Israel FC, an upstart promotion out of–you guessed it–Israel has began to take on a steady stream of veterans in for their promotional debut in what is turning out to be an all star cast of competitors.

MMAFighting.com first reported the event and it’s full lineup reads as the following:

Jeff Monson vs. Sergey Shemetov
Frank Trigg vs. Roy Neeman
Ricco Rodriguez vs. Daniel Tabera
Hermes Franca vs. Moshe Kaitz
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Valdas Pocevicius
Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett vs. Ariel Abergel
Daniel Gracie vs. Martin Wojcik
Shonie Carter vs. Jeremy Knafo
Thiago Meller vs. Fabrice Riconneau
Vitaly Shemetov vs. Alexandro Ceconi
Joshua Hewlett vs. Ido Pariente
Akop Stepanyan vs. Marc Berger
Serob Minasyan vs. Vitali Krbrsky

Hermes Franca, perhaps one of the most notable veterans on the card, is coming out of retirement to return to action here in Israel against the unheralded Moshe Keitz. Franca was last seen inside the UFC when he lost to lightweight standout by knockout at UFC 103.

It was only the second time the Brazilian had ever been knocked out, however, when Franca aimed for a comeback after his UFC release, he suffered an additional knockout victory, against Eric Wisely. In a rematch, Franca lost yet again to Wisely just three days ago at an SFC event, however made it to see the final bell. He lost on points, when Eric took home the unanimous decision victory, and left Franca with his third loss in a row.

So, MMA peeps, any other fighters stand out to you here? Looks like Trigg is aiming for a comeback, following his own UFC release, which ended a two-fight losing streak, which included two-knockout losses to Josh Koscheck and Matt Serra, respectively. The former two-time UFC title challenger brings a worlds of experience into the cage, as well as a chin that has seen better days.

Sound off, and let your opinions be heard in the comments section below.

Though both events were pay-per-view affairs, I would contest that Shark Fights probably pulled in larger numbers due to the heavy saturation of MMA notables littered on the card.

While all bouts proved to be interesting in their own right, there was one fight that rose above the rest, and apparently the Shark Fights execs believe the same to be true.

The co-main event of the evening, a bout pitting UFC veterans Rameau Thierry–who is better known simply as Sokoudjou–and Houston Alexander pulled out all the stops in their light heavyweight affair last night.

After a dominant round turned in by the Team Quest product, Thierry, who knocked down Houston on two occasions and unleashed a heavy dose of ground and pound–it looked like he left everything he had inside the cage as the second round began.

Early on in the second, Houston was able to connect on several jabs early, while Thierry was notably winded after a spirited first round. Alexander then quickly unloaded on a barrage that eventually left Sokoudjou on the ground against the cage in a panic. Alexander followed up with 30-something unanswered blows before the referee stepped in to halt the bout.

For their efforts, the competitors were awarded a $2,500 bonus.

It’s not UFC making money, but it’s something.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the bonuses? Obviously, its a trend that I hope most organizations can some day adopt and put to use on a regular basis, or at least come pay-per-view time. Additionally, what about Sokoudjou? He’s been flakey ever since his run in the UFC, or is it more so a case of too much too soon? You decide–let your opinions known below.

Courtesy of MMAMania.com, the fights went down as follows: Trevor Prangley defeats Keith Jardine via Split Decision. Houston Alexander defeats Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou via TKO (Strikes) at 1:31 of Round Two. Paul Daley defeats Jorge Masvidal via Unanimous Decision. Danillo Villefort defeats Joey Villasenor via Unanimous Decision. Tarec Saffiedine defeats Brock Larson via Unanimous Decision. Ronnie Mann defeats Douglas Evans via Split Decision. Paul Bradley defeats Johnny Reese via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:28 of Round One. Aaron Rosa defeats Devin Cole via Unanimous Decision. Daniel Straus defeats Karen Darabedyan via Unanimous Decision. Eric Davila defeats Pete Spratt via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 3:49 of Round Two.

I didn’t get a chance to check out the full undercard on Sherdog, but I did catch a few fights here and there. I’ve got no major complaints with what I saw. When it comes to the main card, it was a bit hit-and-miss to be honest. I didn’t like how most of the fights went to the judges, with almost every decision fight having at least one boring round. Although, for the most part, we got ourselves some good fights from some talented athletes.

In regards to specific fights, Paul Daley proved once again that he badly needs to work on his wrestling. Masvidal seemed to be taking him down at will, with Daley offering very little in the way of defense. I think the only thing that saved Daley was a late-round resurgence built upon a key referee stand-up that did seem debatable. Even though he won, Daley proved that he still needs a lot of work and that he isn’t always the one-hit KO artist he’s hyped up to be.

I think Alexander vs. Sokoudjou was easily the Fight of the Night. I was a little hesitant about this fight, thinking that I’d be in for a long and boring night if the Houston Alexander that fought Kimbo Slice showed up against the Sokoudjou that fought Lyoto Machida. What we got was both men at their relative best, with Sokoudjou landing some crazy shots in Round 1 but Alexander somehow surviving, rallying, and beating a gassed-out Sokoudjou down in Round 2. It was an intense, emotional fight. It wasn’t technical by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a good brawl.

If one emotion could summarize my feelings regarding the main event of Shark Fights 13, it would be “sadness”. Love him or hate him, for all his ups and downs, you’ve simply got to respect the Techno Viking. Keith Jardine came out to fight and tried his best to beat Trevor Prangley, including a fantastic resurgence in Round 3 that was unfortunately a case of “too little, too late”. Prangley deserves a lot of credit for his methodical counter-punching style, and I think he could go far as the Shark Fights Light Heavyweight Champion. But man it hurt to see Jardine lose five in a row.

