While a welterweight showdown is expected to take place come ufc 120 this Saturday, it looks like Michael Bisping had thrown his hat in the mix as well to get some shots in on Carlos Condit. While "The Natural Born Killer" is fighting opposite of England's own Dan Hardy, the season three winner of "The Ultimate Fighter", Bisping, has had some words to exchange with Condit as well. While there were some early concerns with Carlos coming to the London for his 170-pound match with Hardy, as he was delayed for a day due to passport issues leaving from New York, the matter was resolved and the Greg Jackson fighter left just a day later. ...

After Michael Bisping’s win over Chris Leben at UFC 89 in October of 2008, it appeared the Manchester, England fighter was on the fast track to a title shot in the middleweight division.  Then came the devastating knockout loss to Dan Henderson, and a 2-2 overall record in his last four fights.  Coming off a win over Dan Miller in his most recent fight, Bisbing, once again, has a little wind at his back, and is looking to return to the title discussion with a convincing win against Japan’s Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 120 in London. ...

Michael Bisping: you either love him or you hate him. There’s normally very little in-between. A darling to most British fans (he’s headlined several British UFC cards), his cocky attitude and swagger have earned him the animosity of many other MMA fans. I however have been one of the rare middle-of-the-road Bisping quasi-fans: I think the man doesn’t get enough credit and is a good fighter, but I do think that he’s pretty cocky and does say some stupid things just to get people riled up. Case in point: Bisping recently said that he knows he should have won his last fight against PRIDE FC legend Wanderlei Silva. ...

It's no secret that if you're not from the UK, you most likely are not a supporter of Michael Bisping. Since his inception in the ufc, Bisping has always portrayed a sort of arrogant confidence that most people have either come to love or hate. None the less, he has proven to be one of, if not the biggest draw in the UK market, which has proven evident to several sold out shows in England. However, jabbing words at your own countryman probably won't sit well with said fans--especially when your taking pot shots at another endeared fighter in welterweight contender, Dan Hardy. ...

"The Axe Murderer", Wanderlei Silva will make his anticipated return to the cage towards the beginning of next year. The former Pride champion revealed his plans during a Q & A session during the Fan Expo in Boston, for UFC's first trip into the new market. ...

I wouldn’t call myself a fan of the UFC’s UK posterboy Michael Bisping, but perhaps you could call me a bit of an advocate. More and more nowadays I see people completely disregarding his talent and forecasting doom on every single one of his fights. Here’s a more concrete example: back in the days and weeks leading up to UFC 110, people were practically screaming that Wanderlei Silva would murder Bisping, and some see the victory as a dominant performance by “The Axe Murderer” to this day. In truth, it was a very close fight that perhaps Wanderlei only won by closing out the rounds with go-for-broke flurries. Regardless of how you scored Silva/Bisping, once again I’m hearing how Bisping is going to be no match for his opponent, this time Yoshihiro Akiyama, when the two meet at the upcoming UFC 120 event. And that’s just not true. ...

It may not be for the championship, but fans of “The Phenom” can rest assured that Vitor Belfort will step back into the famed Octagon before 2010 is over and done with. The news came straight from Belfort himself, as he “tweeted” the following recently: “this year I am not going to fight for the title because the champion is hurt but November we will be in action for sure that is what I can say.” Belfort has been out of action since a “phenomenal” return to the Octagon when he TKO’d former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin in a catchweight bout at UFC 103 in September 2009. That performance was supposedly enough to warrant a title shot at divisional kingpin Anderson Silva, but the fight has so far been postponed on three separate occasions due to various injuries. And while it looks like the Silva/Belfort super-fight is still a matter of “so close and yet so far away”, Belfort’s return to the Octagon should silence all the nay-sayers and prove once and for all that “The Phenom” is once again a force to be reckoned with. ...

Despite being one of the most dynamic strikers and one of the most entertaining fighters in the UFC’s welterweight division, one question has begun to haunt top-ranked Thiago Alves: his weight. Thiago Alves has always been a large welterweight, but talks concerning his struggle to make weight started in earnest at UFC 84, where Alves weighed in three pounds over the weight limit, even when you include the one-pound-over allowance given to non-title fights. Heading into his recent fight against Jon Fitch, Alves had once again failed to make weight, and as a penalty for his infraction, “The Pitbull” gave up a whopping 20% of his fight purse. The pieces have all unfortunately began falling into place, and now that Alves is just another victim of the patented Jon Fitch Grind, I think the time is right for Alves to move up a weight division. Despite his success in the UFC, these continuously hard weight cuts will only cause further harm to himself and his finances, not to mention the fact that Alves would be a welcome addition to the UFC’s resurgent Middleweight division. ...

