In unfamiliar territory, Martin Kampmann is playing the waiting game. The Dane was originally scheduled to return to action last June when he was originally pitted against John Howard in a welterweight bout for "UFC on Versus 4", though Martin subsequently suffered a knee injury which forced his removal from the bout. It's the same knee that forced him out of an originally scheduled middleweight bout with Rich Franklin at UFC 72 back in 2007--an opportunity of a lifetime that was cost due to the withered conditions of a knee that has seen the cutting board on three separate occasions. Now, Kampmann is left with the memory of his last outing, a controversial decision loss to "The Ultimate Fighter" season one winner, Diego Sanchez. The two met back in March, and while Martin displayed an impressive blend of striking and effective takedown defense, it wasn't enough to sway the judges in his favor. ...

Following his shocking twenty-second loss to BJ Penn back in November of last year, many fight fans wondered if we had seen the last of Matt Hughes. Hughes had won three straight prior to getting destroyed by Penn, and many were hopeful of a major comeback. After the Penn loss, Hughes openly wondered if maybe the time had come for him to retire. But Hughes has now decided to fight at least one more time, as the ufc recently confirmed Matt Hughes vs. Diego Sanchez for UFC 135 later this year. Here are all the details. ...

Recently, it’s been rumored that a bout pitting Matt Hughes against Diego Sanchez is nearing completion. Sanchez is coming off of a horrendously blown judge’s decision that gave him a victory over Martin Kampmann after Kampmann spent much of the fight leaving Diego a bruised and bloody mess. UFC Hall of Fame member Matt Hughes is coming off one of the fastest losses of his entire career. Both men are at an interesting point in their careers, and this could be an interesting fight. So here are my early thoughts on Diego Sanchez vs. Matt Hughes. ...

It's seems like everybody else but Matt Hughes has already predetermined that the UFC Hall of Famer would go into retirement after his swift knockout loss to BJ Penn last November. However, the former welterweight world champion doesn't seem like he's quite ready to hang it up quite yet. In fact, Hughes will be returning in the Fall and he will be taking on season one winner of "The Ultimate Fighter", Diego Sanchez. The bout is pivotal for both men. Sanchez, who wants to prove that he belongs in the upper echelon of the division, and Hughes, who wants to remain relevant in todays day and age of mixed martial arts. ...

Since the ufc announced their intentions for a Brazilian event in August, the talk surrounding Royce Gracie's possible inclusion on the card has been growing stronger. And the man that pretty much got the MMA truck rolling with UFC 1, UFC 2, and UFC 4 tournament wins has done nothing to squash those rumors since. Along the way, some unusual names have surfaced as willing opponents for Royce beyond the obvious Matt Hughes rumors. Yep, we're talking about fighters like Dan Severn and Art Jimmerson. ...

Make no mistake about it, Matt Hughes is well aware that his time in the sport is dwindling. The former UFC welterweight champion and pound-for-pound great has been in a tough patch over the last couple of years. Still regarded by many as the dominant welterweight fighter of all time, Hughes has since lost his title in 2006 and has amassed an overall record of 4-4 in his last eight bouts, the last of which has been the most devastating of his career. After earning a three-fight win streak inside the octagon, Hughes' win streak was snapped by a vicious 23-second knockout by rival BJ Penn last November in their rubber-match. While many have assumed that Matt would likely hang up the gloves at this point of his career, the UFC Hall of Famer will still like to have at least one or two fights in before the end of the year. Anything else after that is still up for debate, as he knows that the time retirement is rapidly approaching. ...

There's a lot of things in the world of mixed martial arts that I presumed would never happen. Brock Lesnar becoming a mixed martial artist, let alone champion, is right up there. Randy Couture recapturing a heavyweight title in his 40's almost tops the list. Fedor Emelianenko losing, EVER, was another big one. But to see Matt Hughes and BJ Penn train with one another was almost mind boggling, that I've had to re-watch the tape time, and time again. And it's true. The former two-time welterweight champion Hughes, who has gone 1-2 in bouts with Penn, is training the Hilo Boy for his upcoming bout with perennial contender Jon Fitch on February 26. ...

It’s recently been confirmed that former UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC Hall of Fame member Matt Hughes will most likely not be retiring. Naturally, this is a hot topic amongst the MMA fanbase. Can Hughes still go, especially considering his recent pummeling at the hands of BJ Penn? What type of future does Hughes have in a division that should have passed him by already, if not for his impressive ability to adapt to the times? Here’s my thoughts on what I think the future holds for Matt Hughes. ...

While many have speculated that at 37-years-old, former titleholder Matt Hughes would look towards retirement after his last performance. The "Farmboy" was last seen inside the octagon on the losing side of a savage knockout to rival BJ Penn at UFC 123 last November, where the two former champions settled a near seven-year rivalry with Penn going 2-1 in their three outings. The loss snapped a three-fight win streak Hughes had accomplished inside the cage with a decision win over former champ Matt Serra and finishes of legend Renzo Gracie and then-budding contender Ricardo Almeida (respectively). And although many believed that Hughes was poised to make another run at the title prior to the defeat against Penn, some have questioned how competitive he can be against some of the worlds best in the welterweight division, and Matt is ready to answer some of those questions. ...

