We head to MMA Weekly for the story. According to their report, UFC officials recently confirmed that Kongo/Mitrione will be added to the UFC 137 fight card. The event is quickly becoming the can’t-miss MMA event of the fall, headlined by Georges St. Pierre taking on Nick Diaz. Other big matches include George Roop vs. Hatsu Hioki and Mirko Filipovic vs. Roy Nelson.

A veteran of over twenty fights, Cheick Kongo has been in the UFC for about half a decade. In that time, he’s made several interesting runs and at different times was thought to be only a few fights away from a shot at the championship. It never quite worked out that way for the French striker, and throughout the years Kongo has become the UFC Heavyweight division’s premiere gatekeeper. In his most-recent fight, in one of the most-dramatic comeback victories I’ve ever seen, Kongo survived an all-out flurry by Pat Barry and nailed Barry with two miraculous Hail Mary strikes that stone-cold KTFO’d his “UFC on Versus 4” opponent.

But if it weren’t for that dramatic turn of events, Matt Mitrione likely would have walked away from “UFC on Versus 4” with a “Knockout of the Night” award. Mitrione is just five fights into his professional MMA career, having made his debut inside the Octagon and after a stint as the bad-boy of season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter”. To date, Mitrione is a flawless 5-0 with four (T)KO victories. At “UFC on Versus 4”, Mitrione made short work of Christian Morecraft.

Make no mistake about it, this is definitely a “gatekeeper” fight. What’s strange is that this is actually a gatekeeper fight for Cheick Kongo as much as it is for Matt Mitrione.

For Matt Mitrione, it’s definitely all about getting past Cheick Kongo in order to take on the best Heavyweights in the division. Kongo has been a gatekeeper for years, and to be honest, he’s been pretty successful at it. He gives his cynics plenty of ammo with his lack of ground game and his tendency towards some illegal tactics in particularly close fights, but the man is still knocking people out. If Matt Mitrione can’t beat Cheick Kongo, then he really deserves to stay where he is for the time being.

But there’s a lot on the line for Cheick Kongo too. A lot of people are talking about Kongo now, and you can bet that the UFC wants to capitalize on that upswing in popularity. If Cheick Kongo beats Matt Mitrione, Kongo will get another shot at a top-division opponent. He’ll face Frank Mir again, or maybe the winner of Cro Cop/Nelson, or even Brock Lesnar depending on how that works out.

Make no mistake, this is a pivotal fight for both men. And since both men match up with each other so well, this also could be one of the best fights of what is already looking to be a stellar card.

Normally we’d begin as we always do, fans and friends: by putting the situation into context. But since I know this is an issue that will almost-certainly be raised, let me address why Matt Mitrione is getting this award and not Cheick Kongo.

To put it shortly and bluntly: Pat Barry nearly finished Cheick Kongo. It made Kongo’s epic comeback all the more epic, but Barry nearly beat Kongo and there’s a contingent of fans, both Barry supporters and casual observers, which think that the fight should have been stopped before Kongo rallied.

At “UFC on Versus 4”, there was never any question that Morecraft was in way over his head against Mitrione. Mitrione came out and gave a near-flawless performance. Cheick Kongo, as amazing as his comeback was, simply managed to stay conscious and catch an overeager opponent with a Hail Mary uppercut. And that’s why Matt Mitrione deserves this award, and not Cheick Kongo.

So, with that said… let’s put this fight into context.

Christian Morecraft debuted in the UFC a perfect 6-0 with six stoppage victories. Unfortunately, he would lose his UFC debut in the second round when Stefan Struve KO’d him. His next performance was an all-out manhandling of Sean McCorkle that saw Morecraft choke McCorkle unconscious with a standing guillotine, McCorkle’s giant frame embarrassingly crumpling to the mat afterwards. Although I still say that Morecraft holds one of the worst tattoos in the UFC (and that’s really saying something), he was impressive enough that the UFC gave him a shot at rising star Matt Mitrione.

From his roots as “Meathead” on the tenth season of the popular UFC reality TV show “The Ultimate Fighter”, Mitrione had evolved into a solid striker that was hungry to improve in all areas of the game. Mitrione had an interesting style that he personally says is modeled after Dominick Cruz, who is of course a current UFC champion… at Bantamweight. With Mitrione tipping the scales normally at 260 or so, that’s a difference of over one hundred pounds. But it’s a style that continues to find a way to work: although he lost TUF Season 10, Mitrione made his professional MMA debut in the UFC, and coming into this bout with Morecraft, he had won four straight bouts with three stoppages.

Both men had a lot of animosity going into this bout. Morecraft accused Mitrione of taking the “easy way in” to the UFC, and at the fighter’s weigh-ins, the two nearly broke into a scuffle during their pre-fight staredown.And when the time came for the two men to share the same cage, they got into it once again, right before they were scheduled to fight.

There was a lot of testosterone and anger in the Octagon for that fight, but one thing became clearly evident as soon as the fight started: Morecraft is a good fighter, but Mitrione was simply in another league.

I’ve said this before, but it does bear repeating: by the end of this fight, I honestly felt as if Matt Mitrione was toying with Christian Morecraft. The announcers did say that Mitrione looked tired, but I never saw him falter or slow his pace down. He took some big, deep breaths when Morecraft had him up against the cage, sure. But that was a lot of man pressing down on him. In the end, Mitrione landed a three-punch combo that dropped Morecraft. Morecraft stayed down, and Mitrione walked away. After a split-second of doubt, it became very clear that Morecraft was down and out.

In terms of an overall performance, Matt Mitrione shined at “UFC on Versus 4”. He gave an exciting fight and a fantastic finish, it just so happened to be outshined by one of the craziest moments of 2011 so far. But it was still the best performance of the night.

5. The fight between Nik Lentz and Charles Oliveira… up to the illegal knee.

It’s very, very unfortunate that this fight will be known primarily because of an illegal knee strike that wasn’t seen. It’s already being called one of the biggest referee blunders of the last few years, given that multiple replays clearly show that the knee strike was in full view of the referee. Up until that strike, this was a dramatic and super-exciting match-up that saw both men engage frequently and have downright beautiful ground sequences that involved frequent scrambles and reversals.

4. Joe Lauzon completely demolishing Curt Warburton.

I told this to my good friend when I watched the end of this fight live: when he’s angry or motivated, Joe Lauzon is a dangerous fighter. Lauzon didn’t take too kindly to being back on the prelims again, and he said in his post-fight interview that he was hunting for a post-event bonus. And when you have a fighter like Joe Lauzon that comes into a fight both angry and motivated, that fighter is downright scary. And Lauzon’s all-out blitzkrieg-smackdown of Curt Warburton was one of the best moments of the night.

3. Charlie Brenneman putting the puzzle pieces together and defeating Rick Story.

This was definitely a major “Rocky” moment for Charlie Brenneman. He came into this fight on twenty-four hour’s notice, after sitting on the sidelines, and managed to beat one of the hottest prospects the UFC currently has under their roster. He didn’t utilize one tool in particular to beat him, he simply managed to put it all together and get the win. It definitely was one of the most unexpected outcomes of the night, and also one of the most entertaining.

2. Matt Mitrione KO’ing Christian Morecraft and calming walking away without a care in the world.

You know what’s really scary, fans and friends? Seeing a grown man stone-cold KO another man and then walk away as if it was an everyday occurrence. Mitrione’s three-hit combo that knocked out Christian Morecraft came so fast that part of me wondered why Mitrione was walking away. I honestly thought that Mitrione was showboating, and that it was just another flash knockdown that needed to be pounced upon… and then I saw Morecraft hit the floor and stay there. Now Mitrione is being praised for walking away and saving Morecraft from unnecessary damage. That’s power. That’s confidence. And that’s why Matt Mitrione takes the second spot on this list and likely would’ve taken the top spot had it not been for the obvious.

And my personal pick for the best moment of “UFC on Versus 4” is…

1. Cheick Kongo rallying and KO’ing Pat Barry while semi-conscious.

You know it was coming, I knew it was coming, so here it is. I have no earthly idea how Cheick Kongo survived Pat Barry’s initial rush. From my perspective, and this is just my opinion of course… but from my own personal perspective, it looked like Kongo was legitimately unconscious at least two times while Barry was trying to finish him. It may have only lasted for one or two seconds, if that… but for those one or two seconds, the lights weren’t “dimmed”, they were out. Fully out. And then Cheick Kongo comes back and KTFO’s Pat Barry. You can’t make stuff like this up, fans and friends. Anything can happen in MMA, and of course this moment takes the top spot.

So there you have it: those are the moments I’ll be remembering from this event.

Next for Nik Lentz/Charles Oliveira: Each other, which is why I’m grouping them together. If you believe some rumors, this fight may have already been changed to a No Contest. I think that’s great, but I also think Oliveira deserves a rematch so he can clear his name and prove that he can beat Lentz. Plus, Oliveira seems to bring out the best in Lentz. The Nik Lentz I saw at “UFC on Versus 4” was not the fighter I had grown to dislike, it was a new fighter that was exciting, willing to engage, and had a really awesome ground game. So I think an immediate rematch is definitely called for.

Next for Matt Mitrione: Give him Cheick Kongo, or even Shane Carwin. Why not Roy Nelson too? Whoever it is, Matt Mitrione deserves a top Heavyweight. People are very high on Mitrione now, although some point out that he’s only looked good against low-level Heavyweights. My answer to that is simple: beating low-level Heavyweights in dramatic fashion is one of the ways you get to face high-level Heavyweights. Mitrione is ready for a high-level Heavyweight.

