We head to the one and only Sherdog for official news of Rua’s retirement. Apparently, Rua is only retiring from active MMA competition. He will continue to teach classes, host seminars, and help train aspiring fighters. In his retirement announcement, Rua said that he was proud of all he accomplished but felt that it was the right time to walk away.

Although he never ascended to the same level of his brother Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, the older Rua leaves behind a relatively storied career. Rua began his career as a professional MMA fighter in 2000, and had a notable thirteen-fight run in the legendary PRIDE FC promotion that included a big win over Akira Shoji and some notable wars against Quinton Jackson, Kevin Randleman, Dan Henderson, and more. Rua won his first championship in 2007, TKO’ing Joey Villasenor to become the first EliteXC Middleweight Champion.

Rua leaves professional MMA on the heels of a two-fight losing-streak. Despite the vast potential shown early in his career, Rua also leaves with a very up-and-down record of 20-12-1. Rua would win eight times by (T)KO, but would find himself on the wrong end of a (T)KO seven times. Rua’s best weapon appears to be his submissions, earning ten of them throughout his career while never once being submitted himself. In eight fights that would go to a decision, Rua would win only two. Rua officially retires at just thirty-one years of age.

You can argue with me all you want, fans and friends, but I think Rua’s retirement is a perfect example of the difference between a fighter’s actual age and their “ring age”. Rua is only 31, that’s almost a decade before the dreaded 40, which is generally when people start believing than an MMA fighter should either retire soon or be doomed to go out on a string of defeats. But it’s “ring age” that has caused Rua to call it a career.

What I mean by that is this: Rua has been in so many wars that his body has simply broken down. Every hard-fought battle, every war of attrition, every bruise and bump chipped away at him. First it was small chunks, mostly due to the benefit of youth. But after so many repeated wars, eventually it became evident that Rua’s body had aged prematurely. I apply this to PRIDE fighters all the time, but only because PRIDE gave us so many utterly brutal wars. They were amazing fights, but they definitely took a whole lot out of the fighters that participated in them. This isn’t just a PRIDE issue, though.

No matter where it takes place, a warrior can only fight so many wars until he stops being the famed warrior of old. We see this with people like Chuck Liddell, whose chin took so many brutal shots that eventually its world-famous indestructibility was tested and found wanting over and over again. We see this with people like Mirko Filipovic, who used his legs to his advantage so many times that eventually he sustained several leg and foot-related injuries that permanently weakened the strength of his leg strikes. We can’t ignore this issue for much longer, fans and friends.

Of course, this is all my opinion. But I think that “Ninja” Rua is a perfect example of “ring age” being a much larger factor in a fighter calling it a career than their actual age. And what about you, fans and friends? Agree or disagree?

Here’s what Petruzelli had to say over at UFC.com: “I just want people to recognize me not as “The Kimbo Killer”… I want people to know me as a great mixed martial artist… I want people to know that I’ve been doing this for a long, long time, and it’s still my passion. I’ve been in martial arts since I was six and I want to be known as a great martial artist, someone who made it his career, did big things with it, and helped other people by teaching them and giving them advice.”

Petruzelli isn’t joking when he talks about his experience level, he’s competed in professional MMA fights for over ten years. Petruzelli has nineteen official fights on his record, with twelve of his fourteen wins coming by way of (T)KO. It’s true that he remains winless in the UFC, but the man is by no means untalented.

But here’s some brutal honesty: Petruzelli will never fully emerge out of the shadow of his “Kimbo Killer” moment. I certainly empathize with the man, I can’t even imagine how hard it must be to have your career defined by one quick victory over a flash-in-the-pan that, let’s be honest, never had any business stepping into a cage in the first place. But there’s simply no coming back from something like that.

No matter what Seth Petruzelli does in the future, he’ll always be known as “The Kimbo Killer”. It’s just too notorious of a story. Many fans and insiders consider the “Kimbo Killer” controversy both the biggest and the final nail in EliteXC’s coffin. When people think of the rise and fall of EliteXC, they think of Kimbo Slice vs. Seth Petruzelli.

And in the same vein as my earlier brutal honesty, I must ask the following: is it really so bad to be known as “The Kimbo Killer”? Sure, Petruzelli could be called a literal one-hit wonder, but isn’t five minutes of fame better than no fame at all? Would Seth Petruzelli even be in the UFC right now if he didn’t have the Kimbo Slice KO on his record?

In the end, I think Seth Petruzelli does have a right to complain… but not by much. It must be very hard to know that you’ll be defined by one thing for the rest of your career… but at least you’ll be remembered. If he can’t be famous, at least he’s infamous.

And what about you, fans and friends? Do you see Petruzelli ever getting out of the shadow of the Kimbo Slice KO?

When talking to MMA Weekly, Shields said the following: “[Nate Diaz] is fighting in the UFC too, but we’ll find a way to avoid each other. I know Dana [White] is big on teammates fighting each other, but like I said I can go to [1]85, he can go to [1]55. I look at Nate like he’s my little brother, so I don’t see us fighting. One of us will move over… Fighting against your sparring partners is kind of weird to me. Not that I won’t do it, [it’s] just not something I’m really stoked to do.”

In the past I’ve been very critical of teammates not fighting each other. I’ve said that these holdouts are very detrimental to the sport, since it prevents some big-money high-interest fights that would definitively prove who the best fighters in the world are. I know that it’s a lot to ask to put the business before your friendship, but refusing to fight, no matter what the circumstances surrounding that refusal may be, is detrimental to a fighter’s career. And let’s not forget what the worst-case scenario in this situation is: as more and more notable fighters sign to big-name camps, what we could end up seeing is all the best fighters in the world refusing to fight each other because they train together.

Moving up or down a weight class does seem to be a remedy to the problem, but in reality it’s a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound. Cutting or putting on weight does free an athlete up and allow them to face new competition, but the prevalent problem is still in full effect: they’re still not fighting the best talent in the world. In Jake’s particular case, I would absolutely love to see him take on Nate Diaz. Their styles clash in such a way that we’re nearly guaranteed an amazing performance from both fighters. But unless UFC President Dana White stops with the talk and begins forcing everyone’s hands, that’s a fight that isn’t happening anytime soon despite the fact that both Jake Shields and Nate Diaz are hovering around title contention in the here and now.

To be brutally honest, I think a lot of fighters and even a few members of the press are blowing this thing out of proportion. You’d think this was a Civil War reenactment with all the overblown drama and the refusal to fight a brother on the battlefield. This isn’t a war movie where the hero puts his nearly-dead best friend out of his misery and is haunted by the murder for the rest of his life. This is a sport, and sometimes you have to step on a few toes to truly prove that you’re the best in the world. Try as I might, I’ve got very little sympathy for fighters who refuse to fight their teammates.

And what about you, fans and friends? Where do you stand on this subject, and why?

MMAFighting was the first to report that “Hottie” Holly Holm will be making her MMA debut sometime in 2011. Holm is 26-1-3 as a professional female boxer and hasn’t lost since 2004. Ring Magazine named her “Female Fighter of the Year” for 2005 as well as 2006. Holm is also regarded as the top pound-for-pound female boxer in the world and holds numerous championships across six different weight divisions. Holm normally competes in the welterweight (145 pound, more or less) division.

I know what you’re thinking, I’m thinking it too. If Holm really hits the ground running and gets in a few big wins, we may be looking at the first worthwhile challenger to Cristiane Santos and her Strikeforce Women’s Middleweight (145-pound) Championship since what feels like forever. I don’t know much about her, so I can’t say whether or not this is just a publicity stunt, but I do know that Holm is 28 years old. If this isn’t just a publicity stunt, if she really does want to try to be successful at MMA, she could be a force to be reckoned with given the right time and coaching staff.

I like the fact that women’s MMA has become so popular and established that it’s beginning to attract crossover athletes. By its very nature, a “freakshow fight” is designed to be a quick cash-in on an existent craze in order to make a quick buck at the expense of a little decency. If Holm and her management didn’t think that her career and notability would receive a boost by trading in the ring for a cage, I highly doubt she’d be making this transition.

Overall, I think women’s MMA has only just begun to realize its potential. There are some world-class athletes that stand out as amazing fighters regardless of their sex, but for the most part women’s MMA is very much a still-growing phenomenon. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but women’s MMA has laid an incredible groundwork for the future. As MMA in general and women’s MMA in particular continues to grow and evolve, we can look forward to some amazing competitors and fantastic fights in the next several years. And I’m all-too-proud to support the growth in any way that I can.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think the future holds for women’s Mixed Martial Arts, and what do you think Holly Holm’s chances are in the cage?

The October event in question, which is taking place under the strikeforce banner where Diaz lays claim as the organization’s 170-pound champion, will be headlined by none other than the Cesar Gracie protege as well as rival KJ Noons–the two met before under the now defunct EliteXC banner for the promotions lightweight (160 lbs) title, where Nick came in as the decided favorite over Noons, who was just 1-1 inside EliteXC, at the time.

If it wasn’t more obvious of a promotion being behind their fighter, grooming him for what they percieved to be an easy win to carry him to a title–than nothing was more relevant than when Gary Shaw pitted Noons, a relative newcomer to MMA at the time who was knocked out by Charles Bennett two fights just before he challenged for the lightweight title, against Diaz.

In an upset, Noons was able to drop diaz in the opening round in their November meeting in 2007, and eventually won the bout by doctor stoppage after Diaz accumulated several cuts around his eyes after being tagged repeatedly by the part-time professional boxer.

A lot has changed since then. Diaz has become much more well versed in the striking department, destroying Frank Shamrock with body punches, battering middleweight Scott Smith before submitting him in the third, and knocking out the knockout-artist (and DREAM welterweight champion) Marius Zarmoskis.

Noons as well, has adapted his games and has come leaps and bounds from where he was just a few years ago. After taking some time away from the cage after the collapse of EliteXC, focusing on his boxing career, Noons came back to MMA and made Strikeforce his home, where he has since been able to rack up 3 consecutive victories in 2010 since his leave from MMA, and most recently has scored a knockout victory over UFC veteran Jorge Gurgel–the Brazilian has previously never been knocked out within his entire professional career.

After a heated exchange back in June of 2008, where KJ had successfully defended his title against veteran Yves Edwards in just 48 seconds inside of the first round in front of a hometown crowd in Honolulu, Hawaii–Diaz stormed to the cage to exchange words with Noons after his title bout, calling out the then champion to a rematch, however nothing ever came to fruition after a brawl erupted in the octagon, traded barbs in the media, and the eventual collapse of EliteXC. But now, everything has came back into place.

While Diaz would normally jump at the gun to belittle Noons in every facet possible, mainly consisting of Diaz trademarked ***k you, and a middle finger to the face–however, the Stockton native was nowhere to be found.

In fact, head trainer Cesar Gracie told MMAJunkie.com that those bad emotions that everyone is expecting Diaz to harbor for Noons, are all virtually gone, or at least not personal.

“I don’t think he’s got time for that,” Cesar told MMAJunkie.

“It’s not something that’s bothered him over the years; he’s been really busy fighting (and) doing the things he needs to do.

“He pretty much has bad blood for anybody who steps in the cage with him, though. So that’s just the way it is. It motivates him. It’s not a personal thing; it’s just how they are, the Diaz brothers. In their mindset, they’re going into battle, and they’re not friends with the person they’re fighting.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of Diaz no-showing? Big deal, no deal, who cares? Apparently Nick Diaz doesn’t care all that much either, which may be the mental lapse he needs. Instead of harboring his anger all the time, save it for fight day. Sound off in the comments section below.

Petruzelli announced the fight, which takes place July 3, via his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Seth takes the spot that had been reserved for “Robot” Steve Cantwell (7-3). Cantwell was expected to fight until the Nevada State Athletic Commission pulled him from UFC 108 in January. Since that time they had re-licensed Steve but this fight with UFC newcomer Romero fell apart in the past few weeks.

Petruzelli is not just known for his underdog victory of Kimbo, he made it to the semi-finals of “The Ultimate Fighter” (TUF) season two.

After the show he stepped into the Octagon twice, losing both times before being released. The losses were to “The Hammer” Matt Hamill (7-2) and Wilson Gouveia (12-8) with the last loss coming at UFC Fight Night 9 in 2007.

