Adrenaline MMA V scheduled for March 20 in Youngstown and featuring a main event between former UFC heavyweight champion “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (25-6) and Branden Lee Hinkle (14-10) has been rescheduled to April in Findlay, Ohio, according to MMA Junkie. ...

A matchup between former UFC heavyweight champion “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (25-6) and SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 10 contestant “Whole Show’ Wes Sims (22-14-1) at Adrenaline MMA V in Youngstown March 20 has apparently been kaybashed by Ohio Athletic Commission executive director Bernie Profato, according to MMA Junkie. ...

Fighters.com and MMA Gospel Radio are proud to announce a partnership that'll bring you more of the best mixed martial arts content. ...

Both former UFC heavyweight champion “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (25-6) and UFC light heavyweight “Assassin” Houston Alexander (9-4) halted two-year, three-fight losing streaks with first-round TKOs Friday night in Omaha at Adrenaline MMA 4. ...

Former UFC heavyweight champion “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-6) agreed to an interview with Fighters.com before his fight versus Jason Riley (6-1) at Adrenaline MMA 4 in Omaha Friday...until he peeped my questions. "Chad, I am not going to do this interview," Sylvia graciously responded.  "I don't like how this whole thing is coming accross.  Sorry." Below are the questions that Sylvia refused to answer along with what Fighters.com could dig-up.  You decide if Fighters.com's questions were out of line.  Of course, Fighters.com would prefer to put Sylvia on the record on the issues fans are chattering about.   And, Fighters.com stands by everything written here as told by reliable sources, but sources can only speak from their point of view.   It's unfortunate Sylvia won't tell his story. Fighters.com: Looking back, was the "Merciless" Ray Mercer (1-1) fight a good decision? ...

UFC light heavyweight "Assassin" Houston Alexander (8-4) must beat "Tank" Sherman Pendergarst (11-14) at Adrenaline MMA 4 in Omaha 18 September to remain in the UFC, a source close to the Adrenaline MMA event has confirmed to Fighters.com. Perhaps it goes without saying; but, Fighters.com wanted to verify the stakes for Alexander. "Oh, yeah. If he loses, that's it with the UFC," said Fighters.com's source. Alexander exploded onto the international MMA scene when he TKO'd "Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine (14-6-1) in 48 seconds in Alexander's Octagon debut at UFC 71 in Las Vegas in May 2007, but has been shelved by the UFC since losing his third straight when he tapped in an arm triangle to “Red” Eric Schafer (12-4-2) at UFC Fight Night 15 in Omaha in September 2008. ...

Note: Please refer to Fighters.com's correction of this story.

Former UFC heavyweight champion “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-6) is currently in Boston playing horror film icon Jason Voorhees in the yet-to-be-titled "Friday the 13th" sequel, Fighters.com has confirmed with a source close to the fighter.

On a three-fight losing streak and most recently on the horizontal end of a “Merciless” Ray Mercer (1-0) nine-second knockout at Adrenaline MMA 3 in Birmingham 13 June, Sylvia will get to diggin’ himself out of the deepest trench of his underrated career versus Jason Riley (6-1), at Adrenaline MMA 4 in Omaha 18 September.

Sylvia is one of the actors standing-in as the hockey mask-mugged serial killer in the movie franchise began in 1980 and spanning 12 volumes.

While filming in Boston, Sylvia is training at Sityodtong USA with trainer Mark DellaGrotte, who trains two-time UFC lightweight title challenger "KenFlo" Kenny Florian (11-4), former UFC middleweight challenger "Predator" Patrick Cote (13-5), and The Ultimate Fighter 1 finalist "American Psycho" Stephan Bonnar (11-6).

As reported by Fighters.com 9 August, former UFC heavyweight champion “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-6) and current UFC 205er "Assassin” Houston Alexander (8-4) will co-headline Adrenaline MMA 4 in Omaha 18 September in separate fights, Adrenaline MMA CEO Monte Cox announced Saturday.

On a three-fight losing streak and most recently on the horizontal end of a "Merciless" Ray Mercer (1-0) nine-second knockout at Adrenaline MMA 3 in Birmingham 13 June, Sylvia will get to diggin' himself out of the deepest trench of his underrated career versus Jason Riley (6-1).

Riley knocked out Justin Black (2-2) for the heavyweight title at Caged Vengence 4 in Columbus 3 April.
...

