Fans of strikeforce awoke to some shocking news today. It was reported on Strikeforce.com that Fedor Emelianenko would be heading to the ufc following his July 30 encounter with Dan Henderson. Emelianenko’s first opponent? None other than Anderson Silva, with the fight contested possibly at Light Heavyweight or, and this was a shocker, at Middleweight for the UFC Middleweight Championship. And in even bigger news, the winner would face Georges St. Pierre. It sounded too good to be true… and it was. Here are all the details. ...

Now that 2011 is already halfway through, multiple websites and even the UFC have released their fair share of “Best of the Half-Year” awards. I recently got in on the fun as well, but recently an additional thought hit me: there’s a lot of good fights heading our way! So since I’ve already looked back on the best moments of 2011, I think it’d be great to take a look forward at what will probably be some of the defining moments of the rest of the year. So here we go: these are my top five most-anticipated fights for the rest of 2011. ...

Anderson Silva is a controversial man, although he only rarely says controversial things. Most of his cynics focus on his in-fight antics, which at times have bordered and even crossed the line. In terms of his pre-fight and post-fight interviews, though, Silva remains mostly respectful… mostly. Recently, Anderson Silva gave his reaction to Yushin Okami, Silva’s next scheduled opponent, training with Chael Sonnen. Sonnen and Silva had an incredibly bitter rivalry, and in their fight, Silva would win by fifth-round submission after spending five rounds getting pounded on. And as one would expect, Silva’s words to Sonnen were far from pretty. Here are all the details. ...

We’re only five months into the 2011 calendar year, and already the UFC has celebrated several firsts. And in the summer, they’ll celebrate another: their first event in Brazil in over a decade. It’s a long time coming, considering that many of the UFC’s top fighters and most popular athletes all call Brazil home, while Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the cornerstones of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Recently, four fights have been confirmed for “UFC: Rio”, with several other bouts nearing completion. Read on for all the details. ...

Although there’s a small chance that it won’t happen, Nick Diaz will more than likely fight his next fight as a professional boxer. Diaz is doing this for a variety of reasons, but the fact is: he’s doing it. And ever since I took a firm stance on the “boxing vs. MMA” war, I’ve been thinking more and more about professional MMA fighters having at least one fight as a professional boxer. So, here are the five fighters I’d like to see fight as boxers before they retire. ...

It's finally happening. UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will be defending his title for a record setting ninth time as he will be taking on rival Yushin Okami this August. The event in question will take place on August 27, where the organization will revisit Brazil for the first time in a long time as the company will be returning to the infamous city, Rio de Janiero. The main-event of the evening will most likely be the aforementioned title tilt, with Silva, the native Brazilian, undoubtedly being the favorite heading into the title clash. ...

There has been little doubt of the type of fighter that Anderson Silva is. Unarguably, one of the most dominating fighters of all time, he currently sits atop the pound-for-pound thrown, having dispatched if high-level talent since his inception into the UFC in 2006. Rich Franklin, Forrest Griffin, Demian Maia, and Vitor Belfort are just a few of his victims that Silva has added to his résumé, however one name that eludes him is Georges St. Pierre, the reigning UFC welterweight champion. It's a fight that has been long talked about, and it looks like the bout is moving closer and closer into fruition. However, while St. Pierre has been non-committal about the bout, Anderson Silva's camp is all open for it, because they the bout going to their champ's favor, decisively. ...

Although I’ll likely follow Mixed Martial Arts until my days are through, I honestly don’t consider myself much of a sports fan. So I apologize to the proud purveyors of the pigskin if I come off a little uninformed in the paragraphs to follow. But apparently the NFL and its players are under the cloud of a looming lockout, so NFL players could be heading towards a sizable layoff. And one notorious player is looking to make the most out what could be some newly-found free time by challenging the #1 Pound-For-Pound fighter in the world. Apparently, Chad Ochocinco wants to fight Anderson Silva. I only wish I was joking. ...

It’s one of the most-talked about “dream fights” in UFC history, and perhaps in all of MMA history. It would be an epic encounter between two of the most dominant UFC champions ever. Of course, I’m talking about UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre taking on UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. People have been debating this topic and all its many facets for months, and recently, George St. Pierre made some interesting comments about the potential match-up that has caused some cynics to already claim that GSP is afraid of “The Spider”. So what exactly was said? Let’s find out. ...

"UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort" went without a hitch. The preliminary card bought tons of action during Saturday's night of fights, with knockouts, submissions galore, however few fights stood above the rest and in the end those respective matches took home an extra bit of change of their efforts. ...

