Rory MacDonald has been fighting as a professional Mixed Martial Arts for about five years, and has already competed in the UFC three times. MacDonald entered the world’s largest and most prestigious MMA promotion after winning nine straight fights in his native Canada. Even more impressive, all nine victories were stoppages, with five of them taking place in the first round.

MacDonald capitalized on that momentum by winning his UFC debut via first-round submission. MacDonald was then given the toughest test of his career and matched up against Carlos Condit. Condit would end up taking the TKO win with only seven seconds left in a very close fight, with many fans and insiders believing that MacDonald would have won if the fight wasn’t stopped. MacDonald recently rebounded from that loss with a pretty awesome showing against Nate Diaz, highlighted by MacDonald rag dolling and slamming/throwing Diaz several times.

MacDonald’s opponent, Mike Pyle, has been fighting since 1999 and will have his thirtieth professional fight against MacDonald. Pyle’s record stands at 21-7-1, and he’s competed in many of the best promotions around the word. Here’s just a short list of notable promotions Pyle has fought in: Shooto, WEC, IFL, Elite XC, Strikeforce, Sengoku, Affliction, and the UFC.

Currently, Pyle’s record sits at a comfortable 4-2 inside the UFC. Pyle is also riding high on a three-fight win-streak, and most-recently defeated Ricardo Almeida. It was arguably the biggest win of Pyle’s UFC career, although his win over John Hathaway came close. Much like MacDonald, Hathaway was thought of as one of the next big can’t-miss prospects, only for Pyle to put him in his place and control him thoroughly before taking home the Unanimous Decision victory.

It’s really tough to say who’s going to win this fight. In terms of “grizzled veteran vs. hot prospect” fights, it doesn’t get much more grizzled than Mike Pyle and the prospects don’t come much hotter than Rory MacDonald.

If MacDonald wants to win this fight, he can’t look past or underestimate Pyle in the way that Hathaway honestly did. When you put a veteran fighter into an underdog role, it motivates that veteran to try harder than ever and fight to his full potential. Mike Pyle may never be a UFC champion, but he’s got an amazing amount of experience and that can and has outmatched the pure, raw talent of fighters like MacDonald.

In the end, it’s going to come down to who stumbles under the pressure. Pyle is facing a sea of newcomers that are all hungry to rocket their way to the top and thus rocket their way past veterans like himself. MacDonald is facing a mountain of hype and the expectations that come with it. It should be a spectacular encounter, and a great way to start off the Pay-Per-View.

In part 2 of our audio discussion with MMA nutrition specialist, Mike Dolce – founder of The Dolce Diet, we talk about a number of UFC fighters and their weight cut issues or lack there of, in the case of Frankie Edgar. Dolce takes you inside his work with welterweight Mike Pyle and his amazing weight cut and rehydration at UFC 128. He also comments on Anthony Johnson, who just defeated Dan Hardy, but has had trouble making weight in the past.   Interesting topic for MMA fans.

Click through to listen to part 2 with Mike Dolce.

Kris McCray was favored by many to win the Ultimate Fighter 11 final against Court McGee, yet fell short in the second round.  With a loss in his first official Octagon fight at UFC 122 to Carlos Rocha, McCray is now itching to get back in the win column against John Hathaway at UFC Fight Night 24, in Seattle this Saturday. McCray will be in good hands with UFC Lightweight Champion, Frankie Edgar, in his corner as he goes against Hathaway, a former hot commodity until his upset loss to Mike Pyle at UFC 120.

McCray took some time to sit down with Fighters.com recently to talk about his upcoming fight, thoughts on the UFC/Strikeforce deal, and the always hot-topic of foot stomps in the cage.

Click through to watch.

Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau: This is definitely the fight I’m looking forward to the most. Pellegrino is a veteran of twenty fights, while Tibau is only a few fights shy of reaching the thirty-fight mark. Both have had their high points and low points, but you can almost always count on these two for an entertaining performance. Thanks to their many years of experience, I see both men grinding this one out and giving fans a pretty good fight. I personally think Pellegrino has had bigger wins over better competition, so I’m calling for Kurt Pellegrino to win by Unanimous Decision.

Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle: There’s a certain section of the fanbase that’s come out against this fight being on the prelims, and I have to say that I agree. Mike Pyle just had a huge victory over John Hathaway, Ricardo Almeida is only seven months removed from facing UFC legend Matt Hughes. As to the fight itself, both men have a ton of experience but Almeida is a bad match-up for Pyle. Both men’s strong suits are the ground game, but Almeida is simply at a much higher level than Pyle. Ricardo Almeida wins by submission in Round 2.

Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani: I’ve always been impressed and entertained whenever I see Anthony Njokuani fight, but Edson Barboza is an undefeated prospect that has finished all seven of his professional fights, six of them by (T)KO and five of them within the first round. Njokuani will definitely put up a fight, but I think this will be the big win Barboza needs in order to get him on major MMA cards for the foreseeable future. Barboza wins by (T)KO in Round 2.

Luiz Cane vs. Eliot Marshall: Luiz Cane never fully realized his potential in the UFC, but then again, neither did Eliot Marshall. However, Marshall getting booted from the UFC seems to have reinvigorated him: he’s won three straight fights. Meanwhile, Luiz Cane hasn’t fought since May 2010 and is currently in the midst of a two-fight losing-streak, with both losses being by TKO. Simply put, Marshall is out of the woods and back on the path while Cane is still deeply lost. Eliot Marshall wins by Unanimous Decision.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. I probably won’t do this series too often, but when the UFC and/or Strikeforce (or any other company for that matter) gives me access to preliminary fights that deserve to be talked about, you can bet that you’ll see a new “Prelims Predictions” before long. Until then, what’s your opinion on the UFC 128 prelims?

Ricardo Almeida wants to get back on the main card of UFC PPV events.  To do so, he must beat Mike Pyle on Saturday night at UFC 128 in Newark, NJ.  No easy task.  Pyle is fresh off his best performence in years, taking out the heralded John Hathaway.

How does Almeida spend his final days before a fight? What does he hate the most about his weight cut?  Click through to watch our interview from just two days ago after one of his final workouts at Renzo Gracie‘s gym in mid-town Manhattan.

Click through.

Ricardo Almeida has won four of last five fights in the UFC, recently winning a unanimous decision over TJ Grant, which eased the blow of a high profile loss to Matt Hughes at UFC 117.  At 34, “The Big Dog” does not have any Randy Couture or Dan Henderson age-defying DNA to source and fully realizes it is go-time, right now, to start a win streak and return to the conversation at the top of the 170lb division.