Looking ahead to UFC 120, which will be taking place at the O2 Arena in London, England and features Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Michael Bisping as the main event, now more than ever it appears that whenever the UFC puts on an event in the UK, the UK fans turn up in droves. But therein lies the rub- is the United Kingdom really getting all they can get out of the UFC? And does the UFC consistently bring otherwise lackluster cards to England simply because they know the English fans will show up no matter what? ...

While some have already begun to question its legitimacy as a main event fight, the UFC recently announced that Michael Bisping vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama will headline the upcoming UFC 120 fight card, taking place in London, England. While no championships are on the line, this could be seen as an eliminator match from the top of the division. So who has more to lose, and where will both men find themselves at the outcome of this match? Here are some of my thoughts. ...

Awoke to the sun shining and my thoughts about UFC 114 running rampant in my head. So as always "The Reverend of MMA" will bring you the gospel on yet another event, UFC 114: Rampage vs. Rashad. ...

UFC heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez (9-0) shocked fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1) in a first-round knockout win at UFC 110 in Sydney Saturday night. Velasquez's stand-up victory catapults him into title contention versus UFC champion and second-ranked Brock Lesnar (4-1). ...

All fighters on the UFC 110 card in Sydney Saturday made weight. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (233.2 lbs./106 kg) vs. Cain Velasquez (242 lbs./110 kg) ...

This coming Saturday UFC 110 takes place and we get to see a man that was once considered the most feared fighter in mixed martial arts, "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1). The question has been posed that if Silva were to lose what happens to him on what is commonly referred to as "UFC Cut Day". I am hear to tell you that Wanderlei is not going anywhere. ...

“Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1) and The Ultimate Fighter 3 champion “Count” Michael Bisping (17-2) will matchup at middleweight at UFC 110 in Sydney February 21, according to a Fighters Only report. ...

The Ultimate Fighter 3 champion “Count” Michael Bisping (17-2) of England TKO'd Canadian middleweight Denis Kang (34-11-1) by punches at 4:24 at UFC 105 at M.E.N. Arena in Manchester Saturday. "I'm absolutley over the moon," an ecstatic Bisping told his hometown crowd.  "This is my life.  It really hurts me that people don't give me the respect I deserve." ...

The UFC unveiled Tuesday a ten-fight card for UFC 105 at M.E.N. Arena in Manchester November 14 with a previously announced light heavyweight main event between Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked heavyweight “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-10) and “Truth” Brandon Vera (11-3) atop the bout sheet. ...

UFC President Dana White confirmed Thursday in Portland before UFC 102 that UFC lightweight champ "Prodigy" B.J. Penn (14-5-1) will defend his title from "Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (21-2) at a yet-to-be title third UFC event in November. He also confirmed “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (15-3), twin brother of Fighters.com's fifth-ranked heavyweight and former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1), has joined the UFC light heavyweight division. Furthermore, White confirmed UFC 105 in Manchester 14 November would be co-headlined by a middleweight matchup between Brit “Count” Michael Bisping (17-2) and Canadian Denis Kang (34-11-1). ...

UFC welterweight Matt Brown (10-7) relented Wednesday afternoon and told Fighters.com, “I guess I'm allowed to say now since it's everywhere. Yes, I'm fighting [The Ultimate Fighter 9 champ "Lightning" James Wilks (4-2)] at UFC 105 in Manchester 14 November." MMA Junkie reported the possible match-up Wednesday morning after Fighters.com reported Monday that Brown had lined up an opponent other than former UFC welterweight champion “Terror” Matt Serra (9-6), a rumor that had been reported by MMA Weekly. I guess the magic number is "3": It takes three reporters to unveil an undercard fight on an event three months out. ...

Fighters.com's ninth-ranked light heavyweight “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1) will likely return to the Octagon at UFC 105 in Manchester 14 November, announced UFC President Dana White Friday. Silva lost a UD to former UFC middleweight champ "Ace" Rich Franklin (26-4) in 195-pound catch weight matchup at UFC 99 in Cologne 13 June, rendering him 1-3 in the Octagon and 1-5 in his last six fights. Since returning to the big show after PRIDE's collapse in 2007, Silva has had difficulty maintaining 205 pounds, though in PRIDE he fought as heavy as 220-pounds in the Open Weight Grand Prix. After his loss to Franklin, Silva announced he will debut as a middleweight in his next matchup. ...