UFC light heayvweight "Assassin" Houston Alexander (8-4), former UFC heavyweight champ "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-6), and prolific light heavyweight "Gumby" Jeremy Horn (81-19-5) are all rumored to fight on Adrenaline MMA 4 in Omaha 18 September. According to NWI.com, Omaha's Alexander is still under contract with the UFC, but will be allowed to fight for Andrenaline MMA after losing three straight by stoppage in the Octagon, most recently tapping in an arm triangle to "Red" Eric Schafer (13-4-2) at Fight Night 15 in Alexander's hometown last September. Fighters.com could not confirm the appearances of Alexander, Sylvia, or Horn with Adrenaline MMA President Monte Cox. ...

New Jersey State Athletic Control Board Counsel Nick Lembo has called on mixed martial arts fans to submit their comments to the Association of Boxing Commissions Professional and Amateur MMA Rules Committee by 17 September. "We are interested in any comments," said Lembo.  "All comments will be passed on to the Committee for their consideration." Topics on the Commitee's agenda include: Adding smothering of the nostrils or mouth as a foul (as per the Montreal document). Removing manipulating the clavicle as a foul (as per the Montreal document). Removing heel kicks to the kidney as a foul (as per the Montreal document). Removing the allowance of stomps to the feet by two standing fighters  (as per the Montreal document). ...

Affliction Veep Tom Atencio wants "Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) to fight "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8) at Affliction's October sequel if Couture can get a judicial nod to fight; but, if not, Emelianenko will be matched versus either "Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (26-5) or "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (13-5). If Atencio can make Emelianenko v Couture, Barnett and Arlovski will fight for the right follow-up Couture versus Emelianenko, since Couture has intimated his intention to retire win, lose, or draw versus Emelianenko. However, the more intriguing matchmaking question in the heavyweight division after Saturday night is what to do with "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-5) and "Big" Ben Rothwell (33-6) after their losses. They present two very different matchmaking problems. "Big" Ben should get no rest after his gutsy brawl versus legit heavyweight stud Arlovski. Rothwell took everything Arlovski dished and dished back until the end. Rothwell closed distance despite Arlovski's superior footwork, rolled out of the "Pitbull's" leg locks, and worked Arlovski over from the top position on the mat. As soon as Rothwell is healthy, he should get another challenge just a little less monumental than Arlovski. ...

Golden Boy Promotions PR Director Ramiro Gonzalez told Fighters.com Wednesday that fourth-ranked heavyweight "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (12-5) is not "secured" to dip his toes into the sweet science on the undercard of the Joel Casamayor versus Juan Manuel Marquez interim WBO lightweight title fight 13 September in Las Vegas. "As of now, the only fight secure is Casamayor-Marquez, and I do not have information related to the undecard," Gonzalez told Fighters.com. Arlovski's boxing trainer Freddie Roach agreed Wednesday, "I know he has a future in boxing, of course.  But I don't believe there's anything set out there." ...

Sometimes rivalries are turf wars for hometown bragging rights.  Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le (6-0) versus "Legend" Frank Shamrock (23-9-2) comes to mind. Sometimes there's a culture clash, like between brash Long Islander and Fighters.com's fifth-ranked welterweight "Terror" Matt Serra (9-6) and cocky farm boy seventh-ranked Matt Hughes (42-7). Sometimes styles make fights. Adrenaline MMA has lightweight rivalry in the making that covers home turf and pits cultures and styles. Tatt'ed skater from Chi-town "Bartimus" Bart Palaszewski (29-11) versus clean-cut Illinois country boy Clay French (16-2) is a classic match-up and perfect to determine Adrenaline's first titlist. ...

So thorough was second-ranked UFC Lightweight Champion "Prodigy" B.J. Penn's (13-4-1) domination of fifth-ranked "Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (31-3-1) 24 May in Las Vegas that Penn leaps two spots in Fighters.com's June Lightweight Rankings to place as the top contender to Fighters.com's Lightweight Champion "Tobikan Judan" Shinya Aoki (15-2). Fighters.com never questioned Penn's talent, just his recent body of work at 155-pounds. Though Penn fought unquestionably tougher competition last month, "Tobikan Judan" stole the show in the division by pulling a gogoplata from the mount out of his hat to tap Katsuhiko Nagata (4-3) 15 June in Tokyo. It seems impossible for DREAM's magician from Tokyo and the UFC's warrior from Hilo to settle the cross-Pacific lightweight question; but, UFC President Dana White is desperate to keep Penn's eyes from wandering out of the young UFC 155-pound division. Penn told the post-UFC 84 press conference that, after out-boxing Sherk, it's hard for him to get motivated to fight the winner of seventh-ranked "KenFlo" Kenny Florian (9-3) versus "El Matador" Roger Huerta (20-1-1) to be fought in Minneapolis 9 August. ...