“I don’t have another 10 years like a lot of these younger guys, I have to maximize everything I do. I definitely am not going to waste my time to please people.  I fight the way I fight. I fight to win and that is what I am going to do.”

Standing in the way of his fifth win since his return to the UFC after a run in Japan, is veteran Mike Pyle, who is trying to back up his upset victory over John Hathaway.  This UFC 128 battle also may be a gateway fight, with the winner securing a high profile main card opponent next time out.

“Pyle is someone who has been around a long time, he is a veteran.  That was his coming out party,  as far as the UFC is concerned. I just see him as someone a lot like myself.  He looked good against Hathaway, but he still did most of his damage with the takedown and when he had that triangle – the mount triangle with side control.”

While Pyle is fresh off a high profile main card win, the last time many MMA fans saw Almeida was in his surprising first round loss to Matt Hughes.  Almeida was in the best shape of his life for that fight, and the choke-out loss stung, but the veteran handled the outcome with perspective.

“Anytime you have a loss it is a little deflating, it is heartbreaking. I trained so hard for it … you lose, you have to get back and look at the mistake you made, whether it was preparation or execution mistakes.  At the same time you can’t hold on to it too long.  I got to make sure I don’t get caught with a left hook again. If I do, I don’t try to force my way out of the bottom and caught on a full head lock.”

Preparation and training should not be an issue for Pyle or Almeida.  Pyle is part of Xtreme Couture, the high profile team and gym in Las Vegas while Almeida has assembled an all-star cast on the East Coast that is known for their legendary workouts on Monday’s in NYC and Tuesday mornings in Hamilton, NJ at Ricardo’s gym.   The group is lead by Almeida, UFC Champion Frankie Edgar and includes Eddie Alvarez, Nick Catone and Kris McCray, for starters.

“For Frankie to alternate rounds with Eddie Alvarez to Chris Liguori then to me, the guys from New York come down, like Igor Grace, Gregor Gracie, Renzo Gracie.  On Monday’s, we go to NYC and train under John Danaher and Renzo; we train with all the guys up there … we got David Branch and Rafael Sapo.”

If there is strength in numbers, then Team Almeida is a growing power and should be ready for the UFC 128 challenges ahead in Mike Pyle for Almeida, Dan Miller for Nick Catone and Gray Maynard for Frankie Edgar at UFC 130.

“It is a big family,” Almeida notes, “with each training camp we get higher and higher.  This is the first training camp we do all the sparring together.  We do all the strength and conditioning together. It is a big push for all of us to pick up the guy next to you.  All the time you are pushing him and he is pushing you.  It is bringing the whole team to a whole different level.”

With his crew in the corner, Almeida can’t wait to fight again in his backyard, just up the turnpike in Newark, NJ.

So, what can we expect from Almeida in round one against Mike Pyle?

“I always bring the pressure forward.  If Pyle has a chink in his armor, he does not do so well against pressure. You can expect me to come forward and push for the grappling.”

–

Who will win – Almeida or Pyle?  Why? How?

The Renzo Gracie protege is scheduled to face off against veteran Mike Pyle when the UFC ventures to New Jersey once again next March.

Almeida recently bounced back from an embarrassing submission loss to former champion Matt Hughes, with a decision victory over Canadian TJ Grant at UFC 124 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With the win over Grant earlier this month, Almeida has now won four his last five bouts inside the octagon, and hopes to extend his win streak to two-in-a-row with a win over Pyle.

Pyle has seen a resurgence in his shaky UFC career, which much resembles his entire career. Pegged as the hardest worker in the gym, the most talented, Pyle has consistently come up short in what would have been career defining potential victories. However, “Quicksand” is now coming into his own, having secured a two-fight win streak inside the octagon with wins over WEC veteran Jesse Lenox and former welterweight contender John Hathaway.

The win over the Brit was especially impressive. Hathaway steamrolled through of all his opponents inside the UFC, with highlight victories over Rick Story and Diego Sanchez anchoring his résumé. However, Pyle had different plans for the fast rising 22-year-old, and dominated him on the ground enroute to a unanimous decision win.

A win for either Pyle or Almeida will catapult the other fighter to contender status, and the winner could be facing top-10 competition in the immediate future.

UFC 128 is rumored to take place in Newark, New Jersey at the Prudential Center on March 19. The main event of the evening is expected to be a light heavyweight title tilt pitting champ Mauricio Rua against Rashad Evans.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news of the welterweight match up? Who do you think will walk away with the win? Sound off in the comment section below.

According to MMAWeekly, UFC 120’s prime-time tape-delayed showing on Spike TV was watched by an average of 1.9 million fight fans. The report also lists some humbling figures when compared to this event: both UFC 105 and 95, two other British cards shown via tape-delay in the UFC, out-performed this event considerably. 95 had an average of 2.4 million viewers, while 105 saw a big 2.9 million viewers tune in to see Randy Couture take on Brandon Vera.

And in a case of the UFC perhaps being too over-zealous, all twenty UFC 120 performers were handed medical suspensions after the bout according to Sherdog. The UFC controls fighter suspensions from British cards since Britain lacks an athletic commission of the kind that oversees UFC events and handles things like these. The shortest suspension was for only 14 days, with several of those being handed out. Several fighters were suspended for thirty and forty-five days. The report also states that Mike Pyle, Travis Browne, Cheick Kongo, and Rob Broughton have all been handed down six-month suspensions, pending various medical check-ups to properly diagnose the severity of some of the injuries they sustained at the event. Of course, just like normal athletic commission suspensions, these six-month suspensions will be reduced substantially if the fighters are medically cleared.

I’m a bit disheartened that “Bisping vs. Akiyama” under-performed, for the most part I enjoyed the show and was hoping that it would deliver in the ratings. I usually enjoy the UK shows a lot, they’ve got a great atmosphere and a lot of the fighters put on a good performance even if the actual Pay-Per-View card isn’t filled with top-name UFC talent. I suppose some of this could be blamed on the rampant spoilers that were posted online, with ESPN being the main culprit, but still, that kinda sweeps the pre-existing issue with this show under the rug. I think this event is further proof that UFC fans are a fickle bunch and want big stars to justify tuning in, even if the show is free.

In regards to the medical suspensions, I do think that the UFC is being a bit over-protective. However, ultimately that’s a good thing. The UFC is proving that when they’re in charge of taking care of their fighters, they can react accordingly and ensure that no one rushes back into training before their body is fully healed up. Most of the suspensions were brief, so I think the medical suspensions of UFC 120 would have basically flown under the radar had there not been the fact that everyone on the card got suspended.

