It’s been a strange, strange, strange day for two former UFC fighters. Before today, former WEC Lightweight Champion and one-time UFC Lightweight Championship contender Hermes Franca had little in common with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez. However, today both men share the rather dubious similarity of having the news about their recent arrests hitting the internet on the same day. Both Franca and Rodriguez face some pretty serious charges that. Here are all the details. ...

While the ufc is the largest and most popular organization on the planet in the realm of mixed martial arts, other promotions are now giving the chance for the true veterans of the sport to either start all over again, or continue their way back to the top. Israel FC, an upstart promotion out of--you guessed it--Israel has began to take on a steady stream of veterans in for their promotional debut in what is turning out to be an all star cast of competitors. ...

The Ultimate Fighting Championship loves to go all-out with their UFC Fan Expos. There are fighter signings, display booths, and lots and lots of purchasable goodies. For the more serious fans of the sport, there are also some very good Q&A panels, demonstrations, and in the case of the UFC’s upcoming Fan Expo in Boston, four grappling superfights featuring the world-renowned Gracie family. Perhaps the best thing about these matches, besides their star-studded nature, is the fact that they won’t cost convention goers a single extra penny: seating will be first come first serve, but access to the matches is free for Expo attendees. ...

Few lightweight mixed martial artists have been where Yves Edwards (36-15-1) has been and are still strapping on four-ounce gloves.  Edwards has fought champions, and been written-off as washed up.  He's fought around the world and in most major MMA promotions since 1997.  And, now Edwards will ride a two-fight win streak into Maximum Fighting Championship in Edmonton February 26. Edwards TKO'd Kyle Jensen (36-11-2) at Raging Wolf V October 10 and tapped James Warfield (1-1) in a triangle choke at Shine 2 September 4, both intense performances for the veteran who has recommitted himself at American Top Team to returning to the top of the lightweight division. ...

MMA Gospel Radio presents another amazing show this week. Reverend Turk and Gary Friedman welcome Hermes Franca (19-8) as the first guest on the show. Hermes has signed with MAX Fights DM where he will fight for the interim lightweight belt against January 8. ...

Xtreme Couture's "Phenom" Vitor Belfort (18-8) scored his bulliest victory in four-plus years TKOing Fighters.com's ninth-ranked middleweight "Ace" Rich Franklin (26-5) at 3:02 of round one in a 195-pound catch weight main event at UFC 103 in Dallas Saturday night. "Jesus, I love you," shouted Belfort in the Octagon after the fight, and in his dressing room he added,  "God gave me a gift and I'm using it.  And, I'm ready.  A lot of people thought I was done, you know, and that's what I'm bringing to this game - hope, faith, and hard work. ...

American Kickboxing Academy's "Quick" Mike Swick (14-2) and Xtreme Couture's "Hitman" Martin Kampmann (15-2) will fight at UFC 103 in Dallas 19 September, announced the UFC today, and the winner will be the next challenger to UFC welterweight champion "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (19-2), according to a report by MMA Junkie. Both former middlweight title prospects who dropped weight to compete at 170-pounds, neither Swick nor Kampmann have proven themselves against the UFC's established competition: former champions "Terror" Matt Serra (9-6) and Matt Hughes (41-7) and former title challengers "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (16-4) and Jon Fitch (19-3). Swick trains with Fitch and former welterweight contender Josh Koscheck (12-4) and most recently outclassed "Killa B" Ben Saunders (7-1-2) with a second round TKO at UFC 99 in Cologne last month. But, Swick's most noteworthy "W" is a unanimous decision over nails-tough "Irish Hand Grenade" Marcus Davis (16-5), who never cracked the top ten himself. ...

Lightweight Hermes Franca (19-7) will face “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (17-4) at UFC Fight Night 17 expected to take place 7 February in Las Vegas, Franca confirmed to MMA Junkie Wednesday. Franca came back from two straight losses to win a unanimous decision over “Maximus” Marcus Aurelio (16-7) at UFC 90 in October. Lauzon tallied a win over Kyle Bradley (13-6) at Fight Night 15 in September. ...

