Well, that sure was surprising wasn’t it? UFC 118 was filled with awesome fights, big winners, and big losers. From Nate Diaz choking out Marcus Davis to James Toney getting choked out by Randy Couture, UFC 118 lived up to just about all of its potential. Looking forward, here’s what I think is next for some of the big winners, and even some of the big losers, of UFC 118: “Edgar vs. Penn 2”. ...

While UFC 118 may not have been the best MMA card of 2010, it certainly was one of the most interesting. And even if it doesn’t take the top spot for “MMA Event of the Year”, I’d say that it easily makes Top 10, perhaps even Top 5. Some of the preliminary matches were outright boring, but then you had Joe Lauzon put on the performance of his life while Nate Diaz took one giant step forward towards getting out of the shadow of his brother Nick. Then of course you had the shocking main event fights: Gray Maynard lived up to his nickname “The Bully” by dominating Kenny Florian in a way that few other men were ever able to do, James Toney was sent packing back to pro boxing via an Arm Triangle Choke by UFC Legend Randy Couture, and in the main event, Frank Edgar solidified his position as the best Lightweight in the world by putting on an absolute clinic against BJ Penn. Here are the official results for UFC 118: “Edgar vs. Penn 2”, as well as my analysis of several of the major fights. ...

For quite a whole lot of reasons, the upcoming UFC 118 event is quickly becoming the can’t-miss event of the latter half of 2010. Whether it’s James Toney vs. Randy Couture, Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn, or even Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard, UFC 118 sounds like a dream-card on paper. However, there’s one UFC 118 fight that I’ve seen a definitive lack of coverage on, and for the life of me, I can’t tell why. It’s virtually vanished from the popular press, but I’m really looking forward to the match-up between Marcus Davis and Nate Diaz. ...

Former UFC fighter Rory Markham, following his release from the UFC and recovering from amounting injuries, was recently signed to budding promotion, Bellator Fighting Championships. Bellator has done an excellent job in bringing in relevant talent to their fold, while giving their home-grown fighters some credibility, should they prove successful in defeating some of the imported, former UFC standouts. Markham will forever be remembered in infamy, when he knocked out Brodie Farber in his UFC debut in 2009, with a vicious head kick. After the initial UFC outing, he struggled in performances against contender Dan Hardy and "The Ultimate Fighter" season five winner, Nate Diaz. ...

By John Moody As fans filed out of the Bell Centre after UFC 113 in Montreal, a very unexpected encounter between bitter rivals took place in the locker room of welterweight Marcus Davis (17-6).  He had just defeated Jonathan Goulet (22-11) to break a two fight losing skid and rejuvenate his career. Davis requested that UFC officials bring Dan Hardy into his locker room for a meeting.  UFC brass had previously kept these two fighters apart at all costs, given the rancor that existed stemming from their controversial June 2009 fight.  As die-hard MMA fans know, Hardy waged a crude psychological war of words in advance of his UFC 99 fight with Davis.  A smack talk battle that ultimately lured Davis into saying things he now regrets and feels adversely affected his performance.  Coupled with Davis losing the decision to Hardy in a fight he adamantly believes he won, the effects from this period of time lingered with the Irish Hand Grenade. ...

The Tennessee Athletic Commission determined yesterday that five individuals engaged in "conduct that is detrimental to a professional contest of unarmed combat." Those five individuals will receive fines and suspensions. ...

Last night I was unfortunate enough to watch mixed martial arts (MMA) take a step back, a ten year step back. Strikeforce allowed the members of the Cesar Gracie camp to put a beating on a man for simply asking for a rematch live on national television. ...

UFC welterweight Rory Markham (16-5) has been fined $1000 by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board for weighing 177-pounds Friday for his contracted 171-pound fight versus Nate Diaz (11-5) at UFC 111 in Newark tonight. ...

Fighters.com's fifth-ranked lightweight "Bully" Gray Maynard (8-0) and Nate Diaz (10-5) will rematch an The Ultimate Fighter 5 exhbition match tonight at UFC Fight Night 20 in Fairfax, Virginia. ...

The main event of UFC Fight Night 20 on January 11 is Fighters.com fifth-ranked lightweight "Bully" Gray Maynard (8-0) versus Nate Diaz (10-5) in a battle for title contention. Many questions will be answered in this fight about these two fighters who are both searching for that title shot against Fighters.com and UFC Lightweight Champion "Prodigy" B.J. Penn (15-5-1). ...

Fighters.com fourth-ranked light heavyweight "Sugar" Rashad Evans (14-1-1) received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Rolles Gracie (2-0) Saturday before UFC 108. The awarding of black belts today in mixed martial arts (MMA) is becoming homogenized as many fighters seem to be able to get them as easy as a Big Mac. It is a disgrace to the fighting style of Jiu Jitsu, the black belt lineage and to Helio Gracie himself. ...

UFC lightweight title contender “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (21-2) debuted at tenth in Fighters.com's Lightweight Rankings in November due mostly to former top tenner Katsunori Kikuno's (5-1-1) stoppage loss to third-ranked Eddie Alvarez (16-2) at DREAM.12 in Osaka October 25. ...

Fighters.com's fifth-ranked lightweight “Bully” Gray Maynard (8-0) will matchup versus Nate Diaz (10-5) at UFC Fight Night 20 at the Patriot Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and will air on Spike TV January 11, the UFC announced Monday. ...

Lightweight Nate Diaz (10-5) tapped out “Young Assassin” Melvin Guillard (22-8-2) in a modified guillotine at 2:13 of round two at UFC Fight Night 19 in Oklahoma City Wednesday night. Diaz had backed Guilliard into the cage with a crisp one-two combo.  Guilliard wasn't taking home the Oscar for playing possom at the cage before he launched a straight punch into a double leg takedown.  Diaz landed on his back and immediately slipped his arms around Guillard's neck and his right leg high over Guillard's back.  Diaz leaned back and Guilliard pounded the mat. ...

Ultimate Fighter Nathan Diaz (9-5) will square off across the Octagon from lightweight banger "Young Assassin" Melvin Guillard (22-7-2) and former lightweight contender "El Matador" Roger Huerta (20-2-1) will return from a 13-month hiatus versus "Bullly" Gray Maynard (7-0) at UFC's Fight Night in Oklahoma City 16 September.

Diaz and Guillard cross paths moving in opposite directions.

Diaz is on a two-fight losing streak, most recently getting manhandled in a UD loss to a relentless "Daddy" Joe Stevenson (30-9) at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale in Las Vegas last month.
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