According to MMA Junkie Patrick is expected to step inside the Octagon for the first time at UFC 115. 115 is expected to be on June 12 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Patrick is a welterweight from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was once with the International Fight League. Since that time he most recently fought for Aggression MMA in Alberta stopping Matt MacGrath (3-3) via guillotine choke.

Claude Patrick should be an exciting addition to the division with nine first-round stoppages including eight submissions. Another submission fighter in a division with some very solid wrestlers will without a doubt add some great match-ups for the UFC in the future.

Both UFC title contenders will compete in the -87.9kg division, along with “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (11-3). Sengoku judoka Kazuhiro Nakamura (13-9) and DREAM welterweight Andre Galvao (3-0).

UFC welterweight champ “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (19-2) will compete in the -76.9kg division, along with the UFC’s “Zenko” Yoshiyuki Yoshida (11-3), Japanese free agent “K-Taro” Keita Nakamura (15-4-2), and Brazilian free agent “Uirapuru” Marcelo Azevedo (3-5).

In the -98.9kg division, Strikeforce light heavyweight “Babalu” Renato Sobral (32-9), free agent “Brazilian Tiger” Ricardo Arona (13-5), The Ultimate Fighter 8 contestant “Pezao” Vinicius Magalhães (3-5), former UFC and PRIDE fighter “Boogey Man” Dean Lister (11-6), The Pit’s “Brazilian Pit Bull” Glover Teixeira (7-2), Brazilian heavyweight free agent “Pe De Pano” Marcio Cruz (6-2), and Aussie light heavyweight “Hippo” Anthony Perosh (6-4).

Strikeforce heavyweight contender “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1) and American free agent “Snowman” Jeff Monson (27-8) highlight the +99kg division. Former IFL heavyweight title challenger Antoine Jaoude (8-3) and M-1 Global heavyweight Rogent Lloret (6-1) will also compete in the highest weight divsion.

In the lowest weight division, -65.9kg, WEC featherweight contender “Big Frog” Jeff Curran (31-12-1) and WEC bantamweight contender Rani Yahya (14-3) will compete with SHOOTO vets “Iron” Hiroshi Nakamura (4-3-4) and “Finisher” Baret Yoshida (5-6-1).

Every division will also include grapplers who don’t compete in MMA.

Every other year, the ADCC creates the most interesting moments and exciting matchups in submission grappling. Always a highlight, the absolute division pits grapplers of all weight classes against each other to crown an absolute champ. Past absolute division matchups include DREAM welterweight “Mach” Hayato Sakurai (35-10) versus former UFC heavyweight champion “Suave” Ricco Rodriguez (32-8-3) and DREAM lightweight “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (17-4) versus Sengoku heavyweight Roger Gracie (2-0).

Emirati Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his BJJ instructor Nelson Monteiro created the event that has become the gold standard in submission grappling in 1998 and in 2003 the tournament began touring to locations outside the UAE.

The grapplers will compete at Pavello Olimpic de Badalona in Barcelona beginning at 11:00 AM on 26 September. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.

Fabiano was undefeated in the IFL, and knocked out Shad Lierley (2-2) in 0:37 in April in his only title defense.

He already has his eyes set on current WEC Featherweight Champion “California Kid” Urijah Faber (21-1).

Fabiano said, “My goal is to fight for the belt and do my best.

“Faber is the best of the world now. To beat him, I think you have to be in good shape. He’s an expert fighter and he has good gas, it’s complicated to beat a guy like him. You have to set a good game plan and be calm and watch the elbows, because if he hits you it can change a whole fight.”

That’s the query I’d pose to Fighters.com’s Middleweight Champion “Spider” Anderson Silva (22-4) if I was UFC Matchmaker Joe Silva after the former Silva put “Sandman” James Irvin (14-5) to sleep in a minute in Las Vegas 19 July.  “Are you serious about being the UFC champion at both 185- and 205-pounds?”