Fighters.com's Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (23-4) won by TKO at UFC 90 in Chicago Saturday night when "Predator" Patrick Cote's (13-5) knee popped at 39 seconds of round three. Top welterweight contender "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (16-3) easily beat fourth-ranked Josh Koscheck (11-3) by unanimous decision. Scores were 30-27 twice and 29-28 once. Fourth-ranked heavyweight "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1) was devastated by fellow Brazilian, but virtual unknown "Cigano" Junior dos Santos (7-1) via first-round TKO at 1:21. Fifth-ranked lightweight "Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (33-3-1) won a unanimous decision over Tyson Griffin (12-2) by judges' scores of 29-28 twice and 30-27 once. Thales Leites (14-1), "Bully" Gray Maynard (6-0), "King" Spencer Fisher (22-4), Dan Miller (10-1), "Drago" Pete Sell (8-4), and Hermes Franca (19-7) were all winners inside the Octagon. ...

"Maximus" Marcus Aurelio (16-6) will replace Gleison Tibau (15-6) versus former American Top Team teammate Hermes Franca (18-7) in Chicago 25 October. Tibau suffered a shoulder injury while training for the fight. Aurelio lost a unanimous decision to Tyson Griffin (12-1) in Las Vegas 5 July. Aurelio and Franca trained together at American Top Team north of Miami before Franca left the camp. ...

Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked lightweight Hermes Franca (18-7) told Sherdog Monday he would face American Top Team’s Gleison Tibau (15-6) at UFC 90 near Chicago 25 October. Returning to the Octagon after a year-long suspension for testing positive for banned substances, Franca sustained a unanimous decision loss to “The Answer” Frank Edgar (9-1) UFC: Fight Night in July. Tibau is coming off two straight losses; most recently he tapped to “Daddy” Joe Stevenson (29-8)’s second-round guillotine at UFC 86 in July. ...

“Spider” Anderson Silva (22-4) def. “Sandman” James Irvin (14-5) via KO (punches), 1:01 of round one. “The Truth” Brandon Vera (9-2) def. Reese Andy (7-3) via unanimous decision (30-27; 30-27; 29-28). “The Answer” Frank Edgar (9-1) def. Hermes Franca (18-7) via unanimous decision (30-27; 30-27; 30-27). Cain Velasquez (4-0) def.  Jake O’Brien (10-2) via TKO, 2:02 of round one. “The Fire” Kevin Burns (7-2) def. “Rumble” Anthony Johnson (5-2) via TKO, 3:35 of round three. “Doberman” CB Dollaway (7-1) def. Jesse Taylor (6-3) via submission (Peruvian necktie), 3:58 of round one. Timothy Credeur (10-2) def. Cale Yarbrough (0-1) via TKO (punches), 1:54 of round one. Rory Markham (16-4) def. Brodie Farber (13-4) via KO (head kick), 1:37 of round one. Nate Loughran (9-0) def. Johnny Rees (10-1) via submission (triangle), 4:21 of round one. “Bad” Brad Blackburn (15-9-1) def. James Giboo (11-3) via TKO (strikes), 2:29 of round two. Shannon Gugerty (11-2) def. Dale Hartt (5-1) via submission (rear naked choke), 3:33 of round one. ...

Fighters.com's eighth-ranked lightweight Hermes Franca (18-6) was deemed fit to fight "The Answer" Frank Edgar (8-1) 19 July in Las Vegas by the Nevada State Athletic Commission Wednesday. Franca completed a one-year sentence for testing positive for the banned substance Drostanolone after losing a UD to then-UFC Champ fifth-ranked "Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (32-3-1) in Sacramento 7 July, 2007. Franca will be required to take a piss test before fighting Edgar. ...

So thorough was second-ranked UFC Lightweight Champion "Prodigy" B.J. Penn's (13-4-1) domination of fifth-ranked "Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (31-3-1) 24 May in Las Vegas that Penn leaps two spots in Fighters.com's June Lightweight Rankings to place as the top contender to Fighters.com's Lightweight Champion "Tobikan Judan" Shinya Aoki (15-2). Fighters.com never questioned Penn's talent, just his recent body of work at 155-pounds. Though Penn fought unquestionably tougher competition last month, "Tobikan Judan" stole the show in the division by pulling a gogoplata from the mount out of his hat to tap Katsuhiko Nagata (4-3) 15 June in Tokyo. It seems impossible for DREAM's magician from Tokyo and the UFC's warrior from Hilo to settle the cross-Pacific lightweight question; but, UFC President Dana White is desperate to keep Penn's eyes from wandering out of the young UFC 155-pound division. Penn told the post-UFC 84 press conference that, after out-boxing Sherk, it's hard for him to get motivated to fight the winner of seventh-ranked "KenFlo" Kenny Florian (9-3) versus "El Matador" Roger Huerta (20-1-1) to be fought in Minneapolis 9 August. ...