Next for Matt Brown: If Matt Brown loses his next fight, he’s going to be cut. Even though he won at “UFC on Versus 4”, that’d make it four losses in five fights. I honestly wasn’t impressed with Brown’s performance, I actually considered his fight one of the most-boring of the broadcast. Brown staved off the executioner momentarily… but not for long.

Next for Rick Story: Story will take some time off to readjust and rethink, and he’ll show up to his next fight a new man. There’s still a very bright future in the UFC for Rick Story, he’ll just have to wait a while to fully realize his potential. No matter what the future holds for Rick Story, I wish him the best.

Next for Pat Barry: My heart went out to Barry when I saw the look on his face as the referee raised Cheick Kongo’s hand and not his. Barry looked utterly devastated, which is heartbreaking considering how much of a genuine good person he is, and how he continues to improve and looked great at “UFC on Versus 4” before getting clipped. Unfortunately for Barry, this loss means that he’ll continue to have to fight lower-tier Heavyweights until he gets another shot at a gatekeeper.

Next for Cheick Kongo: With this dramatic win, Kongo’s career will go one of two ways. The first option is to have Kongo face another upstart Heavyweight (like Matt Mitrione) and see if he can put together a two-fight win-streak as one of the UFC’s premiere gatekeepers. The other option is to have Kongo face a top-division Heavyweight right off the bat and give him another chance to get into title contention. Kongo staged a fantastic comeback, but his future is still very uncertain. Nevertheless, never let it be said that Cheick Kongo doesn’t know how to finish a fight.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends.

Cheick Kongo defeats Pat Barry via knockout at 2:39 in round 1.  Charlie Brenneman defeats Rick Story via unanimous decision. Matt Brown defeats John Howard via unanimous decision. Matt Mitrione defeats Christian Morecraft via knockout in round 2. Tyson Griffin defeats Manny Gamburyan via majority decision. Javier Vazquez defeats Joe Stevenson via unanimous decision. Joe Lauzon defeats Curt Warburton via submission (kimura) in round 1. Rich Attonito defeats Daniel Roberts via unanimous decision. Charles Oliveira defeats Nik Lentz via submission (rear-naked choke) in round 2. Ricardo Lamas defeats Matt Grice via TKO in round 1. Michael Johnson defeats Edward Faaloloto via TKO in round 1.

After a few hit-or-miss “UFC Prelims LIVE” shows, the preliminaries came roaring back at “UFC on Versus 4” and convinced me once again that I made the right call when I made this series my new “dark horse favorite”. The UFC gave us seven free preliminary fights for this event, and many of them ended with fantastic stoppages.

I was very disheartened when Charles Oliveira caused a firestorm of controversy when he hit Nik Lentz with an illegal knee and then proceeded to beat him with a choke. I thought it was an excellent fight up to that point, and I know that Oliveira can beat Lentz. All I hope is that there’s a rematch when this fight inevitably gets changed to a No Contest.

Of all the people that shined on the prelims, Joe Lauzon nearly went nova with another all-out blitzkrieg domination stoppage. Curt Warburton had nothing for him, Lauzon’s striking was too crisp, his hands were too heavy, his submission game was too excellent. Lauzon continues to impress when he’s angry and has something to prove, and I think we’ll see him back on a Pay-Per-View very soon.

Matt Mitrione deserves a top Heavyweight. I’ve said it, I believe it, and I’ll keep saying it until the UFC gives him one. It took him a few scant minutes to perfectly time Christian Morecraft, and by the end of their fight it seemed as if Mitrione was outright toying with his hulking opponent. I’m going to remember the sight of Matt Mitrione calmly and confidently walking away after KO’ing Morecraft for quite some time. Matt Mitrione has arrived, and I think it’s time he faced someone like Shane Carwin or Cheick Kongo.

And speaking of Cheick Kongo… insanity. Insanity and madness. Those were the two words that kept running through my head as I saw Pat Barry drop and nearly stop Cheick Kongo at least two times before Barry walked into a clipping shot and then the Hail Mary power punch. I’m a passionate fan when I watch a particularly exciting bout, and to be truly honest, I screamed myself hoarse by shouting “WHAT?! WHAT?!” multiple times as I saw Pat Barry crumple to the mat, his eyes glazed over, his body in the “fighter’s crucifix” position. Surely this was one of the most amazing, most unexpected comebacks in MMA history.

All in all, I was highly impressed with this “UFC on Versus” event. I think this event has even raised the standard of all other cards on the Versus network. This is the new benchmark, fans and friends. It’s going to be very tough for another “UFC on Versus” event to out-perform “UFC on Versus 4”.

5. “UFC on Versus” events tend to deliver more often than not.

Even though this will be only the fourth in the “UFC on Versus” series, this show does have a lot to live up to. The first two events in this series both featured Jon Jones in the main event, dominating his opponents with the same ruthlessness that would lead him to capture the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. The third event featured stars like Diego Sanchez, Brian Bowles, Mark Munoz, Alessio Sakara, and more. This is a series with a very good track record, and that’s important heading into a new event.

4. Seven (seven!) free fights on Facebook.

The UFC continues to spoil its fans with free fights on Facebook for virtually every event they’ve ran. At times they’ve cut it  little close in announcing that the fights will appear on Facebook, but they’ve been giving these free fights to us for so long now that I honestly would raise a serious fuss if they were ever taken away. For this event, the UFC is giving us seven free fights for the price of a “like” on their Facebook page. That’s nothing compared to the quality of fights these preliminary attractions tend to deliver.

3. Matt Mitrione vs. Christian Morecraft is guaranteed fireworks.

Matt Mitrione has said that he wants to explore areas of his game where he’s not comfortable, but in this fight with Morecraft I think he’s going to have to fall back on his brawling roots. The good thing about that is that these two men have the potential to put on an epic brawl. If it lives up to its potential, there’s a very real chance that this will earn “Fight of the Night”.

2. Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo should be a very technical, very exciting match-up between two very gifted kickboxers.

Many people have criticized Cheick Kongo for being one-dimensional, but few seem to remember that the reason why he’s been in the UFC for so long is because he’s very dominant in that one dimension. Against a fellow kickboxer like Pat Barry, Kongo will be able to let loose the full force of his brutal kicks and punches. As technical as both men are on their feet, I see this one getting very ugly very fast. It’ll be a “beautifully ugly” fight, and one of the night’s best.

And the number-one reason to watch this event is…

1. The main event features two very different men with two very different styles and two very different goals fighting each other.

Nate Marquardt both wants and needs to prove that he doesn’t choke in big fights. Much like Kenny Florian, who has also been accused of this in the past, Marquardt is dropping down in weight in hopes that it will alleviate his problems. But will it? Rick Story is no joke, he’s a fantastic young talent and I’ve been impressed with him more and more as I’ve gotten to see him fight more and more. But is Story really ready for someone like Marquardt? It’s questions like these that are on just about everyone’s minds as we head into this event, and it’s definitely the number-one reason to check out this show.

So there you have it, fans and friends: five great reasons to tune in and see “UFC on Versus 4”

Nate Marquardt vs. Rick Story: This is a rare moment where my head and heart are in agreement, although parts of both do question my logic. As a realist, I think a drop down in weight is a great thing for Marquardt and he’ll show up hungry, motivated, and at his best. As an optimist, I think Nate Marquardt has always been good and he’ll continue to be a tough opponent for anybody. Rick Story is a very good prospect and I think he has a very bright future in store for him, but in terms of facing top-division competition, facing Marquardt will be a matter of “too much too soon”. It’ll be close at times, but ultimately Nate Marquardt will win by Unanimous Decision.

Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry: I used to like Cheick Kongo, at one point I even considered him under-rated thanks to his high level of kickboxing skill. But I think time simply hasn’t been kind to the UFC’s premiere Heavyweight gatekeeper. If someone like Frank Mir can rattle Kongo’s chin, Pat Barry could very well KO him. And Pat Barry has looked mostly impressive in the UFC, especially during his last bout where he completely dominated his opponent. I think Barry will out-work Kongo first, softening him up with leg kicks and counter-strikes before going in for the kill. Pat Barry wins by TKO in Round 2.

Matt Brown vs. John Howard: What a weird fight… you have a man that’s lost three straight fights going up against a man that’s lost two straight fights. I just can’t see a way for Matt Brown to win this one: he’s lost three straight with all three losses coming by way of second-round submission, his record is 11-10, he’s been inactive since November 2010 and he hasn’t won a fight since 2009. John Howard may have lost his two most-recent fights, but he won seven straight before those losses. Plus, Howard has six submission wins and Matt Brown has been submitted eight times. John Howard wins by Submission in Round 2.

Matt Mitrione vs. Christian Morecraft: Mitrione certainly has come a long way from his days as “Meathead” on the tenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”. From his background as a former football player that was little more than the “villain of the season” during TUF 10, Mitrione now stands poised to ascend to top-division status, in much the same way that Brendan Schaub is about to and in much the same way that Roy Nelson has done. Morecraft is tough, but Mitrione is tougher. Morecraft hits hard, Mitrione hits harder. Morecraft has good cardio and technique, Mitrione has better cardio and great technique. This is going to be the fight where people start taking Mitrione seriously as a top-division Heavyweight. Matt Mitrione wins by (T)KO in Round 1.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends.

The Event: “UFC on Versus 4”, currently scheduled for June 26, 2011 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The entire preliminary card of the event will be streamed live and for free at the UFC’s Facebook page starting at 4:55 PM ET. The main card will be televised live on the Versus network starting at 9:00 PM ET.