We’re now over a week removed from UFC 124: “St. Pierre vs. Koscheck 2”, the event that saw long-reigning UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre once again demolish a top-ranked Welterweight. GSP’s latest victim was Josh Koscheck, who lost to GSP for the second time and in front of an incredibly partisan crowd. It’s recently been revealed that Josh Koscheck will be sitting on the sidelines for at least sixty days in order to heal up a broken orbital bone. Many are wondering what the future holds for “Kos”, and I personally hesitated to comment immediately after the event. Now that I’ve taken some time to really think about everything, here’s my list of the Top 5 opponents Josh Koscheck should face in the immediate future. ...

Thiago Alves has left the MMA world with many questions since his last fight against Jon Fitch, in which he was dominated on the ground.  The primary question is basic – Will we ever see again the intimidating version of Thiago Alves, who dropped the flying knee on Matt Hughes? Can the fierce, bomb throwing, attacking version of Thiago Alves make a return against John Howard on Saturday night in Montreal at UFC 124? ...

What a difference one fight can make. Now more than ever it seems as if most MMA stars are judged and even judge themselves by their latest performance. With that in mind, Matt Hughes is probably in a pretty difficult situation right about now. The former long-reigning ufc Welterweight Champion is coming off of one of the biggest losses of his entire career, a 21-second destruction courtesy of longtime rival BJ Penn. And according to Hughes himself, the supremely-humbling loss to Penn may have convinced him to finally call it a career. Here are all the details. ...

Current speculation has run rampant since two respective bouts took place under the same roof at UFC 123. The event, which took place at the Palace of Auburn Hills in the Detroit Suburbs on Nov. 20 held witness to the climb of former UFC title challenger Dennis Hallman as well as the demise of former champion Matt Hughes. Hallman, who prior to last Saturday vindicated himself with a unanimous decision victory over Ben Saunders following a knockout loss to contender John Howard in his return to the octagon, scored a first round TKO victory over former top-10 welterweight Karo Parisyan on the under card of the UFC 123 pay-per-view event. Dennis scored the win on strikes at 1:43 inside the first frame, placing him back on the map in the welterweight division. Hughes, didn't fair as well. ...

As so often happens in our sport, the MMA world at large is still feeling the effects of a recent ufc card. The card in question is UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida”. It was an even filled with surprises, from Maiquel Falcao dominating Gerald Harris to BJ Penn utterly demolishing Matt Hughes. Recently, both the medical suspensions and the “Prelims Live” rating have been made public. Here are all the details. ...

Following last nights return to the state of Michigan, 4 fighters were awarded additional bonuses for their efforts. UFC 123 took place in the suburbs of Detroit, at the Palace of Auburn Hills before a stellar crowd. The main event of the evening was billed as a battle between two former light heavyweight champions in Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida. While the 205-pound match up was the main affair, a few men shined a little bit brighter then the rest, and have since been the hot topic of discussion, and deservedly so. ...

What’s next? It’s a subject that is on a lot of people’s minds now that ufc 123: “Rampage vs. Machida” is in the history books. What does the future hold after a great night of fights that saw several interesting stories come and go, with several great fights here and there? If you’ve followed me at all, you’d know that I simply can’t resist getting my two cents in. So here we go again, fans and friends: get ready for the next edition of my “What’s Next” column, where I predict the future for the big winners and losers of UFC 123. Let’s get started. ...

It’s easy as 123, fans and friends. UFC 123, that is. “Rampage vs. Machida” is now a thing of the past. It was a night filled with surprises and a not-inconsiderate amount of controversy. In the main event, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson won against fellow former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida in a fight that even “Rampage” himself felt was so incredibly close that it deserves an immediate rematch. In addition to that, the long-standing rivalry between former UFC Welterweight Champions BJ Penn and Matt Hughes came to a dramatic end at UFC 123, with Penn KO'ing Hughes before the half-minute mark. Here are the full results as well as some commentary for UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida”. ...

There were no weighty issues for today's ceremonies, leading into tomorrows pay-per-view event for UFC 123, which takes place at the Palace in Auburn Hills, in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. The nights headliner between former champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida quickly became heated when the two met for the stare down, after both had came in at 205-pounds on the nose. Machida squared off with Jackson with the traditional fist to face motion, which Quinton apparently didn't take kindly, and before it was all said and done, a scuffle was quickly averted when UFC head honcho Dana White interjected between the two strikers. ...

This weekend marks one of the last major UFC shows of the year and of the decade, as the promotion looks to put on UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida” on November 20. The main event sees two former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions clash in an epic showdown with serious title implications, while the co-main event sees two former UFC Welterweight Champions meet for a third and final time. As is customary for any major MMA event, I’m bringing the crystal ball back out and giving my official picks and predictions for all the major fights of UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida”. Let’s get to it. ...