Since that time he has gone 4-0 with the hopes of getting back into the UFC. Many speculated that we might me see Seth back inside the Octagon after Kimbo’s stint on TUF. The UFC had a chance to put together a rematch that many would have liked to have seen. That did not happen and here we are with Seth about to fight a highly touted Romero.

Romero has signed a four-fight deal with the UFC and recently began training at AMA Fight Club with UFC veterans “The Mongoose” Jim Miller (17-2) and Dan Miller (11-4). Over half of Romero’s wins come via first-round stoppage.

What are your thoughts on Seth being back in the UFC? Should they have brought him back to face Kimbo before cutting him?

“I want to fight Georges St. Pierre,” Diaz told the post-fight press conference in Miami. “If they give me an option, that’s the only fight I’m talking about. I want to fight the best. I want to fight the people that everybody thinks is the best out there.”

Whoa, son.  Slow down.

Fighters.com is as big of a Diaz fan as anyone, but let’s all be honest about who Diaz is and why we love him.  Diaz is a bulldog-tough, talented fighter that loves to mix it up before, during, and after fights.

But, Diaz had a run in the UFC’s welterweight division.  He beat guys like “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (17-5) and Drew Fickett (35-6), but lost to “The Heat” Karo Parisyan (18-5), ninth-ranked lightweight “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (21-3), and tenth-ranked lightweight “Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (33-4-1).  Note that two of those guys have since dropped to lightweight.

But, even more ridiculous is who Diaz said he wouldn’t fight.

“I’d rather fight somebody that’s a little more important than Jay Hieron.[His] fight wasn’t even on the main card, so why am I going to fight him?”

True,  “Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (16-4) fought on the undercard in Miami, primarily due to politics, not popularity or talent.  In fact, Strikeforce had to scramble to stream the fight due to the outrage from MMA fans that Hieron wouldn’t be televised.  But, in that fight Hieron beat “Diesel” Joe Riggs (31-11), a fighter who beat Diaz at  UFC 57.  Why are you going to Hieron, Nick?  Because he just beat a guy you couldn’t beat.  There’s a good reason.

Diaz also said, “Who is [KJ Noons]? He hasn’t fought forever. This guy doesn’t even fight anymore or something or quit, is scared.”

Again, Diaz must’ve taken to many hits to the head or hits off the pipe because I can tell you who KJ Noons (7-2) is.  He’s the guy TKO’d Diaz for the EliteXC 165-pound title in 2007.  The fight was stopped by a doctor due to the damage Diaz took to his face from Noons’s boxing attack.

Diaz is certainly more popular than either Hieron or Noons, but that’s just marketing, not fighting.  And, Diaz has certainly improved since his losses in the UFC, but then prove it in the cage.  Both Hieron or Noons are legit matchups for Diaz.

St. Pierre, however, is not.  I would actually be afraid for Diaz if he fought St. Pierre, because I like Diaz so much.  And, I know there’s no quit in Diaz.  St. Pierre would so outclass Diaz that Diaz’s life would be in danger because he simply wouldn’t quit.  He’d absorb it all until someone threw in the towel or the doctor stopped the fight.

CAMO is run by Jeremy Lappen and JT Steele of the now defunct EliteXC. According to their website, “CAMO is a non-profit corporation dedicated to help foster the growth of the sport of amateur Mixed Martial Arts and to oversee the health, safety and welfare of the athletes that choose to participate in it.” Sadly I do not see them fostering anything, rather I see them hindering the growth of the sport. First off the amateur fighter that usually takes his paycheck straight to the gym in order to pay for the training is now required by law to register with state. This does not seem terribly erroneous until you read what is required to register. Registration costs each fighter $100 and then they are required to pay $125 for a physical and blood work. This is a total of $225 before they are even allowed to fight. Remember, these are fighters that do not get paid to fight and as I stated already they spend most of their money on school or dojo fees.

Maybe this does not seem like a lot of money to you but let’s compare California to Ohio. I picked Ohio because that is where I live and am quite familiar as to what it takes to fight in the state. Currently the Ohio Athletic Commission requires fighters to pay an application licensing fee of $20. This plus a standard physical form must be submitted in order to get licensed in Ohio. Why is it that a non-profit organization needs an amateur fighter to pay $100 just to register? They are essentially making the sport less attractive to young men and women who are thinking about taking part in mixed martial arts in California.

Another issue with CAMO is that they are requiring all fighters to use a rashguard that they recieve upon registering. No fighter will be allowed to fight without wearing the official CAMO rashguard. Once the rashguard wears out they are then required to purchase a new one through CAMO. Along the same lines are the gloves that will be used in the amateur fights. Gloves will be 8 ounce gloves. Most standard glove manufacturers make either 4 or 7 ounce gloves. However there will be no need to hunt down someone making the odd 8 ounce gloves. CAMO will supply all fighters with a pair of CAMO gloves upon registering. Once those gloves wear down, the leather cracks, the padding starts to become compressed, those gloves are now useless and the fighter must then purchase another pair through CAMO at a cost I have not been able to find.

Maybe it is just me but it seems to me like CAMO is in the business of making money rather than being a non-profit that is supposed to oversee the amateur fights in California. Once again I would like to reference Ohio. It is the promoters responsibility to provide all fighters with gloves for each fight that have been approved by the commission. This eliminates the cost to the young and more than likely broke amateur fighter and puts that cost on the promoter.

If I was an amateur fighter I can tell you right now there is no way I would want to fight in California under those stipulations. I would instead look to leave the state to fight in Nevada, Arizona or another more amateur friendly state. This leads me to wonder how many fighters will actually pay up and how many will fight outside the state in order to avoid the fees CAMO is requiring. It could also lead to many fighters skipping the amateur circuit all together and going pro in order to get sponsors and make money off of fights. Is this what we want from a group that is supposed to be advancing the sport in that state? It should be there job to help amateurs get into the sport, stay as safe as possible while competing and help them to move into the pro ranks by way of great experiences in the fight game.

One other thing I would like to mention that I can’t recall seeing in any other states rules for amateur MMA is a rule that bewildered me. Excessive coaching by a second is prohibited. This is directly from the rules and regulations “A second shall not excessively coach a contestant during a round and shall remain seated and silent when so directed by an inspector. Excessive coaching may lead to a point deduction by the referee, ejection from the venue, and/or disciplinary action by CAMO. After reading this I thought that Matt Serra (9-6) would be a bad choice for a coach in California.

CAMO seems to have gotten one thing right anyway. That would be their name. Due to what the fighters must go through, the money it will cost to actually fight in California as an amateur and the odd coaching rule, they are more of a para military organization that a well respected governing body. I am shocked that the California State Athletic Commision actually voted in favor of this. I believe that CAMO will lead to the destruction of amateur MMA in California and it won’t be long before they end up just like their former business, EliteXC.

Evidence revealed both Malec and Eilers had consumed alcohol on the night of the slaying.

Eilers trained with Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf, Iowa fighting for the Ultimate Fighting Championship in late 2004 to win his Octagon debut over “MAK” Mike Kyle (9-6-1) via KO at UFC 49. He later exited the promotion following three losses for a brief run in the WEC. Later in his career, Eilers lost an EliteXC heavyweight title shot to “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (10-1) in July, 2008.

Eilers, born June 28, 1978 was 30 years old at the time of his death.

Direct from Brazil, Davis’s statement is:

“Bottom line is that Antonio did not use Boldenone, and it can be proved.  If there was a commitment to the truth and the will and humility to admit the possibility of an error.  Here are some things that can be proved:

“Antonio was using Novedex.  The GNC store where it was bought is on the corner of the street where American Top Team is located.  Antonio payed with his debit card; so, we should be able to prove he purchased the product.  It is known fact that Novedex can produce a false positive for Boldenone.  I am sure that deeper analysis of Junior’s urine would be revealing.  I am also sure that another urine test with proper witnessing and chain of custody would also be revealing. B oldenone leaves traces in the body for a long time.

“There are numerous ways of getting to the bottom of this and they should be pursued because its a guy’s life and career we are talking about here.  Mr. [Bill] Douglas talks about everyone else honoring their suspension.  Well, maybe everyone else was guilty; but, Antonio is not; and, we will stand by that and face anyone with it, no matter what.

“We are not trying to undermine the authority of the CSAC here.  The repression of forbidden performance enhancing products must be enforced to the extreme; and, we understand and support that whole heartedly. It just can’t be to the point where innocent people get accused along with the guilty.

“We would humbly ask that that the CSAC reopen this and let us prove our case to their satisfaction.  They could ask us to produce the above information and any other details and facts that would prove what we are saying to their satisfaction.  This would be the right thing to do!

“What we can’t do is just sit back and let Antonio be accused and punished for something he did not do.”

Bill Douglas, Staff Analyst at the CSAC, responded to Fighters.com with the following statement:

“CSAC will not engage in a war of words over a matter that our Commission already decided upon.  We will take further action only if necessary and after great deliberation is given to the matter; but, nothing is guaranteed.”

The “war of words” began at Fighters.com 20 November when Davis stated his intention to pursue fights in Japan while Silva is under suspension under the CSAC.  The CSAC warned Davis that the Commission would consider that a violation of Silva’s suspension.

Davis said, “I would like to remind Mr. [Bill] Douglas and the CSAC that this has happened before.  Other fighters have fought overseas under suspension and come back to fight under the same commission without a problem.”

In fact, “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (16-8) was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for nine months following a positive test for anabolic steroids after losing to Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked light heavyweight “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (23-7) at Pride 32 in Las Vegas in October 2006.

While under suspension in Nevada, Belfort fought twice in Cage Rage in the United Kingdom, then returned to be licensed by the CSAC before his bout versus Terry Martin (18-5) at Affliction: Banned in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July.

Fighters.com assumes Belfort was reinstated by the NSAC before the CSAC licensed him.

Thursday morning CSAC Staff Analyst Bill Douglas told Fighters.com that the CSAC would consider Silva fighting in Japan as a violation of Silva’s suspension.

“This all comes back to our certainty of Antonio’s innocence and our ability to prove it or to the Commission’s inability to prove him guilty beyond reasonable doubt,” Davis said, but added, “I do understand the Commission’s position on Antonio fighting in Japan, but sure as Hell dont agree with it.”  If this does turn into reality that is.”

“There has been interest by World Victory Road, but nothing has been decided yet,” Davis told Fighters.com.  “Antonio is a professional fighter and must fight, that’s how he pays his bills.  If he can’t fight in the United States due to the suspension from CSAC, he must consider other alternatives.”

Silva was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission on 26 July for testing positive for the anabolic agent Boldenone after his victory over Justin Eilers (19-7-1) at EliteXC in Stockton, east of San Francisco.

Davis told Fighters.com, “Antonio did not make use of Boldenone or any other banned substance.  We provided evidence to the CSAC to prove it.”

Despite the evidence Silva provided, the CSAC upheld Silva’s one-year suspension with a unanimous 5-0 vote during an appeal 22 October.

“Even though there is reasonable doubt and the CSAC did not meet the burden of proof, they upheld the suspension,” said Davis.

The CSAC stands by its decision and, according to Bill Douglas, Staff Analyst for the California State Athletic Commission, any fight Silva takes in Japan would be considered a violation of his CSAC suspension.  That could have repercussions across the United States.

Douglas told Fighters.com, “If [he fights in Japan], Antonio Silva would be forced to appear in front of the Athletic Commission at a meeting and explain why he did what he did, which was essentially not honor our suspension.  And of course Antonio would be assessed an additional monetary fine.  So, it will make things difficult if he ever decides to fight in the United States again.  A lot more difficult that it had to be.”

Athletic commissions in the United States or anywhere else are not legally obligated to honor Silva’s CSAC suspension.

But, Douglas explained, “Other athletic commissions throughout the United States are going to want to know why he’s on an indefinite suspension.  And, because athletic commissions share information with each other, we will tell those commissions what the suspension is about.”

Silva’s manager, Davis, said, “I would like to think that Antonio being suspended by the CSAC and his fighting in Japan are unrelated subjects.  Antonio is under suspension in California, not Japan.”

But, Douglas and the CSAC disagree:

“We just ask, if someone has had a suspension as an athlete, that it is honored.  Most of the time, the athletes are great about it.  They do honor it.

“We certainly wish [Silva] no ill will.  He will choose to do what he chooses to do.  But, if fighting in Japan is the path he decides to take, then here in this office of the Commission, we will do what we have to do.”