Why You Should Care: This event sees former UFC Middleweight Championship contender Nate Marquardt drop down to Welterweight to face Rick Story. A drop down in weight could wholly revitalize Marquardt’s career: he’s always been an entertaining fighter, but as of late he’s struggled to keep up with the Middleweight elite. Plus you have Ricky Story, one of the UFC’s best can’t-miss prospects at Welterweight. And to top it all off, you’ve got a big pair of Heavyweight encounters that should guarantee fireworks.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: When Nate Marquardt is “on”, he sure is on. We’re talking about a man who (T)KO’d both Demian Maia and Rousimar Palhares and made it look easy. And that’s just in recent history. But when he’s off, he’s been outright dominated. So, which Marquardt shows up, especially now that he’s in a new weight class? Plus, can Rick Story live up to his potential? Depending on who wins this fight, we could either see a “changing of the guard” moment or the debut of a new Nate Marquardt that has his eyes squarely set on the UFC Welterweight Championship.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: Ever since his slightly-embarrassing loss to Mirko Cro Cop, Pat Barry has been a man possessed. In his recent fight with Joey Beltran, he’s never looked more vicious and his strikes have never seemed more powerful. On the other side of the Octagon you’ve got Cheick Kongo, who’s one of the UFC’s premiere gatekeepers and is a tough opponent for any man on any given day. With both men’s love of striking, this should be an epic encounter between two tough kickboxers.

Why You Should Watch This Card: The story behind the main event is quite interesting, as both men need a major win over a tough opponent in order to establish themselves in the Welterweight division. And not only do you have Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo in a good fight, you’ve also got entertaining brawlers Matt Mitrione and Christian Morecraft stepping into the cage and throwing leather. And let’s not forget that the UFC is giving us over five free fights on Facebook.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: As much as I like the dynamic of Nate Marquardt vs. Rick Story, I have to admit that I think this is a weaker fight than the original “UFC on Versus 4” main event, which would have seen Marquardt face Anthony Johnson. In general, this is a card that’s been plagued with fighters pulling out, fights getting shuffled back and forth, and even some fights being cancelled. It’s still a good card… it’s just not as good as it could have been.

Closing Thoughts: Like all the other events in this series “UFC on Versus 4” strikes me as a happy medium between a Pay-Per-View and a “Fight Night Live” event. It features an interesting mix of stars both new and old, smartly booked against each other in fights that should bring out the strengths of all involved. It looks to be a good card on paper, perhaps great when all is said and done, so I’m definitely going to be watching this one.

According to MMA Fighting, the following four matches are now confirmed for the “UFC on Versus 4” broadcast: Nate Marquardt vs. Anthony Johnson, Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo, Matt Mitrione vs. Christian Morecraft, and Matt Brown vs. Rich Attonito.

Also, several bouts remain unconfirmed by the UFC but do appear to be in the works. Those bouts include Martin Kampmann vs. John Howard, Manny Gamburyan vs. Tyson Griffin, and Joe Stevenson vs. Javier Vasquez.

I think it will be very interesting to see how Nate Marquardt adapts to being a Welterweight. I’ve always thought of Nate Marquardt as a very muscular Middleweight, and when he’s at his bulkiest I’ve even thought that he could make Light Heavyweight with not much effort. I supposed Marquardt is tired of having to start over again and again in the Middleweight division and is interested in trying his hand at a different weight class.

I also think it’s too soon to tell how successful Marquardt will be at Welterweight.  Anthony Johnson has just come off a very convincing performance against Dan Hardy, and I think Johnson is well on his way towards realizing the potential seen in his first few UFC fights. In facing Anthony Johnson, Nate Marquardt is dealing with an explosive, very muscular wrestler that can knock people out but can also totally control them on the ground. And his deflating loss to Chael Sonnen proves that Nate Marquardt still has a weakness against dominant wrestlers.

In regards to the other “UFC on Versus 4” fights, I’m looking forward to seeing both Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo and Matt Mitrione vs. Christian Morecraft.

I think Barry/Kongo is the perfect match for both striking-based fighters. It’s become painfully obvious that Cheick Kongo will never have any sort of ground game other than basic Ground and Pound, but Pat Barry loves to keep the fight standing and he’s coming off a very dominating performance. It may not be the most technical fight ever, but we should see fists flying a mile a minute and it could just be one of the best pure brawls of the last several months.

I feel mostly the same way about the Christian Morecraft vs. Matt Mitrione match-up. To be honest, I was hoping that Mitrione would get someone a little higher on the food chain, but I do understand that Morecraft is just coming off of a big win over Sean McCorkle. It’ll be two big, big Heavyweights swinging leather, and with the skill level both men have shown in their recent fights, it should definitely be an entertaining scrap.

All in all, I’m definitely looking forward to this show. And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on the current, confirmed “UFC on Versus 4” lineup?

“The Ultimate Fighter” season ten cast member Matt Mitrione will be taking on Christian Morecraft on the Versus televised card, where both men will almost certainly meet on the main-card.

A loss for Morecraft could spell walking papers from the promotion while a win for Mitrione could vaunt him into the upper echelon of the UFC’s thinning heavyweight class.

UFC on Versus 4 is said to take place at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The main-event will pit hard hitters Anthony Johnson and Nate Marquardt against one another in a pivotal welterweight bout.

Mitrione is undefeated in his professional career at 4-0, with all of his victories coming inside the UFC. In his last outing, Matt dispatched of veteran Tim Hague, the former Canadian King of the Cage heavyweight champion, in just under three minutes of the opening round. It was his third knockout finish of his career.

Meanwhile. Morecraft is coming off of his first win inside the octagon. In his first bout with the promotion, Morecraft was pitted against budding contender Stefan Struve at UFC 117 in August of last year. Morecraft dominated the Dutch striker from the start of the round, bludgeoning him with powerful shots on the ground, even mounting the submission savvy fighter. However, a second-round rally helped him secure the knockout finish in just 20 seconds of the second frame. Hoping to make good on his next impression, Christian battered internet sensation Sean McCorkle en route to a second-round submission finish, which left Sean unconscious on the mat.

For Mitrione, another win for him in the heavyweight class could mean bigger fights for him and could eventually lead towards a title shot. For Morecraft, going 1-2 in the UFC often times leads to your dismissal, especially now with the recent acquisition of Strikeforce.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the match-up? Mitrione should be favored heading in, but Morecraft is as game as they come and should not be overlooked. Sound off in the comment section below.

Courtesy of Middle Easy, Kongo recently said the following: “[Matt Mitrione] is a favorite of mine in the UFC, a great guy… If the UFC offered me this [match-up], I would gladly take it.”

I think this is a great fight for Matt Mitrione for several reasons. First and foremost, it gives him the opportunity to truly test his hands against a legitimate, feared striker. Kongo is known primarily as a one-dimensional kickboxer, but with that one dimension he’s been able to earn nine of his fifteen wins in professional Mixed Martial Arts by way of (T)KO. Mitrione has looked dominant standing, but Kongo is on an entirely different level than any of the competition Mitrione has faced before. It would certainly be a tough test and a real proving point if Mitrione decided to see how his stand-up measures up to Kongo’s.

Another reason that this match would be interesting is that it would give Mitrione a chance to explore his ground game. Mitrione has stated several times that he’d like to go to the ground more in order to gain experience, and let’s be honest, Mitrione would have plenty of time to work his game if he gets Kongo down. Kongo’s Achilles Heel has been and most likely always will be the fact that the man’s strategy when taken down is to turtle up and get hit often.

I’m now going to say what I know we’re all thinking: this is Mitrione’s gatekeeper fight against the guy who’s been the gatekeeper for the last several years running. But even if you look at it that way, is that really such a bad thing? Yes, Kongo has been put into this role of gatekeeper, looking fantastic against lower-level opponents and then washing out against top-division talent. But he’s still a veteran, he still holds more victories in the Octagon than he does defeats, and he still has the ability to viciously and quickly separate a man from consciousness.

And if we’re being so bluntly honest about Kongo, let’s be bluntly honest about Mitrione: he’s not nearly at the level required to challenge the best in the division. Who has he beat? Marcus Jones, Kimbo Slice, Joey Beltran, and Tim Hague. Mitrione has looked dominant while compiling this 4-0 win-streak, but he’s looked dominant against low-level threats. With the exception of maybe Joey Beltran, none of Mitrione’s opponents have an ounce of relevancy in the UFC, and three of them aren’t even UFC fighters anymore.

This is the perfect fight for both men, and catches both men at a time when they need it the most. Kongo needs to keep winning so he can set himself up for another shot at top-tier relevancy. Mitrione needs to beat Kongo to prove that he’s ready for more than just the bottom of the barrel. I think this would be a great fight, and I’d definitely enjoy watching it happen.

And what about you, fans and friends? Would you like to see Mitrione vs. Kongo? And who do you think would win?

Coming off of an impressive win over former UFC fighter Travis Wiuff, knocking out the near 80-fight veteran inside of the first-round, it looked like Hague had finally put everything together in order to be successful in the organization’s ultra-talent-rich heavyweight division.

However, the native of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada instead went on to disappoint when he suffered a first-round TKO to rising prospect Matt Mitrione last Saturday at “UFC Fight for the Troops 2″. In turn, the loss also posed the reason why he was released yet again by the worlds largest mixed martial arts promotion.

This marks the third-time that the heavyweight star has been released from the promotion. Following a 1-2 run inside the octagon with consecutive losses to Todd Duffee and Chris Tuchscherer on the heels of his lone win over Pat Barry (first-round guillotine choke), he was let go from the UFC, however was later resigned when the organization needed a late replacement for the tough Joey Beltran last May.

Hague was then on his second-leg, however lost a close decision to “The Mexuctioner” and was subsequently released from the organization.