Overall, I’m thinking UFC 120 was more of a success than a failure even with some lackluster ratings. The UFC once again raked in the green and were rolling in it by the time UFC 120 was over, based on the live attendance and gate attendance numbers. It may not have performed as well in the US, but still, it firmly established that the UK still wants as much UFC as they can get. And in the grand scheme of the UFC’s rapid push for international expansion, that’s a very good thing.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you make of UFC 120’s ratings and medical suspensions?

Here’s what the man had to say in a post-fight interview over at UFC.com, with transcription courtesy of MMA Mania: “I just whooped his ass, hands down. He’s not the first undefeated kid I handed their first defeat to… I knew that coming in to this fight that my wrestling was better and my hands were better… I just rubbed it in their [the British fans] face and on top of that I just smashed their number one boy. He never had a chance tonight.”

It seems that Mike Pyle has taken a page out of the Chael Sonnen playbook for douchebags. Considering that Pyle has been finished in both of his UFC losses, I would have expected at least a little humility from someone who’s been fighting for over a decade. But let’s be honest here: Mike Pyle deserves to brag, and he has every right to brag. He’s just using that right.

Mike Pyle was supposed to be a stepping stone for John Hathaway, plain and simple. Hathaway had just beaten Diego Sanchez, he was highly regarded, he’s young and handsome, he’s everything the UFC wants and needs in a championship contender. Mike Pyle is old and grizzled. Pyle loudly shouted from the rooftops that Hathaway wouldn’t beat him, and no one believed him. Now that Pyle proved himself with a dominating performance over Hathaway, he’s earned the right to keep talking.

As I’ve said before, sometimes a rookie is just a rookie. Mike Pyle simply had too much experience on Hathaway, he’d been through too many tough wars and survived too many close encounters. Hathaway still has a very bright future in the UFC, but he’s probably not the next Jon Jones. I don’t know if Pyle’s victory was more along the lines of an old dog learning some new tricks or an old dog still having some bite left in him, but I think Pyle proved both were true when he beat Hathaway. The UFC’s young guns will continue to impress, and the influx of fantastic and young talent will likely continue as well, but at the end of the day veterans are veterans and you can never fully count them out.

However, I will say that I would love to see a rematch between these two at some point in the future. If Hathaway can rebound and get two, possibly three good wins under his belt, I think beating Pyle would be a big step in the right direction. As for Pyle, I don’t know what the future holds for him, but I look forward to seeing if he can keep this comeback going. He may never fully live up to all the trash he’s talked, but the man is a very talented fighter and seems to still have quite a number of surprises left in him. And, lest we forget, everybody loves (or loves to hate) a bad-boy.

And what about you, fans and friends? Do you think that Pyle’s performance at UFC 120: “Bisping vs. Akiyama” was good enough to warrant everything he’s been saying and continues to say?

According to Sherdog, the UFC was able to draw 17,133 fans for UFC 120. According to the report, that number is big enough to crack the top ten list of the most-attended UFC events in UFC history, placing at number nine. The event also made in the area of 1.6 million pounds.

Also courtesy of Sherdog, here are the performance bonuses handed out after the event to the standout stars of UFC 120. Carlos Condit earned “Knockout of the Night” for his thunderous KO’ing of Dan Hardy, who had never been KO’d before. Preliminary fighter Paul Sass earned “Submission of the Night” for his win over Mark Holst. “Fight of the Night” went to the three-round war between Michael Bisping and Yoshihiro Akiyama in the night’s main event. All four fighters were given $60,000 bonuses in addition to their awards.

I think all the ingredients were there for the UFC to deliver another sold-out house, and I’m glad to see that that’s just what they did at UFC 120. The UFC had it all: two big-name British stars, two up-and-coming British stars, and a long layoff from their last event in the UK. I think this show once again demonstrates the crazy drawing power Michael Bisping has in the UK. Love him or hate him, the man has become a boon to the UFC’s international expansion. Expect to see him stay at or near the main event for any and all UK UFC cards for quite some time.

Speaking of Michael Bisping, I wholeheartedly agree with him and his opponent getting the “Fight of the Night” award. Both Bisping and Yoshihiro Akiyama put on a great performance, and it was by far the night’s most competitive fight. Both men left it all out there in the Octagon, and I’m glad to see that their hard work was rewarded.

I also fully agree with Condit’s KO getting “Knockout of the Night”, I don’t think anything else even came close. In fact, that win was the highlight of the show for me. Honestly, who thought Condit had enough power in his hands to KO Dan Hardy? Hardy had displayed an awesome jaw in every fight beforehand. Condit needed a good win and he got a huge win, this is one KO that’s going onto his highlight reel and staying there forever.

Overall, UFC 120 was a good show and I’m glad it was a resounding success. And what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of the UFC’s (and Michael Bisping’s) drawing power in the UK? And do you disagree with any of the “Of the Night” bonuses?

Next for James Wilks: If it weren’t for the fact that he won a season of “The Ultimate Fightter”, I’d say that James Wilks should begin worrying about whether or not he’ll still be a UFC fighter by 2012. But the UFC has given their TUF winners a lot of second chances, so I think Wilks will head back to the drawing board, get off the main card, and face a step down in competition. Look for Wilks’ next fight to be the opener to a “Fight Night Live” event or on the preliminaries of a PPV card.

Next for Travis Browne: Someone like Antoni Hardonk, a bottom-level UFC Heavyweight that Browne will look good against if he runs right through him. I hate to paint Hardonk in such a negative light, but Browne needs another stepping stone to erase his bad performance at UFC 120. He seemed right on the verge of KO’ing Kongo, but he never fully pulled the trigger. When Kongo started attacking his legs, Browne had no defense and it severely diminished his punching power. Browne is still a work-in-progress, he needs an opponent to reflect that.

Next for Cheick Kongo: Even with a Draw instead of a Loss on his record, I think this fight firmly establishes Cheick Kongo as a divisional gatekeeper. It honestly struck me as one of the worst performances he’s ever given in the UFC. His tentativeness after getting rocked was bad enough, but his blatant cheating was just inexcusable. Kongo needed a big win to remain relevant, what we got was further proof that he’s best used as a warm-up fight for surging Heavyweights with championship potential.