If “Spider” only wants to bulk-up to obliterate un-ranked light heavies for kitsch, fine.

But, if Silva wants to match “Hollywood” Dan Henderson‘s (22-7) feat of holding major titles at 185- and 205-pounds simultaneously – if he’s serious – he deserves a serious challenge in his next 205-pound showing.

He could do it.  Not with the Vaseline ease with which he ascended to the 185-pound crown, but it’s not an X-Files storyline either.

The determinant will be how Silva scales the mountain range at the top of the division.

UFC Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (22-4), “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5), “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7), these beasts are all heavyweights with the work ethic to cut 40, 50 pounds or more and fight at 205 pounds.

Enter IFL Light Heavyweight Champion “Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3)…maybe.

Fighters.com reported 21 July that former IFL fighters have confirmed to Fighters.com that they’ve been notified that their contract was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC and WEC.

In Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July, Vladdy confirmed to Sherdog that he had been told not to take any fights because the IFL was awaiting a buyout, but didn’t confirm that his contract had already been purchased.

It’s likely, in fact, that Zuffa, LLC doesn’t want all of the IFL’s fighters.

It’s possible the UFC doesn’t see a place for Matyushenko in it’s stacked 205-pound division; and, UFC President Dana White has previously indicated that the WEC will eliminate it’s light heavyweight division.

However, for the purposes of this analysis, Fighters.com assumes Matyushenko’s contract was included in the basket of assets Zuffa, LLC acquired from the IFL.

Matyushenko is an over-sized light heavyweight grappler, having formerly competed in the UFC’s heavyweight division.

He’s no lay’n'pray wrestler, nor is he the Delacroix of attack that Silva is.  He consistently takes large fighters to the mat and pounds them out.

That alone makes him potentially dangerous to Silva.  Not that it hasn’t been tried on “Spider” before, but not by so large of a man.

If Silva can weather the larger, stronger Matyushenko’s G’n'P and pick-up a win, then he’s ready for the better skilled big men at the top of 205.

And, what better way to promote Silva as the best pound-for-pound mixed martial artist than if he picks up the IFL Light Heavyweight Championship?

If Matyushenko can survive Silva’s attack and pound out a “W”, the same for him – he’s ready for a top ten challenge in the UFC, perhaps even a title unification fight.

That wasn’t a temporary arrangement.

Fighters.com has confirmed that Zuffa, LLC has acquired certain assets of the International Fight League, including the IFL video library and fighter contracts.

The deal is similar to the buyout of the World Fighting Alliance in 2006 and allows Zuffa to get its hands on the valuable IFL video library and fighters without assuming the failed company’s debt.

Fighters.com broke the possibility of the acquisition Thursday.  Since, there has been debate in the MMA media about whether the fighter contracts were transferrable.

However, the anonymous former IFL fighters who’ve confirmed to Fighters.com that they’ve been notified of the aqcuisition of their contract by Zuffa, LLC have also confirmed that their contractual obligations are now to Zuffa, LLC according to their respective managements and legal counsels.

Neither Zuffa, LLC nor the IFL have replied to Fighters.com requests for comment, nor have either made official announcements regarding the acquisition.

Unlike the WFA deal where the WFA announced it would cease operations upon the Zuffa, LLC acquisition of its assets, it’s unclear whether the IFL will put the “Out of Business” sign on its offices.

The rumbling from Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, where Affliction will premier Saturday, is that Zuffa is considering buying-out the IFL.

Requests for comment from Zuffa and the IFL respectively were ignored.

If true, the UFC would takeover the near-bankrupt MMA league, absorb its best fighters into it’s two promotions, the UFC and WEC, and kill off the IFL brand.

The idea puzzled one industry insider, who queried, “Why would they do that?  It is worthless.  They would have learned their lesson from PRIDE. Let it go another six months and it will die.”

A valid observation; but, buying out failed promotions is a pattern Zuffa has followed to exert its supremacy in the market.