After a two-fight win streak outside of the organization (the aforementioned Wiuff as well as a knockout win over Ultimate Fighter veteran Zak Jensen), he returned to the UFC against Mitrione, however with the loss and subsequent release thereafter, it might be sometime before the Zuffa company will be calling for the Canadian for any immediate duty.

“After getting released from the UFC again today, I’m gonna take a little break away from MMA, let the brain heal from my concussion, and get the passion/fire back. Even toying with the idea of trying a cut to 205″, said Hague via his personal Facebook page.

Though the UFC pink slip is crushing in of itself, Tim stayed relatively jovial about the whole experience and believed that he could soon be returning in the future if he plays his cards right.

“I will be back though, I’m only 27, and I will make it back to the UFC,” said Tim.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Should Tim have been cut so decisively and quickly? Well, 1-4 results inside the cage is certainly not anything to gawk at. Do you think Tim, who regularly weighs-in about 256-pounds, could make the light heavyweight division? Sound off in the comment section below.

Coming to us courtesy of MMA Weekly, Mitrione recently said the following: “For this fight, I wanted to emulate Dominick Cruz…  I love the way you fight brother, you’re elusive, and I wanted to be just like that… I can’t say where this really puts me as far as my progression as a martial artist… I haven’t really had the chance to capitalize or really see where my ground game is…  I know as a stand-up guy I can really let ‘em fly… I’m just saying I don’t exactly know where (my ground game) is. I prefer to trade leather, I’d prefer to let my shins and my hands fly.”

For someone who was known as “Meathead” during his time on the tenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, Mitrione sure has progressed considerably. I think the sky’s the limit for Matt Mitrione, and I can’t wait to see how he does against the UFC’s best. It will be very interesting to see whether or not a higher level of competition will finally be able to give Mitrione the early-career setback that some hot prospects have fallen victim to, or if Mitrione is destined to become the next Jon Jones or Junior dos Santos.

Moving forward, I think the key here will be finding ways to test Mitrione in all areas of the game and against an increasingly-higher level of competition. In a recent post I speculated that Mitrione’s next opponent should be Pat Barry, and I definitely still stand by that claim. I think this would be a great fight, since Mitrione has shown a lot of skill as a boxer while Barry is most dangerous when he’s given room to utilize his experiences as a kickboxer. It would definitely be quite exciting to see how Mitrione’s punches match up to Barry’s leg kicks.

I think Mitrione should also face a ground expert and/or submission specialist sooner or later, though the Heavyweight division seems to be lacking them for the most part (although, now that I think of it, Sean McCorkle may be a good candidate). The two best Heavyweight ground specialists, Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, are probably a bit higher than the skill level Mitrione should be facing right now. A fight with either of those two would be the equivalent of getting thrown into the shark tank: Mitrione has a chance of winning, but his chances of losing would be at their highest. I think Mitrione would take a fight with Mir or Nogueira without hesitation, but I also think that that’s not the type of fight he needs to be having right now.

So I say give Mitrione another striker, but one that’s at a higher level than any he’s faced before. Other potential opponents include Cheick Kongo, Brendan Schaub, or even Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin. But no matter what the future holds for Matt Mitrione, I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on him and I look forward to seeing him continue to evolve into a complete Mixed Martial Artist.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you make of Mitrione’s comments, and what do you think the future holds for him?

We head to the only and only Sherdog for the official list of medical suspensions for UFC “Fight for the Troops 2”. According to the report, Matt Mitrione is suspended indefinitely due to an injured left hand and must be cleared by an orthopedist. Williamy Freire is also suspended indefinitely due to injuries to the right hand and right cheek and must be cleared by an orthopedist and facial surgeon. Finally, the following three fighters were all suspended until February 22 as a precaution: Evan Dunham, Tim Hague, and George Roop.

Mitrione’s injury shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who saw him fight, since the man himself stated that he was almost positive that he had broken his hand in his post-fight interview. I look forward to seeing Mitrione bounce back from this injury and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the surging Heavyweight talent. Even though he’s still a newcomer, Mitrione has come a long, long way from his days as “Meathead” on the tenth season of the popular UFC reality TV show “The Ultimate Fighter”. I truly believe that big things are in store for Mitrione, so I wish him a healthy and speedy recovery.

And of course, I wish the same to all of those who were injured on “Fight for the Troops 2”.

I’m also very thankful that this event wasn’t plagued by the same string of injuries that plagued the first “Fight for the Troops” event. If you’ll recall, fans and friends, several fighters had to be outright hospitalized following their fights at the event. And to top it all off, the first “Fight for the Troops” event saw arguably the most heinous broken limb ever seen in an MMA bout, as Corey Hill literally had his leg snapped in half after his opponent, Dale Hartt, checked a leg kick.

So, all in all, it seems as if “Fight for the Troops 2” was a resounding success. The event likely raised a large amount of money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which is a fantastic cause run by a group of wonderful people. The UFC shined on its Facebook stream, giving fans four free preliminary fights with little-to-no hiccups in quality. The main card broadcast on Spike TV featured a varied cast of characters, from submission experts to knockout artists to veteran all-rounders. There was something for everybody and it all went to a great cause, and I’m very glad that “Fight for the Troops 2” turned out to be such a good show.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any general thoughts on “Fight for the Troops 2” or these medical suspensions in particular?

Next for Mike Thomas Brown: What a difference a year or two can make. Has it really been that long ago that Brown seemed to be ruling the Featherweight division with an iron fist? Brown is now 1-3 in his four most recent bouts, and the future is looking quite grim. In all honesty, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was announced in the next several days that Brown has been fired from the UFC. If not that, then Brown will have one last shot on yet another preliminary card. It’s do-or-die time for Mike Brown no matter who he faces next.

Next for Cody McKenzie: McKenzie hit a bump in the road, but he’ll be back and better than ever. For his gutsy performance against Yves Edwards, I think McKenzie will be bumped up to the main card of a UFC “Fight Night Live” event, although the quality of his opponent will likely remain the same. McKenzie may have lost the fight, but he gained a lot of respect in the eyes of many, so his job is definitely secured for the time being.

Next for Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione: Each other, which is why I’m grouping them together. They both playfully called each other out during their post-fight interviews, and since they both won their fights in dominating fashion, I think this would be a great scrap and could even headline a “Fight Night Live” event. Both men are hungry to prove themselves worthy of entering into the Heavyweight elite, and whoever wins this fight would take a big step in the right direction.

Next for Mark Hominick: The toughest test of his career, but one that he’ll be prepared for. Hominick is now staring down a shot at Jose Aldo for the UFC Featherweight Championship, and I honestly can’t think of a better fight to properly introduce UFC fans to the phenom that is Jose Aldo. This fight has “Fight of the Year” written all over it, so when it happens, I’m predicting that I’ll tune in and be amazed. Regardless of who wins, this is going to be an epic fight.

Next for Evan Dunham: A rematch with Sean Sherk, unless the injury bug bites Sherk once again. If not “The Muscle Shark”, Dunham should probably face another middle-tier Lightweight. Dunham needs a tough opponent to prove he’s still relevant, but he also needs an opponent that he stands a chance of winning against. It would prove more if Dunham kept throwing himself into the shark tank, but for now, perhaps the best way to keep himself afloat is to go back to fighting middle-of-the-road competition in order to get his career on stable ground.

Next for Melvin Guillard: Whatever is next, it’s going to be big. Guillard is going to be on Pay-Per-View in his next fight, and it’ll probably be against someone like Kenny Florian, Jim Miller, or George Sotiropoulos. For better or worse (and it’s hard to say “worse” considering how awesome he looked against Evan Dunham), Guillard has now thrown himself “into the mix” in the UFC’s Lightweight division. He’s now on the shortlist of possible championship contenders, so expect his next few fights to be a series of “contender eliminator” encounters.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think the future holds for the big winners and losers of “Fight for the Troops 2”?

Melvin Guillard defeats Evan Dunham by TKO (Strikes) at 2:58 of Round 1. Matt Mitrione defeats Tim Hague by TKO (Strikes) at 2:59 of Round 1. Mark Hominick defeats George Roop by TKO (Strikes) at 1:28 of Round 1. Pat Barry defeats Joey Beltran by Unanimous Decision. Matt Wiman defeats Cole Miller by Unanimous Decision. Yves Edwards defeats Cody McKenzie by Technical Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:33 of Round 2. DaMarques Johnson defeats Mike Guymon by Verbal Submission (Body Triangle) at 3:22 of Round 1. Rani Yahya defeats Mike Brown by Unanimous Decision. Waylon Lowe defeats Willamy Freire by Unanimous Decision. Charlie Brenneman defeats Amilcar Alves by Unanimous Decision. Chris Cariaso defeats Will Campuzano by Unanimous Decision.

Once again I found myself really enjoying the UFC’s “Prelims Live” outings. The UFC took to Facebook to stream four free fights, and for the most part, the broadcast went off without a hitch. The opening bout (Lowe vs. Freire) was a bit of a misfire, but when you consider the fact that you had three other fights to balance it out, it was a stream well worth watching. In particular, I really enjoyed the fight between Yves Edwards and Cody McKenzie. I think McKenzie has a bright future in the UFC despite the loss, and I also look forward to seeing what the future holds for Yves Edwards.

The main card itself was all kinds of interesting. Matt Wiman looked excellent against Cole Miller, while Pat Barry put on a fiery performance against the super-tough Joey Beltran. I laughed when Barry joked during his post-fight interview that, if their fight had been five rounds, Beltran would have been hopping around on one leg and still moving forward. And the reason I laughed is because Pat Barry was telling the truth. I’m very glad that Pat Barry scored such a big win, but Beltran also earned himself some major points for his uncanny ability to never back down.