If Silva chooses to fight in Sengoku, he would match-up versus one of their heavyweights.  The division includes seventh-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (19-5), “Snowman” Jeff Monson (24-8), “Diesel” Travis Wiuff (54-12), and others.

Davis said, “I think that Antonio can and should fight the biggest names out there.  Antonio versus Fedor, Barnett, Arlovski, or Lesnar would be great fights.  It is real sad that ProElite folded for they were actively seeking cross promotional fights.  I think that Antonio is definitely top five in world heavyweight division.  I also think that Antonio has everything needed to become number one in the world.  All that is needed is to let him fight.”

FIghters.com: Jorge, your scheduled to fight at UFC 91.  This event is being hyped by the industry insiders as a UFC card with potential to set record pay-per-view sales.  What’s your thoughts on being part of this event?

Jorge Gurgel: To be honest.  It’s a huge honor to be part of the UFC.  Period.  My dream in life has always been to be part of the UFC and fight in the UFC.  As far as the event being the highest pay-per-view event ever, for me it’s just another fight.  You know, there’s so much on the line for fighters now days.  Every performance counts. The next fight is the most important fight every time.   My job is always on the line. I am very focused on my fight and my teammate’s fights: Dustin Hazelett and Kenny Florian.  I am worried about our performances and how the three of us are going to do and then everything else will take care of itself. 

FIghters.com: Your opponent, Aaron Riley, is coming off two straight wins; but, it’s his first fight in the UFC since 2006.  Do you think Riley’s time away from the Octagon plays to your advantage?

Jorge Gurgel: No, I do not.  I think Aaron Riley is a very, very tough opponent.  I think Aaron Riley is a very seasoned fighter.  He has fought Robbie Lawler at 170 pounds.  He has fought Spencer Fisher.  So, Aaron Riley returning to the UFC because he has so much experience makes absolutely no difference in the way he is going to perform.  You know, he’s got almost forty fights.  Wherever Aaron fights it really makes no difference.  It’s not like he is going to have first fight jitters returning to the UFC.  If anything it’s going to make him fight harder and better.

FIghters.com: Several months ago it was revealed within a UFC blog that you wanted to change training routines and start a new camp under Mark DellaGrotte.  Is Mark DellaGrotte part of your training for the upcoming fight at UFC 91?

Jorge Gurgel: Yes, I am here in Boston right now.  I’ve been training here in Boston for a while.  It’s been one of my goals to accomplish.  I have such a good strength and conditioning coach now too.  Kevin Kerns trains me and he also trains Nate Quarry, Kenny Florian, and Kurt Pellegrino.  I’m in good hands, man.

I live here in Boston in the gym right now.  I am living totally Rocky Balboa style. [laughing]  You know, with Mark Dellegrotte, I’ve got great training partners now.  I’ve got Kenny Florian here.  And Kevin goes out of his way to come get me because I don’t have a car here and he trains me three days per week at Studio Sityodtong.  And, I also work with Mark Dellegrotte and the entire Studio Sityodtong team at night.  So, I really feel this is the best camp I’ve ever had.  I am really happy to be here.

FIghters.com: You have been deemed a warrior following the epic fight at UFC 73 against Diego Saraiva (12-18-1) where you won following a broken jaw and, of course, you were later hospitalized due to injuries.  As a professional mixed martial artist, do you believe in the concept of heart carrying a wounded fighter through to victory?

Jorge Gurgel: You know what, I do believe in heart, but if I say it in front of my trainers they will yell at me. Marcus Davis is one of my best friends; and, he and Mark Dellegrotte have been trying to beat it into my head that everyone already knows I have heart.  And, Kenny Florian as well. 

You know, Kenny is in my weight class but he’s also a great friend.  And, he says, “Jorge, nobody questions whether you have heart.  Everybody knows you are one of the toughest guys out there.  You’re tough and you fight with a lot of heart.  Now it’s time for you to show them you can fight smart.” 

It’s my biggest challenge.  I understand my heart and my desire to win.  I understand my will to get out there and trade blow for blow to prove who’s got the biggest heart.  To win fights this way has earned me victories and fans, but it doesn’t carry me or give me longevity in the sport.  Let’s put it this way.  If I had to corner myself, I would have a heart attack. [laughing]  I corner a lot of people properly.  I corner eight or nine UFC fighters.  You’ll see me in people’s corners all the time.  But, if I had to corner Jorge Gurgel, I would probably walk out in the middle of the fight and say, “You, I am done with you.  I am not calling you any more because you are as dumb as it gets.”  [laughing] 

I am a very emotional fighter and I have too much fun and I tend to amend gameplans and then go to slug it out and fight with my heart only.  And, I am really trying to change this and learn from DelleGrotte and Kevin and the entire camp here.  You know, to fight smart and implement a gameplan so I can have longevity in my career.  Everybody knows I have heart and I fight hard; but, now I want to prove to them that I can follow a gameplan, be a coachable fighter and to fight smart. 

FIghters.com: Jorge, you were upset recently by Cole Miller (14-3) of American Top Team at UFC 86.  But you were highly favored going into that fight.  What did you learn from this loss?

Jorge Gurgel: Hey, I really won that fight.  But, I messed up.  I am not sure who it was or which philosopher said it originally, but you know the one who said, “Shit happens?”

The only thing that came out of that fight for me is that I believe shit does happen.  Because I was ahead on the scorecards.  But it took me one split second of losing focus to lose the fight.  I don’t know what happened to me.  I was dominating the fight.  I was 100% confident that I was the best mentally and physically that I’d ever been walking into a fight before.  Many say it was my best performance to date in the UFC. 

But, with fourteen seconds left in the fight, I got caught in a triangle and I never get caught in triangles.  Not even in practice do I get caught in triangles.  It’s just one of those things where people say, “tough break.”  It was all I heard all night from the UFC and the fans: “Tough break man, tough break.  Shit happens, shit happens.” 

I tried to get up and I slipped off of my right foot and made the triangle tighter and I remember thinking the whole time, ‘This is not happening, this is not happening.  I am going to get out of here.  This is not happening.’

But, then the triangle started getting tighter and tighter.  And, my family was there.  You know, it was the first time in my life I have ever become depressed.  I really felt depressed afterward.  It was really hard for me.  The best person to put things in perspective was my stepfather.  He’s a huge fan and it was the first time my parents had ever come to see me fight.  So this made the loss extra hard on me. 

My stepfather walked up to me after the fight, looked me in the eyes, and said, “Jorge, this is the first time in my life I have seen a fighter win and lose a fight in the same fight.”

I couldn’t say anything back for a minute.  I looked down at the ground and then I said, “You’re right Dad, you’re right.  I am sorry.  I don’t know what to say.  You know, I don’t know how that happened.” 

Rich Franklin came up to me and said, “Jorge the whole time until the last second I was saying you were going to get out.  Jorge never gets caught.” 

But, I did get caught.  I simply got caught.  I had one second of losing focus and I got caught in a triangle. More power to Cole Miller; but, up until that moment, I had control of the fight.  I think it doesn’t matter. Shit happens and I am over it now.  I am ready to move on to bigger and tougher challenges and to see how I do.  To see how much better and smarter I have gotten. 

FIghters.com: Speaking of Fighters.com’s second-ranked middleweight “Ace” Rich Franklin (25-3) and being an Ohio resident yourself and one of Rich’s training partners, what did you think of the fight between Franklin and “Hammer” Matt Hamill (4-2) at UFC 88?

Jorge Gurgel: That was great.  I like Matt.  You know, obviously Rich is my best friend.  I am always happy to see Rich perform and Rich win.  For some reason when I talked to Matt’s camp they were very upset that Matt Hamill didn’t perform.  They kept saying, ”Matt Hamill did not fight the Matt Hamill fight.”  But, what can we say?  Matt tried to do his thing; but, it’s very hard against Rich.

People underestimate Rich’s ground game tremendously.  It may be easy to take him down sometimes, but it is very hard to keep him there.  And, Rich keeps them going.  He’s a cardio machine.  He hit Matt Hamill with the right body shot.  Rich was like a robot.  I was very impressed how Matt Hume was calling the shots; and, Rich was very smart hearing everything Matt [Hume] was saying.  Rich implemented a gameplan perfectly, like Matt Hume said, and was able to put Matt Hamill away.  I was very happy.  There is nothing I’ll take away from that fight.  I think Rich fought a very, very good fight and came out with a good victory.

FIghters.com: What’s your assessment of Franklin’s upcoming fight against fifth-ranked “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (23-7) at UFC 93 in Dublin 17 January?

Jorge Gurgel: I have a lot of respect for Dan Henderson.  So does Rich.  I’m sure he will say the same.  Rich has a bit more size because the fight will be taking place at 205 pounds.  Dan Henderson is always extremely dangerous.  But, we know his weapons.  We know he’s a great wrestler and he has a great overhand right.  It’s no secret to anybody.  All I can say is that Rich is going to be ready.  We’ll all be together in Ireland hopefully witnessing another Rich Franklin victory.

FIghters.com: SInce 2005, we have seen the rise and stardom of numerous alumni from Spike TV’s The Ultimate Fighter reality show.  At UFC 92, two former winners of the show will fight for the UFC and Fighters.com light heavyweight championship.   What’s your personal take on the show where you also once starred yourself and it’s impact on the sport of mixed martial arts?

Jorge Gurgel: I will tell you the truth here and I might really shoot myself in the foot.  I thought the show was great up until maybe the third season or so.  But, now I don’t like to watch it at all.  I was always under the impression that being a professional martial artist is a full-time job.  And, every time some ignorant person comes in off the street and says, “Well, I got out of high school and I got a scholarship to wrestle in college; and, after that, it was either get a regular job or fight for the UFC.”  That makes me sick.  It’s ridiculous. 

I think fighting is a full-time job.  I think we should be seen as professionals too.  You know, people that give up a lot and sacrifice to make this a full-time job to be able to support their families.  But, lately I think the show has really watered down the values and everything that martial arts is all about.  We train hard.  But now on the show, there’s no Kenny Florian, no Forrest Griffin, and no me. 

You know, there was no breaking furniture and spray painting walls and throwing barbecue sets into the swimming pool when I was on the show.  Where I come from, that stuff costs money.  Where I come from, people have to work for food.  But, now I see a bunch of wannabes.  People that want to fight for the wrong reasons.  People that are on television to get a free Tapout shirt and some airtime.  They are not fighters. You know, people that really want to become fighters will collect the dividends of hard work in the long run. People that experience success too early will not. 

Many of the people on the show now don’t deserve to be there or don’t belong to be there and they are giving the UFC the very name that the UFC is trying to avoid.  You know, a bad reputation of punks, for lack of a better word, or uneducated people that don’t have the opportunity or the ability to get a good regular job and then decide to fight in the cage or Octagon instead.  The show does not portray a true and honest image of mixed martial artists.  The show does not do that at all. 

Now days there’s always an episode where somebody quits.  Then there’s the episode where the contestants talk badly to one another in the house.  There’s always episodes where they play pranks on each other too. There’s the episode where everyone gets in a fight in the backyard because they’re all drunk.  Then there was that episode once, of course, where the guy left the show because of his girlfriend.  [laughing]  There’s always the episode where the coaches argue with each other.  And, there is always an episode where a guy cannot make weight! 

So, everything is already pretty much staged. Every season there’s episodes where we already know what is going to happen.  It’s just a different set of people in the same episode happening over and over and over. 

Originally, I started martial arts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to do two things only: to test myself as a person in one-on-one combat against another person and to honor my school and my teacher.  To honor the school, where I came from, was important.  Now, the UFC has been going overboard in great, great lengths and in big places; but, the marketing that the reality show is putting out there and the way this show is being portrayed disgusts me.  It makes us professional fighters look like schmucks.  It makes the guys who really want to be “ultimate fighters” look stupid.  And, like I said, besides the first three seasons of the show, I think show has gone down tremendously and I do not care for it at all. 

FIghters.com: Some people say that there’s a bit of irony in the fact that UFC President Dana White predicts that by 2012 the sport of MMA will be a contemporary to organized sports such as football, baseball, and soccer.  While at the same time there are organizations such as EliteXC involved in questionable practices and equally questionable marketing campaigns.  Do you also find it ironic when Dana White criticizes EliteXC while similar controversies occur on The Ultimate Fighter television show?