The PRIDE buyout could be considered a failure; but, the buyout of the WFA netted “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-7), “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (13-0), WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber (21-1), and can be considered a relative success.

It’s unclear who is still under contract to the IFL and whether or not IFL fighters have the re-negotiation clause PRIDE fighters had in their contracts in the event of a buyout.

However, adding IFL Welterweight Champion Jay Hieron (15-4) to the UFC’s 170-pound mix, IFL Light Heavyweight Champion “Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3) at 205-pounds, and IFL Heavyweight Champion Roy Nelson (13-2) into the UFC’s thinned big boy division strengthens the UFC fighter roster, as well as bolstering the WEC with additions of IFL Lightweight Champion “Lion” Ryan Schultz (20-9-1), lightweight star Chris Horodecki (12-1), and IFL Featherweight Champion Wagney Fabiano (10-1).

There are other IFL fighters who could be successful in one of the Zuffa promotions too; but like, with Zuffa’s fighter acquisitions from PRIDE and the WFA, if they win, Zuffa can market them as their fighters; if they lose, “See, the other promotions are the minor leagues and can’t compete with our fighters.”

From that aspect, it’s a win-win for Zuffa.

There’s also the prospect of lucrative title unification bouts, like the successful Jackson versus “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-6) UFC and PRIDE Light Heavyweight Championship unification fight.

Fighters.com will continue attempting to determine the validity of this rumor.

In addition to the cancellation, the IFL CEO Jay Larkin announced the promotion is downsizing its staff and exploring options that will allow it to continue its day-to-day operations.  Meanwhile, it is working with other fight promotions to keep its roster of fighters active.

According to Five Ounces of Pain, the IFL may not have the finances to operate past October.

“Lion” Ryan Schultz (20-9-1) defended his IFL lightweight title in a five-round unanimous decision “W” over tough Lithuanian Deividas Taurosevicius (9-3).

Middleweight Dan Miller (8-1) blew through IFL Middleweight Champion Ryan McGivern (12-6).  At 3:36 of round one, Miller sucked up McGivern’s right leg in a kneebar to tap the champ and take his strap.

On the undercard at the Mohegan Sun, “Indio” Danillo Villefort (7-2) tapped middleweight Mike Massenzio in a kneebar at 3:25 of round one.

Jorge Gurgel-trained lightweight “Pitbull” Josh Souder (7-2) dispatched Zac George (12-3) by TKO in 47 seconds.

Middleweight “Suave” Matt Horwich (23-10) won a unanimous decision over “Coyote” Joey Guel (13-6).

Welterweight “Doomsday” John Howard (9-3) TKO’d Nick Calandrino (4-1) at 2:24 of round three.

Light heavyweight Aaron Stark (6-4) won a unanimous decision over “Philly Bad Ass” Lamont Lister (4-4), fresh off his win at YAMMA Pit Fighting.

Lightweight John Franchi (4-0) remained undefeated tapping Frank Latina (4-2) in a rear naked choke at 2:19 of round one.

Imes replaced Branden Lee Hinkle (13-9) Saturday on the New Blood New Battles card at the Mohegan Sun Arena after Hinkle withdrew due to an injured rib.

Imes won a UD over James Jack (2-1) in March and is amidst a 6-1 run since losing his last UFC appearance Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked heavyweight “Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring (28-13) in April 2007.

Nelson has knocked off four straight victories himself since losing to heavyweight prospect Ben Rothwell (29-5) in April 2007.

Lightweight prospect Jim Miller (11-1) and “Morango” Fabricio Camoes (8-4) have also been removed from the card after Camoes pulled up lame during training.

“The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (21-3), Wagnney Fabiano (10-1), and Jay Hieron (15-4) all defended their respective titles with knockouts.

