From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, Anthony Pettis left the WEC as the final WEC Lightweight Champion and entered the UFC only to promptly lose his debut. But “Showtime” is still a very entertaining fighter and a very interesting addition to an increasingly-crowded Lightweight division. There’s a lot of good opponents for Anthony Pettis in the UFC, and to prove that, here are my personal picks for the five fighters Anthony Pettis should face next. ...

Although there’s a small chance that it won’t happen, Nick Diaz will more than likely fight his next fight as a professional boxer. Diaz is doing this for a variety of reasons, but the fact is: he’s doing it. And ever since I took a firm stance on the “boxing vs. MMA” war, I’ve been thinking more and more about professional MMA fighters having at least one fight as a professional boxer. So, here are the five fighters I’d like to see fight as boxers before they retire. ...

UFC 129 was a historic event for several reasons. It featured two title fights, it featured a UFC legend and Hall of Fame member retiring, and it featured over half the night’s fights ending with stoppages, many of which were dramatic and amazing. And now once again it’s time to ask: what’s next? What does the future hold for Georges St. Pierre, Jose Aldo, Lyoto Machida, and others?? Here’s my answer to just that: a new edition of my “What’s Next for the Winners and Losers” series of articles, now featuring UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”. ...

Another one went down in the history books tonight, fans and friends. Tonight the UFC presented UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields” in front of 55,000 screaming Canadians. With all twelve fights being available through some form or another, UFC fans in attendance and around the world were treated to a night of fantastic action, and by far the best MMA event of the year. Without hyperbole, UFC 129 should go down as the greatest UFC event of all time, one of (if not the) greatest MMA event of all time, and one of the most important events in UFC and MMA history. Here are the full results as well as some early commentary on UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”. ...

It’s come down to this, fans and friends. After weeks of speculation and intense debate, after a twelve-part series and my usual rounds of predicting, previewing, and giving crash courses… this is my final say. UFC 129 takes place roughly twenty-four hours from now, in front of a sold-out crowd of over 55,000 people. I’ve done my best to cover each and every fight in detail, in the myriad amount of coverage I’ve given this very special event. And here’s where it ends: this is another “Finally Final Thoughts”, covering my last random, assorted thoughts on UFC 129. ...

We’re now only a few days away from UFC 129, which should go down as the most-important MMA event of the year. In the main event, Georges St. Pierre defends his UFC Welterweight Championship against former EliteXC and Strikeforce champion Jake Shields, in front of over 55,000 fans. The co-main event will also be an interesting match-up, as Jose Aldo makes his long-awaited UFC debut by defending his UFC Featherweight Championship against Mark Hominick. As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why), now featuring UFC 129. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome back to Part 2 of today’s “ufc 129 Prelims Predictions”. Normally, I only cover the main card of an upcoming major MMA event, but with all the free preliminary fights the UFC is making available nowadays, occasionally I take the time to give my thoughts on those fights as well. And UFC 129 features not one but two “Prelims LIVE” broadcasts, the first five fights on Facebook and then an additional two fights on Spike TV. It’s like getting an entire second event at no charge. For the first part of today’s two-parter, covering the first four Facebook match-ups, please click here. Now it’s time to focus on the final Facebook fight as well as the two fights scheduled to air on Spike TV. Let’s get to it. ...

On April 30, 2011, the UFC will hold its highly-anticipated “St. Pierre vs. Shields” event, featuring UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre defending his championship against former Strikeforce Middleweight and EliteXC Welterweight Champion Jake Shields in front of over 55,000 fans. Also, Featherweight engine of destruction Jose Aldo makes his long-awaited debut in the UFC, defending his newly-minted UFC Featherweight Championship against Mark Hominick. Still, some fans may be asking themselves: what are the best reasons to check out this card? Here’s my answer to just that: 5 reasons to watch UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to the latest edition of “Crash Course”. “Crash Course” is a series of articles designed to give readers a quick rundown on all the relevant information they need to know heading into an upcoming major MMA event. Everything from why you should watch, what you should expect in the co-main and main event, and even where and when you can find it on TV is all covered in detail. So let’s get right to it with today’s edition, featuring UFC 129: “St. Pierre vs. Shields”. ...

With six parts of twelve now fully completed, my “maxi-series” entitled “ufc 129 Complete Collection” is now well on its way towards completion. Since the start of the series yesterday, I’ve taken a look at six of the twelve fights currently planned for UFC 129 in Toronto, which will see the UFC debut in Ontario after a prolonged legal battle and in front of over 55,000 fans. Now we’re diving into the real meat of this card, with only one fight left before we head into the Pay-Per-View. For the previous entry into this series, please click here. Now it’s time to focus on the headlining attraction of the Spike TV “UFC Prelims LIVE” broadcast: it’s Nate Diaz vs. Rory MacDonald. ...

The future of the “UFC Prelims Live” specials is looking better and better. Instead of just using Facebook or Spike TV or ION Television, the UFC now routinely uses two at a time, giving fans an unprecedented level of access to free preliminary fights. Even better, the fight quality of these prelims has remained relatively high, all things considered. Based on its track record, “Prelims Live” is actually one of the strongest contenders in my ongoing battle to crown the WEC’s replacement as my “dark horse favorite”. For everyone else out there that can’t get enough free prelims, here are some interesting updates on what we can expect in the upcoming months. ...

Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz will fight anyone. He's proven such accolades in the past, as he has taken fights in the lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, and even light heavyweight division. So now with the acquisition of Strikeforce into the Zuffa fold, things have gotten a little bit skewed once again. The loyalty that him and his team (Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu) share is undeniable--arguably the most loyal team in the sport of mixed martial arts. When Jake Shields and Nick Diaz were both under the Strikeforce banner, Shields moved up to the middleweight class exclusively, just so he can avoid having to run into his teammate, and eventually both men became champions. So when people ask whether Diaz will fight any of his teammates, the answer is clear. So in Diaz' opinion, were Rashad Evans and Jon Jones ever "real teammates"? Definitely, not. Because that's not loyalty. ...

As ufc welterweight standout Nate Diaz prepares for his upcoming bout with Canada's own Rory MacDonald, he has had some road blocks besides the usually wear and tear of his tedious training camp. The brash Stockton native will be competing in the 170-pound class for just the fourth-time in his near seven-year career as a professional mixed martial artist when he'll be taking on the welterweight prospect in Rory. Diaz hopes to bounce back from a disappointing, yet competitive, decision loss to contender Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 124 last December. However before he has the opportunity to get back on the winning track, he must first deal with the Canadian authorities, as Diaz will have to fill out some hefty paper work before "the man" will let Diaz cross the border. ...

Arguably one of the most exciting fighters amongst the UFC's roster of talent, Nate Diaz is gearing up for one of his toughest challenges in the cage as he returns this April to face hot-prospect, Rory MacDonald. Though the Canadian is coming off of a loss, the first of his career, against former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit, he looked impressive throughout the three-round affair, holding his own against the dangerous Greg Jackson product on the feet, and looked to be edging on the judges score cards before Carlos was able to capitalize on a fatigued Rory, mount him, then finish him off with strikes for the TKO win. Now, the welterweight spitfire hopes to add the name "Diaz" to his mantle of opponents, and should he be successful, would that signal the end for the glorified 170-pounder's run and prompt Nate back to the lightweight class? ...

Neither the UFC’s Nate Diaz nor Strikeforce’s Nick Diaz are strangers to controversy. In fact, the Diaz brothers are two of the most polarizing individuals in the sport, which usually stems from the fact that both men are skilled competitors while also being bad-boys that aren’t afraid to do or say controversial things. In a new interview, Nate Diaz recently blasted the state of judging in MMA and added fuel to a fire that’s already raging. Here are all the details. ...

Nate Diaz is wasting no time since his last outing in the welterweight division at UFC 125 on Jan. 1, as the Cesar Gracie protege will now be returning just a few months later in time to train alongside teammate Jake Shields for UFC 129. The pay-per-view event is scheduled to take place at the Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and features a welterweight match up pitting reigning champion Georges St. Pierre defending his title against the top contender and former Strikeforce champ in Shields. And while that particular 170-pound contest may be the highlight of the evening, do not over look Nate Diaz as he will be taking on top-prospect Rory MacDonald on the same card, most likely to be featured on the main card. ...

Now that it’s been officially announced that Georges St. Pierre will defend his ufc Welterweight Championship against former EliteXC and Strikeforce Champion Jake Shields, many fans and insiders are assuming two things. The first is that GSP will beat Shields, and the second is that GSP will finally move up to Middleweight once he does. But hold that thought: Dong Hyun Kim, the “Stun Gun” which put a halt to Nate Diaz’s resurgent UFC career at UFC 125, has other plans. In a new interview, Kim recently said that beating Diaz gave him the confidence necessary to both call out GSP and know that he can be the one to finally end the long-reigning champion’s multi-year unbeaten streak. ...

The after-shocks of UFC 125 "Resolution" will likely be felt for quite some time. Clay Guida beat feared striker Takanori Gomi by adopting a bizarre fighting style that saw him constantly ducking and dodging. Brian Stann made an immediate impact by TKO'ing Chris Leben. Dong Hyun Kim set himself up as a possible top-division talent, while in the main event, Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard fought to a draw in an amazing Lightweight encounter. As is customary for a major card, here's the latest edition of "What's Next?" featuring UFC 125: "Resolution". ...

The first MMA event of 2011 is now over and done with, fans and friends: UFC 125 “Resolution” is now a thing of the past. The event saw several memorable fights and several highlight-reel moments, both on the main card, the preliminary card televised for the first time on network television, and even the untelevised undercard. And in the main event, the two best Lightweight MMA fighters in the world proved many doubters wrong and gave us an early Fight of the Year contender for 2011, even though its decision was mired in controversy . Here are the full results as well as some early commentary for UFC 125 “Resolution”. ...

UFC 125 “Resolution” features an incredible cast of UFC performers. Throughout the course of one night, we’ll see wrestlers, strikers, grapplers, submission specialists, and talented all-rounders from many different weight divisions. And in the main event, Frank Edgar defends the UFC Lightweight Championship against Gray Maynard. As is customary when a big card is just around the corner, here’s another edition of “Picks and Predictions”, featuring my thoughts on who I think will win and why. ...