Jorge Gurgel: Yeah, but there’s a big difference between the two.  And, I do not want to be misquoted here. EliteXC is literally doing wrong and shady things in the sport of mixed martial arts on live television.  But, the TUF show is just a TV show.  Just a reality television show.  They are two different things completely. 

On a reality show, regardless of whether it’s associated with mixed martial arts, it’s a situation where anything can happen and will probably happen.  Those TUF guys are going to do some crazy things eventually when put in front of a camera all day.  Those guys are going to fight at some point. 

You know, “Hey, let’s put itching powder in each other’s beds because we are thirty-years old and we have nothing better to do. Yay!”  [laughing]  “Let’s  go ahead and freeze each other’s underwear and open cans of sardines and put the juice on everyone’s beds.  Let’s throw somebody in the pool and fight and get drunk all night.  Yay!” 

Now, that’s reality television.  And, for the average American or whatever, that appeals to them, I guess.  But, at EliteXC there’s nothing worse than the joke of Kimbo Slice“.  A guy that got famous fighting in the streets of Miami for money, beating up people on the Internet, and he becomes huge, huge MMA figure.  A figure of mixed martial arts?  A representative of our sport?  Selling fights and making sponsorship money from Tapout and getting paid $500,000 to fight?  And, with no real training?  Come on, I have been fighting for fifteen years. 

FIghters.com: What about the rumors of EliteXC’s fight-rigging and those sort of controversies?

Jorge Gurgel: Yeah, well, if you knew me better you’d know that I am the least educated person when it comes to the Internet.  I don’t read the forums.  I do not read my interviews.  I mean, I give interviews, but I usually don’t read them afterward and often forget what I’ve said.  [laughing]

But, I do know that Seth Petruzelli opened his mouth and said EliteXC were offering him bonuses to keep the fight standing.  I do not doubt this for one second.  EliteXC was living off of the myth of Kimbo Slice.  Did you see the fight when Seth hit Kimbo close to the back of the head with one punch and that guy, whatever his name is, I think Shaw or whatever it is, the guy in charge of EliteXC, he was screaming, “In the back of the head ref, the back of the head!”

FIghters.com: Yes, it was Jared Shaw who is the son of Gary Shaw and a vice-president at EliteXC. 

Jorge Gurgel: Yeah, it became a joke.  Do you remember the next day?  On the front page of Yahoo it said something like: “Kimbo Slice has been exposed” or something like that. “The big lie has been exposed” or whatever it was. 

I think we both agree here.  I’m an advocate for martial arts.  I try to represent the sport as well as I can.  I have thirteen schools.  I have over 400 students.  I try to lead by example.  I hate with a passion anyone who takes mixed martial arts for granted or approaches this sport in a manner that’s not professional. 

So again, long story short, EliteXC and the TUF show, I do not care for whatsoever.  Of course, there are some exceptions.  There are some fighters there that absolutely want to be there and deserve to be there.  You can see the fighters that want to make it and want to do something for themselves.  And, then there’s the other majority of fighters that do not belong there.  They are only there to get a free t-shirt and some air time. 

The EliteXC situation and what’s coming out and what they are doing is totally unethical and unprofessional.  I disagree with it completely.  I just want the sport of mixed martial arts — which is the career that I chose for myself — to be a sincere and honest as I dreamt it was going to be when I was a kid.  So, a lot of this stuff frustrates me.  A lot of this hurts me tremendously.  But, I am just one person.  I can’t change everything.  And, I cannot make things change and make my opinions count.  I have to worry about my fights and my students and then carry on. 

FIghters.com: Earlier you mentioned the old honor of the martial arts school and martial arts teachers.  Do you think that old spirit or those sort of ethics will ever become status quo in modern mixed martial arts?

Jorge Gurgel: It will never come back.  I tell everybody that the next person I will actually spend my time teaching those values to will be my children when I have my own children.  I do have people like Dustin Hazelett, which is pretty much like my own son.  He’s my blackbelt and a UFC standout.  And, I have my other students that give it a try and train hard and that they believe in what I say.  When I speak they are there to listen to me.  And they are there to understand that I have been doing this for many years.  That I was born and raised in the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, honoring my school and my teacher.  And also being respectful and being loyal.  Loyalty is everything.  But, now many people just want to sign up one day the the very next day they want to fight. 

“When can I fight?  When can I fight?  Can I fight now, Jorge?” 

This is not how things are supposed to be.  Things have really changed.  The sport of mixed martial arts has given me the opportunity to live a very good lifestyle.  I own a school.  I have a great house, a good car, and food on my table.  It’s given me the opportunity to fight for a living and get paid accordingly for my hard work.  But at the same time, the values have been extremely watered down.  And that hurts my heart tremendously because I remember how things used to be.  But now they are far, far, far from what they once were and I don’t think it’ll ever be back like it used to be again.  Ever.

Silva tested positive after winning the EliteXC title at Unfinished Business in Stockton, east of San Francisco, 26 July.

In his appeal in Los Angeles Wednesday, Silva argued through his attorney, Howard Jacobs, and manager, Alex Davis, that it was the legal supplement Novodex that triggered the positive response and submitted an independent test Silva took in September that showed negative for Boldenone.

If taken, Boldenone would’ve still been in Silva’s system in September, while Novodex wouldn’t have been, Silva’s attorney argued with testimony submitted by a doctor.

However, the CSAC pointed out that Silva didn’t mention Novodex on his pre-fight questionnaire and didn’t submit receipts for the purchase of the supplement.

Silva’s team countered that the quiestionnaire was in English and wasn’t clear to the Portuguese-speaking Brazalian fighter.

Talk about a rough week.  Silva’s promoter, EliteXC, went belly-up Tuesday, leaving the Champ without a guaranteed promotion to return to when his suspension ends 27 July.

ProElite, Inc. is the parent company of the EliteXC promotion that is nationally broadcast in the States on CBS, as well as owner of the MMA brands King of the Cage, CageRage, ICON, and Spirit MC.

ProElite’s website is functioning and has no mention of the company’s bankruptcy.

However, Gracie Fighter, the website of EliteXC fighter Nick Diaz‘s  (18-7) manager, Cesar Gracie, posted Monday evening, “We are confirming that EliteXC has folded.”

The cancelled event was to have taken place in Reno and aired on Showtime featuring title fights in two weight divisions.

Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked middleweight “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) was scheduled to defend his title from challenger Joey Villasenor (26-6); and, Fighters.com’s third-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez (15-1) and Diaz were to have fought for the vacant 160-pound title.

EliteXC debuted 10 February in Southaven, south of Memphis, and has held 17 events.

Recently, the promotion’s most popular star, “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1), was knocked out by late replacement “Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (10-4) in 14 seconds in Sunrise, north of Miami, 4 October.

The failed company was the most prominent challenger to the UFC.  It exposed millions to the sport of mixed martial arts via it’s relationship with CBS.

However, CBS EliteXC Fight Night was a production of CBS’s entertainment division, not it’s sports division; and, ProElite was often criticized for heavily promoting Kimbo Slice, a fighter who gained initial fame through videos of backyard fights broadcast on YouTube.

After Slice was KO’d by a UFC castoff, UFC President Dana White remarked to the Boston Herald, “These guys have lost $60 million trying to get this thing off the ground.  They’re building their promotion around a guy who can’t fight.  It’s kind of fucking stupid, isn’t it?  You’re in the fight business and you’re building your business around a guy who can’t fight.”

ProElite, Inc. executives were unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

Smith last fought in July and was TKO’d in the second round by Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked middleweight and EliteXC champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4; 1NC).

It was their rematch after an eye poke resulted in a No Contest in May.

Lombard, the Cage Fighting Championship title-holder and Olympic judoka, last fought in September when he forced Brian Ebersole (36-15; 1 NC) to verbally submit in round four.

Lombard’s most recent loss was to DREAM Middleweight Champion Gegard Mousasi (24-2-1) November 2006.

Rogers TKO’d his last opponent, Jon Murphy (4-3), at 1:01 of the first round in May.

Buentello last fought at Affliction’s debut event in July, where he won a unanimous decision over “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge (23-18-1).

Fighters.com interviewed Rogers in Minneapolis-St. Paul 25 September.  Rogers said then that he was waiting on a fight versus “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1), but hoped to fight in November.

“Cyrille Diabate is not going to fight (Rafael) ‘Feijao’ for the title. We offered him the fight, but he felt like he didn’t have enough time to get ready,” Lappen said.

“We’re still looking for an opponent for ‘Feijao.’”

Lappen said that Diabate is interested in facing Cavalcante, and “wants to do that fight in the future.”

EliteXC: A Night of Champions will feature Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked middleweight and EliteXC champ “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) and Joey Villasenor (26-6) in a title match, and a fight for the vacant 160-pound title between third-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez (15-1) and Nick Diaz (18-7).

“My doctor was impressed with my quick recovery; and, an hour after surgery, I was on my feet and walking to the car,” Ortiz said today.

The surgery was similar to the procedure “Rock” Nathan Quarry (10-2) received in June 2006.  Quarry recovered from his surgery and returned to fight in 15 months, going 2-0 since his return.

Ortiz is focused on a quick recovery.

“I will be back in the cage with a renewed outlook on fighting. I am a new Tito Ortiz.  One with a bright fight future.  One ready to power through the light heavyweight class and get the belt around my waist again.  Mark my words. The best is yet to come.”

Since losing his final fight on his latest UFC contract by unanimous decision to Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked light heavyweight “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (13-0) in Las Vegas 24 May, Oritz has appeared at Affliction’s 19 July event in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, and Saturday’s EliteXC event in Sunrise, north of Miami.

He has reportedly received contract offers from both promotions, but has recently mentioned the possibility of returning to the UFC.

Saturday at EliteXC in Sunrise, Ortiz commented that he was “maybe a week away from signing the deal [with EliteXC].”

But, subtle clues in Ortiz’s post-surgery statement hint at his mindset.

Affliction uses a ring, not a cage.

Neither Affliction, nor EliteXC currently have a light heavyweight belt, though EliteXC may offer a title at 205 when “Feijao” Rafael Cavalcante (7-1) and “Snake” Cyrille Diabate (12-6-1) fight in Reno 8 November.

Still, no one confuses EliteXC’s belt with “the belt”, the UFC’s belt that Ortiz previously held.

Though, Ortiz took the event of his surgery to criticize the UFC.

Ortiz claimed, “The kicker to this whole story is that the UFC denied my claim for coverage of my debilitating back injury oviously acquired in the Octagon.  This was the last kick in the gut made by the UFC.  After all of the battling and allegiance I pledged to them, they now have stooped so low as to not give me the medical care I so desperately needed.  I am not surprised at their last effort to hurt me, so I took it upon myself to get my surgery in hopes that my fight career will jump back on track and I will be back to the explosive monster I always have been.”

EliteXC’s Jeremy Lappen revealed the numbers at a post-fight press conference Saturday night.

Headlining the event was Miami’s “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1), who was TKO’d in 14 seconds by “Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (10-4).

It was a solid improvement over their last CBS event in July, in which only 2,871 ticketholders (of 6,572 attendees) paid for their seats for a total gate of $269, 000.  EliteXC had to give away 3,701 tickets in order to fill the seats for the cameras.

Initial television ratings also point to a successful rebound.  According CBS Primetime Senior Executive Vice President Kelly Kahl, 4.31 million viewers tuned in to Saturday Night Fights.

Kahl commented, “In total viewers, we matched our first event in May and the male demos look like they were top-rated for the night.  Given the extreme competition from college football and Major League Baseball playoffs, we think it’s a terrific performance.”

“Everyone said what it was.  It was an opportunity for me to step up,” said Petruzelli after the win.

Petruzelli and Slice agreed to fight just 40 minutes before CBS EliteXC Fight Night went live after Slice’s original opponent, “World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock (26-13-2), bailed with a cut over his eye suffered while warming up Saturday.

Shamrock’s brother, EliteXC broadcaster Frank Shamrock (23-9-2), called Ken “a discrace” on air.

“Honestly, man, it was a crappy situation for both us,” Petruzelli said.  “It was unfortuante what happened to Ken.  This is professional fighting.  It’s not supposed to be like it is on the streets.”

But, if it was like a street fight, Slice, the “YouTube street fighting sensation”, should’ve had the advantage.