Lightweight standout Chris Horodecki (12-1) picked up a unanimous decision, while one-time top 155-pounder “Bartimus” Bart Palaszewski (28-11) continued his slide with a loss by unanimous decision.

Featherweight Fabiano set-up a right slobber-knocker to Shad Lierley (2-2) with just his reputation as a submission specialist.

“People think I’m just a jiu-jitsu fighter,” Fabiano explained after the fight.  “Today I knew he would expect me shooting, so I changed my game plan.”

The KO came after just 37 seconds.

Hieron, an Xtreme Couture 170-pounder, dispatched Mark Miller (8-3) in just 2:10.

“It went quicker than I thought, but man it was not easy,” said Hieron after his right hook set-up a single-leg takedown leading to a G’n'P finish.

“The Janitor” had the toughest time of the IFL’s three defending champions.

Hometown Jamal Patterson (4-2), who’s won exclusively by submission, cranked up striking flurries in the first round causing Matyushenko to duck-and-cover.

But, Matyushenko handed Patterson his ass in the second with a ground’n'pound barrage the required the ref to wave the fight finished at 3:35.

IFL newcomer Jim Miller (11-1) ran “Bartimus” ragged for three rounds, dumping the winless-in-three lightweight at will and filing through submission attempts like he had an extra limb.  Palaszewski fought back valiantly with several crafty escapes, but Miller took all of the cards in his IFL debut.

Horodecki had a handfull named Nate Lamotte (6-3) to contend with in Horodecki’s return from his first loss to “The Lion” Ryan Schultz (19-9-1) in IFL’s Lightweight Grand Prix final.

Lamotte delivered some vicious G’n'P when he was able to catch Horodecki, but the IFL vet kept Lamotte at bay with a snapping jab and pin-pointed punches to take a UD by 29-28 times three.

And the rest of the story saw light heavyweight “Shark” Emyr Bussade (11-5) win his IFL debut with a kneebar of Jesse Lennox (6-1) at 1:25 of round two.

“Bad” Brad Blackburn (12-9-1) TKO’d “Pe de Chumbo” Delson Heleno (13-5) at 1:50 of the third round of a welterweight matchup.

Featherweight LC Davis (10-1) kicked Rafael Dias (10-4-1) in the head for the KO “W” at 3:56 of round three.

Xtreme Couture middleweight Alex Schoenauer (13-9) eeked out a split decision over Brendan Barrett (3-3).

Finally, heavyweight Miletich fighter Mike Ciesnolevicz (13-3) cut Kongo-conqueror “The Fury” Carmelo Marrero (7-2) with an unintentional headbutt in a fight declared a No Contest after 1:37.

The IFL returns 16 May in at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.

Team Quest’s Schultz, 19-9-1, escaped a choke hold applied by 15-6 John Gunderson to grind out a unanimous decision.

Miletich middleweight Ryan McGivern added the IFL 185-pound strap to his belt drawer with a unanimous decision over defending champion “Suave” Matt Horwich of Team Quest.

The back-and-forth rematch was fight of the night ending with the same result as their 2006 fight.

IFL Heavyweight Champion Roy Nelson made quick work of debuting “Pega-Leve” Fabiano Scherner with TKO at 3:20 of round one.

On the undercard, 17-3 middleweight Jake Ellenberger won a unanimous decision over “Bam Bam” Pat Healy.

BTT light heavy “Cacareco” Alexandre Ferreira submitted ATT’s Lew Polley in 20 seconds for 16th “W” against five losses.

Late substitution “Bring the Pain” Josh Haynes of Team Quest won a unanimous decision over Brazilian Leopoldo Serao to pull even at 9-9.

ATT lightweight Rafael Dias submitted 11-4 Santino Defranco at 2:03 of round one to raise his record to 10-3-1.

Finally, featherweight “The Barn Owl” Ian Loveland of Team Quest guillotine choked Xtreme Couture’s “Piranha” Dennis Davis 58-seconds into round two for his ninth win against seven losses.