Mark Hominick looks to be an excellent opponent for Jose Aldo, and I for one wasn’t angry in the least when the referee stopped the fight. If you ever need a real-life example of being “out on your feet”, fans and friends, it was George Roop in the dying seconds of that fight. Hominick and Aldo should put on a sure-fire barnburner.

Allow me to sum up Matt Mitrione’s performance in one sentence: Matt Mitrione has arrived. I think some huge things are in store for Mitrione in a very short period of time, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the fight that takes Mitrione out of the woods and onto the mountain path. While he’s not a high-level star just yet, he’s definitely emerged into a bonafide prospect and I’m really looking forward to seeing how he handles increasingly stiffer competition.

I think much of the same can be said of Melvin Guillard, who put on undoubtedly the best performance of the night against the super-tough Evan Dunham. Guillard seems to have finally put together all the pieces, and this performance may have rightfully put Guillard on the shortlist of possible championship contenders.

All in all, I really enjoyed this event. Sometimes it doesn’t take major stars and massive fights to make an event that’s very enjoyable. The UFC continues to really impress me with their 2011 outings, and I’m very hopeful for the future. It’s going to be an amazing year, fans and friends.

And what about you? What did you think of “Fight for the Troops 2”?

Before his fellow countryman, at Fort Hood in Killeen, Tex. during tonight’s “UFC Fight for the Troops 2″, Mitrione put on arguably the best performance of his career when he utilized his improved stand up abilities, courtesy of trainer Duke Roufus.

Mitrione stated that he wanted to emulate current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and use the in-and-out movement coupled with effective punches and kicks. I’m sure Mitrione did the champ proud, as the 260-pound heavyweight bounced around on his toes, picking apart the equally large Hague, dropping the 4-time UFC veteran twice before finally pouncing on him for the TKO win.

The victory, which was recorded at 2:59 of the very first-round, helped push Matt’s undefeated record to a perfect 4-0, and he now holds a four-fight win streak inside the octagon, since making his professional debut in the promotion in December of 2009.

According to CompuStrike, the budding heavyweight prospect landed 20 of his 31 strikes thrown, 16 of which were power shots.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Matt’s performance? From “meat head” on the tenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, to surging heavyweight contender, it’s awesome to see the progression he has made in his career, thanks largely due to his athleticism and trainer’s such as Duke Roufus and veteran Chris Lytle. Sparring with Pat Barry, a K-1 level striker, certainly doesn’t suck either. Who would you like to see Matt fight next? Sound off in the comment section below.

Here’s what Hague had to say over at TSN.ca: “MMA is such a crazy sport. A guy can lose a fight at any time so you never know what’s going to happen… It’s not the end of the world if I end up losing, knock on wood. I’m just going to go out there and fight as hard as I can and be proud of myself for what I’ve accomplished… It’s crazy the way things worked out… One thing about me is you’ll never see me quit. You can turn my face into mashed potatoes and I’ll keep going.”

Hague is currently scheduled to face Matt Mitrione at tomorrow’s UFC “Fight for the Troops 2” event. Mitrione is a perfect 3-0 newcomer to the sport most famous for his TKO victory over Kimbo Slice as well as his stint on the tenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”.

I’ll admit that I’m one of the many that only remembers Tim Hague as the guy that was on the receiving end of the fastest KO in UFC history. I’ll even admit that I’m picking Mitrione to win and feel decently comfortable in doing so. But Tim Hague promises not to go down without a fight, and he’s more or less lived up to that promise every time he’s stepped into the Octagon, so for that he definitely earns my respect.

And it’s not like he’s facing an insurmountable foe. Matt Mitrione is on a very good hotstreak and has shown a lot of potential in his time inside the Octagon, but he’s still a relative newcomer, and he’s still got plenty of rough edges that a skilled MMA tactician can exploit. If this turns into a brawl, realistically it’s anyone’s ballgame. Hague has six wins by (T)KO, so he knows how to separate a man from consciousness.

And let’s not forget, no hot prospect is safe no matter how great they look in the Octagon. Everyone loses eventually, and nothing is impossible in MMA. Take, for instance, Josh Grispi‘s last fight. I along with a vast legion of fans expected Grispi to tear through Dustin Poirier, but what we witnessed was Poirier outright dominating Grispi to the point where Grispi’s championship contender status vanished in the blink of an eye. Tim Hague may only be a four-year veteran with sixteen fights, but that’s thirteen more fights that Mitrione has had. With a mixture of experience, heart, determination, and some heavy hands, Hague may end up beating Mitrione by the time all is said and done. I’m still siding with Mitrione, but I certainly wish Hague all the best. It should be a pretty entertaining scrap regardless of who wins.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of Hague’s chances against Mitrione?

If Mitrione finishes Hague, he’ll have finally and fully erased his bizarre antics on the set of TUF 10.

It’s basically become a fact of life: no season of “The Ultimate Fighter” is complete without a bad-boy that is universally loathed and yet somehow gets more than his fair share of screen time due to his bizarre antics and juvenile, frat-boy shenanigans. During TUF 10, Mitrione was definitely the bad-boy of the group, but he is perhaps best known for his strange behavior that caused even his coach to refer to him as “Meathead”. However, Mitrione is 3-0 with all three of his professional MMA fights occurring inside the UFC, with two TKO’s to his credit. If Mitrione pounds Hague’s face in, the days of “Meathead” will be nothing more than a distant memory, since people will start considering Mitrione a credible threat in the UFC’s constantly-evolving Heavyweight division.

Matt Mitrione should probably fight Brendan Schaub.

There was a clear hierarchy during TUF 10, and that’s basically followed all the notable TUF 10 stars into the UFC. First we have Roy Nelson, the winner of the season who has now fully emerged into a top-division star. Next there’s Brendan Schaub, who will likely also approach top-division status if he’s able to win his upcoming fight against Mirko Filipovic and extend his current win-streak to four straight fights. Last but not least there’s Mitrione. If Mitrione is able to beat Hague, fighting Schaub next makes a whole lot of sense and would be a real proving point for both fighters, in addition to a fun and marketable fight to watch.

Mitrione should face a ground specialist so we can find out how well-rounded he truly is.

In three straight fights, Mitrione has faced opponents overwhelmingly known for their striking game. Joey Beltran has ten of his twelve wins by some form of (T)KO. Kimbo Slice needs no introduction. Marcus Jones had three of his four MMA wins by (T)KO. There aren’t that many submission specialists in the UFC’s Heavyweight division, but there are enough to where I feel that Mitrione needs to face one of them in order to prove his versatility and set himself up as a well-versed all-rounder that has all the tools necessary to make a deep run at the top.

Does anyone see Matt Mitrione as the UFC Heavyweight Champion?

While I think Mitrione can fight his way to the top and start facing the UFC’s best and brightest, I have to be honest and admit that I really don’t know how well he’ll do against athletes like Roy Nelson, Frank Mir, Junior dos Santos, Shane Carwin, and Brock Lesnar. I still consider Mitrione a talented newcomer that’s shown flashes of brilliance, but I just don’t like the idea of immediately throwing him into the shark tank and seeing if he gets eaten alive. If Mitrione beats Hague and continues to work his way up the divisional ladder, this is a question that people are going to be focusing on more and more. And my early opinion is that Mitrione will be in for some of the most difficult fights of his life, some of which I just don’t see him winning.

And what about you, fans and friends? Where will Matt Mitrione go if he beats Tim Hague?

Cole Miller vs. Matt Wiman: Both men are relatively young but still quite skilled in the Octagon. This is definitely an important fight for both men, both are on two-fight win-streaks and chasing relevancy in the UFC’s ever-crowded Lightweight division. With more wins, fewer losses, and some excellent submission skills, Cole Miller should be the favorite to win this one. I’ll pick Miller to take a second-round submission.

Pat Barry vs. Joey Beltran: It all depends on how often either man lands the strikes they like, which are the ones that have given them a majority of their wins by (T)KO. Barry has a tough chin, so it’s unlikely, although not impossible, that Beltran will be able to outright KO “HD”. Barry, on the other hand, could end up stopping Beltran if he can land his patented, vicious leg kicks. It’ll be a close fight, but I think Pat Barry will win this one by Unanimous Decision.

Mark Hominick vs. George Roop: Roop is coming off what has to be the biggest win of his career, a thunderous KO victory over “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. However, that only briefly overshadowed the fact that Roop has been a tremendously up-and-down fighter for much of his career. Meanwhile, Mark Hominick hasn’t lost since 2008 and has finished three of the four bouts that have gone into his current four-fight win-streak. Hominick has fought more often, fought bigger names, and beaten more quality opposition. Mark Hominick takes a Unanimous Decision.

Matt Mitrione vs. Tim Hague: Tim Hague is still very much trying to get out from under the shadow of his dramatic KO loss to Todd Duffee, which holds the official record as the fastest KO in UFC history. Mitrione, meanwhile, is an undefeated prospect that’s got nowhere to go but up. I think Hague is definitely being cast as the sacrificial lamb, and unfortunately for him, I see him playing that character to perfection. Matt Mitrione wins by first-round (T)KO.

Evan Dunham vs. Melvin Guillard: I think Guillard is the posterboy when it comes to the “Greg Jackson Formula” being able to turn a fighter’s career around. Dunham will surely be a can’t-miss fighter in the near future, but in the here and now, Guillard simply has too many ways to win. He’s always been a very talented fighter, but Greg Jackson seems to have finally put together the right formula to turn Guillard into a true championship contender. I’m predicting that Guillard takes the KO in Round 2.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What are your predictions for UFC “Fight for the Troops 2”?

The Event: UFC “Fight for the Troops 2”, scheduled for January 22, 2011 at Fort Hood near Killeen, Texas. The main card will be broadcast live on Spike TV starting at 9 PM ET and 6 PM PT.