Slice pressed Petruzelli at the bell and ate a front kick immediately.  Petruzelli followed with a straight right that sent Slice to his hands and knees.  Slice never got back up as Petruzelli rained right hooks, then lefts to Slice’s skull.  The referee stepped in to end the fight; and, Slice, stunned, grabbed the referees leg.

After his first MMA loss, Slice told his hometown crowd, “It’s all good.  It’s all good.  It was unexpected.”  Then Slice plugged his sponsors and after party.

For MMA aficionados, Slice’s loss wasn’t so much an upset as a confirmation that mixed martial arts can’t be picked-up by any fighter off the streets in a year.

“He gave me hell,” Shields admitted.  “I haven’t been passed the first round in about a year.”

Shields was humble.  He dominated most of the fight by taking Daley to his back and effortlessly passing to full mount.

At the end of the first round, Shields was swept as he attempted to wrap Daley in an armbar from full mount.  Daley rolled into Shields’s full guard and landed big elbows to the bell.

But, in the second round, the scenario replayed with Shields cinching the armbar.  Daley tried to roll free; but, Shields was relentless and forced the tap.

After the “W”, Shields announced his interest in becoming a two-title holder, saying, “I wouldn’t mind moving up to 185 and going for two belts.”

EliteXC’s middleweight champion is fourth-ranked “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4).

Arlovski landed a stiff left that turned Nelson’s jaw in line with the right hook that prompted the referee to end the fight.

Nelson rolled over on the mat and threw his hands in the air in protest of the stoppage, then stomped around the cage and tossed his mouth guard in the air.

Nelson won round one by closing distance and putting Arlovski on his back.  Nelson passed Arlovski’s guard and worked an Americana and Kimura, but was never close to closing the deal.

In the second, Arlovski’s crisp striking proved the decider, landing a right hook and an uppercut before the fight finisher.

Arlovski has won five straight.

Radach is expected to earn an EliteXC title shot versus fourth-ranked “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4).

“Man, I hit him so hard a lot of times,” Radach said after the referee pushed him off of Rua after landing four unanswered punches to Rua’s head as he lie on the mat.

“Ninja” had stumbled after launching a flying knee and Radach fed him a straight right, then three right hooks.

The finish resembled the entire fight: Radach landing sledgehammers to Rua’s head.

Rua was most successful on the mat in the first round when he worked a Kimura, then nearly locked in a heel hook until Radach rolled free.

Shaw said, “We’re going to have a huge card in November.  We’re going to be in Reno, Nevada.  It’s going to be fantastic.”

Shaw also confirmed that “Feijao” Rafael Cavalcante (7-1) will be on the card and may face “Snake” Cyrille Diabate (12-6-1), although whether it will be a title fight is yet to be determined.

“[We've] spoken about Cyrille Diabate, but it’s not definitive that that’s going to be his opponent,” Shaw said.

“Until we have a definitive opponent, we do not know if we will introduce the light-heavyweight title.  When we are ready to introduce the light heavyweight title, there is no doubt that ‘Feijao’ will be in a fight for that title.  He’s without a doubt the No. 1 fighter that we have in the light heavyweight division.”

Cavalcante last fought in July, TKO’ing “Gladiator” Travis Galbraith (15-6) in round one.

Diabate won a unanimous decision over Jaime Fletcher (6-4) in August.

Another bout under consideration is “Hands of Steel” Scott Smith (13-5) versus “Shango” Hector Lombard (17-2-1).

Shaw said, “We have a tentative agreement for Scott Smith to take on Hector Lombard.  I think that would be a fantastic fight.”

Smith is coming off a second-round TKO loss to Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked middleweight and EliteXC champ “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) in July.

Lombard last fought in September versus Brian Ebersole (36-15), who verbally tapped in the fourth round.

One fighter who may not make it onto the card is “Grim” Brett Rogers (8-0).

“Brett Rogers hasn’t been decided yet,” Shaw said.  “We’re still talking with his camp.  He had a couple of personal issues, and we’re just making sure that he has enough time to be prepared.  We spoke, and it’s nothing else.  It’s not contracts, it’s just a couple personal issues.

“We want to make sure we get the best possible Brett Rogers at all times.  If we’re able to go with him, then he’ll be there.”

Rogers TKO’d Jon Murphy (4-3) in 1:01 in May.

The event will be headlined by Lawler in a title fight with Joey Villasenor (26-6) and also features a 160-pound title bout between Fighters.com’s third-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez (15-1) and Nick Diaz (18-7).  It airs on Showtime.

“I’ll be fighting Nick Diaz, we’re about 90-something percent positive I’ll be fighting Nick Diaz for the EliteXC title at 160 (pounds),” Alvarez said.

“Nick’s a great opponent, he poses a lot of threats. Very good striking, as well as good jiu-jitsu, so he’s been in the game a while, he’s a pure fighter and I like that.”

Alvarez added, “[Diaz] gets a lot of bad rap from a lot of people with his attitude, but deep down he likes to fight, he enjoys to fight and I consider myself the same kind of person. I enjoy to fight, my heart’s in this.”

The title is currently vacant after the belt was stripped recently from “King Karl” Karl James Noons (7-2).

Alvarez most recently participated in DREAM’s Lightweight Grand Prix in July, winning a spot in the final with a first-round TKO of “Crusher” Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-5-2), only to withdraw due to injury.

Diaz is coming off three TKO wins, most recently over “Wildman” Thomas Denny (26-17) in the second round in July.

It will take place 8 November and air on Showtime.

Villasenor will look to avenge his KO loss to Lawler in October 2006.  Lawler’s flying knee ended the bout in 22 seconds.

Villasenor won his last fight over “New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni (12-10) via first-round TKO in May.

Lawler’s win over Villasenor began his current win streak.  He last fought “Hands of Steel” Scott Smith (13-5) in July, TKO’ing him in the second round and successfully defending his title.

Lawler’s first bout versus Smith in May ended in a No Contest.

Reis earned the title over three head-to-head rounds versus strong and crafty Cullum.

Reis took Cullum down repeatedly, but was unable to cinch a submission through Cullum’s defense.

Cullum landed several strikes; but, Reis’s takedowns and ground aggression convinced the judges.

Shane DelRosario (5-0) notched another stoppage in his belt in a second-round TKO of Carl Seumanutafa (4-1) at 1:07.

DelRosario floored Seumanutafa with a left hook as he rose from a takedown attempt and stuck a pair of punches in his face before the referee ended the fight.

Muay Thai champion Malaipet Team Diamond (3-3) continues to find the transition to MMA tough with a third-round TKO loss to “Tarzan” David Douglas (4-1).

After absorbing crippling leg kicks for two rounds, “Tarzan” caught Malaipet mid-flying knee and put the kickboxer on his back for a desparate G’n'P onslaught from full mount that convinced the referee to step in.

“El Cucui” Jaime Jara (20-5) won a split decision over middleweight Givanildo Santana (11-1) by scores of 29-28 twice for Jara and 29-28 once for Santana.

Middleweight Erik Apple (10-1) tapped Matt Makowski (3-1) in a rear naked choke at 2:04 of round two in Apple’s return from an 18-month hiatus from professional MMA.

K-1 2005 World GP finalist and The Pit gym mate of “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-6) Scott Lighty (4-0) remained undefeated in his MMA bid with a first-round TKO over Jamiah Williamson (3-1) 4:51.

Damian Douglas (3-1) tapped Joe Schilling (1-3) in a guillotine at 46-seconds of round one.

Fernando Betega (3-2) tapped Mono Otero (3-3) in a rear naked choke at 2:27 of round one.

Luke Riddering (2-0) TKO’d John Corstphino (1-2) at 3:44 of round one.

Steve Gable (3-0) won an SD over Josh McDonald (3-4) by scores of 29-28 twice for Gable and 29-28 once for McDonald.

The undefeated EliteXC heavyweight is still waiting for his shot against mainstream MMA poster boy ”Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-0).

In June, at a Minnesota MMA event, Rogers announced that he would be fighting Ferguson in October and “that motherfucker is getting knocked out.”

In Sunrise, north of Miami, 4 October, Ferguson will step into the cage to fight UFC Hall of Famer “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock (26-12-2).

“You know what, man?  I really, honestly can’t tell you what happened.  I just know that it didn’t happen.  I’m a little upset about that and I’m going to take some frustration out on Mr. Slice when I get my hands on him.”

Though the fight fell through; and, Rogers isn’t currently scheduled to fight, he holds no ill-will towards EliteXC.

“I’m not hating on Elite.  They put me out there.  They’ve taken care of me.  I can’t hate on ‘em.  It’s a great show.  It’s the first time [MMA] has been on a national network; and, for me to be a part of that first show, that was an honor.  I can’t hate on that.”

Rogers is hoping that he will be fighting again by November, but realizes that it could be until January before any fights are scheduled for him.  However, Ferguson remains on his mind.

“I’m just to the point where I can’t wait for that fight to get over with so I can move on with my life.”

Team Bison head trainer Mike Reilly laid out exactly where their aspirations lie, saying, “We got into this to fight the best.  We would love to fight [EliteXC Heavyweight Champion "Big Foot" Antonio Silva (11-1)] for the title, but it doesn’t matter who holds the title.  It matters whose on the top of the poster.  And, as long as Kimbo is on the top of the poster, that’s who we want to fight.”

As far as Rogers’s feelings about Shamrock taking his place in the cage, he told Fighters.com, “I still don’t understand why [Shamrock] is back.  He’s a man that has the feeling that he don’t want to stop.  I say he should just go on to coaching.  I have a little grudge against him, too.  If he wins I’m gonna take out a little frustration on him, too.”

In the meantime, Rogers is staying patient, continuing his training, and working specifically on his ground game.

“I’ve been working my ground game and I’m looking to play with [Slice] a little bit on the ground.  I know [Ferguson] don’t like the ground.  Teach ["Colossus" JamesThompson (14-9)] how it’s done.

Rogers pointed out how grateful he is to his sponsors and managers who have stood by him and given him his opportunities.

“Big Black, Rockstar, OTM- they gave me my first mouth guard and it still feels good, my MMA managers, Mike Reilly, much love.  I hope we can work together in the future, because, without them, I wouldn’t be going nowhere.  I’d be out there scufflin’ and hustlin’.”

Barnett was responding to an apparently erroneous rumor reported elsewhere that he had turned down a fight versus fourth-ranked Arlovski (13-5) because he was asked to take a paycut.

Arlovski has signed to fight IFL Champion “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-2) in Sunrise, north of Miami, 4 October to be aired in the States on CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights.

Barnett reiterated his denial of another widely reported rumor that Affliction had asked fighters to take 50% pay cuts when matched versus “easier” opponents.

“To my knowledge, no one has been asked to take a pay cut that fights for Affliction,” said Barnett.

Arlovski was originally scheduled to leather up versus Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) 11 October in Las Vegas.

Affliction rescheduled that event for 17 January in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles.

Arlovski TKO’d former IFL titlist “Big” Ben Rothwell (29-6) in Anaheim 19 July.

Nelson assumed the IFL title when Rothwell left the IFL at the end of his contract.

Nelson has peeled off five consecutive victories, the last four by stoppage, most recently a first-round TKO of TUF 2 finalist “Hillybilly Heartthrob” Brad Imes (11-5) in Uncasville 16 May.

Nelson lost a split decision to Rothwell in 2007.

The fight is a collaboration among CBS, EliteXC, and Trump’s Affliction Entertainment and will be aired in the States on CBS EliteXC Saturday Night Fights.

“This is yet  another testament to EliteXC’s willingness to work with other MMA promotions to bring the best possible fights to the broadest possible audience,” said Jeremy Lappen, head of the Live Fight Division of EliteXC.

EliteXC Head of Fight Operations Jerem Lappen said. “It’s a very unfortunate situation but we cannot have belt-holders  who refuse to fight the top contenders.  We want champions who will fight  anyone, anytime, anyplace.  That’s the mentality all champions should have.”

Noons explained to Fighters.com his reasons for not rematching Diaz in an interview published 26 August.

Lappen added, “K.J. has two more fights remaining on his contract, so we are still looking forward to having him fight for us again soon, but not as our world champion.”

EliteXC will announce a fight for the vacant 160-pound title in the near future, presumably involving Diaz.

Noons beat Diaz on cuts for the EliteXC 160-pound title in November 2007.

Yoshida has stoppages of Katsuya Inoue (16-6-3) and Akira Kikuchi (16-4); but, few this side of the Pacific (besides you and I) know how impressive that is.