Next for John Hathaway: I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: sometimes a rookie is just a rookie. This loss doesn’t prove that Hathaway was just hype. I still believe that John Hathaway has a bright future in the UFC. This is just a temporary stumbling block. I don’t have any idea who his next opponent might be, but I do think he’ll rebound with a big win. Hathaway has an incredible amount of potential, and while he didn’t realize much of it against Pyle, I think Hathaway’s next fight will firmly set him on the comeback trail.

Next for Carlos Condit: Somebody big, I’m thinking maybe Thiago Alves. Condit has earned his shot at another top-division talent with his thunderous KO of Hardy. I think this fight proved that Condit still has a lot left to give and a lot of gas left in his tank, and I don’t think it’s impossible for him to continue this epic comeback and even challenge for the UFC Welterweight Championship before 2011 is over and done with.

Next for Dan Hardy: A mid-level talent looking to establish himself with a big win over a big name like Hardy. Now that “The Outlaw” has lost two straight, look for the UFC to put him in the role of a divisional gatekeeper in his next fight. If he loses again, he may find himself in an unemployment line. If he wins, it’ll be the first step on what I think will be a long road back to divisional relevancy.

Next for Yoshihiro Akiyama: If Akiyama loses again, he’s fired. Of that I have no doubt. Despite how popular he is, the man has consistently had problems with his cardio. I think Akiyama’s job will be in danger even if he wins his next fight, what “Sexyama” needs more than anything right now is to get a huge and incredibly dominant KO or submission on his record. The man is a great fighter that usually produces great fights, but even that isn’t enough to save your job in the UFC nowadays.

Next for Michael Bisping: He wants a rematch with Wanderlei Silva, I say give it to him. I think Bisping can beat Wanderlei Silva, even knock him out, if he just stays focused and isn’t forced into playing Wanderlei’s game. If Bisping can hit smarter and not harder, he can beat Wanderlei. If not Wanderlei, look for Bisping to receive another big name to once again see if he’s ready for top-division fighters.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. Now it’s your turn: what’s next for the winners and losers of UFC 120: “Bisping vs. Akiyama”?

Michael Bisping defeats Yoshihiro Akiyama via Unanimous Decision, Carlos Condit defeats Dan Hardy via KO due to strikes at 4:27 of Round 1, Mike Pyle defeats John Hathaway via Unanimous Decision, Travis Browne and Cheick Kongo fight to a Draw (Kongo was deducted a point for holding Browne’s shorts), Claude Patrick defeats James Wilks via Unanimous Decision, Alexander Gustafsson defeats Cyrille Diabate via submission due to a Rear Naked Choke at 2:41 of Round 2, Rob Broughton defeats Vinicius Quieroz by submission due to a Rear Naked Choke at 1:43 of Round 3, Paul Sass defeats Mark Holst by submission due to a Triangle Choke at 4:45 of Round 1, Spencer Fisher defeats Curt Warburton by Unanimous Decision, and Fabio Maldonado defeats James McSweeney via TKO due to strikes at :48 seconds of Round 3.

I think UFC 120 had a bit of a slow start but really found its niche towards the end. Claude Patrick didn’t put on the performance of a lifetime in his win against James Wilks, but he did seem very dominant and I think he certainly has a bright future in the UFC now that he quite easily dispatched of an “Ultimate Fighter” winner.

However, the second Pay-Per-View fight was a huge black mark on the event. Cheick Kongo put on a downright horrendous performance and blatantly cheated in order to stave off the serious punching power of Travis Browne. Kongo’s knee strikes did sap Browne’s power and succeeded in leveling the playing field after Browne rocked Kongo early on in the fight, but those smartly-timed and very vicious strikes were overshadowed by Kongo constantly holding Browne’s shorts in order to land them. To be bluntly honest, I think both men wilted under pressure and I think dark times are ahead for both fighters.

While I’m sure nobody liked him due to his apparent mile-a-minute mouth leading up to the fight, I was very impressed by Mike Pyle and his downright domination of John Hathaway. In today’s UFC the whole “young gun vs. old warrior” type of fight tends to overwhelmingly favor the young, talented rookie, but sometimes no amount of pure talent can overcome years and years of hard-earned experience. John Hathaway is still jam-packed with potential, but sometimes a rookie is a rookie no matter what his future may hold.

Carlos Condit knocking out Dan Hardy was easily the highlight of the night for me. I think both men were a bit tentative in the early minutes, but they definitely started swinging for the fences and we definitely looked to have on awesome war on our hands. However, Condit simply caught Hardy at the right time, the right moment, and with the right punch. All the ingredients were there, and I think Condit’s stock rose considerably with this win. I think Dan Hardy is down but not out, although it will be interesting to see how his chin reacts to a hard shot going into the future now that Condit has proven that it’s not made of steel.

While Condit vs. Hardy was my favorite moment, Bisping vs. Akiyama was my favorite fight. Bisping’s cardio, heart, and determination once again pulled him through some scary moments in Round 1, to the point where I think Bisping decisively won the last two rounds of action. However, I think it’s very debatable that Bisping won Round 1. It was a very close round, but although I can kinda-sorta see why the judges seem to have believed that Bisping did enough at the end of the round to steal it, I personally had it 29-28 Bisping, with Akiyama winning Round 1.

Overall, I think this was a solid event and a very good UK card. I even think this would have been a good “Fight Night Live” card. It probably wasn’t good enough to be a UFC Pay-Per-View, but for the most part, I found myself consistently entertained. Other than Kongo/Browne I’ve got no major complaints. But what about you, fans and friends? What did you think of UFC 120?

James Wilks vs. Claude Patrick: Patrick may have more experience, more wins, and fewer losses, but Wilks is well within shouting distance of his record. I also think that Wilks has faced better competition, although I wouldn’t say that either man has ever been fully tested against a world-class athlete. I’m going to favor the TUF winner for this one, I think Wilks has a good future ahead of him in the UFC. Wilks will take a Unanimous Decision.

Cheick Kongo vs. Travis Browne: Much like every single fight Cheick Kongo has ever been in; this fight all depends on how quickly Browne puts him in a disadvantageous position. If Browne can dominate Kongo early and often, I think Kongo has a track record of ultimately wilting under pressure. I don’t see him getting knocked out or submitted (at least, not by Travis Browne), but I can see Browne taking a Unanimous Decision. But I think it’s far more likely that Kongo’s crisp striking and power punching will give him the KO in Round 1. Kongo is simply the more experienced striker, and while that experience proved to be null and void when he lost to Cain Velasquez, I think it will apply itself wholeheartedly against Travis Browne.