Why You Should Care: This is a charity event that takes place on a military base and is being put on in order to help raise awareness and money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a non-profit charity that helps veterans and the families of veterans. In addition to this very worthy cause, the event also features several interesting match-ups featuring a great cast of tough veterans and hot prospects.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Evan Dunham is a fantastic newcomer and could be the next George Sotiropoulos, based on his great submission skills and tremendous heart. Melvin Guillard always shows up to perform and has had several awesome fights in the UFC, and new life seems to have been breathed into his career ever since he switched camps and went over to Greg Jackson’s. If Dunham beats Guillard, he’ll have the big win over a respected veteran that he should have gotten when he lost a supremely controversial decision to Sean Sherk. If Guillard wins, he puts himself into prime position to once again start receiving top-division opposition.

What to Look Forward to in the Co-Main Event: It’s another “veteran vs. newcomer” fight, and it should be a very worthy co-main event. Matt Mitrione was the bad-boy of Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter”, but now that he’s in the UFC, he’s proven himself as an interesting prospect that loves to engage and has serious knockout power. Tim Hague is a veteran fighter that just recently avenged a three-fight losing-streak by going on a two-fight win-streak, with both wins coming by (T)KO. Whether they swing for the fences or engage in the pocket, these two Heavyweights are going to get down and dirty very quickly, and in the process they’ll give us a pretty entertaining brawl.

Why You Should Watch This Card: There are several reasons, but two big ones make this card one that’s well worth watching. Judged solely on the quality of its fights, this card is definitely a good Spike TV live special. It has a pretty engaging mix of name-value stars, smartly-booked fights, and fresh faces mixed in with veteran talent. But almost as important is the goal of this show, which is to raise money for a very worthy cause.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: There are some decent names here, but nothing that screams “you need to watch this”. In similar fashion, a lot of these fights look good on paper, but none of them really stand out as potentially amazing bouts. It should be a fun night of fights, but there’s relatively little chance of anything earth-shattering occurring at this show.

Closing Thoughts: In the end, I strongly encourage any and all reading this little blurb to tune in and watch this show. I applaud the UFC’s continued efforts to give back to the troops, and I encourage those of you that can give money to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund to give and give generously. With a great cause behind it and several smartly-booked fights rounding it out, “Fight for the Troops 2” should end up being a good show.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your take on “Fight for the Troops 2”?

“One thing, I am really proud of Pat, he is out there wrestling his ass off. Training grappling, Jiu Jitsu, he has been doing tournaments between fights. He actually has gotten so much better at wrestling.  I am very proud.”

Roufus also knows his heavyweight will never again be daunted fighting a bigger man since Barry was a principle training partner for Brock Lesnar ahead of his fight with Cain Velasquez.   Coach Roufus, however, is not looking back but ahead to fight a man he has lots of respect for in Joey Beltran.

“He’s excited for this fight. I like the fight a lot. I think he is really spunky, tough fighter. He is definitely going to want to stand and trade with Pat, which can make for a fun fight.”

Beltran vs. Barry could be Fight Of The Night material if each man stays standing for more than one round.  Beltran, who has 9 TKO stops in his 12 career wins, clearly likes to bang and may not give Barry a chance to deploy his newly practiced ground game.  And that would be fine with Barry who originated as a K1 striker as has kicked his way to a promising career.

Roufus is on a roll with Pettis, Barry, Daniel “Danny Boy” Downes, Eric Koch, and Matt Mitrione (also fighting on Jan. 22) in his Milwaukee camp.  And, he is finding one common thread in all his guys.

“I think one of the biggest factors in MMA right now is the athleticism.  You have to train athletically as well as be good at fighting.  That’s when everything changed in MMA.”

While his core guys are all known entities for MMA fans, Roufus touts one lesser known fighter in his camp who represents this new reality in high-level MMA.

“I am training another guy right now who is training with Pat Barry … Dave “Pee Wee” Herman.  Dave Herman wrestled at Indiana, heavyweight, he fought in Elite XC, this guy is an off the wall crazy athlete, so is Pat Barry.  That is the X factor in this sports, the athleticism.”

Pettis, Herman, Downes, Koch all represent MMA 2.0 if not 3.0.  Next up for Roufus are Barry and Mitrione on Jan. 22 and it will be interesting to see if the wave of good times keeps rolling for the boys from Milwaukee.

Chime in folks.  Predictions for Barry v. Beltran.  Somebody is getting knocked in this one??

@john_moody

5. The first “Fight for the Troops” event was a successful show despite its bizarre history.

The original “Fight for the Troops” show featured a lot of interesting match-ups that unfortunately ended with several fighters having to go to the hospital. Nevertheless, it definitely served its purpose, since it gave fans a memorable (to say the least) night of free fights while also helping raise several million dollars for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. “Fight for the Troops 2” seems to have the same aura of unpredictability and should lend the same helping hand, and hopefully history only repeats itself when it comes to the good fights and the crazy amount of coin raised, and not the heinous injuries.

4. The card features a lot of young, emerging talent.

Evan Dunham could be a key Lightweight player by the time 2011 is through, while Matt Mitrione is slowly but confidently building himself up as a potential star at Heavyweight. The main card also features the hard-hitting Pat Barry and the submission artist Cole Miller. The undercard also features a lot of new and emerging talent, so fans are practically guaranteed plenty of fast-paced goodness throughout the night.

3. The co-main event should be a wild brawl.

Tim Hague is a tough veteran that comes to either KO or get KO’d, while Matt Mitrione has also shown some very impressive fists in the cage. Hague wants to engage to prove he’s still relevant, and the best way to come back from a three-fight losing-streak is a three-fight win-streak with all wins by (T)KO. Mitrione wants to keep his hotstreak going since he’s an undefeated prospect and the Heavyweight division currently needs a new prospect since Junior dos Santos has been elevated to a championship level. Both men should come out swinging, and it should be a very entertaining fight.

2. The main event should be great.

Evan Dunham is an incredibly versatile 11-1 Lightweight, with many believing that he was cheated out of a victory over Sean Sherk and should be an unbeaten 12-0. Dunham can do it all even though he’s mostly known for his submissions. Likewise, Melvin Guillard can do it all even though he’s mostly known for his KO’s. Even though Dunham is two years older, this is still a very “rookie vs. veteran” fight given that Guillard will be fighting for the thirty-sixth time when he faces Dunham. Both men are known as exciting, versatile fighters, so this one should be a war no matter where it goes.

And the number one reason to already be looking forward to “Fight for the Troops 2” is because…

1. It’s for a great cause.

I normally hate to get all preachy and up on the soapbox, but I’ve got no problem making an exception when it comes to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. This is an amazing charity that deserves all the help it could possibly get. No matter how you feel about MMA, the UFC, or even our veterans, you should feel very proud that the UFC is teaming up with a non-profit charity in order to give back to the brave men and women who have fought to defend the USA. I certainly do.

And there you have it, fans and friends: “Fight for the Troops 2” should be a very interesting show that’s well worth watching. But what about you? What do you think of the event?

Click through for the audio interview.

According to Sherdog, the official “Fight for the Troops 2” card now stands as follows: Kenny Florian vs. Evan Dunham, Matt Mitrione vs. Tim Hague, Mark Hominick vs. George Roop, Pat Barry vs. Joey Beltran, Cole Miller vs. Matt Wiman, Yves Edwards vs. Melvin Guillard, Mike Swick vs. David Mitchell, DaMarques Johnson vs. Michael Guymon, Chan Sung Jung vs. Rani Yahya, Waylon Lowe vs. Willamy “Chiquerim” Freire, and Amilcar Alves vs. Charlie Brenneman.

UFC “Fight for the Troops 2” is scheduled to take place January 22, 2011 from the Fort Hood military post in Killeen, Texas.

The more and more I look at this card, the more and more I think that this will be a standout event in its own right. Despite the problems he’s had in the past with facing top-level competition, Kenny Florian is and perhaps always will be one of the most entertaining fighters in the UFC Lightweight division. Florian looks amazing in most fights, and this fight should be no different. Evan Dunham will also likely show up in top shape and top form after getting a taste of the top when he fought (and many would say “beat”) former UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk recently.

The undercard has several great fights as well. I’m particularly looking forward to Matt Mitrione vs. Tim Hague, I think Mitrione has the potential to take a lot of people by surprise and go far in the increasingly-competitive UFC Heavyweight division. You’ve got WEC stars like George Roop and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, you’ve got Mike Swick and Melvin Guillard, and you’ve even got DaMarques Johnson and Pat Barry. If it all goes according to plan, we may be in for a  great night of non-stop action.

And don’t forget the most important aspect of this card: this is all being put on to raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. The IFHF is a non-profit charity that raises money for veterans with traumatic brain injuries. The first “Fight for the Troops” event raised an estimated four million dollars for the organization.

While I’ve been known to criticize the UFC in the past (but, hey, I criticize everyone eventually, it comes with the territory), I’ve got nothing but good things to say about “Fight for the Troops 2”. It’s a great cause, it’s a great card, and it should be a great night of fights. And I’d like to encourage all of those who can give, to give generously.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your opinion on “Fight for the Troops 2” and what fights are you looking forward to?

According to the official press release, Kenny Florian, Mike Swick, Matt Mitrione, Melvin Guillard, and DaMarques Johnson have all been confirmed for the event. Once again, the event is being held in order to raise awareness and money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which is a non-profit organization that “provides assistance to our nation’s military heroes who have been critically injured in the performance of their duty, and their families.”