Chicago's "Bartimus" Bart Palaszewski (29-11) snapped a three-fight losing streak with a right high kick that left "Grinder" Jeffrey Cox (9-6) unconcious against the fence at 1:27 of round two Saturday night at Adrenaline MMA in Hoffman Estates, east of Chicago. After a paced and cautious first round for both fighters, "Bartimus" began working kicks in the second, first a solid body shot, then snapping at Cox's leg. During the final flurried exchange, Palaszewski wheeled a wide left hook to Cox's body, backing Cox into range for the right high kick finisher. Palaszewski literally lept out of the cage upon the stoppage "W". In the main event, Michael Russow (10-1) manhandled late replacement for "Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-8),  Jason Guida (17-16), tapping Clay's big brother in a standing neck crank against the fence at 2:13 of round one. "I hope he's OK," Russow related after the stoppage. Hometown hero Rory Markham (14-4) said, "Let's get serious.  That guy just jumped over me!" after "Silent Assassin" Jay Ellis (5-19) launched a flying knee at the opening bell, indeed, flying right over Markham.  "So, I decided I was going to keep it on the ground." Markham pounced on Ellis; but, Ellis swept to Markham's guard, which Markham climbed into a triangle tapout at 57 seconds of round one. ...

Fighters.com was live in Hoffman Estates, east of Chicago, Friday for the Adrenaline MMA weigh-ins. Late main event replacement for "Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-8), former middleweight Jason Guida (17-5) weighed-in at 241.5 pounds, and it didn't look like he found heavyweight girth in the gym (unless "The Gym" is the name of a pizzeria in Little Italy.) Guida's opponent, Chicago police officer Michael Russow (9-1) looked svelte at 243.2 pounds. Middleweights Terry Martin (16-4) and bleached blond Daiju Takase (7-11-1) made their weight class at 185.2 and 185.8 pounds repectively. IFL veteran Rory Markham's (13-4) opponent, Jay Ellis (5-18), will give up nearly twenty pounds to Markham in their 180-pound catch weight match-up.  Markham weighed 180.1 pounds and Ellis weighed 161.6 pounds. Fighters.com's third-ranked heavyweight "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) attended with his girlfriend, who didn't weigh-in but stood about 5'1" next to 6'7" Sylvia, and chided "Meat Truck" Kerry Schall (21-9), shouting, "Meat Trick!" as Schall weighed in. ...

"Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-8) was replaced in Adrenaline MMA's 14 June main event by Jason Guida (17-15) Wednesday due to a broken hand sustained 18 May versus Fighters.com's fifth-ranked heavyweight "Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (22-5). Guida, older brother of UFC lightweight "Carpenter" Clay Guida (23-9), will fight Michael Russow (9-1) in Chicago. "Say what you will about Guida, but when you need somebody to jump in on short notice and fight anybody...he's the guy," said Adrenaline CEO Monte Cox. Fighters.com foreshadowed the eventuality of Monson's injury in a May interview: Fighters.com: Aren’t the odds pretty high that at least one of these [three] fights [in six weeks] will be canceled?  I mean, even assuming you win them all, the likelihood of sustaining a cut or other injury that doesn’t heal between fights is high, isn’t it? Monson: If I fight to my potential, I should be alright.  To be honest, the training is harder than the fights; so, if I make it to the fight date OK, I like my chances. Check Fighters.com Saturday night for live Adrenaline MMA updates from the Sears Center. ...

In boxing rankings, champions have mandatory defenses versus the number one challenger and voluntary defenses versus a top-fifteen challenger. Through no fault of his own of course, Fighters.com's Heavyweight Champion "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) won't meet either threshold when he defends his UFC title versus Frank Mir (11-3). So, what's Fighters.com to do?  Second-ranked "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8) admitted this week to Canada's Globe and Mail, "I'm also OK with the idea that [I may not fight again].  I may get a bad [court] ruling and I can't really see myself at this point going back and fighting two more times for the UFC if that's what the state says I have to do." Should 19 July's more competitive match-up between third-ranked "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) and sixth-ranked "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) be for Fighters.com's Heavyweight Championship? Both Sylvia and fourth-ranked "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (12-5) climbed two spots on fifth-ranked "The Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett's (22-5) inability to put away "The Snowman" Jeff Monson in Tokyo last month coupled with Barnett's submission of ninth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) falling off his two-year record. Of course, Arlovski officially announced today that he'll fight top heavyweight prospect Ben Rothwell (29-5) 19 July.  Rothwell steps-in well-hyped from the IFL and Arlovski looks to shake out of his funk. Barnett returns on the same undercard to seek revenge from a 2001 KO loss versus now largely irrelevant "The Rock" Pedro Rizzo (16-7) and Aleksander Emelianenko fights "The Headhunter" Paul Buentello (25-10) in my pick for fight of the night in Anaheim, outside of Los Angeles. This weekend in London, seventh-ranked "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) and returning prospect "The Truth" Brandon Vera (8-1) will battle for the UFC's top contender spot. Eighth-ranked "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring (28-13) will fill-in for injured "Hammer" Mark Coleman (15-9) versus the UFC's version of market-friendly "Kimbo Slice" Kevin Ferguson (3-0), former pro-wrestler Brock Lesnar (1-1), in a fight that shouldn't even be sanctioned, but only a big lug like Herring could find a way to lose. In July, tenth-ranked "Napao" Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) has a lot to prove versus Justin McCully (8-3-2); and, McCully might be thinking the same thing. ...

