several bouts, locking in the card and bringing the total confirmed fight count to twelve. Here are all the details. ...

By John Moody Dana White took time recently to speak with Fighters.com and hit on some of the biggest topics in MMA. White reacts to the coming Strikeforce Heavyweight tournament, Randy Couture's pending return to the cage, and how Brock Lesnar will fare as a coach on the Ultimate Fighter reality show.  Good stuff from the boss, and he too thought Frankie Edgar was going to lose when he was rocked early in the first round against Gray Maynard. Click through to watch the video. ...

I’m one of the many Randy Couture fans that would like to see “The Natural” compete a few more times before finally calling it a career, and it appears as if I’ll finally get my wish. After months of rumors revolving around Couture’s impending retirement, the general consensus seemed to be that “Captain America” was semi-retired and would only come out to play against major-level opponents. Recently, it appears as if the UFC made Couture an offer he couldn’t refuse, and it now looks like Couture will tangle with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida in one of the premiere bouts of UFC 129 in Toronto, emanating from the massive Rogers Centre. Here are all the details. ...

While Mauricio Rua has recently recovered from his third knee surgery, he's already chomping at the bit to get back inside the octagon. The Brazilian striker was last seen in action this past May when he claimed the UFC light heavyweight title from rival and fellow countryman Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Rua was able to knockout the then undefeated 205-pound star with an overhand right followed up by an aggressive ground-and-pound attack. With the victory, Mauricio also claimed "Knockout of the Night" for his efforts. For all his accolades, a former PRIDE and UFC champion, at 29-years-old and at the pinnacle of his career, there are still a few things that the Chute Boxe protege wishes to accomplish. One of those goals, fight Randy Couture. ...

Randy Couture's place in the mixed martial arts world is already cemented. A 5-time UFC champion, garnering three-titles in the heavyweight class as well as an additional two as a light heavyweight, Couture is in a point of his career now where his future as a professional fighter is becoming more bleak by each passing day. Randy is often regarded not only as one of the sports most popular stars, he has transcended the mold of "fighter" as is widely recognized as the sports true living legend. At 47-years-old and several movies in the can, it looks like "The Natural" may be making the turning point in his career from fighter to full blown actor. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to Part 2 of “The Top Ten ufc Pay-Per-View Draws of All-Time and What They Say About Our Sport. Part 1 is available right here, and today’s edition sees me break down spots five through ten. In a list filled with stars and fantastic fighters, what do the individual athletes say about the state of MMA? Here’s my take on the matter. ...

It looks as if fans will have to wait even longer to see the return of strikeforce hot prospect Ryan Couture. The son of MMA legend and multiple-time multiple-division champion Randy Couture, Ryan debuted earlier this year in dominating fashion, scoring a Triangle Choke submission before the second minute of his “Strikeforce Challengers 10” fight. Couture was expected to compete in November’s “Strikeforce Challengers 12” card against Juan Zapata, but according to a Strikeforce press release, a staph infection has forced Couture to pull out of the bout. ...

Couture has long vouched for a fight with "The Last Emperor". In October of 2007, serving as then heavyweight champion, Couture attempted to resign from the UFC in order to set up a fight with Fedor Emelianenko (since the organization failed to acquire Fedor into the UFC after the demise of the PRIDE promotion, which the UFC had purchased in 2006 and were able to maintain many of their fighters under contract with them),whom at the time was under the now defunct Affliction banner. However, after several months of back and forth litigation between the UFC and Couture, he ultimately returned to the worlds largest organization, though to some degree still wanted a fight with Emelianenko, but conceded that it just wasn't in the cards and never gave too much thought into it again, until now. ...

Randy Couture has done just about everything one would hope to accomplish in the world of mixed martial arts. He's fought on some of the biggest stages, competed against some of the best fighters in the world, claimed titles, and was dominant in two different weight classes. And while their still exists some desire to compete, Couture has now become one of his own biggest skeptics. How long can he keep it up? Even Randy is beginning to wonder. ...

Brock Lesnar - the kid from Webster, South Dakota became a beast of a man that torched his way through the Division-1 wrestling world, cashed in with Vince McMahon and the WWE, took a stab at being a Viking in the NFL before calling up Dana White, getting his shot at MMA, and quickly snatching the UFC Heavyweight belt from the sports greatest legend in Randy Couture. For any of you living in a cave in Tora Bora the past three years, that is a quick snapshot of who Brock Lesnar is, how he arrived to be the biggest name in MMA and why he will sell out the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA this Saturday when he defends his title against Cain Velasquez. ...

UFC Hall of Famer, and five time champion, Randy Couture's illustrious career in mixed martial arts is already well in place. Nobody has come close to achieving what "The Natural" has in his tenure in the UFC. Winning titles on two different weight class; two-time light heavyweight champion and a three-time heavyweight champion, Couture's legacy is well documented, and his status as legend is concrete. So on the heels of a three-fight win streak, and possibly a win or two away from another title shot in the light heavyweight division, you would think his focus would remain primarily on the MMA game, because after all, the guy is 47-years-young. ...