I honestly don’t know where “The Dean of Mean” goes from here. 0-5 is an incredibly hard hole to dig yourself out of, even if those five losses were against some super-stacked competition. I honestly believe that nothing short of a complete overhaul, starting from the ground up, will save Jardine’s career. But wherever he does go from here, I’ll be pulling for him. I’m going to hold out hope for Keith Jardine. The alternative is the sad realization that one of my “dark horse” favorites has peaked at the age of 34 and has no future in this business. And I’m simply not ready to accept that yet.

And what about you, fans and friends? Now that it’s come and gone, what did you think of Shark Fights 13?

Courtesy of MMAMania.com, the weigh-in results were as follows: Keith Jardine (204.5) vs. Trevor Prangley (202.75), Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (204.75) vs. Houston Alexander (204.75), Paul Daley (172) vs. Jorge Masvidal (168.75), Joey Villasanor (185.5) vs. Danillo Villefort (184.5), Tarec Saffiedine (169.75) vs. Brock Larson (170.75),  Douglas Evans (144.25) vs. Ronnie Mann (144.75), Paul Bradley (170.5) vs. Johnny Reese (169.25), Aaron Rosa (241.75) vs. Devin Cole (233.25), Karen Darabedyan (155.75) vs. Daniel Straus (152.75), Eric Davila (176.5) vs. Pete Spratt (170.25)

Paul Daley was given an hour to cut the necessary weight in order to make 171, but after tipping the scales once again, had lost only a fourth of a pound. Daley, who has struggled to make the cut to 170 in the past, will now forfeit a whopping ten percent of his fight purse to his opponent.

I have to wonder what Paul Daley’s doing wrong. His body and build seems like a natural welterweight. Sure, he’s a bit on the bulky side. But he’s nowhere close to athletes like Thiago Alves, who I’m convinced could make Middleweight with his eyes closed and could even make Light Heavyweight if he tried. Daley is a small, compact fighter, and I think Welterweight is the best place for him. I think his striking power and speed would be not-insignificantly diminished if he jumped up to Middleweight. I’ve been a vocal proponent of fighters moving up to their natural weight class, especially when they miss weight repeatedly. But for Paul Daley, I honestly think that he may just not be trying hard enough.

In regards to the fights themselves, I have to admit, this is one good-looking card. I like that Shark Fights is trying to play to their fighter’s strengths when making their match-ups. I think Keith Jardine has a very good shot at taking a large step forward on the comeback trail in his fight with Prangley. I don’t see him scoring a big one-hit KO, but I can see him softening up Prangley in Round 1 and finishing him in Round 2 with a final barrage of TKO-inducing strikes. Alexander vs. Sokoudjou also interests me because both men have given us epic KO’s as well as extremely lackluster performances. It will be very interesting to see which versions of themselves show up at Shark Fights, but if they fight at their best, it could be one of the best fights of the night.

All in all, I’ve got no real problem with Shark Fights. Their main-card fights are loaded with potential, and their undercard should give us at least a couple sleeper hits. So I like what they’re doing and I wish them success. And don’t forget that Sherdog.com will be hosting a free, live stream of the undercard bouts on their website.

And what do you think, fans and friends? Now that all the fights are official, what’s your take on Shark Fights in general and this card in particular?

Anchored by notables Trevor Prangley, a Strikeforce middleweight standout who also serves as Shark Fights’ light heavyweight champion, will face UFC veteran and MMA notable Keith Jardine in a 205-pound match that will be contested as a non-title, three round affair.

The rest of the card is littered with other UFC notables such as additional light heavyweights Houston Alexander taking on the “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.

Also confirmed for the broadcast is UFC castoff, Paul Daley against an as of yet announced opponent, a middleweight slug fest against Drew McFedries and Joey Villasenor.

The main card is said to be priced at $29.95, a considerable amount for Shark Fight’s first go around on a PPV broadcast, but with a card that stacked, its considerably a desirable watch.

The card takes place on September 11, at the Amarillo Civic Center in Texas, which has been home to several of Shark Fights’ previous endeavors.

Even though preliminary card can serve as a main card in most cases, and the promotion is not ruling out possible plans to feature said preliminary’s in some capacity, whether it be an online stream, or something of that nature.

Doug Evans, a former UFC lightweight turned featherweight, will take on Sengoku veteran Ronnie Mann for the 145-pound title.

Former WEC top welterweight contender and UFC standout Brock Larson will also be in action, though no opponent has been mentioned as of yet.

Sengoku, Bellator, and EliteXC veteran Dave Herman will be in a heavyweight clash against Strikeforce veteran Aaron Rosa, while WEC veterans Marcus Hicks and Karen Darabedyan will meet in a sure crowd pleaser, meeting at 155-pounds.

It’s almost exhausting having to name all of these fighters, but all are recognized fighters in the world of MMA, and none should be left out vicariously, in a card that will be one of the biggest outside of the UFC or Strikeforce banners.

So, will you be buying this particular card, or rather, is it worth the $29.95? (iN DEMAND)

Mousasi holds convincing TKO victories over both Babalu and Sokoudjou, his last two opponents in Strikeforce.  He’ll defend his Strikeforce belt versus “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal (4-0) in Nashville April 17.

Sobral’s last fight was the first-round TKO loss to Mousasi in San Jose last August.   Before that he submitted Sokoudjou at Affliction in Anaheim in January 2009.

Sokoudjou’s last fight was a TKO loss to “Minowaman” Ikuhisa Minowa (44-30-8) at K-1 Dynamite!! on New Year’s Eve.  Between losses to Mousasi las November and Sobral the January before, he TKO’d “Beast” Bob Sapp (10-5-1) and “Giant” Jan Nortje (2-6) at DREAM.