HDNet Fights announced Tuesday that it will air both 14 June's and 6 September's Adrenaline MMA events. The 14 June event in Chicago will air live at 9:30 PM and is headline by a heavyweight fight between "Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-8) and Michael Russow (9-1). HDNet Fights has previously aired live events from Strikeforce, IFL, DREAM, and other promotions. ...

YAMMA Pit Fighting Heavyweight Champion "Diesel" Travis Wiuff (52-11) will fight on the undercard of Affliction: Banned 19 July in Anaheim, outside of Los Angeles, according to the Rochester Post-Bulletin. No opponent was named. Though there is no official indication, Wiuff may be Plan B for heavyweight prospect Ben Rothwell (29-5), who is also opponent-less as fight day draws near. Negotiations for Rothwell to fight Fighters.com's fifth-ranked heavyweight "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (12-5) remain mysterious. Fighters.com reported Arlovski has always been Rothwell's intended opponent, despite Rothwell's denials. However, recently both Rothwell and his agent, Adrenaline MMA President Monte Cox, have admitted Arlovski is on the table. "Of course [Affliction] talked about Andrei, but I don’t know what his contract status is," Cox told Cage Potato on 12 May.  "[Arlovski] was supposed to be free from his UFC contract on May 1, but I honestly don’t know if it will be Ben and Andrei fighting in that show." Rothwell corrected his denial, "I was trying to clear up that I was not fighting [Arlovski] in September on another [organization] as the original rumor stated.  I tried to never say if I was/was not fighting [Arlvoski]." Arlovski has remained mum on the issue. Wiuff comes off his YAMMA tournament victory in which he won UDs over "Pato" Marcelo Donald Pereira (1-1), "Suave" Ricco Rodriguez (28-9), and Chris Tuchscherer (13-1) on the same night in April. Wiuff is also scheduled for the biggest pay day of his career in Japan, fighting "Ironhead" Kazuyuki Fujita (15-6) at Sengoku III on 8 June. ...

Adrenaline MMA announced Monday that Fighters.com fourth-ranked heavyweight "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) and former IFL Heavyweight Champion Ben Rothwell (29-5) will on the promotion's 6 September fight card at the i wireless Center in Moline, Illinois. No opponents were named for either fighter. "Because Sylvia and Rothwell are fighting in the [July] Affliction event, they will be unavailable for the first Adrenaline MMA event on June 14 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill.  Both are scheduled to compete in the second Adrenaline MMA event on Sept. 6 at the i wireless Center in Moline, Ill.," published Adrenaline MMA at their website. Sylvia will fight sixth-ranked heavyweight "Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) in Anaheim outside of Los Angeles at Affliction's debut card. Rothwell's opponent has not been announced. Fighters.com will be live at Adrenaline MMA's debut card in Chicago in June. ...