A good showing versus physically and technically tough Parisyan would’ve put him on North American radar too.

Fighters.com has developing information that another anticipated fight, between sixth-ranked “Terror” Matt Serra (9-5) and seventh-ranked Matt Hughes (42-7), is unlikely to ever happen.  More on that as it develops.

Fighters.com’s Welterweight Champion “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (17-2) will fight Fighters.com’s Lightweight Champion “Prodigy” B.J. Penn (13-4-1) in Las Vegas 31 January.

In Chicago 25 October, top contender “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (15-3) and eighth-ranked “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (18-2) will fight to get first dibs on the winner.

Third-ranked EliteXC titlist Jake Shields (21-4-1) will have a confident “Semtex” Paul Daley (18-6-2) on his hands in Fort Lauderdale, north of Miami, 4 October.

AKA teammates fourth-ranked Josh Koscheck (11-2) and fifth-ranked Jon Fitch (17-3) await match-ups that’ll put them back into title contention.

Tenth-ranked “Goat” Nick Thompson (36-10-1) awaits an opportunity to avenge himself of the beating handed to him by Shields in his last fight.

September Welterweight Rankings

1. “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (17-2)

Since “Terror” struck at UFC 69, “Rush” has had to scrape pieces of Fitch, Koscheck, Hughes, and Serra off the bottom of his feet on his steamroll back to the UFC belt many believe the 27-year old will wear for a generation.

2. “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (15-3)

Alves has dealt three big stoppages to Karo Parisyan, Chris Lytle, and Kuniyoshi  Hironaka.  St. Pierre hears “Pitbull” scraping at the door, but he’ll have to prove he can make 170-pounds and make Sanchez a would’ve-been.

3. Jake Shields (21-4-1)

Shields added Thompson, a legit top-tenner, to a two-year run of stoppages that in includes Mike Pyle among lesser known challengers.  But, Thompson was as good as Shields can get outside of the UFC.

4. Josh Koscheck (11-2)

After revenge over Sanchez, Koschek was overwhelmed with a St. Pierre bouncing back from a loss. Like St. Pierre, “Kos” has all the physical tools to be a champion and absorbs new skills like a sponge. Time and continued top competition will tell.

5. Jon Fitch (17-3)

Fitch tied a record for most consecutive wins in the Octagon, including a stoppage of Alves and a decision over Sanchez, plus UDs over tough Chris Wilson and Kuniyoshi Hironaka, before losing a UD to St. Pierre.

6. “Terror” Matt Serra (9-5)

After knocking out the 170-pound division’s champion, St. Pierre, Serra was outclassed in their ’08 rematch.  However, Serra looked no worse than St. Pierre’s two previous victims, Koscheck and Hughes and hopes for his own fight with Hughes.

7. Matt Hughes (42-7)

Since getting KO’d by St. Pierre for the first time since ’01, Hughes hasn’t fought the same in a throw-away decision over Christ Lytle and another stoppage by St. Pierre. It’s apparent a return to MFS is required.

8. “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (18-2)

All the hype can’t replace a loss in the Octagon, and, in Sanchez’s case, two losses to Fitch and Koschek.  An ’06 decision over Karo Parisyan in one of the fights of that year proves he has the talent, but does he have the focus?

9. “Zenko” Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2)

“Zenko” debuted in the UFC with 56 second stoppage of Jon Koppenhaver and is without an “L” in two years, all wins also by stoppage. With overseas wins over Katsuya Inoue and Akira Kikuchi, Yoshida hopes to fare better than countryman Kuniyoshi Hironaka.

10. “Goat” Nick Thompson (36-10-1)

“The Goat” had bucked twelve straight challengers, eleven by stoppage, a list including Chris Wilson, Ansar Chalangov, Eddie Alvarez, and Fabricio Monteiro, until becoming the dot at the end of Shields’s exclamation point.

Trigg also welcomed a son, Stone, to his family in September.  Congratulations from Fighters.com.

The remainder of the Middleweight Top Ten was on holiday last month…well, at least at middleweight.

Top contender “Ace” Rich Franklin (23-3) made a successful return to light heavyweight in Atlanta 6 September.  He remains wishy-washy about his future in either division.

But, before Franklin could move-up to 205, Fighters.com’s Middleweight Champion “Spider” Anderson Silva (22-4) beat him there.  Franklin must wonder whether Silva is going to move to Cincinnati and start teaching high school math too.

Silva is preparing to defend his Fighters.com and UFC titles versus “Predator” Patrick Cote (13-4) in Chicago 25 October.

Third-ranked “Ely” Paulo Filho‘s (16-0) WEC title defense versus Chael Sonnen (20-9-1) was postponed from tonight to 5 November due to Hurrican Ike.

Fourth-ranked EliteXC champ “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) is rumored to be considering a rematch versus Joey Villasenor (26-6), whom Lawler KO’d in 22 seconds in 2006.

Seventh-ranked “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (9-1) will fight “Benkei” Zelg Galesic in DREAM’s Middleweight GP semi-final in Saitama 23 September, then, if Souza wins, the winner of Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1) versus “Marvelous” Melvin Manhoef (22-4-1) in the final the same night.

Ninth-ranked “Grabaka Hitman” Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2) will fight “Diesel” Joe Riggs (28-10) in Beverly Hills, north of Los Angeles, 20 September.

Fifth-ranked Yoshihiro Akiyama (11-1), sixth-ranked “Thunder” Yushin Okami (22-4), nor tenth-ranked “Mayhem” Jason Miller (20-5) have fights on their dockets.

September Middleweight Rankings

1. “Spider” Anderson Silva (22-4)

“Spider” fights like he’s hacked the matrix, making top-tier opponents look like they’re clumsily swatting at a web. In March he choked out former PRIDE champ Hendo’. His two-year record has both volume and quality with a “W” next to each challenger.

2. “Ace” Rich Franklin (23-3)

Despite two stoppages to Silva, Franklin is still the best of the rest, even according to Silva himself. “Ace” finessed from a Travis Lutter armbar to pick the TUF champ apart in April and outwrestled notoriously powerful Okami for a decision last year.

3. “Ely” Paulo Filho (16-0)

Filho’s perfect rap sheet lists solid foes, but only an ’06 KO of Misaki among top-tenners. Chael Sonnen gave him hell in a controversial stoppage, but Filho missed the March rematch. A strong comeback in the November rematch will solidify Filho’s ranking.

4. “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4)

“Ruthless” rides a five-fight “W” streak since being choked out by Miller in ’06, including a KO of Trigg and stoppages of solid fighters Scott Smith, Murilo Rua, and Joey Villasenor.

5. Yoshihiro Akiyama (11-1)

The Zainichi judoka ran the gauntlet of weight-mismatched spectacles before bursting into 185-pound contention with a KO of Denis Kang. Akiyama drew Misaki on NYE, but the the result was a NC. He choked out Katsuyori Shibata in his July comeback.

6. “Thunder” Yushin Okami (22-4)

Okamihas been most active among the top ten in the last two years and comes off a knockout of former UFC champ, the late Evan Tanner.  His only UFC loss was to Franklin, but could’ve conceivably been a “W” had he went after “Ace” before the final two minutes.

7. “Twinkle Toes” Frank Trigg (17-6)

With all Trigg does, you may have missed his comeback at middleweight the last two years, starting with a TKO of Miller and a UD over Misaki. Lawler iced him at Icon, but he’s returned with a quick stoppage of Edwin Dewees and UD of Makoto Takimoto.

8. “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (9-1)

“Jacare” finally fulfilled the hype surrounding the BJJ world champion by overwhelming Miller on the way to a UD in June, but besides “Mayhem” his record needs bolstered with two big wins to take the DREAM GP.

9. “Grabaka Hitman” Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2)

Misaki has made successful hits on Denis Kang and Hendo’, but also dropped decisions to Trigg and Hendo’ and a stoppage to Filho. Regardless, he’s won and lost among the division’s best, and may have added a “W” versus Akiyama if PRIDE rules ruled K-1.

10. “Mayhem” Jason Miller (20-5)

Always entertaining “Mayhem” has thrown in a stoppage over Lawler, a stoppage by Trigg, and a lost decision to Souza into a mixed bag of competition the last two years.

Kharitonov TKO’d “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (28-11) in Yokohama in September 2007; but, has been more active on the rumor mill than in the ring since.

He was floated as “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic‘s (23-6-2) opponent at DREAM.4 in June and lately was mentioned as a challenger for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship versus “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (11-1).

Kharitonov found his way into neither fight and may have a short stint as a top ten big boy as fighters beneath him line-up legit matches.

A spot opened for Kharitonov when “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-14) was mauled by physical phenom Brock Lesnar (2-1) in Minneapolis 9 August, shoveling Herring out of the eighth rank.

Eighth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) and ninth-ranked Aleksander Emelianenko (13-3) each moved up a spot respectively on Herring’s loss.

“Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1) retained the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship during a slow month that saw no changes in the top seven spots.

Emelianenko pulled out of Affliction’s second event in Las Vegas 11 October in which he was matched versus fourth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) with a hand injury sustained in his 36-second destruction of seventh-ranked “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5).

Emelianenko was replaced by third-ranked “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (22-5) in the main event.

Top contender “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira‘s (31-4-1) title challenge versus Frank Mir (11-3) got slightly more interesting when Lesnar, who got tapped by Mir in February, dominated Herring…but only slightly.

The UFC’s top heavyweight contender, fifth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) will probably draw either Lesnar or Cheick Kongo (12-4-1) in his next fight.

Sixth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) is rumored to be considering a return to the UFC; but, Fighters.com has not confirmed that.

Sylvia (24-5) licks his wounds and awaits a match-up at Affliction’s return.

September Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1)

Emelianenko took his right-left combo and used it to erase “doubt” from Fighters.com’s rankings when he dismantled Sylvia.  The depth of his recent opposition remains shallow; but, taking Sylvia apart quicker than anyone else earns him the Fighters.com Heavyweight Championship.

2. “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, Barnett, and Werdum in the last two years, earning him the Fighters.com’s top contender spot.

3. “Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (23-5)

“Babyface Assassin” is on a tear with a KO of Pedro Rizzo, UD over Jeff Monson, and submission of Hidehiko Yoshida, but no recent work at the top of the division.  Arlovski will be his toughest fight since losing a decisiong to Nog’in 2006.

4. “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5)

“Pitbull” got his bite back versus Ben Rothwell, adding the KO to a UD over Werdum and a pair or wins over lesser competition.  Arlovski will need all the bite he has versus Barnett in October.

5. “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1)

“Vai Cavalo” spanked Gonzaga like a bad monkey in January, then played a samba on Brandon Vera‘s head in June.  Werdum is streaking into a rematch with Noguiera for the UFC and maybe Fighters.com title.

6. “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.  Does he have a winning strategy to return to MMA?

7. “Maine-iac” Tim Sylvia (24-5)

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 only to legends Emelianenko, Nogueira, and Couture.

8. “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3)

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?

9. 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 Kharitonov.

10. Sergei Kharitonov (15-3)

Kharitonov followed a TKO loss to Aleksander Emelianenko with consecutive first-round stoppages of Michael Russow and Alistair Overeem; but, has been laid up in Russia for the last year. His return would give a the division a needed dose of excitement.

“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).

Reviewing weight classes (as in the Montreal document).

Rules or prohibited strikes for amateurs.

Downward pointed elbow strikes.

Where strikes should be allowed to the back of the head.

Knees to the head on the ground.

And, scoring.

Comments must be submitted in writing by 17 September to:

Nicholas Lembo
State Athletic Control Board
Hughes Justice Complex
PO Box 180
Trenton, NJ 08625

The Association of Boxing Commissions Professional and Amateur MMA Rules Committee consists of the following members:

Chairman Nick Lembo, New Jersey
Jim Erickson, North Dakota
Andy Foster, Georgia
Dale Kilparchuk, River Cree
Keith Kizer, Nevada
Armando Garcia, California
Josef Mason, Colorado
Mike Mazzulli, Mohegan Sun
Bernie Profato, Ohio

In addition, Lembo has announced a fighters sub-committee consisting of:

“Cachorrao” Ricardo Almeida (9-3)
Renzo Gracie (13-6-1)
Stephen Haigh (4-2)
“Gumby” Jeremy Horn (80-18-5)
Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes (42-7)
Tara LaRosa
“Croation Sensation” Pat Miletich (28-7-2)
Fighters.com’s Lightweight Champion “Prodigy” B.J. Penn (13-4-1)

And, an industry sub-committee of:

Monte Cox, Adrenaline MMA promoter
John McCarthy, broadcaster and referee
Lou Neglia, Ring of Combat promoter
J.D. Penn, Rumble on the Rock promoter
Joe Silva, UFC matchmaker
Marc Ratner, UFC vice-president
Jared Shaw, EliteXC vice-president

UFC Hall of Famer and “World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock (26-13-2) was named as “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson‘s (3-0) opponent for the night’s main event.

