Following last nights return to the state of Michigan, 4 fighters were awarded additional bonuses for their efforts. UFC 123 took place in the suburbs of Detroit, at the Palace of Auburn Hills before a stellar crowd. The main event of the evening was billed as a battle between two former light heavyweight champions in Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida. While the 205-pound match up was the main affair, a few men shined a little bit brighter then the rest, and have since been the hot topic of discussion, and deservedly so. ...

What’s next? It’s a subject that is on a lot of people’s minds now that ufc 123: “Rampage vs. Machida” is in the history books. What does the future hold after a great night of fights that saw several interesting stories come and go, with several great fights here and there? If you’ve followed me at all, you’d know that I simply can’t resist getting my two cents in. So here we go again, fans and friends: get ready for the next edition of my “What’s Next” column, where I predict the future for the big winners and losers of UFC 123. Let’s get started. ...

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. ...

It’s easy as 123, fans and friends. UFC 123, that is. “Rampage vs. Machida” is now a thing of the past. It was a night filled with surprises and a not-inconsiderate amount of controversy. In the main event, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson won against fellow former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida in a fight that even “Rampage” himself felt was so incredibly close that it deserves an immediate rematch. In addition to that, the long-standing rivalry between former UFC Welterweight Champions BJ Penn and Matt Hughes came to a dramatic end at UFC 123, with Penn KO'ing Hughes before the half-minute mark. Here are the full results as well as some commentary for UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida”. ...

There were no weighty issues for today's ceremonies, leading into tomorrows pay-per-view event for UFC 123, which takes place at the Palace in Auburn Hills, in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. The nights headliner between former champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida quickly became heated when the two met for the stare down, after both had came in at 205-pounds on the nose. Machida squared off with Jackson with the traditional fist to face motion, which Quinton apparently didn't take kindly, and before it was all said and done, a scuffle was quickly averted when UFC head honcho Dana White interjected between the two strikers. ...

This weekend marks one of the last major UFC shows of the year and of the decade, as the promotion looks to put on UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida” on November 20. The main event sees two former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions clash in an epic showdown with serious title implications, while the co-main event sees two former UFC Welterweight Champions meet for a third and final time. As is customary for any major MMA event, I’m bringing the crystal ball back out and giving my official picks and predictions for all the major fights of UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida”. Let’s get to it. ...

BJ Penn is quite possibly one of the greatest fighters ever to compete in the world of mixed martial arts. But, ironically enough, he's arguably also one of the sports greatest disappointments. A man who is naturally gifted with athletic abilities people could only wish for. It seems like his greatest potential achievements have been squandered away by poor habits and worse decisions. He's promised time and time again that he will reinvent himself, and after back-to-back defeats inside the octagon, Penn's back is against the wall, even if he may not feel like it. ...

Hello again fans and friends and welcome to a new segment I’ll be calling “Crash Course”. “Crash Course” will be a quick synopsis of an upcoming major MMA card a few days before the card is set to air. It’ll contain a quick history on the big matches, why you should care, some other matches to look forward to, positives and negatives of the card as a whole, and a final recommendation on whether or not the show is worth a purchase. And what better way to start out this new series of columns than with UFC 123? Featuring two amazing Light Heavyweight talents mixing it up in the main event, here’s the inaugural “Crash Course”, highlighting UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida”. ...

We’re now closer than ever to the year’s end. All-too-soon it’ll be time to bid a fond farewell to a year that had more shocking surprises and upsets in MMA than any in recent history. But the year is not over yet, and it’s not going quietly. There’s still plenty of awesome MMA to keep you occupied in these long winter months, so here are my Top 5 fights for the remainder of 2010 that you absolutely must watch. ...

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. ...

In a duel between former champions, light heavyweight's Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Lyoto Machida are now officially set to face each other later this month, serving as the headliners for UFC 123. The 11-bout card has been made official by the promotion today, including two-televised Spike TV bouts serving as the lead in for what is shaping up to be a good night of fights. Along with the highly anticipated light heavyweight match up, a pair of former welterweight champion's are set to face one another for a third time in order to put to rest a rivalry that has lasted for over 7 years, when BJ Penn meets UFC Hall of Famer, Matt Hughes in the co-main event of the evening. ...

We’re only a day removed from the shocking news that the UFC and WEC would be merging at the start of 2011, and already both fans and insiders have been tossing around several fantasy match-ups that would see the WEC's best and brightest take on the UFC's biggest stars. So, of course, you know I just had to get in on the fun. Without further ado, here’s my personal Top 5 list of the “WEC vs. UFC” match-ups I’d love to see. ...