John Hathaway vs. Mike Pyle: I honestly haven’t gotten too caught up in the apparent rivalry between these two, but I’m still picking John Hathaway to win with a blowout performance. I think Hathaway really set himself apart by beating Diego Sanchez at UFC 114, a win that extended his undefeated streak that’s lasted since the start of his career in 2006. Meanwhile, Mike Pyle is 2-2 inside the UFC, although I will say that he has faced worthwhile competition. Unless Pyle pulls off a crazy submission in Round 1, I think John Hathaway walks away from UFC 120 with another Unanimous Decision win on his record.

Dan Hardy vs. Carlos Condit: On paper, this has all the makings of a “Fight of the Night” fight. I think both men need and want wins very badly, so we’re going to see fireworks from the opening bell to the final second, if it lasts that long. And I honestly think it won’t- someone is getting finished in this fight. Neither man has ever been (T)KO’d before, and I’m thinking that will change once the dust from this fight settles. Condit is by far the more well-rounded fighter, but Hardy hits hard, won’t tap out, never gives up, and has been in there with the best and impressed. I’m picking Hardy to score a second-round (T)KO.

Michael Bisping vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama: I have to admit, it’s pretty much a toss-up at this point. Yet I’m still picking Michael Bisping, a pick I made over a month ago. I think Bisping isn’t given enough credit and is a good fighter with inklings of the fantastic. Akiyama is also a good fighter, but just hasn’t hit his stride in the UFC. Now that he’s not combating a year-long layoff, I think Akiyama will really hang in there for all three rounds and give us a great fight. But Bisping has more Octagon experience, better striking, and the hometown advantage. Still, it will be a very, very close fight. Look for Michael Bisping to take a Split Decision.

And that’s where I stand, fans and friends. But what about you? We’re down to the wire here, so it’s your last chance: who’ve you got winning and losing at UFC 120?

Michael Bisping (185) vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (185), Dan Hardy (171) vs. Carlos Condit (170), John Hathaway (171) vs. Mike Pyle (170), Cheick Kongo (228) vs. Travis Browne (251), James Wilks (170) vs. Claude Patrick (171), Cyrille Diabate (204) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (204), Rob Broughton (257) vs. Vinicius Kappke de Quieroz (239), Paul Sass (155) vs. Mark Holst (155), Spencer Fisher (155) vs. Curt Warburton (154), and James McSweeney (205) vs. Fabio Maldonado (204).

I think it’s interesting to note that several fighters took advantage of the one-pound-over allowance, including Dan Hardy. One pound likely won’t make a bit of difference against someone as skilled as Carlos Condit, but Hardy always struck me as a rather lanky welterweight. He’s buff, sure, but he’s no Georges St. Pierre. Other than that, nothing of note seems to have occurred at the weigh-ins, and that’s a good thing more often than not.

While I can’t say it has me as excited as the next UFC event, UFC 121: “Lesnar vs. Velasquez”, I can say that I will most definitely be giving UFC 120 a watch. Some of the fights, both on the main card and the preliminary card, seem to be loaded with potential. I always enjoy watching Michael Bisping fight, win or lose he usually puts a lot of heart and determination into his performances. It’s true that he’s been very hit-or-miss in his UFC tenure, but I still think Bisping can be a force to be reckoned with if he can just find the right formula.

The same holds true for Dan Hardy, who I’m not that big of a fan of although he definitely earned my respect after his refusal to tap several times during his recent loss to current UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre. Dan Hardy is also a fighter that produces a lot of entertaining fights, and with his rivalry with Condit reaching a fevered pitch, we’re almost guaranteed some excellent exchanges and a really enjoyable fight.

And to top it all off, we’ve even got Cheick Kongo, who always seems one step away from a title shot before he’s knocked back down in the rankings. Once again, I’m not a huge fan of the man but I am a fan of the way he fights. I’ll be the first to admit that the man is little more than a dying turtle if he’s put on his back, or in just about any disadvantageous position for that matter, but his striking has always looked good and he’s hung in there with some of the UFC’s best. It will be interesting to see if Cheick Kongo still has something left for the UFC’s elite, or if Travis Browne knocks Kongo down to gatekeeper status once and for all.

And that’s it on my end. Check back here tomorrow for my official “Picks and Predictions” post where I detail who I think will win the main card matches and why. But what about you, fans and friends? What do you think of UFC 120, and will you be tuning in to watch it?

Read on for questions 2-7…

2. How will Carlos Condit fight in the first round vs. Dan Hardy?  Why is this important? Because, “The Natural Born Killer” has been extremely slow to get going in his last two fights vs. Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald, needing big comebacks to pull victory from the jaws of defeat.  Against Hardy, if he is slow to fire, he may never get his chance in the third round, instead falling prey to Hardy’s heavy hands.

3. Has Dan Hardy truly developed a sturdy takedown defense?  I am interested to see, not how good his wrestling and Jiu Jitsu have become once on the mat … I want to see if he has improved his takedown defense.  This is the most important element in his growth. No matter how good he gets on the ground, his bread and butter will always be his standup.  His long-term success requires he keep fights standing against all the great wrestlers he will face going forward.  He needs to stay on his feet to leverage his greatest asset.  Chuck Liddell is the best example of this.  He became a master at stopping takedowns to keep fights in his sweet spot.

4. Can Michael Bisping finally deliver a thrilling offensive performance from start to finish?  In his last several fights we have seen a tentative, strategic Bisping unable or unwilling to let all his artillery fly.  He needs to win, first, but then be exciting to capture back the idea that he is title contender worthy, provided he keeps winning.  UFC suits would love for him to thrill so they can leverage his UK fan base and keep growing “The Count” into an international star.

5. Will Yoshihiro Akiyama display the crisp and crunching standup weapons we saw in the first three minutes of his fight against Chris Leben?  This version of “Sexyama” should be able to dispatch the UK’s Michael Bisping.

6. Will Mike Pyle finally show the UFC a dominating performance?  Pyle has long been lauded as one of the more talented mixed martial artists in the game to those around the sport. He has been a core cog in team Randy Couture and a Couture MMA trainer in Las Vegas.  However, his UFC performances have been hot and cold.  He has impressive career wins against Jon Fitch, Dan Hornbuckle, Shonie Carter, and Matt Horwich, but has gone 2-2 in the UFC alternating wins and losses recently.  Yes he beat Fitch, and not only did he beat him way back in 2002, but is the only man to ever submit the UFC welterweight star.  I have a gut feeling on Pyle at UFC 120 that he is ready to let loose a decisive performance.