UFC President Dana White had this to say regarding the event: “It’s always a great honor for us to entertain the men and women of the military by bringing them some great fights while raising money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. It’s the least we can do for the people who are defending this country and making so many sacrifices for our freedom, and this is a cause the UFC will always support.”

The first “Fight for the Troops” event raised a staggering four million dollars for the IFHF. Ironically, the first “Fight for the Troops” show also became infamous for the string of grisly injuries it produced. Several fighters had to be hospitalized after the event, and Corey Hill had to endure one of the most horrific injuries ever seen in the Octagon when his leg basically snapped in half after his opponent Dale Hartt checked a kick.

All in all, I’m really looking forward to this show. I think the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a great cause, and I’m glad that the UFC is determined to continue raising awareness and funds for the organization. As the son of a veteran myself, I can proudly and strongly say that I think that all veterans deserve our nation’s help and support in whatever way they can get it, regardless of your personal world views or political orientations. It doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree with whatever conflict is going on, the sacrifices these brave men and women make on a daily basis should never be overshadowed, overlooked, or taken for granted.

The great thing about this event is that not only does it raise awareness for a great cause, it’s also a pretty good event in and of itself. Florian vs. Dunham is a very, very worthy headlining attraction for a Spike TV show, with both men coming off of a loss but still being “in the mix” thanks to their spirited performances in the past. It looks like some real effort is being put into making this show one worth watching, so I’ll definitely be tuning in and looking forward to a fun night of fights that benefits a great and worthy cause.

And what about you, fans and friends? What kind of fireworks do you think “Fight for the Troops 2” will produce?

After appearing on the ultra-popular 10th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” where “Meat Head” didn’t make it past the quarter-finals when UFC light-heavyweight James McSweeney defeated him via guillotine choke (albeit in an exhibition match up). However, following his stint on the show, Mitrione, a former NFL defensive tackle, was invited back to the season’s finale show in December of 2009. Successful in his UFC debut, Matt was able to dispatch of fan favorite and season semi-finalist Marcus Jones, knocking him out in just 10 seconds in the second-round.

And after impressive performances against Kevin Ferguson, better known as “Kimbo Slice” and most recently Joey Beltran in front of a hometown crowd at UFC 119 in Indianapolis, Ind. In the fight with Beltran, Matt had only two professional fights to his credit against Beltran’s 15. However, Mitrione proved that skill beats experience, and was able to walk away with a unanimous decision victory.

Now riding a three fight win streak, Matt will look to build on his recent success when he meets another veteran of the game, in Tim Hague.

Hague, who most probably remember from his quick knockout loss to the previously undefeated sensation Todd Duffee at UFC 102 in August of 2009, is back on track in his mixed martial arts career. After exiting the UFC this year with a 1-3 record overall, with three consecutive losses, Tim was able to bounce back with two back-to-back knockout victories. In his most recent outing, Hague was able to dispatch of the near 80-fight veteran in just a little under two-minutes inside of the first round, in front of a hometown crowd in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Tim will return to the UFC and hope to derail the hype that is surrounding the strangely charismatic Mitrione, who now trains full time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin out of Duke Roufus’ camp alongside fellow UFC stars, Eric Schaefer, Pat Barry, and current WEC title challenger Anthony Pettis.

The match up between the two heavyweight’s will be either Matt’s coming out party into the upper echelon of the heavyweight division, or Hague’s return to his winning ways inside the octagon.

The match up, which was first reported by MMAFighting.com, is scheduled to take place January 22 at Fort Hood, Killeen Texas for “UFC Fight for the Troops 2″.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of this match up? Who do you favor? Sound off in the comment section below.

CEO of First Round Management, Kawa represents fighters such as Thiago Alves, Jon Jones, and Dan Hornbuckle to name a few, however it was Matt Mitrione’s statements post-UFC 119 that has given Malki the most attention in his career as a Sports Agent, which he either has Matt to thank or resent for, since it wasn’t the most heartfelt things “Meat Head” has had to say.

In his interview with Ariel Helwani following his unanimous decision victory over fellow heavyweight Joey Beltran on the Spike TV special “UFC Prelims” which was a lead into the cards Pay-Per-View portion, the season 10 veteran of “The Ultimate Fighter” had this to say about Mr. Kawa,

“His name’s Malki Kawa, with First Round Management. He did the worst job ever, with sponsorships. For a televised fight, he got me five-thousand dollars. Five-thousand dollars for a televised fight. Now, that is highly unacceptable. So, Malki, your fired”, said Mitrione in a speech that would have impressed Donald Trump.

While $5,000 sounds pretty good right about now, as far as televised performances go, especially on a male driven network like Spike TV, $5,000 does sound relatively minuscule.

But, MMA peeps, what do you think? Should Mitrione have been warranted in firing his manager? Are you otherwise impressed with Matt, and do you think he warrants a pay day worth more than $5,000 as far as sponsorships? If Kit Cope can garner $10,000 in sponsorship money on his own accord for a regional show, I’m sure Mitrione deserves a wee bit more.

Courtesy of MMAWeekly, here are the highlights: “I’m excited. You always want to be able to put on a show for the people you love, for your friends and family. It’s going to be great… I don’t want to be the ‘cliché’ guy, but I think that my game keeps developing. I had a pretty huge learning curve that I had to catch up on, and I still do, but I feel like I’m really trying to maximize my time in the gym, and I feel like I’m athletic and I’m intelligent. So I’m able to pick things up. I learn pretty quickly.”

At the end of the day, I think we should judge a MMA fighter primarily on the skills he demonstrates rather than his personality. It’s the main reason I’ve accepted Nick Diaz as one of the best Welterweights in the world despite the fact that I normally loathe his “street thug” personality and mentality. In the case of Matt “Meathead” Mitrione as seen on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10, we had a classic attention hog that wanted to be the center of the world and would stir up drama just so he could get noticed. But when it all came down to it, Mitrione displayed some impressive fighting skill.

And if I can play Devil’s Advocate for a bit, let me pose the following question. Say you’ve just been given a shot to compete in TUF. You know that drama drives ratings in reality television. It’s become an established fact that UFC fans get at least one Drama King per season. Why not be that guy? Your reputation takes a hit, sure, but you can back it all up in the Octagon, can’t you? Why not milk the camera for all it’s worth and get your fifteen minutes of fame? Surely someone else will if you don’t. TUF’s brand of reality TV drama is a necessary evil, and be honest, you know people like it more than they’d ever admit, because TUF without the controversy and frat-boy antics is just a bunch of dudes sitting around in a gigantic house shooting the breeze about the fight game. All I’m saying is this: don’t criticize the bad boys, because you know a part of you can’t help but tune in week after week in order to find out what crazy things they’ll do next.

And in all honesty, I think Mitrione will go far in the UFC. He’s not a hulking behemoth in league with Shane Carwin or Brock Lesnar, but he’s athletic and knows how to get the job done. He’s 2-0 in the world’s most elite MMA organization, with both wins by stoppage. He may not ride a rocket to the top like Roy Nelson or even Brendan Schaub, but slow and steady wins the race. If Mitrione is allowed the time to develop and given the right opponents, ones that test him without clearly being above his league, we could be witnessing the beginning stages of another fantastic addition to the UFC’s Heavyweight division.

And what do you think, fans and friends? What does the future holds for “Meathead”?

Matt Mitrione Versus Joey Beltran

Just days after they both won at UFC 113, Truefighting is reporting that Matt Mitrione (2-0) and Joey Beltran (10-2) are in talks to fight at UFC 117 in August.

Matt is coming off a TKO victory over Kimbo Slice (4-2) in which he looked much improved. The improvement came by training with kickboxing legend Duke Roufus and UFC heavyweight prospect “HD” Pat Barry (3-2).

Beltran was on the winning end of a unanimous decision over “The Thrashing Machine” Tim Hague (8-4).

Shogun

It was stated on MMA Live before the fight between “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-1) and now UFC light heavyweight champion “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (19-4) that the winner would defend their title based on the outcome of another fight. That fight would be the long-anticipated bout between “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) and “Sugar” Rashad Evans (14-1-1) which takes place May 29 in Las Vegas at UFC 114.

However after Shogun won via KO, UFC president Dana White was asked at the post-fight press conference about the match-up. He stated he was unable to answer that at this time and would have to wait and see what happened in that fight. Now it looks like we will see that fight after all. Dana was interviewed by Carmichael Dave and stated “The winner of the Rampage Jackson vs Rashad Evans fight will get the first shot at Shogun.”

The better fight from a promotion standpoint would Rampage versus Shogun as they met back in Pride:Total Elimination 2005 when Shogun knocked out Jackson in 4:47.

A win over Rashad would put Rampage on a three fight win streak and without a loss to Machida like Evans has, would make him a clear-cut contender for the title.

Randy Couture

Speaking of Shogun, former champion “The Natural” Randy Couture (18-10) heard that Shogun and his manager had been discussing a fight with him. Randy posted the following via his Twitter account: “Just finishing the deal for Toney and every ones talking about shogun . Love to fight him but toney first ! He must Have called me out and I missed it . Great performance by rua . Id love a crack at him after toney in aug . Maybe rua in oct ufc 120″

Randy has stated that his next fight is all but signed with former boxing champion “Lights Out” James Toney (0-0) in what many call boxing versus MMA.

Stay tuned to Fighters.com and MMA Gospel Radio as we keep you updated on all the latest around the world of MMA.

After the fight had ended a frustrated Daley threw a punch at Koscheck and had to be restrained by referee Dan Miragliotta. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg did a much better job than what we saw Gus Johnson do when the Strikeforce brawl took place. Joe went so far as to say that Daley should be in jail for assault.