Shinya Aoki is probably one of the most reserved fighters in the sport. Although his in-ring antics against Mizuto Hirota at "Dynamite!! 2009" would inidicate otherwise, the grappling ace usually keeps to himself and refrains from doing a lot of outlandish things. Maybe that's why the Japanese have embraced him as their leading man in the world of mixed martial arts. However, most recently, the famed Judoka has stepped out of his shell and lit the MMA world abuzz once again, with his almost brutal honesty, on how he views the Western MMA scene (um...us) and how they can benefit by tuning into DREAM, once in a while. ...

The ultra-successful "ufc Prelims" special, which has served as a lead in to the Pay-Per View portion of UFC bouts, will be returning on Nov. 20, when the organization visits Auburn Hills, Mich. for UFC 123. Headlining the nights festivities will be former light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida in a non-title bout, with a trilogy between former welterweight champions Matt Hughes and BJ Penn being completed that night, serving as the co-main event of the evening. Prior to these bouts, a pair of middleweights and 170-pound fighters will be in action as part of the Spike TV special, which will have the potential to reach 96.1 million people at home in these United States. ...

ufc 123, which takes place at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan, will be host to a great night of fights. While your still wiping away the crust from your eyes after watching UFC 119, try to have something to look forward to. While there are no titles on the line come November, what we do have is an exciting and dynamic night of fights. The UFC just made official today the fight card, which will include a headlining bout pitting former light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson versus Lyoto Machida, in a contenders bout. ...

If nothing else can be said about former two-division UFC champion “The Prodigy” BJ Penn, it’s that he knows how to take a tough loss in stride. At UFC 118, Penn was faced with perhaps the most humbling loss in his entire career, a five-round thrashing given by big underdog Frank Edgar. A former title holder in both the UFC’s welterweight and lightweight divisions, Penn is hoping for another career rebirth when he jumps back up to 170 to face long-time rival Matt Hughes for the third time at the upcoming UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida” event. And according to Penn , time heals all wounds and he feels no animosity towards the man he once hated. Read all about it here. Here's my response, and why I think this is the absolute best frame of mind for him to have. ...

BJ Penn has been the most frustrating fighter above all others in the UFC. Limitless potential, incredible skill, and the Hawaiian still hasn't figured out the right recipe in order to become a dominant champion. His prowess is obvious, as he still remains a prodigy before his time, earning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt within just a few years into the game, winning tournaments, transitioning into mixed martial arts and holding both titles in the lightweight and welterweight divisions, BJ Penn will be remembered for some time. However, after succumbing to his second consecutive loss to current lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, in an uninspired performance which saw the former champion drop a land slide of a decision to the New Jersey native, BJ Penn should have the right motivation when he steps into the cage in November to face rival Matt Hughes. ...

It was one of four possible outcomes when the ufc’s Lightweight division recently figured itself out, and for many it seemed the most unlikely. But it’s going to happen, and now we know exactly when it’s all going to go down. According to a report by MMAFighting.com, Frank Edgar will defend his UFC Lightweight Championship against Gray Maynard at UFC 125 on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2011. And while some have been decrying this match from the moment it first became set in stone, I have to say that I’m honestly looking forward to it. ...

Heading into his upcoming UFC 123 bout with BJ Penn, Matt Hughes finds himself in a very interesting position: a big win over Penn would likely grant him a title shot, or at the very least a contender eliminator fight. And judging on how Penn has performed recently, it’s very possible that Hughes could come out the winner in the trilogy fight. The former long-reigning UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC Hall of Fame member spoke to the Montreal Gazette recently and clued us in on where he’s at mentally. ...

With his recent submission victory over Ricardo Almeida, Matt Hughes has now put himself back up there with the lower tier of welterweight championship contenders.  No, he hasn't earned the top status that Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch have yet in vying for Georges St. Pierre's title; but he's certainly become relevant again.   BJ Penn was considered the greatest lightweight fighter in the world just six months ago, but with two consecutive losses to Frankie Edgar, he now finds himself in a similar situation to Hughes.  In other words, both fighters need a win at ufc 123 if they want to become truly worthy of a shot at a belt anytime in the future.  That said, their third fight at UFC 123 won't be about today.  Rather, it will be about yesteryear.  It's a fight for longtime MMA fans. ...

The UFC made official today, after putting out its exclusive press release today, that UFC 123 is officially coming to Detroit on November 20th. The event is set to take place in Auburn Hills (a suburb of Detroit) at the Palace in Auburn Hills, and will feature one of the more stacked cards of the year. ...