7. Has Cheick Kongo diversified his MMA tool kit?  Before losing to Cain Velasquez, Cheick Kongo had started 7-2 in the UFC and was on a three fight win streak and starting to be in title discussion.  But the losses to Velasquez and Frank Mir set him back into more of grizzled seasoned veteran role.  Can he start another run?  Has he evolved to a new level?  We shall see in his fight against Travis Browne.

Often regarded as brash and cocky, thanks to the likes of polarizing figures Dan Hardy and Michael Bisping, Hathaway, who is undefeated in 14 fights and is currently 4-0 inside the UFC, also brings a gauntlet of talent that is virtually nonexistent with his fellow countryman–being his competent wrestling skills, which have carried him to where he is today: atop the welterweight division.

Now with another fight in the horizon, against veteran Mike Pyle, who at times has revered Hathaway as a talent with skill, and other times a “nobody”, neither matter to John come fight time.

In an interview with MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani on location in London for UFC 120, Hathaway recognizes the dangers that a veteran like Pyle presents and is ready for the challenge.

“I think Mike will bring the best Mike we’ve ever seen”, said Hathway. “He’s an incredibly tough guy, he’s incredibly experienced, his Jiu-Jitsu is very good, as well as stand up and his wrestling is really good as well. I think we’re going to see a war this weekend, and Mike is going to be fully prepared just as I am”.

The 22-year-old London Shoot Fighter has heard bits and pieces of what Pyle has had to say about him, but takes it all in stride, and even has taken a liking to some of the jabs that the Xtreme Couture product has thrown his way.

“A couple of them are funny, I haven’t listened to all of them, or read all the interviews to what he’s kind of done”, said John in regards to the comments Pyle has made in the media in the weeks leading up to the fight.

“I always liked the kind of ‘bucked-tooth, British guy, kind of hanging and drinking tea’, little comments like that are always funny, I think”, said the light-hearted fighter. I think it was all in good humor and good heart. We both got ready for it, and both are going to be prepared for Saturday night.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of Hathaway? Is he taking the right approach? The sort of, moral high ground–the wait and see what happens on fight time? Who do you have taking this fight? Sound off in the comment section below.

The fight with Condit was the first indication that Ellenberger would show promise.

A noted striker, Condit took to the center of the cage early, and while the standup exchange remained even early, it took Jake all but one shot to plant Condit on his butt. Though he was in trouble early, and dropped on several more occasions in the first round, after being unable to be put away, Carlos stormed back and took the last two rounds, earning a very close split decision victory over Ellenberger.

A true veteran with a record of 23-5, Jake is also an assistant wrestling coach for the NCAA Division II National Champion University of Nebraska at Omaha Mavericks, and with his obvious work ethic has been able to notch up two back-to-back victories inside the octagon over formidable opponents.

Shortly after his fight with “The Natural Born Killer”, the 25-year-old Ellenberger returned to face Mike Pyle, who has squared up against a who’s who of MMA elite in his 10-plus years as a professional, including the likes of Jake Shields, Quinton Jackson, Dan Hornbuckle, and Jon Fitch to name a few.

While Pyle was supposed to present one of Jake’s toughest test to date, it didn’t quite go down as an all out war of exchanged techniques and memorable ground grappling…it went more like Ellenberger punching Mike in the face before the referee stepped in and waved off the bout, declaring Jake the winner, moving him 1-1 inside the UFC.

Last night, on “UFC Live on Versus 2″, in San Diego, Cali., Ellenberger looked every bit the hard-nosed wrestler he did against then-rising contender John Howard, who was on the heels of a three fight win streak.

A wrestler in his own right, Howard had no answer for the strong offense that Ellenberger presented, which consisted of heavy double leg takedowns, and coupled with short elbows and punches within guard.

Though Howard battled throughout, scoring on a few solid hooks on several occasions, Jake was eventually able to seal the deal in the third round, when it was determined by the doctor at ringside, that John was unable to continue after his left eye was completely swelled shut, after absorbing repeated elbows and punches.

Now, Jake, who moves 2-1 in the UFC and on a two-fight win streak, who would you like to see him paired up with next? And, additionally, is he ready to make an impact at 170?

“The Natural” John Alessio (24-11) knocked welterweight Gideon Ray (15-10-1) cold on the mat in 45 seconds.

Xtreme Couture’s Alessio whipped a left hook over a Ray right hand and dropped Ray.  Alessio finished the job with hammer strikes, leaving the fellow former UFC fighter unconscious.

“Quicksand” Mike Pyle (18-5-1) of Xtreme Couture transitioned slickly into an armbar from full mount to tap welterweight Brian Gassaway (28-19-2) as he attempted roll free at 4:21 of round one in another battle of former Octagon fighters.

Xtreme Couture welterweight “Thorobread” Jay Hieron (16-4) won a one-sided unanimous decision over late replacement Chris Kennedy (6-6) by judges’ scores of 30-27 three times.

Hieron’s original opponent, Bryson Kamaka (6-13), failed his pre-fight urinalysis.

Light heavyweight “Sick Dog” Hector Ramirez (8-3-1) also won a UD over “The Jet” Rick Roufus (4-4) by scores of 29-28 three times. 

After blocking a high kick with his head in round one, Ramirez kept the kickboxing legend off his feet for the “W”.

TUF 3 finalist “Bring the Pain” Josh Haynes (11-10-1), of Xtreme Couture, tapped middleweight Sean Salmon (15-6) in an Achilles lock at 2:49 of round two.

“JJ” Jonathan Mix (2-3) TKO’d welterweight John Halverson (16-7) at 4:25 of round one.

Xtreme Couture prodigy Kui Gonsalves-Kanoho (2-0) tapped “Mighty Mouse” Shawn David (2-2) in a Kimura at 3:51 of round two.

Ryan Haas (1-0) tapped Ian Omalza (2-1) in an armbar at 3:09 of round one.

Former IFL titlist Hieron has been matched, if not undermatched, versus Bryson Kamaka (6-13) while Pyle will fight vet Brian Gassaway (28-18-2).

Also on the card, welterweight “The Natural” John Alessio (23-11) will return after a “W” over “Secret Weapon” Pete Spratt (18-14) in A Night of Combat’s debut to battle Gideon Ray (15-9-1).

Light heavyweights “Sick Dog” Hector Ramirez (7-3-1) and kickboxing vet “The Jet” Rick Roufus (4-3) will face-off.