Li’l Nog’ knocked formerly ranked fellow Brazilian “Banha” Luis Arthur Cane (8-2) out of the top ten in the same fashion Nog’ himself was removed from the rankings after being TKO’d by “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (6-5) in 23 seconds at PRIDE 33 in Las Vegas in February 2007.  Nogueira took 1:56 to finish Cane at UFC 106 in Las Vegas November 21 and capture the seventh spot at 205 pounds.

On the same card, fifth-ranked Forrest Griffin (17-6) returned to winning with a split decision over “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-7-1), a rematch Griffin had lost by SD in 2006.

Shortly after the fight, UFC President Dana White announced Ortiz will  complete a trilogy versus “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-7) in 2010.  Usually  trilogies are reserved for rubber matches, or at least matchups that have been compellingly close in previous fights.  Liddell has TKO’d Ortiz twice this decade, but if the trend holds – second round in 2004 and third round in 2006 – perhaps Ortiz will survive to a decision in 2010.

Fighters.com Light Heavyweight Champion “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-0) and third-ranked “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (18-4) is the kind of matchup deserving of a rematch, and in 2010 the two will replay their fight that ended in a controversial UD in favor of Machida at UFC 104 in Los Angeles October 24.

Second-ranked “Spider” Anderson Silva (25-4) will await the outcome as he defends his Fighters.com and UFC middleweight titles versus tenth-ranked middleweight “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (18-8).  A Rua win in the Machida-Rua rematch could mean a Silva challenge for a second UFC belt.

Fourth-ranked “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1) and tenth-ranked Thiago Silva (15-1) will headline UFC 108 in Las Vegas January 2 with sixth-ranked “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) waiting in the wings to reignite his rivalry with Evans if Evans wins, and probably even if Evans loses.

Ninth-ranked “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1) has dropped down to make a run at middleweight.

Fighters.com’s December Light Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-0)

2. “Spider” Anderson Silva (25-4)

3. “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (18-4)

4. “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1)

5. Forrest Griffin (17-6)

6. “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7)

7. “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3)

8. “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-7)

9. “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (33-10-1)

10. Thiago Silva (15-1)

Sokoudjou reveresed a trip takedown attempt by Mousasi at the cage, but Mousasi swept into top position and windmilled lefts and right hooks to Sokoudjou’s body and head until the referee ended the fight.

Sokoudjou may have won the first round with a mixed martial arts attack that featured a left hook to Mousasi’s body, leg kicks, a takedown reversals.  But, Mousasi matched Sokoudjou with  counter left hooks, leg kicks, and sweeps on the mat.

Emelianenko weighed-in at 232 pounds.  Rogers closed in on the 265-pound heavyweight limit at  264 pounds.

Also on the CBS broadcast portion of the card, second-ranked middleweight Jake Shields (23-4-1) and his challenger “Mayhem” Jason Miller (22-5) for the vacant Strikeforce title also made weight.

Shields weighed 184.5 pounds.  “Mayhem” weighed 184 pounds.

Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1) met the division limit at 205 pounds.  His non-title challenging opponent “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (6-4) weighed 204.

Ninth-ranked heavyweight “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1) weighed 242 pounds.  His opponent, former EliteXC heavyweight champ “Junior” Antonio Silva (13-1), also just made the division limit at 263 pounds.

Doors at the Sears Centre will open at 8:00 PM local time.  Tickets will go on sale Friday to subscribers of Strikeforce’s newsletter and to the general public on Monday, September 28.  Purchase tickets at Ticketmaster or by calling (800) 745-3000.  The four-fight televised card will broadcast in the United States on CBS at 9:00 PM ET Saturday, November 7.

Wednesday the fighters took part in an open media workout at POW Kickboxing Gym in Chicago.

Emelianenko told the media, “This is going to be a good fight. Brett Rogers is good opponent who is undefeated. Fighting in a cage will be different, but I have trained in a cage before.”

That contradicts a statment Emelianenko made in Kansas City August 28 when he told the audience for M-1 Global Breakthrough that he hadn’t trained in a cage and didn’t think it was different than a ring.

Friday morning before the biggest fight of his MMA career the following Saturday night, Rogers will appear on NBC’s Last Call with Carson Daly at 1:35 AM ET.

Always concerned with promoting his sport, Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1), who is matched up versus UFC vet “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (6-4) in a non-title fight, told the media Wednesday, “I feel good and I am happy to be part of such a great card. The exposure we will get for ourselves and the sport of MMA will be tremendous on Saturday night.”

The cast of fighters will weigh-in Friday at 5:00 PM CT at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, northwest of Chicago.  The public is invited to attend.  Doors open at 4:00 PM CT.

Doors at the Sears Centre will open at 8:00 PM local time.  Tickets will go on sale Friday to subscribers of Strikeforce’s newsletter and to the general public on Monday, September 28.  Purchase tickets at Ticketmaster or by calling (800) 745-3000.  The four-fight televised card will broadcast in the United States on CBS at 9:00 PM ET Saturday, November 7.

“He feels great and he’s looking forward to fight in the USA again,” said M-1 Global spokesman Fabrice Deters.

Marquee lightweight “Hellboy” Joachim Hansen (18-7) weighed 150.4 pounds and opponent “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki (17-4) weighed 153.9 pounds.

MMA legend and Japanese hero “Gracie Hunter” Kazushi Sakuraba (21-13-1)  weighed 184.1 pounds and rookie opponent Rubin Williams weighed 181.9 pounds.
 
Lightweight “Crusher” Tatsuya Kawajiri (25-5-2) weighed 154.1 pounds and “Barracuda” Melchor Manibusan (1-1) weighed 152.6 pounds.

Featherweight Grand Prix contestant Joe Warren (2-0) weighed 138.2 pounds and his semi-final “Flash” Bibiano Fernandes (5-1) weighed 138.2 pounds.

In the other GP semi-final, Hideo Tokoro (19-15-1) weighed 138.5 pounds and “Evil Fist” Hiroyuki Takaya (11-6-1) weighed 138.9 pounds.