After a prolonged period of restless uncertainty, the future is now set for famed ufc fighter BJ Penn. Widely regarded as the best Lightweight Mixed Martial Artist of all time, “Baby Jay” has hit some tough times recently, and although a November return was seemingly confirmed, an opponent was still very much unknown. No longer. It’s recently been confirmed by MMAFighting that BJ Penn will meet arch-rival Matt Hughes at UFC 123, which is scheduled to take place November 20 in Detroit, Michigan. It is widely believed that the fight will be the co-main event of a show headlined by a Light Heavyweight showdown between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions Lyoto Machida and Quinton Jackson. ...

While BJ Penn is riding a two fight losing streak to current champion Frankie Edgar in his last two outings, he's not beating himself up over it. In fact, the manic Hawaiian is itching to get back in the octagon, much sooner than later. In a video uploaded on BJPenn.com, the former lightweight kingpin has stated that a short conversation with UFC President Dana White has predetermined his next move and when we can expect the legend to return. ...

As a fan of Kenny Florian, it really hurt when I realized that Dana White was completely right when he said in a post-ufc 118 interview that Kenny Florian chokes in big fights. Florian has had two unsuccessful attempts at gaining the UFC Lightweight Championship, and most recently, failed against Gray Maynard in a fight to determine the next #1 contender. Many are wondering what’s next for “KenFlo”, and few seem optimistic about his future. But according to Florian himself, it’s going to take a lot more than a few losses to stop him from reaching his goal of UFC Lightweight supremacy. ...

It’s become the subject of some pretty intense debate lately: when does a fighter deserve an immediate rematch? This debate has been given new life due to a string of immediate rematches: Mauricio Rua vs. Lyoto Machida 2, BJ Penn vs. Frankie Edgar 2, and the seemingly-inevitable Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 2 are the most obvious examples. Some fans have even wondered if some UFC fighters had “automatic rematch” clauses in their contracts. UFC President Dana White recently revealed that there are no automatic rematches in the UFC, and that every rematch is decided on a case-by-case basis. ...

The former ufc welterweight and lightweight champion, BJ Penn, has seen better days. When he claimed the 170-pound title from then pound-for-pound great Matt Hughes, it was the pinnacle of his career at that point. After an disappointing run in the UFC's 155 pound division, Penn moved to the welterweight division and immediately challenged Hughes for the title. Little gave Penn a chance to win, but win he did. He submitted the grappling ace with a rear-naked choke inside of the first round and claimed immediate celebrity amongst his peers in the MMA community. The glory days weren't all that long ago. After moving back down to 155, "The Prodigy" claimed the ever elusive title at UFC 80 against perennial contender Joe Stevenson, before going on to defend the title against the likes of Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, and Diego Sanchez (respectively). Then, he met Frankie Edgar. ...

Lately it seems that ufc Lightweight Gray Maynard has had a noticeable (and some would say rightly justified) chip on his shoulder. Maynard was passed over in favor of the man he beat, Frank Edgar, for a shot at then-champion BJ Penn. Of course, Edgar would go on to make the most out of that opportunity and beat Penn not once but twice, first at UFC 112 via a close, hotly contested Unanimous Decision win, and then again at the recent UFC 118 event via a dominating Unanimous Decision win. Maynard has also been the subject of recent criticism for not finishing any of his fights, with his last stoppage occurring almost three full years ago. But in his latest interview, Gray Maynard has fired back and poised an interesting question: who really finishes fights at Lightweight anyway? ...

With the titles changing hands in several of the UFC's more prominent and popular divisions, I felt it was necessary to pay close attention to the change of the guard that is looming our way. Circa the Chuck Liddell era, the light heavyweight title always had a steady stream of challengers, but none who were able to match "The Iceman" on the feet or find the way to take him down. Then came Quinton Jackson...then Forrest for Quinton...then Rashad for Forrest, and so on and so on. ...

It’s hard to be a fan of BJ Penn nowadays. It amazes me that a man so many people, including myself, consider the best Lightweight Mixed Martial Artist ever is 2-3 in his last five fights. What’s worse, there’s no more excuses for Penn’s seemingly declining ability. Against Georges St. Pierre, Penn was faced with a large opponent that is also frequently in the middle of the “best of all time” argument, and of course, there was the whole “greasing” controversy. Against Frank Edgar at UFC 112, the fight was so close that many in Penn’s corner cried foul and fluke. But UFC 118 had no controversy: a natural Lightweight dominated BJ Penn for five straight rounds. So naturally, everyone is wondering: where does BJ Penn go from here? Here are my thoughts on the entire situation. ...

Well, that sure was surprising wasn’t it? UFC 118 was filled with awesome fights, big winners, and big losers. From Nate Diaz choking out Marcus Davis to James Toney getting choked out by Randy Couture, UFC 118 lived up to just about all of its potential. Looking forward, here’s what I think is next for some of the big winners, and even some of the big losers, of UFC 118: “Edgar vs. Penn 2”. ...