And, TUF 3 finalist “Bring the Pain” Josh Haynes (10-10) will fight “Seargent” Steve Byrnes (6-1).

The card features eight men’s MMA bouts at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Day of Reckoning broadcast will mark the beginning of a new deal between HDNet Fights and Affliction Entertainment.

HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon said, “This is the beginning of a long-term partnership with Affliction that encompasses live MMA, co-marketing and top fighters for the top weekly show in MMA — ‘Inside MMA’ on HDNet.”

According to the agreement, HDNet Fights will air ninety minutes of fights before the pay-per-view portion of Affliction’s events, similar to Fox Sports Net’s one-hour show before Affliction: Banned in July.

High last fought in June, submitting Markhaile Wedderburn (6-3) with a guillotine choke in 45 seconds.

Pyle fought at Affliction’s debut event in July, submitting JJ Ambrose (8-2) with a first-round rear naked choke.

Buentello also fought at that event, scoring a unanimous decision victory over “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge (23-18-1).

Nelson, the IFL’s Heavyweight Champion, won his last fight by TKO’ing “Hillbilly Heartthrob” Brad Imes (11-5) in May.

Just thirty-six seconds to answer questions raised by Fighters.com about Emelianenko’s two-year hiatus from top competition.

At the bell, Sylvia exited his corner in an awkward, low crouch.

Obviously…Emelianenko wasted no time blasting Sylvia with a left, right hook combo, followed by an uppercut.

“I’ve never been hit that hard in my life,” said Sylvia after the fight.  “He’s not human.”

The “Maine-iac” dismantled to the mat; and, Emelianenko stuck in a rear naked choke that forced Sylvia to tap.

After the fight, the Russian was nonchalant, but not arrogant about his destruction of one of the world’s top heavyweights.

The victory cemented him as the top heavyweight in the world, the top pound-for-pound mixed martial artist in the world, and perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist ever.

How “Pitbull” Got His Bite Back

“Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) knocked out “Big” Ben Rothwell (33-6) at 1:13 of round three with a straight right, right uppercut combo.

Rothwell twirled gracefully to the mat as the referee waved off the fight, a classic between the heavyweights.

Rothwell kept it competitive, but Arlovski beat-up “Big” Ben with flurries of devastating striking that caused blood to ooze from every orifice in Rothwell’s head by the end of round two.

Babyface Avenger

“Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (26-5) avenged his 2001 knockout loss to “Rock” Pedro Rizzo (16-8) with a KO of his own at 1:44 of round two.

Barnett kept Rizzo at bay throughout the fight with a long teep and even landed a spin kick to Rizzo’s midsection in the first round.

In the second round, Barnett bounced an overhand right off Rizzo’s noggin and followed with a left hook  that laid Rizzo out.

When asked if he wanted to fight one of the fighters in the main events, Barnett responded, “They’re all bad asses, but they ain’t me.”

Li’l Nog’, Big Knockout

High kick, leg kick, spin kick, “Bam Bam” Edwin Dewees (35-13) even threw a quasi-drop kick from the corner of the ring at “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3); but, it was knees in the Thai clinch and a big left hook from Nogueira that counted.

Nogueira TKO’d Dewees at 4:06 of round one after that left hook dropped “Bam Bam” through the ropes.

“My left one very hard,” Nogueira told the crowd after the fight.

Dewees fought aggressively in his light heavyweight debut; but, Li’l Nog’ avoided Dewees’s wide array of kicks and stalked him into the corner for the TKO “W”.

Nogueira wrapped Dewees in a Thai clinch and hammered knees into his midsection before slamming left and right hooks into Dewees’s head.

Belfort Goes Kaboom!

“Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8) knocked Terry Martin (17-6) cold with a straight lead punch at 3:12 of round two in Belfort’s debut at middleweight.

The match-up was always just inches from a slug fest as Martin stalked with a 1-2 combo and Belfort retreated and swung his lead hook, neither fighter connecting much.

In round two, Belfort closed with a flying knee that Martin scooped for a takedown attempt.

Belfort defended, finding a bit of space before launching a right uppercut that lifted Martin’s chin for an on-the-butto straight down the pipe.

Martin nearly folded forward before momentum left him dazed against the ropes.

After the fight, Belfort said of his new 185-pound physique, “It feels so fast!”

Ambrose Steps Into “Quicksand”

Welterweight JJ Ambrose (8-2) stepped into “Quicksand” when he opened round one of his fight with Xtreme Couture’s Mike Pyle (17-5-1) by clinching in the corner.

Pyle manhandled Ambrose to the mat, mounted him, and softened him up with punches until Ambrose surrendered the inevitable rear naked choke at 2:51.

“I was looking for the submission,” Pyle said after the tapout.  “Anyone can get lucky and knock someone out, but you can’t get lucky and submit someone.”

Hominick Taps Young

“Machine” Mark Hominick (16-8) fumbled with a leg triangle in the second round versus “Savant” Trenell Young (9-8) and got dumped on his head for it.

But, Hominick got a second chance and transitioned from a leg triangle to an armbar for the tapout “W” at 4:25 of round two.

“The Law” Comes To Bear On “Negao”

About the time I finished the sentence, “Nasciemento looks like he’s caught in the headlights,” middleweight “The Law” Matt Lindland (21-5) dropped “Negao” Fabio Nasciemento (8-4) with a left hook in the first round and pounced into a guillotine choke.

“I was thinking about something Dean Lister told me, ‘Never squeeze so hard that you burn your arms out,’” said Lindland after the fight.

Nasciemento spent the next minute-and-a-half wriggling free, only to take a whipping with Lindland inside his guard drilling elbows.

A brawl broke out in the second round.

Both fighters traded elbows, uppercuts, and hard hooks from close range with, surprisingly,  Nasciemento getting the best of the exchange until Lindland slammed him into a corner and resumed the G’n'P whipping that started in the first.

Both fighters were gassed throughout a sloppy round three in which much was thrown, but not much landed cleanly.

Lindland shot, depositing Nasciemento through the ropes where Nasciemento’s head hit the judges table in a loud “Donk!”

The decision was unanimous for Lindland by scores 30-27 twice and 30-26.

Buentello Takes Easy UD

In a fight sometimes as sloppy as its making, “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (26-10) won a UD over late replacement “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge (23-18-1) by scores of 30-27 times three.

The first session paced like a brisk spar as the big boys took each other’s pulse.

Goodridge whittled away with a leg kick while Buentello cranked a jab.