Thursday Adrenaline MMA, formed of the American executives from the now defunct M-1 Global promotion, issued it's official fight card for the promotion's Chicago premier 14 June. As reported by Fighters.com, the main event matches grappler "The Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-7) versus wrestler Michael Russow (9-1) in a mat struggle. "The Snowman" will fight Russow just two weeks after taking on Fighters.com's third-ranked heavyweight "Babyface Assasin" Josh Barnett (21-5) at Sengoku II in Tokyo. UFC fighter turned boxer Terry Martin (16-4) will fight Japanese middleweight Daiju Takase (7-11-1) before his hometown crowd. Martin comes off UFC losses to "Crippler" Chris Leben (18-4) and "Beastman" Marvin Eastman (15-7-1), but won his boxing debut 12 April with a knockout of Ricardo Upchurch (0-2 in boxing). Lightweight jiu-jitsu player Alberto Crane (8-2), who lost both of his UFC fights, will bounce back matched against King of the Cage vet Clay French (15-2). IFL lightweight standout "Bartimus" Bart Palaszewski (28-11), who's taken three tough losses consecutively, will rebound in his hometown versus Jeffrey Cox (9-5), who lost his UFC debut to "Pitbull" Manvel Gamburyan (8-2) last month in Denver. Also on the card to be held at the Sears Centre: "The Freak" Tony Fryklund (14-9) v Brian Gassaway (28-17-2) Taiwan Howard (4-1) v Rory Markham (13-3) James Giboo (11-2) v Mark Miller (8-3) "Herc" Antoine Hayes (6-5) v "Meat Truck" Kerry Schall (21-9) Rob Kimmons (20-3) v Hector Urbina (11-4) Aaron Rosa (10-2) v "Killing Fields" Ron Fields (22-25-1) Dom O'Grady (4-0) v Mike Stumpf (9-1) Joe Jordan (39-12-2) v Ryan Williams (5-2) Christian Reynosa (6-2) v John Hosman (7-3-1) ...

"The Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-7) will fight three heavyweights in six weeks beginning 18 May in Tokyo versus Fighters.com's third-ranked heavyweight "Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (21-5), followed by Michael Russow (9-1) 12 June in Chicago, and finally "The Monster" Kevin Randleman (16-12) 24 June in Charlotte. Monson answered a few questions exclusively for Fighters.com. Fighters.com: Most fighters at the highest level of competition don't fight so often.  Do you prefer the type of schedule you've signed-up for? Jeff Monson: It's just when they are scheduled.  I don't particularly like them so close together, but it is good as well because once I am in fight shape for the first one, it's easier to prepare for the following fights. Fighters.com: Will you continue this level of frequency? Jeff Monson: I am in good shape and I want to fight, so I will look at offers and assess each one. Fighters.com: Is this a business decision?  You were offered good money to fight and you can't turn it down? Jeff Monson: Money really didn't come into play.  They are all good organizations and I wanted to fight. Fighters.com: Are there any unique training challenges to having three different opponents so close together? Jeff Monson: Of course.  They are all different fighters and all of them tough fights as well; so, the training is different for each one. Fighters.com: Aren't the odds pretty high that at least one of these fights will be canceled?  I mean, even assuming you win them all, the likelihood of sustaining a cut or other injury that doesn't heal between fights is high, isn't it? Jeff Monson: If I fight to my potential, I should be alright.  To be honest, the training is harder than the fights; so, if I make it to the fight date OK, I like my chances. YAMMA Pit Fighting recently lost a main event in it's debut when "Big Daddy" Gary Goodridge (23-16-1) was knocked out in Seoul two-weeks prior and the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board refused to license him. Monson's 12 June fight is the main event of Adrenaline MMA's debut card, two-and-a-half weeks after Monson's 18 May Sengoku II match-up versus Barnett. Adrenaline MMA VP Brian Patton said, "[Monson] must be a lot tougher than me.  Jeff has taken some licks and seems to be able to recover quickly.  There is always a concern with fights that close together; but, I think we will be OK." ...