Fighters.com’s third-ranked welterweight Jake Shields (21-4-1) will defend his EliteXC title for the first time against Brit “Semtex” Paul Daley (18-6-2).

Benji Radach (18-4) will make his EliteXC debut against “Ninja” Murilo Rua (16-8-1) in a middleweight match-up.

After Shamrock lost his last three fights in the UFC, he lost once more to “Buzz” Robert Berry (12-8) by first-round KO in March.

“Kimbo Slice” will look to win his fourth in a row after his third-round TKO over “Colossus” James Thompson (14-9) in May.

Shields won his tenth consecutive fight in July when he submitted tenth-ranked “Goat” Nick Thompson (36-10-1) in 1:03 with a guillotine.

Daley has six straight wins, the last one over the previously unbeaten “Zelva” Bojan Kosednar (6-1) by first-round knockout in July.

Ex-IFLer Radach lost his first fight in six when “Suave” Matt Horwich (23-10-1) knocked him out in round two in December.

Rua, EliteXC’s first middleweight champ, handed “The Gun” Tony Bonello (16-1-1) his first career loss in June via first-round TKO.

Diaz won, setting up a probable title rematch versus Noons in October.

Noons spoke exclusively to Fighters.com about being the first fighter in mixed martial arts who’s been asked to avenge a win.

Fighters.com: Do you know who made the decision at EliteXC to invite Nick Diaz into the cage after you knocked out Yves Edwards (34-14-1)?

K.J. Noons: No.  Do you?

Fighters.com: No.  I was wondering if you asked around, like, “Who’s the asshole?”

K.J. Noons: I…I don’t know.  Probably someone from ProElite, er…EliteXC.

Fighters.com: You told Inside MMA you weren’t happy about it.  Do you think that’s just what promoters do to hype fights; or, do you take it more personal?

K.J. Noons: Um…you know, if they want to hype a fight, that’s cool.  And…you know, whatever.  Hype me!  Shit!  Stop hypin’ fuckin’ Nick Diaz.  What the fuck!?

Fighters.com: Your knockout of Edwards was a dominating win over a veteran of the sport and it should’ve put the nail in the Diaz coffin, but it was overshadowed by the incident in the cage and only made a rematch with Diaz more inevitable and promotable.

K.J. Noons: Yeah…I don’t know man.  That’s my real feeling.  Whatever, man.  I’m just going to fight whoever they’re going to put in front of me.  I just want to…I mean, I really don’t have a lot of fights.  I’m kind of a new kid on the block, if you want to say, with a title…

Fighters.com: With a title created for Nick.  The whole 160-pound class was created for Nick, right?  Then you came in and beat Nick and ProElite doesn’t know what to do.

K.J. Noons:  Yeah, I mean, it’s kind of a funny story, you know?  Some people look at the whole big picture and they get it and some people don’t.  But, you pretty much nailed it on the head.

Fighters.com: Are you at all entertained by the Diaz brothers?  Their antics are classic combat theatre.  You can’t make it up.  Or, when it’s directed at you, is it just annoying?

K.J. Noons: It’s like these reality shows, man.  You can’t script stuff like that.  It’s hilarious, but at the same time I’m kind of sick of it.  Hey, man, you know what?  Some people are going to like me; some people are going to hate me.  Same thing goes for them.  In every business, boxing, whatever you do, you’re going to have all kinds of characters.  You’re going to have people who are good, bad, stupid, smart, so, you know, it’s whatever.  I’m not a fan of it, but some people are, so…

Fighters.com: Why doesn’t Nick deserve a rematch?  A lot of fans say a stoppage on cuts isn’t a legit stoppage?  The bottom line is that you’re never going to put Diaz in the past without a rematch.

K.J. Noons: Like I said, I want to fight…I want to just get better and keep on improving myself and fighting top guys in the world.

Fighters.com: You don’t think Diaz helps you improve?

K.J. Noons: He doesn’t, but…who knows?  Money talks.  Right?  I’ve got to pay my bills, so, if that’s what people want to see…if people want to see that, then, you know…but, right now I want to get better.  I don’t think I really have anything to gain off that except for a big check.

Fighters.com: Who is the EliteXC #1 contender if Nick isn’t?

K.J. Noons:  [ProElite has] so many organizations, they can make a fight happen, if they want to stay in EliteXC or go out, they have all of these other organizations that they’re supposed to be trying to unify and do all this stuff.  I’ll leave that up to them.  There are some pretty big name people out there that they can get their hands on.

Fighters.com: I was at Strikeforce and, after “Punk” Josh Thomson(15-2) beat “El Nino” Gilbert Melendez (14-2), Thomson said he had hoped Edwards would win so they could rematch and unify titles.  Would you like to take Thomson up on the idea of unifying titles?

K.J. Noons: Yeah, I’d love to unify titles.  I think he’s a great fighter.  I think he’s a great guy.  I think that’d be a first step towards unifying some organizations and seeing who is the top guy out there.  I think people would want to see that.  I think our styles match-up very well too.  He’s another guy out there that I think would be a great fight.

Fighters.com: Does the knockout loss to “Krazy Horse” Charles Bennett (21-14-2) still linger; or, could you go the rest of your career without avenging that and be fine?

K.J. Noons:  I’d actually love to fight that guy.  I just don’t think EliteXC wants to give a guy like that a shot.  But, that fight will definitely happen down the line for me.

Fighters.com: There were reports that ProElite Live Events President Gary Shaw was on his way out of EliteXC.  What do you know?

K.J. Noons: Pretty much what you guys read, I’m reading on the Internet just like you.

Fighters.com: Do you have more than a business relationship with Shaw?  Do you consider him a friend?

K.J. Noons: Business.

Fighters.com: It seems like CBS is running the show at EliteXC more and more now…

K.J. Noons: Well, that’s good.  Maybe they’ll appreciate who they have.  My contract is up in November.  You know what I mean?  So, maybe they’ll appreciate someone who doesn’t flick the cameras off and can talk on CBS.  I mean, that shit will fly on Showtime.  You can say whatever you want to say, but…we’ll see.  Maybe they still want to promote pot-smokin’, middle finger, street-fightin’…I don’t know.  Maybe it’s not the organization for me, maybe it is.  I’ve got the belt, so… Hopefully they’ll want to keep me.  I do like them.  I want to stay.  As long as I’m the champion, I want to stay, so hopefully they can see the value in me.  And like I said, in November, my contract is up.  I’ve got two more fights and that’s it.

Fighters.com: Do you have any ambition of being the first two combat sport champion in both MMA and boxing?  A throwback to Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders?  Or, is that just too hard to do in combat sports?

K.J. Noons: If I put my time in and keep on pursuing that and be serious about it, I think I can achieve that.  That is definitely one of my goals.  I’m a two sport person, but I’m so occupied with this right now.  Hopefully I’ll have more time towards the end of the year and after the first of the year to start boxing a lot more.  Or, maybe crossover.  I don’t know.  I think I’m a better boxer than I am in MMA.

Fighters.com: Do you think you’ll be in a boxing ring somewhere and Nick will show up and want to box you?

K.J. Noons: Oh man…yeah, who knows?  Who knows?  Call WWE!

Fighters.com: Thanks for the interview.  Anything else?

K.J. Noons: Check out KJNoons.com or CityBoxing.com.  Thanks to my family and friends and all the fans out there.

Silva responded through his manager, Alex Davis, at Tatame, saying “I did not use the steroid boldenone, or any other steroid of prohibited substance.  I don’t agree and never have agreed with the use of this kind of product in order to win, for this is cheating.  I will go to the full extent of my power and the law to prove my innocence in this matter.”

The CSAC explained, “Independent tests were conducted by Quest Diagnostics for the “A” Sample and Laboratoire De Controle Du Dopage for the “B” Sample.”

Silva has been fined $2,500 and suspended for one year retroactive to 26 July.  According to CSAC Executive Officer Armando Garcia, CSAC rules “do not support” changing the “W” to a “NC” due to the positive test.

Garcia also confirmed that, as of Thursday afternoon, neither Silva nor Davis had contacted the CSAC about appealing the suspension.

Thursday, EliteXC Head of Fight Operations Jeremy Lappen said, “We certainly do not condone the use of steroids.  But we also support, trust and have confidence in our fighter, Antonio Silva, who has denied ever taken any illegal substance, including steroids, and is prepared to challenge the results of the California Commission.”

Boldenone is an anabolic steroid used primarily on horses.

Other fighters who’ve previously tested positive for boldenone include TUF 1 finalist “American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (11-4), “Pequeno” Alexandre Franca Nogueira (13-5-2), and “The Crush” Anthony Torres (5-2).

Silva was selected to fight for the first EliteXC heavyweight championship over more heavily marketed “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-0) and “The Grimm” Brett Rogers (8-0) because Silva is recognized as the more skilled mixed martial artist.

On the gutsy unanimous decision loss, Fitch dropped three ranks to fifth in August’s rankings.  However, to those who’ve called Fitch St. Pierre’s “toughest challenge”, Fighters.com reminds them that sixth-ranked “Terror” Matt Serra (9-5) knocked St. Pierre out in the first round in Houston 7 April, 2007.

In fact, it was obvious in the stand-up exchanges between St. Pierre and Fitch that the 2007 knockout remains in the forefront of St. Pierre’s mind as St. Pierre was more cautious than he had been in previous fights.

But, rather than St. Pierre match-up versus Penn, Fighters.com would rather sanction a title fight between St. Pierre and the winner of the match-up between Fighters.com’s new top contender “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (15-3) and seventh-ranked “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (18-2) to be fought in Chicago 25 October.

Alves attains the top contender rank on Fitch’s loss, but not because of his stoppage of eighth-ranked Matt Hughes (42-7) which wasn’t fought at welterweight due to Alves’s inability to make the 170-pound limit, which remains a question.

Moving up five spots to rank third in August was EliteXC Welterweight Champion Jake Shields (21-4-1) on his dominating first-round stoppage of tenth-ranked “Goat” Nick Thompson (36-9-1).

Thompson dropped a rank which allowed “Zenko” Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2) to ease into the ninth spot before his 6 September match-up versus “Heat” Karo Parisyan (18-5) in Atlanta.

Josh Koscheck (10-2) held rank at fourth after winning a bloody unanimous decision over virtually unstoppable, but beatable “Lights Out” Chris Lytle (25-16-5) in Las Vegas 5 July.

August Welterweight Rankings

1. “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (17-2)

Since “Terror” struck at UFC 69, “Rush” has had to scrape pieces of Fitch, Koscheck, Hughes, and Serra off the bottom of his feet on his steamroll back to the UFC belt many believe the 27-year old will wear for a generation.

2. “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (15-3)

Alves has dealt three big stoppages to Karo Parisyan, Chris Lytle, and Kuniyoshi  Hironaka.  St. Pierre hears “Pitbull” scraping at the door, but he’ll have to prove he can make 170-pounds and make Sanchez a would’ve-been.

3. Jake Shields (21-4-1)

Shields added Thompson, a legit top-tenner, to a two-year run of stoppages that in includes Mike Pyle among lesser known challengers.  But, Thompson was as good as Shields can get outside of the UFC.  So, who’s next?

4. Josh Koscheck (11-2)

After revenge over Sanchez, Koschek was overwhelmed with a St. Pierre bouncing back from a loss. Like St. Pierre, “Kos” has all the physical tools to be a champion and absorbs new skills like a sponge. Time and continued top competition will tell.

5. Jon Fitch (17-3)

Fitch tied a record for most consecutive wins in the Octagon, including a stoppage of Alves and a decision over Sanchez, plus UDs over tough Chris Wilson and Kuniyoshi Hironaka, before losing a UD to St. Pierre.