Three times Goodridge clammed-up at the knuckle end of Buentello’s jab; and, Buentello closed to clinch, but couldn’t solve Goodridge’s defense, eventually backing off.

The fight heated up in the second round with Goodridge wheeling haymakers; but, Buentello steadily cranked his jab.

This round, Buentello chipped at Goodridge’s skull with his elbow in the clinch.

Goodridge grabbed for a single-leg takedown at the ropes; but, Buentello turned him into the corner and backed out.

Buentello loaded-up a couple of heavy shots that staggered Goodridge to end the round.

In the third round, Buentello busted Goodridge’s mouth with a lead straight.  Goodridge backpedalled; and, Buentello closed with a flying knee.

Buentello put in a solid effort to end the fight with some hard overhands; but, when “Daddy” wouldn’t go quietly, Buentello settled for the decision victory.

“Babalu” Wins Battle of Attrition

Is “battle of attrition” the literary term for “boring fight”?

If so, the first two rounds between “Babalu” Rento Sobral (30-7) and Mike Whitehead (23-7) were a battle of attrition; but, I wouldn’t even bother downloading them.

Fast-forward to round three and “Babalu” pieced together enough action to win a UD by 30-27 three times.

You can give the first two rounds to “Babalu” if you want.  Somebody had to win them; but, Fighters.com agrees with the “W” for Sobral based on round three.

Sobral sunk three guillotines in the round.  Unfortunately two of them were as Whitehead tackled him through the ropes and Whitehead defended the third choke attempt.

Sobral also connected with a front kick and a spinning hook kick to Whitehead’s jaw.

A spent Sobral confied after the fight, “I’m getting old.”

Whitehead admitted, “I couldn’t put it all together.”

“Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (13-5) def. “Big” Ben Rothwell (33-6) via KO, 1:13 of round three.

“Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (26-5) def. Pedro Rizzo (16-8) via KO, 1:44 of round two.

“The Machine” Mark Hominick (16-8) def. Savant Young (9-8) via submission (armbar), 4:25 of round two.

“Babalu” Renato Sobral (30-7) def. Mike Whitehead (23-7) via unanimous decision (30-27; 30-27; 30-27)

“The Law” Matt Lindland (21-5) def. Fabio Negao (8-4) via unanimous decision (30-26; 30-27; 30-27).

“Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3) def. “Babyface” Edwin Dewees (35-13) via TKO, 4:06 of round one.

“Quicksand” Mike Pyle (17-5-1) def. JJ Ambrose (8-2) via submission (rear naked choke), 2:51 of round one.

“The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (17-8) def. Terry Martin (17-5) via KO, 3:12 of round two.

“Head Hunter” Paul Buentello (26-10) def. “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge (23-18-1) via unanimous decision (30-27; 30-27; 30-27).

Belfort, a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and PRIDE veteran, will make his middleweight debut.

“The Phenom” is coming off two consecutive wins, both at Cage Rage.  Most recently he claimed their light heavyweight title when he scored a unanimous decision over “The Messenger” James Zikic (16-5-2).

Martin is coming off two consecutive losses, after Chris Leben (18-4) KO’ed him in the third round at Ultimate Fight Night 11 and “Beastman” Marvin Eastman (15-7-1) won the UD at UFC 81.

Martin is scheduled to face Daiju Takase (7-11-1) this weekend at Adrenaline MMA’s debut event near Chicago.

A bout between welterweights J.J. Ambrose (9-10) and “Quicksand” Mike Pyle (16-5-1) has also been added to the preliminary card.  They were formerly scheduled to fight Patrick Speight (6-0) and Brett Cooper (8-4), respectively.

Heavyweight “Monster” Kevin Randleman (17-12) also pulled out a UD over Pancrase star Ryo Kawamura (8-3-2).  The decision was considered controversial.

Monson and Randleman are scheduled to fight on a 24 June card in Charlotte.

Highly-touted Roger Gracie (2-0) remained undefeated after tapping MMA vet Yuki Kondo (48-22-6) in a rear naked choke at 2:40 of round one.

“Kiss” Yoshihiro Nakao (7-1) called out “Ironhead” Kazuyuki Fujita (15-6) after knocking out Kiwi “Big” Jim York (9-2) 46-seconds into round two.

American Top Team welterweight Jorge Santiago (17-7) fought off near-submissions before finding his own submission of Grabaka’s Yuki Sasaki (21-14-1) in a third-round armbar at 2:10.

Lighweight Eiji Mitsuoka (13-5-2) took only 4:15 to sink a rear naked choke submission in on “Crazy” Kwang Hee Lee (5-1).

Xtreme Couture welterweight “Quicksand” Mike Pyle (16-5-1) locked in a triangle choke to tap “Handler” Dan Hornbuckle (15-2) at 4:52 of round one.

Welterweight Pancrase vet Satoru Kitaoka (20-8-9) submitted Aussie Ian James Schaffa (7-5-1) in a guillotine choke in just 50 seconds to begin the night.

Whitehead was dismissed from the UFC after losing a unanimous decision to Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked 205-pounder “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-3-1) in February 2006, his only official appearance in the big show.

Since that loss, Whitehead has wracked up 11 straight wins, nine by stoppage, in several promotions, including a four-fight stint in the IFL.

Sobral is 2-1 since challenging then-champ and sixth-ranked “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) for the UFC title in August 2006.

He was dismissed from the big show after holding an anaconda choke several seconds after David Heath (7-3) obviously tapped out, then bragging about it.

Atencio also added the following fights to the official card:

Savant Young (9-7) v “The Machine” Mark Hominick (15-8)
Ray Lazama (5-5) v Justin Levens (9-8)
JJ Ambrose (9-1) v Patrick Speight (6-0)
“Quicksand” Mike Pyle (15-5-1) v Brett Cooper (7-4)

No opponent has been named.

Also added to the line-up is a match-up between welterweights “Quicksand” Mike Pyle (15-5-1) and “The Handler” Dan Hornbuckle (15-1).

Heavyweights Roger Gracie (1-0) and “The Monster” Kevin Randleman (16-12) remain on the card without opponents.

At an 18 April press conference, WVR PR representative Takahiro Kokuho said, “At first we had one Japanese and one non-Japanese fighter ready to go [with Gracie]; but, because of injuries we are still in the process of deciding the opponent.  Roger’s side has been asking us to decide the opponent soon and for sure I would like to meet that request.”

Randleman recently cancelled a puroresu match in Inoki Genome Federation with an ankle injury, but Kokuho promised, “It has no relation to his MMA bout. We should be able to announce his card sometime next week.”