Is there any real wonder why the UFC is divesting in the heavyweight division?  It's dead! The only April action was a first round TKO of Silvao Santos (1-1) by tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3).  It might as well have been a Monday morning sparring session. So, why did "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) and "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) sink a spot respectively?  Sylvia's stoppage of "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (12-5) in 2006 fell off their two-year records, which is the time span Fighters.com considers when ranking fighters. The division's future is just as bleak as the recent past. Adrenaline MMA still insists Emelianenko's claim of an official fight with Sylvia in June is false.  To boot, the promotion that promotes Sylvia and rising heavyweight Ben Rothwell (29-5) claims Emelianenko's delinquent repayment of a $500,000 signing bonus left over from the M-1 Global era is also holding up a fight for Rothwell on the same card.  Though Rothwell insists it ain't happenin', he's been rumored to have been matched versus Arlovski. All four fighters and the entire division need those two fights. Unfortunately, third-ranked "Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett's (21-5) rise will be short-lived because his submission of tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) will fall off his two-year record next month.  He's scheduled to grapple with always competitive "The Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-7) at Sengoku this month; but, even the expected "W" can't replace the submission of Emelianenko. The UFC has scheduled a contender match-up between seventh-ranked "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) and "The Truth" Brandon Vera (8-1) for London in June.  A win for Vera will launch him into the division's top ten; a win for "Vai Cavalo" will prove that he belongs. First-ranked "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) is rumored to be mauling a UFC title defense against Frank Mir (11-3).  For the love of God!  Mir is a gentleman, a technician on the mat, and a fine fighter.  He is not the top heavyweight contender in the UFC. So goes a division where “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (2-0) and Brock Lesnar (1-1) make bank at the box office. May Heavyweight Rankings 1. "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) It ain't pretty! Nogueira has turned "blocking punches with your face" into a winning strategy versus top teners Sylvia, Herring, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him Fighters.com's first ranking at heavyweight. 2. "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8) The best strategist in a weight class of brutes returned to solve the 6'8" riddle of Sylvia over five grueling rounds to reclaim UFC's title, then forced Cro Cop-slayer Gonzaga to wish MMA had timeouts in a bloody three-round TKO. 3. "The Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (21-5) "The Babyface Assassin" returned to tap Hidehiko Yoshida and is the last man to beat Noguiera. Even with an involuntary 14-month layoff, he holds submissions over tenth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko and hard-headed Mark Hunt in the last two years. 4. "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) The oft maligned "Maine-iac" has meshed his stature with world-class striking, championship cardio, and a Jeff Monson-tested ground game. His losses are to legends Nogueira and Couture, but he’s failed to lay out ripe KO candidates Arlovski and Monson. 5. "Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski (12-5) “Pitbull” has fought like a poodle since getting neutered by Sylvia in an ‘06 KO loss, but was able to steal a decision from Werdum in the most disappointing fight of ’07.  Perhaps free agency will reignite the once explosive fighter’s fire. 6. "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) Rankings reflect what has happened in fights with a predilection towards the most recent and Emelianenko hasn't fought another top ten heavyweight in 32 months.   He'll take sixth and like it, or take first in a real fight.  It's his decision. 7. "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) "Vai Cavalo" spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, his fourth consecutive top ten matchup, going 2-2 with two stoppage wins.  He’s likely Nogueira’s first UFC title challenge in a rematch that ended in a close decision for Nogueira in PRIDE. 8. "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring (28-13) Herring’s bungle versus Nogueira was beefed-up with a strong decision over Cheick Kongo in March.   Three losses to Nogueira stop-gaps a potential UFC title challenge, but the “Texas Crazy Horse” will valiantly defend the gate to the UFC’s gold. 9. "Napao" Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) After mauling Mirko Filipovic in Manchester, "Napao" risks becoming a footnote in MMA history with consecutive stoppage losses to Couture and Werdum.  The big man has the tools to remain top ten for years to come, but does he have the heart? 10. Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) Fedor's li’l bro’ isn’t lost in the shadow of "The Last Emporer". In the last two years, the man with the coldest stare down in MMA has outclassed his brother in competition, losing only to top ten heavies while TKOing fellow Russian Sergei Kharitonov. ...