In the GP reserve bout, Daiki Hata (2-0-1) 138.5 pounds and Kazuyuki Miyata (4-6) weighed 138.5 pounds.

In the Super Hulk Tournament semi-finals, “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (6-4) weighed 220.5 pounds and his replacement opponent “Beast” Bob Sapp (10-5-1) weighed 341.7 pounds.

Finally, in the other Super Hulk semi-final “Minowaman” Ikuhisa Minowa (40-28-8) weighed 192.9 pounds and Techno Goliath” Hong Man Choi (1-1) weighed 319.7 pounds.

DREAM.11 will be broadcast on HDNet in North America.

Also, “Beast” Bob Sapp (10-5-1) was officially announced as the replacement for injured “Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (22-2-1) versus “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (6-4) in the Super Hulk tournament and “JZ” Gesias Cavalcante (12-2-1) was officially withdrawn due to injury from his matchup versus Daisuke Nakamura (18-9).  Both moves had been expected.

Japanese favorite Kawajiri won a three-round UD over Cavalcante at DREAM 9 in Yokohama May 26, so it must be time to let him beat a gaijin mercilessly for the fans.  Chosen gaijin beating-taker Manibusan hasn’t fought since November 2006 when he was TKO’d by Artur Oumakhanov (2-1) at Draka 2006 in Khabarovsk, Russia.

Sapp gave up due to a barrage of punches from Bobby Lashley (4-0) at Fight Force International in Biloxi June 27 and was hoisted from the Super Hulk tournament in the first round by “Minowaman” Ikuhisa Minowa (40-28-8) at DREAM 9.  Sokoudjou beat “Giant” Jan Norte (2-6) at the same event.

DREAM is searching for a replacement for Cavalcante versus Nakamura.  Perhaps Manibusan has a mate at the pub in Russia he’s been drinking at for the last three years who’ll volunteer for the beating and a weekend in Yokohama?

Sokoudjou, Fighters.com’s tenth-ranked light heavyweight, was recently released from the UFC after his second-round TKO loss to ninth-ranked “Banha” Luis Arthur Cane (7-1) at UFC 89 in October.

Sobral last fought at Strikeforce: Destruction in November, winning Bobby Southworth’s (9-5) light heavyweight title with a referee stoppage due to a cut.

Speight suffered his first career loss in October via unanimous decision to Alex Cisne (4-1) at King of the Cage.

Cooper KO’d Dusty Arden (10-6-1) in round two in June.

“I was going forward.  Sokoudjou was keeping the distance.  Everyone was expecting Sokoudjou to go forward; but, he was not the aggressor this time,” said “Banha” after the “W”.

Sokou’ sported a large bandage on his right knee which may have limited his movement.

But, Cane was balletic launching into a flying knee that dented Sokoudjou’s mid-section in the second round, then following up with a straight left and knee to the “African Assassin’s” head.  Another left hand dropped Sokou’; and, Cane finished the fight with more lefts on the mat.

“Maybe I’m on the top ten,” Cane said after stopping Sokoudjou, “But, I rather other people rank me.  I just want to enjoy the ride, keep going, and knocking people out.”

Cane’s only loss is by disqualification at UFC 79 in Las Vegas December 2007.  Cane took home the UFC’s $40,000 “Knockout of the Night” bonus.

After quick knockouts over well-respected “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (14-3) and “Brazilian Tiger” Ricardo Arona (13-5) in the final year of PRIDE, Sokoudjou’s bubble has likely burst after this loss drops his record to 1-2 in the Octagon.

“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.

“We’re going to be lettin’em fly!  We’re going to be having fun doin’ it,” Leben promised, which usually means they’ll knock their heads together shooting for takedowns at the opening bell.

But, let’s hope not.

Eighth-ranked “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1) 205 pounds v “The Truth” Brandon Vera (9-2) 203 pounds

At the pre-fight press conference Thursday, a very serious Vera turned to Jardine and challenged, “We’re going to be together for 15 minutes in the Octagon and I hope, I hope we get to find out a lot about each other before one of us goes to sleep.”

Jardine agreed, and quipped, “He’s got a real pretty style; and, me, I got a real awkward, real mean style.  So, it’s kind of going to be kind of like a beauty and the beast type thing.”

Jardine is coming off a 36-second knockout loss to seventh-ranked “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-81) in May; and, Vera made a disappointing debut at 205-pounds in a unanimous decision “W” over Reese Andy (7-2) in July.

Vera, a former heavyweight, summed up the meaning of the fight: “Me and Keith are both at a point in our career right now where we get either to take one huge step forward or end up taking two or three steps back.”

“Irish Hand Grenade” Marcus Davis (14-4) 169 pounds vs. “Tellys” Paul Kelly (7-0) 169 pounds

Davis will try to come back strong from a loss to “Quick” Mike Swick (12-2) in June versus Kelly, who Davis called “a brawler.”

Davis put down the weights for this fight in favor of getting back to his boxing background.

“I’m going to make-up for it in technique and speed.  Being able to fight off angles and stuff like that.  It might look like I’m right in front of him, but I’m actually not going to be right in front of him,” Davis said.

Kelly, of Wolfslair Academy, revealed, “You never know where it’s going to be.  It’s MMA.  You know?  I can’t guarantee I’m going to put Marcus on the mat.  We’ve worked on what we think he’s going to do.”