After the fights had ended Dana White made it clear that he was unhappy with Daley and that the UFC was not going to stand for antics such as that. “He’s done,” White said “I don’t give a [expletive] if he’s the best 170-pounder in the world. He’ll never come back here again.

“I don’t care if he fights in every show all over the world and becomes the best and everybody thinks he’s the best pound-for-pound best in the world, he will never fight in the UFC ever again,” White said. “He’s done.”

Technically you can say that Daley lost four times this evening as he lost a coaching spot on the
“The Ultimate Fighter” and a title shot as well.

Koscheck used his takedowns to put Daley where he has the least experienced, on his back. Koscheck is a former four-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler who has won a national championship. Once he got Daley down it was easy for him to blanket him and ride out the decision. It made for a boring fight as he used little to no ground and pound and the fans voiced their displeasure by booing.

Kimbo Slice (4-2) suffered a similar fate to Daley in a shocking announcement from Dana White. After being completely dominated by a much improved Matt Mitrione (2-0), who scored a TKO victory in the second round, Kimbo seems to have been cut from the UFC. During the post-fight conference Dana said ” That’s probably Kimbo’s last fight in the UFC”.

Kimbo is a former streetfighter turned internet sensation thanks to Youtube. Dana had been very critical of Kimbo when he was in the now defunct EliteXC, calling him a freak show. Since then his stance as changed.

Slice joined the cast of “The Ultimate Fighter 10″ and took the challenge Dana White had offered. Since that time Dana has earned respect for the former street king. “I said that I have a lot of respect for Kimbo and how he’s handled this whole thing – a lot of trash-talking for a couple of years, by me,” White said. “He took me up on my challenge. He came in to ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and tonight he got beat by Matt Mitrione. Mitrione was 1-0, and he came in and took Kimbo out tonight.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for Kimbo. I like him as a person. He carried himself really well.”

Right before Dana left the press conference to be interviewed by ESPN he was asked once again about Kimbo and his response was “Yes, we are going to be cutting him”.

This is an odd move as Kimbo, like it or not, is a large draw when on television. He has been a part of three of the four most watched mixed martial arts events in the history of the sport. Last night many journalists and fans alike were questioning the validity of Dana’s statement especially since he loves to take things away from Strikeforce. “Slicing” Kimbo from the roster would essentially land Kimbo right back on national television as Strikeforce would take him and put him on a live CBS card. Dana could always say that Kimbo could not cut it in the big leagues but regardless he would be giving fans over to Strikeforce, a promotion he seems hell bent on squashing.

Kimbo was simply outclassed in the fight with Mitrione, who has been training with four-time Kickboxing world champion Duke Roufus. That training paid off as he chopped Kimbo down with leg kicks that took away any shot he had at going for the knock out. Once the power was gone Matt took the fight to the mat and ended up in full mount where Kimbo could do little but cover up and wait for the fight to be stopped.

Stay tuned to MMA Gospel Radio and Fighters.com for more on these stories and much more.

Slice had been slated to fight Matt Mitrione (1-0) at UFC 113 but many speculated that Kimbo would fight Toney in the street brawler versus pro boxer math-up since the Slice and Mitrione fight was not on the official fight card for UFC 113 at UFC.com. Well, let’s put that baby to rest as that fight is now official for UFC 113 on May 8 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

UFC 113 is a card headlined by the rematch between Fighters.com and UFC light heavyweight champion “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-0) and third-ranked “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (18-4). The first fight between these two took place at UFC 104.

This will give Canada their first live look at Kimbo Slice and leaves James Toney without an opponent at this time. This is something I am glad to see from the UFC.

Never did I want Kimbo to fight James Toney because I felt it was a fight tailored made for Toney to win. I feel the best thing to do is put him in against a more well rounded fighter to show the world just how tough it can be for a pure boxer in the sport of mixed martial arts. I am not saying they should make sure Toney loses but I do feel they have done the right thing by not giving him a tailored made win.

The one issue I have with Toney using his boxing in the UFC is that he is mainly a defensive striker that likes to lay back on the ropes and draw his opponent in to him so that he can then hit him with the stunning power he has. This “lazy” style of boxing will not work in the UFC inside the Octagon. He will have to change his game up completely so feed him a guy that has decent leg kicks and take downs to see just how serious he is taking this sport.

Slice won a unanimous decision over “Assassin” Houston Alexander (9-6) in a 215-pound catchweight fight at SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in Las Vegas December 5.

Mitrione knocked out former Tampa Bay Bucs first-round draft pick “Big Baby” Marcus Jones (4-2) at the same event.

“Marcus is a great dude,” Mitrione complimented his foe after the victory.

Early in round one, Jones lunged forward with a hanging straight right and Mitrione countered backpedaling with a duo of counter straight rights that sent Jones face first into the mat.  Referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight immediately.

Jones had won the first round with a trio of slams and a worthy guillotine choke attempt; but, Mitrione was effective getting back to his feet from beneath the man called “The Darkness”.

“Marcus is much stronger what I give him credit for.  I figured I played in the NFL, I have retard strength too,” Mitrione said.  “I thought he was going to be timid when I touched him; but, he wasn’t.”

Jones nearly retired after losing during the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter, so this loss in his official UFC debut could lead to his retirement.

Mitrione, however, made his pro MMA debut with a win in the Octagon and was impressive doing so.

The final episode will air for two hours and feature fights that will determine the two athletes who will fight for a six-figure UFC contract at at SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in Las Vegas December 5.

The remaining heavyweights include James McSweeney (3-4), ex-NFL defensive tackle Matt Mitrione (0-0), “Big Baby” Marcus Jones (4-1), “Titties” Darrill Schoonover (10-1), “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-4),  and Brendan Schaub (3-0).

Wednesday nights episode will feature matchups between McSweeney and Mitrione and Jones and Schoonover, then the winners of those fights in semi-final matchups with Nelson and Schaub.

Though a plotline forced by the show this season has been the return of “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1) after his first round loss to Nelson,  light heavyweight “Assassin” Houston Alexander (9-4) has confirmed he’ll fight Slice December 5.

Fighters.com will post live coverage of the final fights of season 10 tonight.  Return to Fighters.com tonight for discussion of the final fights and the season.

“Holy shit!  Now that’s a fight,” shouted UFC President Dana White between rounds of the two-round exhibition, and for two-and-a-half minutes it was a hot one.  White had picked the Hawai’ian Junk who lost by heel hook submission to “Hungarian Nightmare” Christian Wellisch (8-5) at UFC 76 in Los Angeles in September 2007.

But, Junk was dropped at the end of Mitrione punches four times in round one.  Junk began the round with a right kick to Mitrione’s mid-section; but, Mitrione caught the kick and countered with a straight that put Junk on his back.  Mitrione allowed Junk to stand, but quickly leveled the stocky heavyweight again with a straight right.  Again, Mitrione allowed Junk to erect himself.  Junk launched a leg kick which Mitrione again caught and countered with a straight that took Junk off his feet.

Mitirione’s advantage was his sharp punching and quick footwork no doubt honed as a defensive lineman in the NFL. 

Back on his feet, Junk shot clumsily and Mitrione dropped bomb’s on Junk’s head while Junk scrambled away on his hands and knees.  Mitrione followed, sticking a hard knee in Junk’s thick mid-section as Junk knelt at the cage.  But, again Mitrione backed off and allowed Junk to stand, feeling for good reason his advantage was on his feet.

With a hook punch, Mitrione dropped Junk for the fourth time in the round as Junk sought to clinch.  Junk stood and Mitrione teed off, though the onslaught was mostly shrugged off by Junk and marked the end of Mitrione’s gas tank for the rest of the fight.  Junk shot for a single-leg takedown, but Mitrione scooted away. Junk followed Mitrione with a trio of sweeping hooks among which Mitrione touched Junk’s chin with a straight left.  Mitrione had thrown himself out, but still landed a thudding right hook to Junk’s chin.

Junk clinched and the two spent heavies rested on each other for 45 seconds before Mitrione dipped away from the cage and landed a leg kick.  But, with Mitrione’s hands at his waist, Junk grazed Mitrione with three right hooks before the first round bell dinged.

Fighters.com scored the round 10-9 for Mitrione after Junk salvaged the second half of the round with right hooks.  Otherwise, it could’ve been a 10-8 round for Mitrione.

Mitrione opened round two winging dinky, but quick scoring shots.  Junk countered with a heavy right hook that just grazed Mitrione.  Mitrione scored again with a leg kick.  Junk grazed Mitrione with another right hook, then shot for a double-leg takedown, landing in Mitrione’s full guard.  Junk landed right hooks to Mitrione’s body and nose before referee Josh Rosenthal stood the pair for playing patty-cake on the mat.

Mitrione unleashed a brief second wind after the rest on the mat, scoring with a stinging 1-2 combo and a teep kick.  A Junk right hook backed up Mitrione, who countered with a right cross that jerked Junk’s chin.  Junk followed up with a pair of grazing right hooks.  Mitrione continued scoring with winging shots from all angles while Junk loaded up right hooks.  The pair traded leg kicks before the end of the second round.

Fighters.com again scored the round 10-9 in favor of Mitrione, but the second round was much tighter than the first.

White was generous after the fight, saying, “Those two stood in front of each and threw bombs.  Both took some big shots.”

After the decision was announced for Mitrione giving Team Rashad coached by Fighters.com’s third-ranked light heavyweight “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1) a 7-0 lead in the contest over Team Rampage coached by now-retired fifth-ranked “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7), Jackson dismantled a door at the UFC gym with his bare hands and bare head.

The final exhibition bout of round one between Team Rampage’s last hope “Big Baby” Marcus Jones (4-1) and Team Rashad’s Mike Wessel (8-3) will be fought next Wednesday on SpikeTV.