BJ Penn is quite possibly one of the greatest fighters ever to compete in the world of mixed martial arts. But, ironically enough, he's arguably also one of the sports greatest disappointments. A man who is naturally gifted with athletic abilities people could only wish for. It seems like his greatest potential achievements have been squandered away by poor habits and worse decisions. He's promised time and time again that he will reinvent himself, and after back-to-back defeats inside the octagon, Penn's back is against the wall, even if he may not feel like it. ...

Hello again fans and friends and welcome to a new segment I’ll be calling “Crash Course”. “Crash Course” will be a quick synopsis of an upcoming major MMA card a few days before the card is set to air. It’ll contain a quick history on the big matches, why you should care, some other matches to look forward to, positives and negatives of the card as a whole, and a final recommendation on whether or not the show is worth a purchase. And what better way to start out this new series of columns than with UFC 123? Featuring two amazing Light Heavyweight talents mixing it up in the main event, here’s the inaugural “Crash Course”, highlighting UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida”. ...

We’re now closer than ever to the year’s end. All-too-soon it’ll be time to bid a fond farewell to a year that had more shocking surprises and upsets in MMA than any in recent history. But the year is not over yet, and it’s not going quietly. There’s still plenty of awesome MMA to keep you occupied in these long winter months, so here are my Top 5 fights for the remainder of 2010 that you absolutely must watch. ...

In a duel between former champions, light heavyweight's Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Lyoto Machida are now officially set to face each other later this month, serving as the headliners for UFC 123. The 11-bout card has been made official by the promotion today, including two-televised Spike TV bouts serving as the lead in for what is shaping up to be a good night of fights. Along with the highly anticipated light heavyweight match up, a pair of former welterweight champion's are set to face one another for a third time in order to put to rest a rivalry that has lasted for over 7 years, when BJ Penn meets UFC Hall of Famer, Matt Hughes in the co-main event of the evening. ...

While doing my early-morning ritual of navigating the internet to get the latest juicy bit of ufc/MMA news, I came across a very interesting article on MMA Manifesto. The article lists the Ten Greatest UFC Pay-Per-View Draws of All-Time, according to estimates. It’s a fascinating piece, and it makes me wonder: what do these high-drawing athletes say about our sport? Here’s the first of a two-part article where I reveal what I think these fighters represent, and why they’ve made the UFC so many millions. ...

Renzo Gracie spoke his mind in part two of our exclusive Fighters.com video interview.  The MMA legend looks back to his fight vs. Matt Hughes in Abu Dhabi, expands on why Frankie Edgar has blown up, who will win Edgar/Maynard 2, why Matt Serra disregarded his Jiu Jitsu against Chris Lytle, and if he ever plans to fight again.  Click through to watch the video. ...

MMA legend Renzo Gracie took some time this week to speak on-camera with Fighters.com in New York City. In this clip, Gracie shares his thoughts and predictions on all the main card fights at UFC 121. Find out why he is picking Jake Shields over Martin Kampmann plus his thoughts on Brock Lesnar v. Cain Velasquez. Stay tuned to Fighters.com for Part 2 of our video interview where we talk about Matt Hughes, Ricardo Almeida, and the upcoming Frankie Edgar v. Gray Maynard lightweight title fight.  Coming soon. Click through to watch the video. ...

The ultra-successful "ufc Prelims" special, which has served as a lead in to the Pay-Per View portion of UFC bouts, will be returning on Nov. 20, when the organization visits Auburn Hills, Mich. for UFC 123. Headlining the nights festivities will be former light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida in a non-title bout, with a trilogy between former welterweight champions Matt Hughes and BJ Penn being completed that night, serving as the co-main event of the evening. Prior to these bouts, a pair of middleweights and 170-pound fighters will be in action as part of the Spike TV special, which will have the potential to reach 96.1 million people at home in these United States. ...

As the year is coming closer to an end, the now annual World MMA Awards, which is hosted by Fighters Only Magazine, has recently announced their finalists for the December 1st event, which will take place once again in Las Vegas, Nev., which has become a hot bed for all things fighting related. The 2009 event opened up to a large audience, and has become a propellant in the mixed martial arts world, opening up the eyes to a mainstream audience, by the community taking leaps and bounds in order to legitimize itself as not only a legitimate sport, but one that deserves that same sort of recognition that most others receive, here in these United States. ...

ufc 123, which takes place at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan, will be host to a great night of fights. While your still wiping away the crust from your eyes after watching UFC 119, try to have something to look forward to. While there are no titles on the line come November, what we do have is an exciting and dynamic night of fights. The UFC just made official today the fight card, which will include a headlining bout pitting former light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson versus Lyoto Machida, in a contenders bout. ...

If nothing else can be said about former two-division UFC champion “The Prodigy” BJ Penn, it’s that he knows how to take a tough loss in stride. At UFC 118, Penn was faced with perhaps the most humbling loss in his entire career, a five-round thrashing given by big underdog Frank Edgar. A former title holder in both the UFC’s welterweight and lightweight divisions, Penn is hoping for another career rebirth when he jumps back up to 170 to face long-time rival Matt Hughes for the third time at the upcoming UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida” event. And according to Penn , time heals all wounds and he feels no animosity towards the man he once hated. Read all about it here. Here's my response, and why I think this is the absolute best frame of mind for him to have. ...