6. “Terror” Matt Serra (9-5)

After knocking out the 170-pound division’s champion, St. Pierre, Serra was outclassed in their ’08 rematch.  However, Serra looked no worse than St. Pierre’s two previous victims, Koscheck and Hughes and looks forward to his own fight with Hughes.

7. “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (18-2)

All the hype can’t replace a loss in the Octagon, and, in Sanchez’s case, two losses to Fitch and Koschek.  An ’06 decision over Karo Parisyan in one of the fights of that year proves he has the talent, but does he have the focus?

8. Matt Hughes (42-7)

Since getting KO’d by St. Pierre for the first time since ’01, Hughes hasn’t fought the same in a throw-away decision over Christ Lytle and another stoppage by St. Pierre. It’s apparent a return to MFS is required.

9. “Zenko” Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2)

“Zenko” debuted in the UFC with 56 second stoppage of Jon Koppenhaver and is without an “L” in two years, all wins also by stoppage. With overseas wins over Katsuya Inoue and Akira Kikuchi, Yoshida hopes to fare better than countryman Kuniyoshi Hironaka.

10. “Goat” Nick Thompson (36-10-1)

“The Goat” had bucked twelve straight challengers, eleven by stoppage, a list including Chris Wilson, Ansar Chalangov, Eddie Alvarez, and Fabricio Monteiro, until becoming the dot at the end of Shields’s exclamation point.

The UFC seemed intent that sixth-ranked “Thunder” Yushin Okami (21-4-1) miss his de facto UFC top contender challenge of Silva, marketing Cote versus “Cachorrao” Ricardo Almeida (9-3) in Las Vegas 5 July as an eliminator fight even before Okami pulled up lame with a broken hand.

Cote won by split decision.

Okami, who holds a DQ “W” over Silva from 2006, dropped a rank for August on the ascension of fourth-ranked EliteXC Middleweight Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4).

In Stockton, east of San Francisco, 26 July, Lawler erased the ellipsis left at the end of his May No Contest with “Hands of Steel” Scott Smith (13-5) and etched in a exclamatory second-round TKO over Smith.

To make the scattering of middleweights across promotions more frustrating, the entire top three – Silva, second-ranked “Ace” Rich Franklin (23-3), and third-ranked “Ely” Paulo Filho (16-0) – are throwing their hats into 205-pound bull ring.

Filho, who announced in February that he intends to move to 205-pounds, will rematch Chael Sonnen (20-9-1) in Hollywood, north of Miami, 10 September.

Perhaps Filho’s announcement was amidst his mysterious malaise, for which he’s been successfully treated; but, the WEC will shit-can their middleweight division before the end of 2008 and Filho, who signed with the WEC to avoid a confrontation with his pal Silva, will have to make a decision about which UFC weight class to compete in: the middleweight division Silva rules or the light heavyweight division Silva’s getting his kicks in.

Fifth-ranked Yoshihiro Akiyama (11-1) returned from an eight-month holiday to tap woefully mismatched Katsuyori Shibata (2-5) in Osaka 21 July.

Sixth-ranked “Twinkle Toes” Frank Trigg (16-6) will return from a nine-month holiday to fight Olympic judoka Makoto Takimoto (4-4) at Sengoku in Saitama, north of Tokyo, 24 August.

Trigg’s deal with Sengoku could lead to a rematch versus eighth-ranked “Grabaka Hitman” Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2), but not before Misaki makes his North American debut versus a yet-to-be-named opponent at Strikeforce 19 September in Los Angeles.

Ninth-ranked “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (9-1) has drawn legit kickboxer “Benkei” Zelg Galesic (9-3) in DREAM’s Middleweight GP, to be fought in Saitama 23 September.

“Mayhem” Jason Miller (21-6) holds steady at tenth without any announced or rumoured bouts.

August Middleweight Rankings

1. “Spider” Anderson Silva (22-4)

“Spider” fights like he’s hacked the matrix, making top-tier opponents look like they’re clumsily swatting at a web. In March he choked out former PRIDE champ Hendo’. His two-year record has both volume and quality with a “W” next to each challenger.

2. “Ace” Rich Franklin (22-3)

Despite two stoppages to Silva, Franklin is still the best of the rest, even according to Silva himself. “Ace” finessed from a Travis Lutter armbar to pick the TUF champ apart in April and outwrestled notoriously powerful Okami for a decision last year.

3. “Ely” Paulo Filho (16-0)

Filho’s perfect rap sheet lists solid foes, but only an ’06 KO of Misaki among top-tenners. Chael Sonnen gave him hell in a controversial stoppage, but Filho missed the March rematch. A strong comeback in the September rematch will solidify Filho’s ranking.

4. “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4)

“Ruthless” rides a five-fight “W” streak since being choked out by Miller in ’06, including a KO of Trigg and stoppages of solid fighters Scott Smith, Murilo Rua, and Joey Villasenor.

5. Yoshihiro Akiyama (11-1)

The Zainichi judoka ran the gauntlet of weight-mismatched spectacles before bursting into 185-pound contention with a KO of Denis Kang. Akiyama drew Misaki on NYE, but the the result was a NC. He choked out Katsuyori Shibata in his July comeback.

6. “Thunder” Yushin Okami (22-4)

Okami has been most active among the top ten in the last two years and comes off a knockout of former UFC champ Evan Tanner.  His only UFC loss was to Franklin, but could’ve conceivably been a “W” had he went after “Ace” before the final two minutes.

7. “Twinkle Toes” Frank Trigg (16-6)

With all Trigg does, you may have missed his comeback at middleweight the last two years, starting with a TKO of Miller and a UD over Misaki. Lawler iced him at Icon, but he’s returned with a quick stoppage of Edwin Dewees. He’s my division wildcard to watch.

8. “Grabaka Hitman” Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2)

Misaki has made successful hits on Denis Kang and Hendo’, but also dropped decisions to Trigg and Hendo’ and a stoppage to Filho. Regardless, he’s won and lost among the division’s best, and may have added a “W” versus Akiyama if PRIDE rules ruled K-1.

9. “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (9-1)

“Jacare” finally fulfilled the hype surrounding the BJJ world champion by overwhelming Miller on the way to a UD in June, but besides “Mayhem” his record needs bolstered with better opponents.

10. “Mayhem” Jason Miller (20-5)

Always entertaining “Mayhem” has thrown in a stoppage over Lawler and a stoppage by Trigg into a mixed bag of competition the last two years.

“It sounds like it’s going to be in my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico,” Villasenor said. “We’re just waiting on confirmation of who it’s going to be [against].”

“They keep on bringing up Ninja’s name. They’re bringing up other names, but Ninja is the one that is sticking out right now.”

Villasenor has won his last three fights, most recently against “New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni (12-10) in May via first-round TKO.

His last loss was by second-round TKO to Rua in June 2007, when they battled for EliteXC’s first-ever middleweight title.

Rua lost the belt in his next fight in September to current champ “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) via TKO in round two.

According to the SpikeTV press release, 27% more viewers in the key demographic of males 18-34 tuned in to the rerun, with SpikeTV’s total at 433,000 and CBS’s at 341,000.

UFC 84, which happened in May, was headlined by a lightweight match between Fighters.com’s second-ranked “Prodigy” BJ Penn (12-4-1) and fifth-ranked “Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (32-3-1). EliteXC’s event featured a middleweight title rematch between sixth-ranked “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (18-4) and “Hands of Steel” Scott Smith (13-5).

The press release also stated that CBS ratings were down from its debut of Saturday Night Fights 31 May: 69% lower in males 18-34 and 57% lower in males 18-49.

The May event was headlined by EliteXC star “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-0), who will fight in the organization’s next event 4 October, also airing on CBS.

It will take place at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL, near Fort Lauderdale.

“Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-0) and Gina Carano (6-0) will feature on the card, although no opponents have been named yet. Both fought at EliteXC’s network television debut in May.

Nick Diaz (18-7) TKO’d “Wildman” Thomas Denny (26-17) at :30 of round two.

Jake Shields (21-4-1) defeats “The Goat” Nick Thompson (36-10-1) by guillotine submission at 1:03 of the first round for the EliteXC Welterweight Championship.

“Big Foot” Antonio Silva (11-1) TKO’d Justin Eilers (20-8-1) at :19 of round two for the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship.

“Feijao” Rafael Cavalcante TKO’d “Gladiator” Travis Galbraith (15-6) at 3:01 of round one.

Wilson Reis (5-0) won a unanimous decision over Bryan Caraway (10-3).

Carl Seumanutafa (4-0) KO’d Mike Cook (5-2) by slam at 1:21 of round one.

Drew Montgomery (5-3) TKO’d Brandon Tarns (1-2) by doctor stoppage at 4:23 of round three.

Is this a victory for the UFC or a problem?

The MMA nation cringes when a newbie refers to mixed martial arts as “ultimate fighting”.

(On teleconferences, I parse the serious fight writers from the general press corp by just that phrase.  One would expect a sports journalist at bare minimum to know what the sport they’re covering is called.)

For years the UFC encouraged the press to refer to MMA as “ultimate fighting”.

Now that the UFC is the Kleenex® of MMA, UFC President Dana White gets his silk boxers in a bunch when the general audience can’t tell the difference between EliteXC and the UFC, and now Affliction and the UFC.

I watched EliteXC’s CBS debut with a friend who invited others who don’t follow the sport and, sure enough, one asked, “What time does the UFC start?”

Careful what you ask for, Mr. White.

White is afraid that the mediocre skill level of a main event between say “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-0) and “Colossus” James Thompson (14-9) will tarnish the brand name of the sport’s premier promotion.

On top of that, don’t forget that the UFC actually has an event scheduled 19 July to compete against the Affliction card: Ultimate Fight Night 14: TiVo’d, as I’m calling it.

Me?  I’m encouraged that the general public gives as much of a flip about what logo is bugged on their TV screen as I do.

Just make good fights!

Affliction has made Fighters.com’s sixth-ranked heavyweight“Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) face his bloated hype versus third-ranked “Maine-ac” Tim Sylvia (24-4) this Saturday.

The UFC has countered with a rigged-up IFL card headlined by a couple of good fighters making weight class changes.

All you need to know is that I’ll be covering Affliction live for Fighters.com; so, if you decide to watch the UFC, set-up your laptop for live results at Fighters.com.

Touted Cavalcante is 2-0 at EliteXC, most recently defeating Wayne Cole (11-7) with a first-round TKO on 14 June.

“Feijao” trains with UFC and Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) and Middleweight Champion “Spider” Anderson Silva (21-4).

King of the Cage Canada champion Galbraith is coming off two consecutive wins, most recently submitting Martin Desilets (7-2; 1NC) with a first-round triangle choke at Raw Combat last month in Calgary.

Galbraith also fought at PRIDE 32, but was TKO’d in round two by “Kaz” Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-8).

EliteXC’s one-hour Showtime telecast airing before the CBS show also includes a featherweight bout between Wilson Reis (4-0) and Brian Caraway (9-2), and a title match between “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (10-1) and Justin Eilers (19-6-1) for the new EliteXC heavyweight belt.

Diaz also flaked on a teleconference before his last fight versus Muhsin Corbbrey (8-3) in June.  Diaz then missed the 160-pound weight limit by nine pounds.

Diaz’s absence Thursday rendered him unable to respond to Denny’s accusation to Fighters.com, “He looked a little chubby in his last fight.”

Denny warned on the teleconference that if Diaz weighs 169-pounds in Stockton 26 June, “There probably won’t be a fight.”

Denny also prodded, “Be a professional!”

A rumor had spread over the Internet in recent weeks that Shaw was being pushed out of ProElite, parent company of EliteXC, by new investors CBS.

However, once referred to as “Live Events President”, Deluca described Shaw’s current role as, “More or less consulting, behind the scenes shaping the direction of the company.”

Deluca added that Shaw was taking “a relaxed roll as far as being front and center…for his health, boxing business, and his family.”

“The surgery went really good and I started P.T. last week,” Miragliotta told Fighters.com.

The injury was sustained 31 May when Miragliotta dove in to save a withering “New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni (10-10) from suffering more punishment from Joey Villasenor’s (26-6) boxing barrage.

“The sling comes off in about four more weeks and then I can start some harder P.T.,” Miragliott said.  “I cant wait to get back in action.”

Miragliotta may see action as early as September, earlier if his physical therapy goes well.