Ninth-ranked “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2) 205 pounds v “Banha” Luis Arthur Cane (8-1) 206 pounds

“Lights Out” Chris Lytle (25-16-5) 170 pounds v “Relentless” Paul Taylor (9-3-1) 170 pounds

Akihiro Gono (28-12-7) 171 pounds v “Outlaw” Dan Hardy (19-6) 169 pounds

Shane Carwin (9-0) 264 pounds v “Old Skool” Neil Wain (4-0) 254 pounds

David Bielkheden (12-6) 156 pounds v “Joker” Jess Liaudin (12-10) 155 pounds

Terry Etim (10-2) 155 pounds v “Hands of Stone” Sam Stout (13-4-1) 155 pounds
 
David Baron (16-2) 155 pounds v Jim Miller (11-1) 155 pounds

“Dog” Samy Schiavo (10-5) 156 pounds v Per Eklund (13-3-1) 156 pounds

Jackson lost a decision to Griffin, but won a decision over third-ranked “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-7) and knocked out fourth-ranked “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5)…twice.

Henderson knocked out sixth-ranked “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1), but lost the aforementioned decision to Jackson.

Liddell won a decision over Wanderlei Silva, but lost a decision to seventh-ranked “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1) and, again, got knocked out by “Rampage”…twice.

Silva knocked out Jardine and has two TKOs of Jackson from PRIDE, but got knocked out by Henderson and lost a decision to Liddell.

Which leads me back to Jardine, who TKO’d Champ Griffin before he was Champ and won a decision over Liddell, only to be kayoed by Wanderlei Silva in 36 seconds.

Somewhere in that mixed soup of wins and losses from one through seven in Fighters.com’s September Heavyweight Rankings there’s order.  The following is Fighters.com’s version of it.

Conspicuously left out of the party is fifth-ranked “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (13-0).  UFC President Dana White chose to match him down to formidable tenth-ranked Thiago Silva (13-0) rather than take his hard-earned shot at one of the division’s studs.

Evidently Machida still needs to prove himself while heavyweight Brock Lesnar (2-1) leap-frogged fifth-ranked “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) this week for a crack at returning UFC Heavyweight Champion and Hall of Famer “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8) after going 1-1 in the Octagon.  Hmmm…

After winning a UD over “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-5-1), Machida should’ve drawn Liddell to determine a true top contender to the UFC title; but, instead, Liddell will make his case for a UFC title shot Saturday in Atlanta versus unranked “Sugar” Rashad Evans (11-0-1).  Hmmm…

“Rampage” seems fated to avenge PRIDE-era losses to Wanderlei Silva or ninth-ranked “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3) in December…or not avenge those losses?

Jardine will fight former heavyweight “The Truth” Brandon Vera (9-2) in Birmingham; and, eighth-ranked Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2) will fight fast-rising “Banha” Luis Arthur Cane (8-1).

Unfortunately, Henderson probably won’t return to the division he’s been most successful in the last two years.

September Light Heavyweight Rankings

1. Forrest Griffin (16-4)

“The Ultimate Fighter” is now truly the ultimate fighter after a close decision over Jackson, but now carries a target on his back in MMA’s most competitive division with Jackson, Liddell, and Machida taking aim.

2. “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7)

Jackson returned from a 10-month holiday to lose a close UD to a hungry Griffin, but is 4-1 since bringing his “Rampage” to the cage.  He’s out-wrestled Olympian Hendo and became the only man to put Liddell on ice twice.

3. “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-7)

To think 205 is Hendo’s other weight class is astounding. A UD to Vitor Belfort paved a path for him to hold the PRIDE belt after a KO of long-time champ Silva. Henderson came up just short of unifying titles in a slog with ‘Page.  Until next time?

4. “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5)

Liddell has faced the toughest schedule the last two years, but fell consecutively to Jackson and Jardine.  He looked tough in his return to winning in the long-awaited face-off with Silva.

5. “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (13-0)

Versus Sokou, the undefeated “Dragon” proved he could fly high and finish; but, his UD over Tito Ortiz was back to boring. His measured style is as tough for opposition to decipher as it sometimes is for fans to watch. His “W” column reads like a who’s who of MMA, but Machida needs stoppages to excite.

6. “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1)

It’s been a bloody mess for “The Axe Murderer” the last two years, but a 36-second slaughter of Jardine in May means the division still has to deal with one of it’s most popular names.

7. “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1)

A 36-second knockout loss to Silva, the third time he’s been kayoed in under a minute, left the “Dean” exposed amidst a division of big punchers.  But, wins over Liddell and Griffin keep him in the 205 mix.

8. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2)

Sokou had been punching fighters out of their top ten ranking until he ran into Machida, but there’s no shame in tapping to “The Dragon”.  Another big punch knocking out Kaz Nakamura in June stamped Sokou firmly in the top ten.

9. “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3)

Whether injury, energy, or focus was the issue, Rua debuted in the UFC with a loss to then-struggling Griffin after earning the kudos of many with PRIDE wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem and Kazuhiro Nakamura.  His injured knee leaves him out of active duty until December.

10. Thiago Silva (13-0)

Undefeated in four Octagon appearances, Silva was the first to expose Houston Alexander‘s ground game and recently made “Antonio Mendes scream “uncle” beneath a brutal first-round G’n'P barrage.  He’s only seen the second round once in the last two years.

In Las Vegas 4 July, Fighters.com’s new Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) worked over now top contender “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) with leg kicks in a close unanimous decision.

Though Griffin hopped seven spots to take the championship, the decision loss was close enough that Jackson only drops one rank.

Jackson has declared his next opponent to be sixth-ranked “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1), who drops a rank on Griffin’s ascension; but, no official word has come from the UFC.

Jackson versus Silva would make a trilogy that Silva dominated 2-0 in PRIDE.

Griffin will probably fight the winner of fourth-ranked “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) versus “Sugar” Rashad Evans (11-0-1), which gets on in Atlanta 6 September, but may also take on the winner of fifth-ranked “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (13-0) versus tenth-ranked Thiago Silva (13-0) in Birmingham 18 October.

The debate rages across Internet message boards about who the top contender to Griffin’s title is: Jackson, Liddell, or Machida?