Fighters.com's eighth-ranked heavyweight “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-9) told media in Portland that Fighters.com and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Dragon” Ryoto Machida (15-0) has "got a very unique style, very unorthodox, he stays true to his karate background and makes it work. I could certainly go back down to 205 if that was something they wanted to see. I'd be interested in competing against him. He's a tremendous competitor and somebody I'd like to fight." Couture is in Portland promoting his matchup versus Fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1) 29 August at UFC 102. He's a former UFC light heavyweight champion. Couture also remarked that he expected seventh-ranked light heavyweight “Hollywood” Dan Henderson's (24-7) brutal KO of "Count" Michael Bisping (17-2) at UFC 100 in Las Vegas Saturday, but, "It isn't the end of the world, it's not the end of his career and there's no reason he can't get right back up there again. It is up to him and how he deals with this loss." ...

Conventional MMA wisdom has already matched "Count" Michael Bisping (17-1) versus the winner of UFC 93's main eventin Dublin 18 January between Fighters.com's fifth-ranked light heavyweight "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (23-7) and second-ranked middleweight "Ace" Rich Franklin (24-3). But, that's not explicitly what UFC President Dana White told The Sun 17 Octoberin the report that first announced that Bisping and either Hendo' or "Ace" would coach on the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter. In fact, White promised The Sunthat Bisping would coach TUF 9 "win, lose or draw" versus "Crippler" Chris Leben (18-5) at UFC 89 in Birmingham 18 October. It doesn't make sense that Bisping would earn a fight versus either currently ranked and historically relevant mixed martial artist, Henderson or Franklin, if he drew or lost versus popular, but unranked Leben. Does it? ...

British middleweight "Count" Michael Bisping (17-1) dominated "Crippler" Chris Leben(18-5) for a unanimous decision by judges' scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28 once at UFC 89 in Birmingham Saturday night. "It was a tough fight, don't get me wrong; but, I felt comfortable all the way through it," Bisping said after the "W".  "At no point did I feel really in danger." ...

UFC President Dana White confirmed Friday in Birmingham that "Count" Michael Bisping (16-1) and the winner of the UFC 93 light heavyweight main event between fifth-ranked "Hollywood" Dan Henderson (23-7) and second-ranked middleweight "Ace" Rich Franklin (24-3), who has moved up to 205 pounds, will coach on the ninth season of reality television contest The Ultimate Figher. "Win, lose or draw [versus "Crippler" Chris Leben (18-4) at UFC 89 Saturday], Michael Bisping will coach the UK team on TUF 9," White said, then added, "We’re looking at Henderson or Franklin to be the American coach on TUF 9." UFC 93 is scheduled for Dublin 17 January. Franklin coached on TUF 2 in 2005.  His team included heavyweight winner and now fourth-ranked light heavyweight "Sugar" Rashad Evans (12-0-1), who will challenge Fighters.com's Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) for the title in Franklin's new weight class in Las Vegas 27 December. ...

All UFC 89 fighters made their weight today at the NIA for Saturday's card in Birmingham. "Count" Michael Bisping (16-1) 185 pounds v "Crippler" Chris Leben (18-4) 186 pounds "I'm glad you guys let me into your country," main event fighter Leben said at Thursday's press conference.  "I was a little worried on the plane." Leben was originally scheduled to fight Bisping in London 7 June, but opted to put to rest legal issues in Oregon stemming from an earlier DUI arrest to ensure a legal UK visa. But, the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Brit Bisping, who told the press, "I am on a quest.  Losing this fight for me is not an option." Leben, wearing tight cornrows, chided his opponent, saying, "It seems to me that, when Michael Bisping fights, self-preservation is top on his list." A brawl would certainly benefit Leben.  Bisping's stand-up style is a bit more circle-and-poke, while Leben is happy to plant and throw bombs. ...

UFC middleweight "Count" Michael Bisping (16-1) revealed Monday in an interview with British newspaper The Sun that he's "heard [Fighters.com's top light heavyweight contender "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (28-7) will] be facing Wanderlei or Shogun." Jackson recently joined Wolfslair Academy in Widnes, south of Liverpool, Bisping's training camp. "A lot of people think I had a big part to play in it but that's not how it went down.  I didn't have a great deal of involvement in getting him to sign for the Wolfslair," Bisping said. Jackson is 0-2 versus sixth-ranked “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1) and 0-1 versus ninth-ranked “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3), all three fights in PRIDE. Bisping added, "I'm sure whoever he gets in December, everyone at the Wolfslair will be behind him 100 per cent and fingers crossed he'll get his revenge." ...