MMA fans have a lot to look forward to this week, as not one but two high-profile fight cards are scheduled to go down. I’ve already talked at length about the upcoming DREAM/K-1 super-card “DYNAMITE!! 2010”, but the one and only UFC is holding its own New Year celebration. UFC 125 on New Year’s Day is fast-approaching, and features both a fantastic main event and several great undercard fights. So what is UFC 125: “Resolution” all about? Let’s find out with a new edition of “Crash Course”. ...

One reason the UFC product can be so addictive for the serious fan is how each event sets up the viewer with hanging issues and questions ahead of the show … then answers those questions via the outcome of the fights while concurrently establishing and creating a whole new slate of issues and questions which propels the fan towards the next event. UFC 125 has some obvious sales points mainly centering around the main card title fight between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard.  However, some second tier questions will also get solved or advanced towards solution come January 1^st. ...

Another ufc event has recently been made official, with eleven bouts now confirmed to be taking place. While anything could happen between now and then, the UFC recently released their lineup for UFC 125: “Resolution”, which takes place on New Year’s Day and features Frank Edgar defending his UFC Lightweight Championship against the only man that’s ever beaten him, Gray Maynard. With credit going to MMA Junkie, here’s the official lineup for the event, which is scheduled to take place January 1, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. ...

As more and more MMA camps swell their rosters with world-class talent, the question of whether or not teammates should fight each other will not only remain a persistent hurdle to overcome, but in fact grow in importance. Newly-signed UFC contender and former EliteXC and Strikeforce Champion Jake Shields recently weighed in on the situation. Like many other stars before him, Shields adamantly refused to fight the men he trains with, even going as far as to say that he would be willing to switch weight classes in order to avoid any teammate vs. teammate showdowns. Here are all the details. ...

We’re only a day removed from the shocking news that the UFC and WEC would be merging at the start of 2011, and already both fans and insiders have been tossing around several fantasy match-ups that would see the WEC's best and brightest take on the UFC's biggest stars. So, of course, you know I just had to get in on the fun. Without further ado, here’s my personal Top 5 list of the “WEC vs. UFC” match-ups I’d love to see. ...

As the worlds largest mixed martial art's organization tries to ring in the new year, additional bouts have been added to a stacked card. Next New Year's, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the UFC will return to Nevada with a lightweight title fight pitting current champion Frankie Edgar, who is riding on a 5-fight win streak (which included two back-to-back victories over former champion BJ Penn) will look to exact revenge when he defends his title against the only man to defeat him, undefeated UFC lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard. Also in action, former Interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin is coming back to action after succumbing to his first defeat as a professional at UFC 116 when he tangles with the former IFL heavyweight champion and season 10 winner of "The Ultimate Fighter", Roy Nelson. ...

Shinya Aoki is probably one of the most reserved fighters in the sport. Although his in-ring antics against Mizuto Hirota at "Dynamite!! 2009" would inidicate otherwise, the grappling ace usually keeps to himself and refrains from doing a lot of outlandish things. Maybe that's why the Japanese have embraced him as their leading man in the world of mixed martial arts. However, most recently, the famed Judoka has stepped out of his shell and lit the MMA world abuzz once again, with his almost brutal honesty, on how he views the Western MMA scene (um...us) and how they can benefit by tuning into DREAM, once in a while. ...

We’re one day away from the highly-anticipated rematch between Nick Diaz and KJ Noons, this time for the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship, and all eyes are rightly focused on the upcoming second chapter to this incredibly bitter rivalry. But the other Diaz brother has recently been making headlines of his own. After a recent return to the ufc’s Welterweight division, Nate Diaz has finally begun to catch up to his older, more-famous brother. Recently, Nate Diaz’s next opponent has been revealed, and should he beat him, it would definitely take Diaz one big step closer to catching up to his brother. Here are all the details. ...

It’s that time again, fans and friends. That unfortunate time that comes after an MMA event, a time to evaluate how many bruises need healing and how much time needs to be spent sitting on the sidelines. UFC 118 featured a host of great match-ups, from Nate Diaz dismantling Marcus Davis to Frankie Edgar dominating BJ Penn, and of course, the utter obliteration of aging pro boxer James Toney at the hands of Randy Couture. The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission has recently revealed the list of medical suspensions for UFC 118, and while most got off lightly, a few may have a bit of a stretch spent recuperating rather than training. Here’s how it all breaks down. ...

Neither Nick nor Nate Diaz are strangers to controversy. The brothers have been involved in bitter rivalries, post-fight brawls, and all manner of not-so-nice activities. Saying that the Diaz brothers are MMA’s premier bad boys would be an understatement. But for the first time in either man’s careers, their abilities are beginning to eclipse their bravado. Nick and Nate were always talented, but with a string of recent performances, both men are starting to get taken seriously as best-in-the-world talent. Tough tests lie ahead for both men, as Nate Diaz recently made known his intentions to fight top-tier welterweights in the UFC, while Nick’s arch-rival and next opponent recently claimed that Nick would have to kill him to beat him. ...