UFC President Dana White confirmed reports Tuesday of a last-minute event in Las Vegas set for 19 July airing on SpikeTV. White denied the reason to hold the event was to counter the Affliction’s Banned debut, on pay-per-view the same night. UFC and Fighters.com’s Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (21-4) is expected to headline against “The Sandman” James Irvin (14-4) in light heavyweight match-up. Silva will not give up his middleweight title and is expected to return to that weight division. Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked lightweight Hermes Franca (18-6) versus “The Answer” Frank Edgar (8-1) will also be on the card, up from their scheduled fight in Minneapolis 9 August. As well, heavyweight “The Truth” Brandon Vera (8-2) and Reese Andy (7-1) will meet in a light heavyweight bout; and Cain Velasquez (3-0) is to face Jake O’Brien (10-1). ...

Fighters.com's eighth-ranked lightweight Hermes Franca (18-6) will return from a 13-month hiatus versus "The Answer" Frank Edgar (8-1) 9 August in Minneapolis. Franca lost a five-round unanimous decision to fifth-ranked "Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (32-3-1), then UFC Champion, in July 2007. Franca tested positive for banned substances after that fight, admitted his violation to the California State Athletic Commission, and was suspended for one year. Edgar muddled through his first loss in April to bigger, stronger "Bully" Gray Maynard (5-0). ...

The worldwide lightweight division got all shook up the passed several weeks. After two false starts, "Tobikan Judan" Shinya Aoki (15-2) and "JZ" Gesias Calvancante (14-2-1) finally fought for the Fighters.com top ranking in Tokyo at the end of April. Aoki came out on top with a unanimous decision and now tops Fighters.com lightweight rankings, but suffered injuries that have postponed his DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix quarter final match-up versus Katsuhiko Nagata (4-2) until DREAM.4. Calvancante fell to number three, allowing "Fireball Kid" Takanori Gomi (28-3) to claim the second ranking. Gomi is rumoured to be joining the 8 June Sengoku III card in Tokyo, but no opponent has been leaked. Fourth-ranked "Prodigy" B.J. Penn (12-4-1) and fifth-ranked "Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (31-2-1) will tussle for the UFC lightweight title 24 May in Las Vegas. Eddie Alvarez (14-1) debuts in the lightweight top ten at number six after dominating "Hellboy" Joachim Hansen (17-7-1) in the quarter final of DREAM's Lightweight GP.  He'll fight in the semi-finals (and perhaps the finals) at DREAM.5 21 July. Seventh-ranked "KenFlo" Kenny Florian (9-3) and eighth-ranked Hermes Franca (18-6) both hop two spots after "Endless Fighter" Mitsuhiro Ishida (16-4-1) got tapped in a rear naked choke in "Uno Shoten" Caol Uno's (25-10-4) DREAM Lightweight GP quarterfinal debut. Florian is scheduled to fight "El Matador" Roger Huerta (20-1-1) 9 August in Minneapolis for the UFC's top contender spot, while Franca lingers in suspension after testing positive for banned substances last July. Uno advances to the DREAM Lightweight GP semis (and maybe finals) with Alvarez, but against an unknown opponent. "Dida" Andre Amade (6-3-1) also debuts in the lightweight rankings at number nine, mostly on the strength of his unanimous decision victory over Uno last September.  Recently, though, Dida has been dominated by Calvancante and Alvarez. May Lightweight Rankings 1. "Tobikan Judan" Shinya Aoki (14-2) Aoki has ten straight wins, including MMA's first gogoplata stoppage over Joachim Hansen.  A UD over Calvancante in April cemented him atop Fighters.com's rankings. 2. "The Fireball Kid" Takanori Gomi (28-3) Gomi avenged a 2006 blip to Marcus Aurelio with a stoppage on NYE the same year followed by a stoppage of Mitsuhiro Ishida.  A year-long layoff keeps Gomi from ichi-ban, but he returned last month with a stoppage of Duane Ludwig. 3. "JZ" Gesias Calvancanti (14-1-1) "JZ" has brushed Amade, Vitor Ribeiro, and Nam Phan off his shoulders with stoppages since a MD over Caol Uno in '06, part of 13 straight without a loss until losing a UD to Aoki in April. 4. "The Prodigy" B.J. Penn (12-4-1) "The Prodigy's" return to lightweight quickly resulted in UFC gold with two second-round stoppages over Joe Stevenson and Jens Pulver.  He defends his title from Sherk at the end of May. 5. "The Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (31-2-1) "The Muscle Shark" has been on the shelf for nearly a year since decisions over Franca and Florian.   He was the UFC's first lightweight titlist since the division was reinstated and challenges Penn for title he was stripped of. 6. Eddie Alvarez (14-1) Since dropping from welterweight for the DREAM Lightweight GP, Alvarez has been relentless in a stoppage of Amade and a UD over Joachim Hansen. 7. "KenFlo" Kenny Florian (9-3) Florian is a finisher since losing a UFC title challenge to Sherk by UD.  "KenFlo" is ready for a second run at the title, but will first face Roger Huerta for the UFC top contendership. 8. Hermes Franca (18-6) Despite a year suspension, Franca has been busy the last two years with stoppages of Spencer Fisher, Nathan Diaz, and new WEC champ Jamie Varner.  He's only dropped a UD to Sherk. 9. "Dida" Andre Amade (6-3-1) Since a UD over Uno, Amade has been stopped consecutively by top tenners Alvarez and Calvancante.  In the last two years, "Dida" has also stopped Artur Oumakhanov and Hiroyuki Takaya. 10. "Uno Shoten" Caol Uno (25-10-4) Uno splashed into the top ten with a submission of former PRIDE title contender Mitsuhiro Ishida.   The former UFC and K-1 star now begins a run in DREAM. ...