A bout between “The Count” Michael Bisping (16-1) and “The Crippler” Chris Leben (18-4) will take place 18 October in Birmingham, according to UK UFC President Marshall Zelaznik. Zelaznik made the announcement Thursday on the Setanta News Ultimate Talk Show, a weekly UFC news show airing in the U.K. Bisping and Leben were previously scheduled to fight at UFC 85 in London 7 June, but the match was scrapped when Leben had to serve time for a parole violation. The Count faced Canadian “Dooms Day” Jason Day (17-6) instead, punching him out to a TKO in the first round. It was his second consecutive win since dropping to the middleweight division. The Crippler is also riding a two-fight win streak, knocking out Terry Martin (17-4) in the third round in September and finishing “Legionarius” Alessio Sakara (12-7; 1 NC) at UFC 82 in March with a first-round TKO. ...

Fighters.com's fourth-ranked lightweight "Prodigy" BJ Penn (13-4-1), "The Count" Michael Bisping (16-1), “California Kid” Urijah Faber (21-1), and Carlos Condit (22-4) are among the fighters who will travel to Afghanistan this month to visit the members of the U.S. Military stationed there.  The tour, 14-23 June, will cover six military bases. UFC President Dana White said, "We are honored to send UFC and WEC fighters to visit the men and women of the United States Military. We are pleased to be giving back to such a great cause; many of our fighters have served in the military and understand what a great contribution our troops are making overseas.” Among those who have previously visited the military are second-ranked heavyweight "The Natural" Randy Couture (16-8), second-ranked middleweight "Ace" Rich Franklin (23-3), "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz (15-6-1), and fifth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes (42-7). Along with sending fighters to visit various bases across the US and overseas, the UFC also staged an event, UFC: Fight Night 7, at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, that was open only to troops. ...

Watching Fighters.com's fifth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes(42-7) TKO'd at 1:02 of the second round by younger, stronger, faster, and more complete (currently) sixth-ranked "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (15-3) last night at UFC 85 in London, I couldn't help but recall the country boy whoopin' Hughes put on the original Ultimate Fighter Royce Gracie (14-3-3) two-years ago. Hughes stalked Alves for a takedown at the first bell, settling for bottom position by pulling guard, but never finding the submission opportunity he thought he could force. Again, Hughes took the Brazilian to the mat mid-way through the first and smothered the kickboxer; but, Alves utilized butterfly guard to neutralize Hughes's offense. The only damage done on the mat in round one was after the confident "Pitbull" bulldogged the veteran to the mat and hammered a crevice in Hughes's nose with an elbow strike. Hughes, like Gracie at UFC 60, was impotent. Alves wasn't falling for the tried and true tricks, wasn't physically overwhelmed by the stocky farm boy from rural Illinois, and wasn't intimidated by the future Hall of Famer's legacy. The second round was short; the end poignant. Hughes ducked for the takedown that's served as a sure-shot for ten years; and, Alves flew the distance between him and Hughes, colliding into Hughes's right jaw with his left knee. One punch later and referee Herb Dean waved off the fight, and, officially, the Matt Hughes era. Alves never doubted the outcome, but remained humble while pleading from the Octagon, "Mr. Dana White, I've been a good boy, please give me a title shot!" "He got me, no doubt," Hughes admitted. For Hughes, there remains a grudge match with fourth-ranked "Terror" Matt Serra (9-5), then a lot of prayer and consultation with his family for the proudly Christian husband and father of two. ...

Former undisputed cruiserweight boxing champion David Haye revealed Friday in the Daily Star that British middleweight "The Count" Michael Bisping (15-1) will train with him at his camp in Cyprus this summer. "Mike’s already a very well-rounded MMA fighter," Haye said, "but we’ve agreed that some pure boxing practice could go down a treat and help him fulfil his goal of becoming the UFC middleweight champion.  And I will also be learning some grappling and clinching techniques from Mike to incorporate into my boxing game." Haye vacated his cruiserweight titles after clearing out the division with a second-round TKO of top contender Enzo Maccarinelli and is aiming at the splintered heavyweight boxing title. Haye added, "He’s the biggest UFC fighter in the UK and it’s good for the sport in this country to have someone like him at the very top." Bisping takes on Canadian "Dooms Day" Jason Day (17-5) Saturday in London. ...