Bellator's heavyweight tournament has been trimming away the fat of the group thus far, leaving us with the prime rib, the final four of the 8-man tournament. While "The Goliath" Neil Grove was already impressive in his debut, when he dispatched of UFC veteran Eddie Sanchez inside of the first round in their bout at Bellator 24, some new challengers have emerged from Bellator 25, which was held just last night, on August 19. ...

While many may remember Neil Grove from his UFC debut at UFC 95, losing by way submission to the unheralded Mike Ciesnolevicz, a now UFC washout, "The Goliath" erased the memory, and in impressive fashion. While Sanchez had been establishing himself as an early contender, to become Bellator's first heavyweight champion with 2 finishes in 2 appearances inside the Bellator cage, Neil squashed any hope for "The Manic Hispanic". ...

The UFC's Fight for the Troops delivered excitement and thrills to MMA fans and military personnel alike Wednesday night at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville. In preliminary results, Justin McCully (9-4-2) defeated "Manic Hispanic" Eddie Sanchez (8-3) via unanimous decision. In welterweight action, Dale Hartt (5-1) defeated Corey Hill (2-2) via TKO (doctor stoppage due to leg injury) at 0:20 of the second round in what appeared to have been a potential broken leg after Hartt checked a leg kick. Naval officer, "Hollywood" Steve Bruno (10-4) defeated Johnny Rees (10-2) via submission (rear naked choke) at the 3:44 mark of round two. Following the fight, Bruno thanked the enthusiastic crowd largely composed of Army personnel for saving his life following a helicopter crash in Iraq. Former Ultimate Fighter Luigi Fioravanti (14-4) defeated Brodie Farber (12-5) via unanimous decision. ...

The rest of the UFC Fight for the Troops fight card, happening 10 December in Fayetteville, NC, has been revealed by USA Today.  The event will be headlined by Fighters.com’s fourth- and ninth-ranked welterweights Josh Koscheck (11-2) and Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2). The remaining bouts are: Luigi Fioravanti (13-4) v Brodie Farber (13-4) Dale Hartt (5-1) v Corey Hill (2-1) “Berserk” Ben Saunders (6-0-2) v Brandon Wolff (7-2) Timothy Credeur (10-2) v Nate Loughran (9-0) “Hater Hurter” Johnny Rees (10-1) v Steve Bruno (11-4) Justin McCully (8-4-2) v Eddie Sanchez (8-2) Five fighters on the card have served in the military.  Fioravanti was a Marine, Hartt, Credeur, and Bruno served in the Navy, and Wolff was a Navy SEAL. Missing from the card is a previously announced match between former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion “All American” Brian Stann (6-1) and current champ Steve Cantwell (6-1).  Stann, a former Marine, has reportedly sustained a foot injury in training and was forced to withdraw from the event. ...

Watching Fighters.com's fifth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes(42-7) TKO'd at 1:02 of the second round by younger, stronger, faster, and more complete (currently) sixth-ranked "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (15-3) last night at UFC 85 in London, I couldn't help but recall the country boy whoopin' Hughes put on the original Ultimate Fighter Royce Gracie (14-3-3) two-years ago. Hughes stalked Alves for a takedown at the first bell, settling for bottom position by pulling guard, but never finding the submission opportunity he thought he could force. Again, Hughes took the Brazilian to the mat mid-way through the first and smothered the kickboxer; but, Alves utilized butterfly guard to neutralize Hughes's offense. The only damage done on the mat in round one was after the confident "Pitbull" bulldogged the veteran to the mat and hammered a crevice in Hughes's nose with an elbow strike. Hughes, like Gracie at UFC 60, was impotent. Alves wasn't falling for the tried and true tricks, wasn't physically overwhelmed by the stocky farm boy from rural Illinois, and wasn't intimidated by the future Hall of Famer's legacy. The second round was short; the end poignant. Hughes ducked for the takedown that's served as a sure-shot for ten years; and, Alves flew the distance between him and Hughes, colliding into Hughes's right jaw with his left knee. One punch later and referee Herb Dean waved off the fight, and, officially, the Matt Hughes era. Alves never doubted the outcome, but remained humble while pleading from the Octagon, "Mr. Dana White, I've been a good boy, please give me a title shot!" "He got me, no doubt," Hughes admitted. For Hughes, there remains a grudge match with fourth-ranked "Terror" Matt Serra (9-5), then a lot of prayer and consultation with his family for the proudly Christian husband and father of two. ...

Last February in Vegas, North County Fight Club heavyweight Eddie Sanchez took one for the team. Sanchez looked like a lamb being lead to slaughter entering the Octagon to become Cro Cop's cage debut.  He took an "L" at 4:33 of round one by TKO. He was to become Cro Cop's only cage victim in three starts. Had Sanchez known Cro Cop was...human (as we found out in fights versus Gabriel Gonzaga and Cheick Kongo), he may have done enough to see the final bell, maybe even win. Sanchez may be given a second chance, this time with the vital intel' going in. The rumor among fighters is that Sanchez is getting the call to face Brock Lesnar at UFC 85 in London. Lesnar debuted in the Octagon versus Frank Mir and was quickly submitted via knee bar. Neither Sanchez nor Lesnar has confirmed.  Mum is the consistently official word at the UFC; so, I didn't even ask for official confirmation. Also rumored for the UFC's return to 02 Arena is a welterweight scrap between "The Irish Hand Grenade" Marcus Davis and "Quick" Mike Swick. The fight is tabled and awaiting signatures from the principles. Davis comes off a one-minute knockout of Jess Liaudin in Newcastle, making four stoppages and 11 wins in a row.  Swick's last night's work was a lackluster majority decision debut at 170-pounds versus Josh Burkman. Sokoudjou has confirmed judoka on judoka violence at UFC 84 in Vegas versus Kazuhiro Nakamura. "He's someone I respect," Sokou says.  "It's just business.  Nothing personal." Both return from losses to "The Dragon" Ryoto Machida. "The Hungarian Nightmare" Christian Wellisch says,  "I have not signed a contract for another fight." Wellisch is rumored to welcome hulking wrestler Shane Carwin to the Octagon at UFC 84. ...