It seems third-ranked “Hollywood” Dan Henderson will stay at 185-pounds after an impressive three-fight run at light heavyweight.

Seventh-ranked “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1) will fight former heavyweight “The Truth” Brandon Vera (9-2) in Birmingham.

On the same card, eighth-ranked “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2) will fight rising dark horse “Banha” Luis Arthur Cane (8-1).

Ninth-ranked “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3) remains on the DL with a knee injury.

August Light Heavyweight Rankings

1. Forrest Griffin (16-4)

“The Ultimate Fighter” is now truly the ultimate fighter after a close decision over Jackson, but now carries a target on his back in MMA’s most competitive division with Jackson, Liddell, and Machida taking aim.

2. “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7)

Jackson returned from a 10-month holiday to lose a close UD to a hungry Griffin, but is 4-1 since bringing his “Rampage” to the cage.  He’s out-wrestled Olympian Hendo and became the only man to put Liddell on ice twice.

3. “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-7)

To think 205 is Hendo’s other weight class is astounding. A UD to Vitor Belfort paved a path for him to hold the PRIDE belt after a KO of long-time champ Silva. Henderson came up just short of unifying titles in a slog with ‘Page.  Until next time?

4. “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5)

Liddell has faced the toughest schedule the last two years, but fell consecutively to Jackson and Jardine.  He looked tough in his return to winning in the long-awaited face-off with Silva.

5. “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (13-0)

Versus Sokou, the undefeated “Dragon” proved he could fly high and finish; but, his UD over Tito Ortiz was back to boring. His measured style is as tough for opposition to decipher as it sometimes is for fans to watch. His “W” column reads like a who’s who of MMA, but Machida needs stoppages to excite.

6. “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1)

It’s been a bloody mess for “The Axe Murderer” the last two years, but a 36-second slaughter of Jardine in May means the division still has to deal with one of it’s most popular names.

7. “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1)

A 36-second knockout loss to Silva, the third time he’s been kayoed in under a minute, left the “Dean” exposed amidst a division of big punchers.  But, wins over Liddell and Griffin keep him in the 205 mix.

8. “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2)

Sokou had been punching fighters out of their top ten ranking until he ran into Machida, but there’s no shame in tapping to “The Dragon”.  Another big punch knocking out Kaz Nakamura in June stamped Sokou firmly in the top ten.

9. “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3)

Whether injury, energy, or focus was the issue, Rua debuted in the UFC with a loss to then-struggling Griffin after earning the kudos of many with PRIDE wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem and Kazuhiro Nakamura.  His injured knee leaves him out of active duty until December.

10. Thiago Silva (13-0)

Undefeated in four Octagon appearances, Silva was the first to expose Houston Alexander‘s ground game and recently made “Antonio Mendes scream “uncle” beneath a brutal first-round G’n'P barrage.  He’s only seen the second round once in the last two years.

Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked light heavyweight “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2) will shake his big right fist across the Octagon at “Banha” Luis Arthur Cane (8-1).

Welterweight “Outlaw” Dan Hardy (19-6) draws a tough Octagon premier in front of his countrymen versus Akihiro Gono (28-12-7).

Undefeated heavyweights Shane Carwin (9-0) and Neil Wain (4-0) will try to deal the other their first professional loss.

Sokoudjou scored his first “W” in the Octagon in Las Vegas 24 May, knocking Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-8) flat at the end of round one.

Cane’s only loss is a DQ for throwing knees to the head of a grounded “Sandman” James Irvin (14-4) in Las Vegas in December, but he comes off a two-minute TKO of “Punisher” Jason Lambert (23-8) in London 7 June.

“Outlaw” comes highly-regarded from the camp that produced fellow welter “Semtex” Paul Daley (18-6-2) and nearly won the Cage Force tournament that brought tenth-ranked “Zenko” Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2) to the Octagon, but for being DQ’d versus “Zenko” in the final.

He’ll face another Japanese star in Gono, who debuted in the Octagon with an armbar submission of “Barn Cat” Tamden McCrory (8-1) last November.

Gono earned a shot at top contender Jon Fitch (17-2) last February, but bailed on the gig with a hand injury and has been rehabbing since.

In his 24 May Octagon debut, touted Carwin dropped “Hungarian Nightmare” Christian Wellisch (8-4) in 44 seconds.

Englishman Wain hopes his first fight in the big show ends as gloriously.  He last TKO’d Victor Aniolek (1-3) in England in January.

Of course, “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-6) remains Fighters.com’s Light Heavyweight Champion and will defend his UFC title versus eighth-ranked Forrest Griffin (15-4) 5 July in Las Vegas.

But, Jackson’s nemesis from the past, “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1), closed in on a rematch with the champion he’s conquered twice before.

Silva demolished “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1) in 36 seconds, jumping five spots to the fifth ranking and sending Jardine down two rungs to number six.

If he takes out Griffin, Jackson may first have to unravel the riddle that is his new top contender, “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (13-0), before a rematch with Silva.

Machida retired previously ninth-ranked “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-6-1) from the top ten and the UFC in a unanimous decision “W”.  Can we all say “elusive”?

Machida’s win welcomed a fellow undefeated Brazilian, another Silva in fact, to replace “The Axe Murderer” at number ten.

American Top Team’s Thiago Silva (13-0) survived a scary kick to the noggin to make “Samuray” Antonio Mendes (14-3) scream “uncle” beneath a brutal first-round G’n'P barrage.

“African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2) held steady at number seven by re-establishing himself as a one-punch knockout threat in a TKO of “Kaz” Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-8).

With the win and the single word “Shogun”, Sokoudjou took the opportunity to challenge eighth-ranked “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3), a challenge that’s traveled across the Pacific with the two former PRIDE stars.