He who wishes to fight must first count the cost.  The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War Remember the World Fighting Alliance?  Perhaps not since only a generously estimated 300,000 watched their last event, King of the Streets, on 22 July, 2006. After an aggressive free agent signing campaign that netted the WFA Fighters.com's first-ranked light heavyweight "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-6), third-ranked light heavyweight "The Dragon" Lyoto Machida (12-0), eighth-ranked heavyweight "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring (28-13), tenth-ranked welterweight "Mayhem" Jason Miller (20-5), former WEC Lightweight Champion "Razor" Rob McCullough (15-4), WEC Featherweight Champion "California Kid" Urijah Faber (20-1), and veterans "The Law" Matt Lindland (20-5), "El Guapo" Bas Rutten (28-4-1), and "The Beastman" Marvin Eastman (15-7-1), the Las Vegas-based promotion folded and eventually sold-out to cross town competitor the UFC. Marquee names and great fighters don't equal guaranteed market share.  The 2006 WFA final hurrah sold just 2,300 tickets and an estimated 50,000 PPV buys. Marquee names and great fighters do cost a lot of green. You don't have to be an MBA to realize high costs and low sales don't add up. Hold that thought for a moment.  Switch gears. A lot of MMA fans are confused since the UFC started cutting weight from their fighter roster. Perhaps it started when heavyweight "Cro Cop" Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) was granted release from his contract in February.  In March, third-ranked heavyweight "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia was also granted release. Many of the UFC's unranked, but popular fighters have been released in the last month, perhaps perfectly symbolized by the widely reported release of heavyweight prospect "Irish" Jake O'Brien (10-1).  Yesterday, "The Serial Killer" Travis Lutter (9-5) announced he had been released too, to the dismay of many fans. OK, now hold both thoughts.  Let's review a few facts. Fact: Second-ranked heavyweight "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8) is paid $250,000 per win in base salary by the UFC.  Couture thinks he's so underpaid that he's refused to continue fighting for that salary. Fact: M-1 Global formed to promote fights for fifth-ranked heavyweight "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1), but never produced an event due to Emelianenko's prohibitive purse rendering any event immediately in the red, according to Adrenaline MMA CEO Monte Cox. Fact: EliteXC offered Emelianenko $400,000 per win, which he turned down in favor of an undisclosed deal with Affliction.  (Emelianenko requested $2 million per fight according to ProElite Live Events President Gary Shaw.) According to two of the most popular MMA promotions, somewhere between $250,000 and $400,000 is the market price for a top heavyweight. But, the MMA market is more competitive than it ever has been and promotions are bidding up fighter purses. Emelianenko eventually signed with Affliction for an undisclosed amount before Affliction has staged a single event.  Assume Emelianenko was offered more than $400,000 per win, beating EliteXC's offer. That doesn't necessarily mean Emelianenko's presence on a fight card guarantees he'll make back the purse he'll be paid.  Remember the WFA? Promotions are in a rush to buy market share.  They have deep pockets and see MMA as a good investment. Companies can buy market share, but they'll pay a premium.  They'll overpay for fighters who can't deliver their salary in PPV buys. UFC President Dana White knows the market is more competitive and saturated than ever before and competing promotions are willing to overpay for any fighter they can slap on a poster labeled "former UFC". The UFC can either try to outspend the competition buying-up and holding on to fighters; or, flood the market with fighters and let the competing promotions outbid each other into bankruptcy to feature "former UFC title contender Travis Lutter" at their next event. The forum freaks who're appalled White would release Lutter after two losses know they're not going to shell out $44.95 to watch him gas after one round again. But, Lutter isn't going to bankrupt anyone.  It's the big guys who're the key to White's strategy. It's the thinning UFC heavyweight class that's confusing many fans. White paid "Cro Cop" $1,050,000 to beat Eddie Sanchez (8-1), get mauled by "Napao" Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3), and nearly retire in the cage versus Cheick Kongo (11-4-1).  Can even the most loyal Filipovic fan contend White got his money's worth? White had to drop $200,000 every time tough Sylvia won, but Sylvia is one of the most disliked fighters in MMA.  The UFC couldn't even headline the two-time champion's third title challenge versus "Minotauro" Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) at UFC 81.  MMA rookie Brock Lesnar (1-1) was the main event. Remember too, Emelianenko's North American debut at PRIDE 32 broke no PPV or attendance records. The heavyweight class salaries are irrational based on the revenues heavyweights generate. White is chumming the MMA waters with fighters hoping sharks like Affliction, HDNet Fights, and EliteXC go on a feeding frenzy into bankruptcy like the WFA and BodogFight before them. ...

Apparel-maker-turned-MMA-promoter Affliction announced the label for their 19 July premier event in Dallas Friday night.  Banned. It's a swipe at the UFC's apparent ban of the company's apparel due to Affliction's relationship with UFC heavyweight co-titlist "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8), who is in litigation to tap out of his UFC contract. "The Law" Matt Lindland (20-5) made the announcement on Inside MMA.  Lindland is scheduled to fight in Dallas, though no opponent has been named. Fighters.com's fifth-ranked heavyweight "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelinenko (27-1) confirmed at his websitethat a match-up versus third-ranked "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia will headline the card. However, Adrenaline MMA, Emelianenko's former promoter (then known as M-1 Global), won't release the Russian from his agreement with them until Emelianenko repays a $1.5 million signing bonus. Thursday, Adrenaline MMA VP Brian Patton told Fighters.com, "Fedor [fighting Sylvia] is still not official." Sylvia signed with Adrenaline MMAafter receiving his release from the UFC.  Adrenaline MMA's CEO, Monte Cox, is Sylvia's manager. Patton confirmed Adrenaline MMA's other heavyweight, Ben Rothwell (29-5), will also appear on the card if Emelianenko repays the final $500,000 he owes the promotion. "Rothwell is scheduled to fight in July; but, I would think Fedor's deal would need to come through in order to pull off both fights," Patton explained.  "Big difference only having one of those fights to promote as a promoter versus both fights." ...