Anderson Silva is one one of the most humble men you'll meet in person. The people that surround him respect and idolize him, not because he's recognized as an amazing fighter, but because they consider him to be an amazing person. He's very loyal to his team, and his team is just as loyal to him. So when Silva, the UFC middleweight champion, heard that Vitor Belfort had agreed to fight his fellow countryman, Anderson was confused to say the least. The two were good friends and training partners for a long time. Whatever frustration's Silva may have had towards Belfort were quickly extinguished last Saturday when "The Spider" knocked out the Brazilian inside of the first-round in his eighth title defense. The loss for Belfort, was a consequence of his actions, according to Silva. ...

Much-maligned ufc Middleweight fighter Chael Sonnen is back in the news again. And for the first time in a long time, it’s not because of his questionable judgments. This time it’s not steroids, nor an insurance scam, but Sonnen is up to his usual tricks nonetheless. Sonnen is back in the headlines for his recent comments regarding Anderson Silva’s thrilling knockout over Vitor Belfort at UFC 126. Read what Chael had to say after the jump. ...

Everybody says they want a piece of Anderson Silva, but I'd have to imagine after this past Saturday, I'm not so sure if anybody else would want to tangle with "The Spider". At UFC 126, which took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas before a sold-out crowd, Silva successfully defended his title for a record eight-time inside the octagon when he knocked out former training partner and former 205-pound titleholder Vitor Belfort in one of his most impressive finishes in his career. The win helped Silva extend a fourteen-fight win streak which began in April of 2006, and has solidified not only as the best middleweight fighter in the world but arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. So, does Georges St. Pierre or Yushin Okami deserve to challenge this prestigious athlete? ...

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. ...

In regards to who gave the best performance of the night at UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”, there’s really no question. It was a night of fights that ran the gamut, from slightly-boring to awesomely entertaining, from slick submissions to blistering knockouts, and at the end of the night one man proved why he’s one of the best fighters of all time. There’s no contest: Anderson Silva turned in the best performance of the night at UFC 126. Here’s why. ...

UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort” was not without its fair share of interesting moments. True, some of the fights were a bit underwhelming. Maybe the Pay-Per-View event as a whole didn’t live up to all of its potential. But still, the night was filled with surprises and moments of greatness. So let’s take a look at what made it so special, with my latest entry into the “Top 5 Best Moments” series, featuring UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”. ...

It’s that time again, fans and friends. At the close of every major MMA event, most fans have one question on their mind: “what’s next?” And following some of the fantastic performances and shocking surprises that went down at UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”, there’s certainly a lot to think about. Here’s my take on the matter with the latest entry into my “What’s Next” series of articles, featuring all the big stars from UFC 126. Let’s get to it. ...

Another one went into the history books tonight, fans and friends: UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort” is now a thing of the past. Despite a few misses, especially the underwhelming bout between Miguel Torres and Antonio Banuelos, the night was eventful to say the least. Jon Jones earned a surprise title shot shortly after demolishing Ryan Bader, as it was announced that then-current top contender Rashad Evans had blown out his knee. Now Jones will face his date with destiny and challenge for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Mauricio Rua. And in the main event, Anderson Silva busted out a bizarre front kick that nevertheless knocked Vitor Belfort senseless, prolonging the win-streak that has seen “The Spider” never lose, not even once, in his time inside the Octagon. Here are the full results to UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”. ...

UFC 126 has been full of surprises so far. For instance, the line has been blurred between Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin, so much so that the two have become more friends than two competitors that will be ready to punch each other in the face come Saturday night. Demetrious Johnson is a bubbly, fun loving guy and is seriously undersized for the bantamweight class, and his opponent "Kid" Yamamoto has some of the best array of tattoos on a 5'4 Asian fighter that I have ever seen. All of this was proven during the pre-fight rituals, which today culminated in the weigh-ins ceremony before a ruckus Las Vegas crowd, and while both men have insisted there isn't anything personal between the two of them, there appeared to be a whole lot of history behind their stare down/scuffle during today's proceedings which has left me, and I'd imagine most fans, wanting more. ...

Yushin Okami has been the red headed step child of the middleweight division. You know it's there, but something about him makes you cringe. Perhaps it was his not so flashy start into the promotion. His formula worked for a while, takedowns coupled with ground-and-pound attacks, that is until he faced top level competition in the likes of Rich Franklin and Chael Sonnen. Since then, Okami has been able to rattle off three-consecutive wins over the likes of Mark Munoz and perennial contender Nate Marquardt, which cemented Okami as the next immediate contender for the middleweight title, which will be contested tomorrow night when champ Anderson Silva takes on former teammate Vitor Belfort. ...