With a lack of live action in the 205-pound class, ‘Page’s most competitive challenge since entering the Octagon, “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-6), drops to the third rank and has no announced or rumoured fights on his dance card in either of his two weight classes.

“Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) takes two steps closer to his own rematch with the champ at number four and will be announced this week as the main event when the UFC goes to Atlanta in September.

No opponent has been named, but Fighters.com’s Middleweight Champion “Spider” Anderson Silva (21-4) has been rumoured to be considering the fight.  Fighters.com thinks that match-up makes no sense, by the by.

June Light Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-6)

Jackson is 4-0 since bringing his “Rampage” to the cage. He’s out-wrestled Olympians Lindland and Hendo and became the only man to put Liddell on ice twice.  He’s earned Fighters.com’s title, but losses to Rua and Silva whisper questions from the past.

2. “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (13-0)

Versus Sokou, the undefeated “Dragon” proved he could fly high and finish; but, his UD over Tito Ortiz was back to boring.  His measured style is as tough for opposition to decipher as it sometimes is for fans to watch.  His “W” column reads like a who’s who of MMA, but Machida needs stoppages to excite.

3. “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-6)

To think 205 is Hendo’s other weight class is astounding.  A UD of  Vitor Belfort paved a path for him to hold the PRIDE belt after a KO of long-time champ Silva. Henderson came up just short of unifying titles in a slog with ‘Page.  Until next time?

4. “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5)

Liddell has faced the toughest schedule the last two years, but fell consecutively to Jackson and Jardine.  He looked tough in his return to winning in the long-awaited face-off with Silva.

5. “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1)

It’s been a bloody mess for “The Axe Murderer” the last two years, but a 36-second slaughter of Jardine in May means the division still has to deal with one of it’s most popular and scariest names.

6. “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1)

A 36-second knockout loss to Silva, the third time he’s been kayoed in under a minute, left the “Dean” exposed amidst a division of big punchers.  But, wins over Liddell and Griffin keep him in the 205 mix.

7. “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2)

Sokou had been punching fighters out of their top ten ranking until he ran into Machida, but there’s no shame in tapping to “The Dragon”.   Another big punch knocking out Kaz Nakamura in May stamped Sokou firmly in the top ten.

8. Forrest Griffin (15-4)

The TUF 1 champ dug himself out of the “one hit wonder” abyss with an impressive stoppage of touted Rua and earned a UFC gold run versus Jackson.  But like Jardine, Griffin has proven beatable on any given night.

9. “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3)

Whether injury, energy, or focus was the issue, Rua debuted in the UFC with a loss to then-struggling Griffin after earning the kudos of many with PRIDE wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem and Kaz Nakamura.

10. Thiago Silva (13-0)

Undefeated in four Octagon appearances, Silva was the first to expose Houston Alexander‘s ground game and recently made Antonio Mendes scream “uncle” beneath a brutal first-round G’n'P barrage.  He’s only seen the second round once in the last two years.

Veteran referee Mario Yamasaki determined that Sherk was unable to continue after a Penn flurry at the cage that left Sherk on the mat at the end of the third round.

The three five-minute rounds were fought entirely standing up, resembling a boxing match.

Penn worked a slicker boxing style set-up with a long, snapping jab.  Sherk threw left and right hooks in a stiff, technical style.

Penn established his jab in the first round as Sherk pressured.

Sherk clinched to muffle “The Prodigy’s” reach advantage; but, Penn landed an uppercut to break the clinch.

Sherk attempted to counter with his own jab, but threw it short as Penn followed down the pipe with his left.  Sherk clinched again; but, Penn threw him off.

Sherk began round two with a cut under his right eye from Penn’s relentless jabbing.  He shrugged his shoulders before the bell, disappointed with his first-round performance.

But, the Minnesotan took the fight to Penn in the second round.  Penn clinched inside Sherk’s left/right hook combo and hammered knees to “The Muscle Shark’s” body.

Again, Penn clinched; but, Sherk overwhelmed him with a flurry.  Penn pushed out of the clinch.

Unable to solve Penn’s boxing riddle, Sherk began to test his leg kick; but, Penn answered with a left hook.

Penn had all the answers Saturday night.

Sherk began round three with another cut under his left eye.  Before the bell rang, he sized himself up on the above-Octagon screen.

Increasingly desperate to overcome Penn’s reach advantage, Sherk began lunging with his punches.

Penn timed an uppercut as Sherk lunged into a punch, sending Sherk backpedaling to the cage.  Penn followed him with a flying knee that landed square on Sherk’s jaw.  Penn mounted and pounded Sherk to the bell.

Penn describe the flurry, “He got caught.  I hit him and I knew the fight was done when he put his hands up and looked at me like, ‘Yeah, you got me.  It’s over.’”

The referee Yamasaki stopped the action at the bell, but determined Sherk was no longer fit to fight another round after Sherk  remained on his knees and awarded Penn the TKO.

When asked if the stoppage was justified, Sherk replied, “I’m not real sure.  I didn’t even hear the bell ring.”

“I was surprised [Sherk wanted to box],” Penn admitted.  “I thought he was going to try to use his combinations to setup his takedowns. ”

After the fight, Penn asked the 15,000-person crowd, “You want GSP?  You want B.J. Penn to fight GSP?”  He was referring to top-ranked welterweight “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (16-2), who won a split decision over Penn in 2006.

UFC President Dana White told reporters that Penn has at least one more fight before “clearing out the lightweight division” and earning a rematch with the 170-pound champion St. Pierre.

White was referring to the winner of the August match-up between seventh-ranked “KenFlo” Kenny Florian (9-3) and “El Matador” Roger Huerta (20-1-1).

Penn admitted it’d be hard for him to take a fight against the winner of Florian versus Huerta seriously after dominating Sherk, considered the second-ranked lightweight in the UFC behind Penn.