Either "The Snowman" Jeff Monson (24-7) fights cheap or has the best manager in MMA. While it seems to take a trained hostage negotiator to get a deal done between "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) and "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1), "The Snowman" has picked up three fights in five weeks. Count'em: 24 June versus "The Monster" Kevin Randleman (16-12) at Godz of War in Charlotte. 12 June versus Michael Russow (9-1) at Adrenaline MMA in Chicago. And, today World Victory Road announced Monson will fight Fighters.com's fourth-ranked heavyweight "The Babyface Assassin" Josh Barnett (21-5) 18 May at Sengoku II in Tokyo. Monson last fought MMA in December, picking up a unanimous decision over Hakim Goram (4-3). ...

Despite "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko's (27-1) official website claim that he has signed a contract to fight Fighters.com's third-ranked heavyweight "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4), the fight is not yet official. Emelianenko, Fighters.com's fifth-ranked heavyweight, must repay the $1.5 million signing bonus to the group that formed M-1 Global in October 2007 before he is officially released from the agreement he made with M-1 Global. That M-1 Global group has since formed Adrenaline MMA.  Andrenaline MMA's Vice-President Brian Patton said today, "[Emelianenko and his management] have only paid part of [the debt] and are not released yet." ...

As cautioned first by Fighters.com, the proposed fight between "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia (24-4) and "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) is indeed NOT signed, despite a report at Sherdog that Emelianenko had confirmed the bout. Today Adrenaline MMA Vice-President Brian Patton said, "Fedor still has to pay his signing bonus back before he can do anything.  At this point that has not happened, so he has not been released from his previous agreement yet.  It is suppose to happen in next couple of days." The $1.5 million signing bonus was paid to Emelianenko for the agreement with M-1 Global which is to dissolve once Emelianenko pays back the money.  The American M-1 Global executives have since formed Adrenaline MMA. Just this hour, MMA Junkie reported that Emelianenko's manager Vadim Finkelstein has confirmed that their is no final agreement. Details have also emerged about the proposed deal between Affliction and Emelianenko. A reliable source confirms that Affliction has offered Emelianenko a three-fight, seven-month deal. A fight between Sylvia and Emelianenko appears likely; however, the Red Devil is in the details.  ProElite Live Events President Gary Shaw has confirmed that Emelianenko is demanding $2 million per fight.  The value of Affliction's offer is unknown. ...

I've corresponded with an executive carry-over to Adrenaline MMA, Vice-President Brian Patton, about the Sylvia steal and his new promotion debuting 14 June in Chicago. Last Friday, former M-1 Global CEO Monte Cox announced he and the American M-1 team would part ways with Global to form Adrenaline MMA.  He also announced he had negotiated "Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia's (24-4) early release from the UFC and signed Fighters.com's third-ranked heavyweight to a non-exclusive contract along with former IFL star heavyweight Ben Rothwell (29-5). Cox manages both Sylvia and Rothwell; and, I asked Patton whether Cox had a conflict of interest acting as both manager negotiating contracts and promoter signing the two top heavies to contracts. "I do not believe there is an ethical [conflict of] interest in anything Monte has done," Patton contended.  "As more information is released, I believe you will come to the same conclusion, but I cannot comment further." Both Sylvia and Rothwell have been ecstatic about their new deals; but, Rothwell at least is aware of the potential conflict, if only because everyone else is wary. Rothwell told CagePotato.com, "What will happen is I’ll probably be represented by someone else now and Monte will be the CEO of this new company, just to avoid the conflict of interest problem that people keep talking about.  I don’t want to deal with that.  As of right now he can be my manager, but that will probably change." Rothwell and Sylvia are both Miletich fighters, training together in Davenport; but, Patton said, "Ben and Tim - they could fight down the road." Sylvia had a fight left on his UFC contract; but, UFC President Dana White was evidently immediately receptive to his two-time champion's release. "I think the UFC received the request well.  It is my understanding the deal was made pretty quickly with the UFC," Patton said. Cox concocted the plan to bring Sylvia into his promotion after M-1 Global's original fighter, "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (27-1), asked for his release from the promotion, which had yet to organize its first event. Patton said, "[Cox] began talking to Tim after the Fedor's request had been processed.  I believe they approached the UFC in just the past two weeks.  I believe it was last Wednesday or Thursday when it was official." Sylvia called out Fighters.com's fifth-ranked heavyweight, Emelianenko, on "Inside MMA" last Friday; and, Patton said, "There have been discussions since [Sylvia signed with Adrenaline MMA] of the possibility of Fedor and Tim fighting. Neither the UFC or M-1 Mixfight replied to my requests for confirmation of Patton's claims. ...