It’s that time again, fans and friends: I’m going to attempt to debut a new series of articles, and depending on the feedback it gets, it may or may not go the way of the dodo. This new series will be called “Finally Final Thoughts”, and will focus on an upcoming major MMA event the day before it's set to occur. It’s a collection of any and all random, remaining thoughts I have on a big event that wasn’t covered in my various other topics: Picks and Predictions, What If He Wins, 5 Reasons Why, etc. So let’s get this new series started with my final thoughts on UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”. ...

As one of the best cards of the year begin tomorrow night, all fighters stepped on the scales for their respective match-ups for "ufc 126: Silva vs. Belfort" which takes place at the Mandalay Bay and Events Center in Las Vegas. A middleweight title clash pitting the reigning and defending 185-pound kingpin Anderson Silva against former teammate Vitor Belfort has become official, as both fighters stepped on the scales at 185-pounds on the nose. All fighters successfully made weight, all but one. ...

On February 5, 2011, the one and only UFC will hold its highly-anticipated “Silva vs. Belfort” event, featuring an epic showdown between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort, with Silva’s UFC Middleweight Championship on the line. Also, former champions Rich Franklin and Forrest Griffin meet in what should be a hard-hitting fight filled with non-stop action. 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 look forward to UFC 125 “Silva vs. Belfort”. ...

We’re now only a few days away from UFC 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”. In the main event, long-reigning UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva will put his UFC Middleweight Championship on the line against what could be his toughest opponent to date, former UFC champion and heavy-handed striker extraordinaire Vitor Belfort. The co-main event will also be an interesting match-up, as former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin takes on former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin. As is customary, here are my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why) for UFC 126 "Silva vs. Belfort". ...

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 126 “Silva vs. Belfort”. ...

It shouldn't be any surprise, but "UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort" is officially a sellout. UFC officials released the information today, though it was only a matter of time. The pay-per-view event features one of the best assembled cards of the new year, touting five former champions on the all-star card, as well as a much anticipated title defense pitting current champ Anderson Silva as he defends his middleweight title for a record-setting eighth time as he takes on former teammate Vitor Belfort in the evenings headlining bout. ...

Former UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is still on the mend from surgery, however he still manages the time to offer an opinion. "Minotauro" is not only lauded as one of the leading men in the heavyweight division, despite having gone 1-2 in his last three outings inside the octagon, but he is also becoming a great trainer for up and coming talent. Case in point, his Black House team which has produced some of the best fighters in the world, including Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva, two men that Antonio has spent time training in the past. Since then, Belfort has surrounded himself with the Xtreme Couture camp in Las Vegas, while Silva has remained with Antonio. Needless to say, the submission specialist is pulling for his boy Silva in his upcoming title fight. ...

Welcome back fans and friends to the second part of today’s entry into the new series “5 Reasons Why”. Earlier I gave a list of reasons why Anderson Silva could beat Vitor Belfort, and now it's time to examine the reverse of that list. Silva represents a significant threat to former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort,  but Belfort represents a big threat to Anderson Silva's long reign of dominance as well. So here is "5 Reasons Why Vitor Belfort Could Beat Anderson Silva". ...

Hello once more fans and friends, and welcome to the start of another new series. I recently posted a double-article detailing five reasons why Anderson Silva could beat Georges St. Pierre, then a reverse article of five reasons why Georges St. Pierre could beat Anderson Silva. I liked the idea of the article so much that I’ll be turning it into a new series, simply called “5 Reasons Why”. And while I will cover some other fantasy match-ups now and again, the main focus of this series will be dissecting a big, upcoming MMA main event and how its two competitors could conceivably beat each other. And what better way to start it than with one of my favorite fighters facing one of his toughest challenges ever? This is “5 Reasons Why Anderson Silva Could Beat Vitor Belfort”, with the reverse soon to follow. ...

Hello again fans and friends and welcome back to my take on the much-talked-about “dream fight” between UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre. Earlier I gave and elaborated on five reasons why Silva could beat GSP, but as a big fan of both men, I have no problem admitting that the reverse is also very true and quite possible. So let’s take a look at the second part of today’s two-parter, five reasons why Georges St. Pierre could beat Anderson Silva. ...