The last time the MMA world saw Dan Hardy in the Octagon he was clearly dominated by Georges St. Pierre in an all too pedestrian wrestling match that fell far short of the stand and bang affair the Brit had pined for in the lead up to UFC 111.  Now, seven months removed, Hardy is back at UFC 120 to fight Carlos Condit, armed with a beefed up wrestling and Jiu Jitsu game, yet still eager to slug if given the option. ...

When most fighters are faced with a humbling defeat, most fighters become humble. But Dan Hardy isn’t most fighters. Heading into his UFC 120 bout with Carlos Condit, it’s as if his one-sided loss to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 111 never happened. Hardy still has all the swagger and cocky bravado that has earned him an equal number of fans and cynics. Leading up to this upcoming fight, Hardy has said all manner of negative things towards Condit, a former Welterweight Champion in the WEC before its welterweight division was absorbed into the UFC. Here’s what the controversial Brit had to say most recently in an interview with MMA Weekly. ...

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. ...

Thoughts, reflections, speculation, deductions, and criticism from the UFC fights last night in Austin, Texas. 1. Yes, Rousimar Palhares should know better.  Don’t stop fighting mid-round without referee assistance.  However, I still feel odd about Marquardt’s victory.  He did exactly what he should do and capitalize on his opponent’s mistake, but it just doesn’t feel right that Palhares felt genuinely “wronged,” albeit incorrectly, and consciously stopped fighting.  Marquardt was cleared of greasing and I am not saying he did anything wrong, but, in no way was Marquardt dominating and the fight was up for grabs.  Horrible mistake for Palhares and I don’t feel Marqaurdt is clearly the better fighter since this ended in such a clumsy, odd, bizarre, uncomfortable way.  Hopefully, Palhares gets back to winning ways and we see this fight again some day. ...

Top Canadian welterweight prospect Rory MacDonald, who had a strong showing against former WEC champion Carlos Condit at UFC 115 last June, will meet "The Ultimate Fighter" veteran and former contender Matt Brown at UFC 123. ...

In some fights, with some fighters, there is a moment, a turning point, which fans love, Dana White loves, but coaches and trainers hate.  It is a point, where the game plan goes bye-bye.  The best laid ideas to use foot movement and the jab, to methodically work for take downs, to breakdown an opponent with leg kicks all goes out the window.  It is at this moment that some fighters revert to their primal instinct to let it all hang out, enter the pocket, swing away, and let the outcome hang on the power of their fists. Did plan A fail?  Has punishment and fatique stripped the fighter of three months of planning in the gym? Whatever the reason, it is in these moments that some of the most exciting fights take place.  For some fighters, this is when their most memorable work takes place.  The fight has become a messy brawl with blood flowing, fans screaming, and the decision in the balance. ...

Welterweight “Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit (23-5) won an exciting split decision over Jake Ellenberger (20-4) by judges' scores of 29-28 twice for Condit and 29-28 once for Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 19 in Oklahoma City Wednesday night. ...

Omaha welterweight Jake Ellenberger (20-4) was drafted by the UFC Wednesday to replace "Lights Out" Chris Lytle (27-17-5) versus "Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit (23-5) at Fight Night 19 in Oklahoma City 16 September, Fighters.com has confirmed.

Ellenberger told Fighters.com, "I'm stoked. It's my time!" He called the former WEC champ Condit a "great opponent."

Ellenberger knocked out Brazilian Top Team’s Marcelo Alfaia (6-5) in 42 seconds at Bellator 11 in Uncasville 12 June.
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WEC Welterweight Champion “Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit (23-4) has joined Arizona Combat Sports, MMA Junkie reported Sunday. Condit will be training with WEC Lightweight Champion “Worm” Jamie Varner (15-3), the UFC’s “Doberman” CB Dollaway (7-1), and TUF 8’s “Darth” Ryan Bader (5-0). Owner Trevor Lally said, "Carlos is a champion at heart.  He spars and trains like a champion, and we think Varner and Condit together will only help each fighter get better.” Condit last fought at WEC 35 in August, successfully defending his belt by TKO’ing “Last Samurai” Hiromitsu Miura (6-5) in round four and extending his win streak to eight. ...

"Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit (23-4) can take his WEC welterweight title defense over Hiromitsu Miura (9-5) in Las Vegas Sunday night one of two ways. At 4:43 of round four, Condit touched - and, maybe that's all too literal of a description - Miura with a knee to the noggin. Miura's body and heart gave in to a brutal back-and-forth battle.  He dove for Condit's ankle, and that was it.  He had nothing left. Several times, Condit could've similarly surrendered on the receiving end of clean punches from the one-time middleweight, but didn't. That's why Condit is a champion and Miura isn't, both tonight and in general. However, before the fight Condit made clear that he didn't feel like Miura should be on the other side of the cage from him. Isn't that always the preface to a brutal back-and-forth battle? ...

Fighters.com was at Body English inside the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas Saturday for the WEC weigh-ins. Everyone made weight, except for WEC lightweight title challenger "Wrecking Ball" Marcus Hicks (8-0), who needed an hour to drop one pound before stepping into the cage across from Champ "Worm" Jamie Varner (14-2). Curiously, WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Brian Stann (6-0) weighed 201 1/2 pounds, causing "Version 2.5" Rory Singer (11-8) to shout from the crowd, "201!  What!?" Stann's opponent, Steve Cantwell (5-1), weighed-in at the 205-pound limit. Refresh Fighters.com tonight for live coverage from The Joint in Las Vegas. ...

Fighters.com caught-up with WEC Welterweight Champion “Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit (22-4) and his long-time coach and manager “TV” Tom Vaughn.

They are preparing for what could be Carlos’s hardest challenger yet versus Japanese welterweight Hiromitsu Miura (9-4) who disposed of Blas Avena (2-2) dramatically last March.

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Fighters.com's fourth-ranked lightweight "Prodigy" BJ Penn (13-4-1), "The Count" Michael Bisping (16-1), “California Kid” Urijah Faber (21-1), and Carlos Condit (22-4) are among the fighters who will travel to Afghanistan this month to visit the members of the U.S. Military stationed there.  The tour, 14-23 June, will cover six military bases. UFC President Dana White said, "We are honored to send UFC and WEC fighters to visit the men and women of the United States Military. We are pleased to be giving back to such a great cause; many of our fighters have served in the military and understand what a great contribution our troops are making overseas.” Among those who have previously visited the military are second-ranked heavyweight "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8), second-ranked middleweight "Ace" Rich Franklin (23-3), "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz (15-6-1), and fifth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes (42-7). Along with sending fighters to visit various bases across the US and overseas, the UFC also staged an event, UFC: Fight Night 7, at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, that was open only to troops. ...

World Extreme Cagefighting announced Wednesday that welterweight champion Carlos Condit (22-4) will defend 3 August versus Japan's Hiromitsu Miura (9-4). Condit has obliterated the 170-pound field since joining the WEC from Pancrase, winning four-straight, all by stoppage, three of the four in the first round. In February, it took Condit just 3:48 to vanquish Brazilian Carlo Prater (22-6-1) in a guillotine choke before Condit's hometown crowd in Albuquerque. Miura has won two straight since losing his WEC debut by UD to Fighters.com's ninth-ranked middleweight "Mayhem" Jason Miller (21-5). In March, Miura knocked out Blas Avena (2-2) at 2:35 of round one. The WEC also officially announced light heavyweight champion "All American" Brian Stann (6-0) will defend his title from Steve Cantwell (5-1) and lightweight champion "Worm" Jamie Varner (14-2) will be challenged by "Wrecking Ball" Marcus Hicks (8-0); but, Fighters.com readers already knew that... ...