Lightweight should really have a top twenty because the division is stacked with talent across promotions and across the world. 1. "JZ" Gesias Calvancanti (14-1-1) "JZ" has brushed Andre Amade, Vitor Ribeiro, and Nam Phan off his shoulders with stoppages since a MD over Caol Uno in '06, part of 13 straight without a loss.  He needs a win over Aoki to cement his Fighters.com top ranking. 2. "Tobikan Judan" Shinya Aoki (14-2) Aoki has nine straight wins, including MMA's first gogoplata stoppage over Joachim Hansen. Inability to put away tough debuting judoka Bu Kyng Jung keeps him from first place. 3. "The Fireball Kid" Takanori Gomi (28-3) Gomi avenged a 2006 blip to Marcus Aurelio with a stoppage on NYE the same year followed by a stoppage of Ishida.  A year-long layoff keeps Gomi from ichi-ban, but he returned last month with a stoppage of Duane Ludwig. 4. "The Prodigy" B.J. Penn (12-4-1) "The Prodigy's" return to lightweight quickly resulted in UFC gold with two second-round stoppages over Joe Stevenson and Jens Pulver. 5. "Endless Fighter" Mitsuhiro Ishida (16-3-1) After a stoppage by Gomi, "Endless Warrior" returned strong in a decision over Melendez to add to his '06 decision over Marcus Aurelio. 6. "El Niño" Gilbert Melendez (14-1) "El Niño" blew out versus Ishida last NYE, but proved his worth with decisions over Tatsuya Kawajiri and Clay Guida.  Melendez benefits from action on both continents. 7. "Mach" Hayato Sakurai (32-7-2) "Mach" has murdered lesser competition the last two years, but guarded the lightweight gate from tough up-and-comers Hidehiko Hasegawa, Mac Danzig, and Luciano Azevedo.  Sakurai missed DREAM's Grand Prix, but needs to get back to top fighters. 8. "The Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (31-2-1) "The Muscle Shark" has been on the shelf for nearly a year since decisions over Franca and Florian.  He was the UFC's first lightweight titlist since the division was reinstated and challenges Penn for title he was stripped of. 9. "KenFlo" Kenny Florian (9-3) Florian is a finisher since losing a UFC title challenge to Sherk by UD. "KenFlo" is ready for a second run at the title. 10. Hermes Franca (18-6) Despite a year suspension, Franca has been busy the last two years with stoppages of Spencer Fisher, Nathan Diaz, and new WEC champ Jamie Varner.  He's only dropped a UD to Sherk. ...

In a bit of anti-climactic trifle, former UFC Lightweight Champion "The Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (31-2-1) paid his $2,500 delinquent due from a 2007 California State Athletic Commission suspension for testing positive for banned substances following his first title defense versus Hermes Franca (18-6). Sherk is now cleared to fight current UFC titlist "The Prodigy" B.J. Penn (12-4-1) 24 May. Both Sherk and Franca tripped the anabolic alarm last July; but, while Franca accepted his suspension and admitted his guilt, Sherk denied using performance enhancing substances and appealed his suspension. The CSAC rewarded "The Muscle Shark" with a reduced term of ineligibility which technically ended in January, though continued until Sherk paid his fine this morning. Franca remains suspended through 7 July. ...