The “Axe Murderer” Is Back

Tenth-ranked light heavyweight “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-81) is back!  Back to winning!  Back to demolishing with a 36-second TKO over fourth-ranked “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1).

Shortly into the first round, Jardine lunged into a flurry that Silva countered with a right hook that collapsed the “Dean of Mean”, then followed with a left and right hook as Jardine fell.

Silva pounced and pounded Jardine until he went stiff and the referee waved off the carnage.

Jardine lay prone several minutes after the stoppage as Silva became emotional at the mic.

Machida Sends Ortiz Packing

UFC President Dana White got the last laugh on ninth-ranked light heavyweight “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-6-1).

He matched him versus third-ranked “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (13-0), who routinely sucks the air out of the world’s most exciting sport.

Machida won a paced UD over Ortiz by 30-27 on all three judges score cards.

Machida may have sucked the air out of Ortiz’s big-dollar post-UFC plans by forcing another boring fight on an exciting fighter.

Ortiz stalked the elusive “Dragon” for a takedown throughout the fight; and, Machida, to his credit, avoided all but one of “Bad Boy’s” shots.

At the end of round one, Machida even slammed Ortiz into side control and chiseled open a gash on the bridge of Ortiz’s nose with elbows.

After several attempts to engage Machida in the second round, frustrated Ortiz dropped his hands and waved Machida on.

Machida responded with a 1-2 combo; and, Ortiz nodded and countered with a body kick and punch before the bell halted the action.

In round three, Ortiz took a Machida flying knee to the body; and, Machida followed Ortiz to the mat.  Ortiz recovered and smothered Machida’s G’n'P, then locked on a triangle choke.

The capacity crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena took their feet; but, it was too late; Machida was too slick rolling over and too slippery yanking free as Ortiz transitioned into an armbar.

Fighters.com gave the decision to Machida by the score 29-28.

Ortiz left open the possibility of returning to the UFC in his post-fight comments; but, it was clear in the post-fight press conference that he was unwanted.  Ortiz crashed the press conference and refused to leave, prodded on by his girlfriend, Jenna Jameson, shouting, “You don’t have to go anywhere, baby!”

Soukoudjou: “Just one thing: Shogun.”

Seventh-ranked light heavyweight ”African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2) got back to what brought him to the big show Saturday night at UFC 84 in Las Vegas when a straight right turned the lights out on “Kaz” Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-8) in the first round.

Sokou’ landed snapping leg kicks throughout the round, but was frustrated by Nakamura’s in-and-out flurries and elusive defense.  Finally, after landing a body kick he had tested out earlier in the round, Sokou’ followed with a straight right that dropped Kaz’.

The bell rang before it was clear how much damage the big punch had done; but, when Nakamura first tried to stumble from the Octagon thinking the fight had been stopped, then collapsed on his stool, the fight was stopped after the first round.

After the fight, Sokoudjou announced, “Just one thing: Shogun.”

Yoshida Silences War Machine

Tenth-ranked welterweight ”Zenko” Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2) put “War Machine” Jon Koppenhaver (5-2) to sleep in an anaconda choke 56 seconds into round one.

“It was just the way I expected,” Yoshida said after his victorious UFC debut.

Koppenhaver fired first with a leg kick, then clinched with the Japanese judoka.

Bad move!

“Zenko” flipped Koppenhaver into side mount and wrapped up the anaconda choke toot sweet.  Referee Herb Dean tugged on Koppenhaver’s arm and determined he was unconscious, ending the fight.

Yoshida said, “The anaconda choke was right there for me.”

Silva Welcomes Mendes

Rising light heavyweight Thiago Silva (13-0) welcomed “Samuray” Antonio Mendes (14-3) to the UFC.  Well…used him as a welcoming mat in a first-round TKO “W”.

Mendes surprised Silva early with a left roundhouse kick to the head, dropping Silva.  Mendes declined the ground game.  Again, Mendes caught a Silva body kick and dumped him to the mat, but declined to follow for long.

When it was Silva’s turn with a nice trip takedown at the cage, it was clear why Mendes wanted to stay on his feet.

Silva easily passed to mount and pounded a flailing Mendes to a TKO stoppage.

Reljice Debuts Victoriously

Croatian light heavyweight Goran Reljic (8-0) stopped Brazilian Wilson Gouveia (10-5) at 3:15 of round two with a well-timed overhand left to Gouveia’s jaw as Gouveia kicked at Reljic’s leg.

Gouveia dropped; and, Reljic followed, pounding Gouveia for another twenty seconds before referee Herb Dean woke up and realized he should stop the fight before Gouveia was brain damaged.

Palhares Slick Victory

Brazilian Top Team’s “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (8-1) made a slick conversion from a rear naked choke he was working on Ivan Salaverry (12-7) to tap Salaverry in an armbar at 2:36 of round one.  The fight was all Palhares and all BJJ, earning the UFC’s $75,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus.

Kim Mandhandles Tan

Debuting UFC welterweight Dong Hyun Kim (10-1-1) outclassed Liverpudlian Jason Tan (5-3) in every aspect to win a third-round TKO.

Tan shot for a double-leg takedown to begin the first round; but, Kim proved nimble, avoiding the mat while elbowing a gash into Tan’s skull.  Kim eventually relented to the mat, but on his terms, tossing Tan and mounting.

Tan took a pounding from Kim’s punches and elbows, but survived for a second round.

Tan switched his strategy in round two, throwing high and low kicks to begin the round; but, Kim avoided contact.

Tan again shot for a takedown; and, again Kim hip tossed Tan to the mat, mounted, and pounded him to the bell.

Tan worked rubber guard, attempting an omoplata; but, Kim made him pay for every submission attempt by avoiding and following up with a punch.

Kim came out to the third-round bell to take Tan out.  Kim threw two big, off-target hooks before clinching and throwing Tan to the mat to pound him out with elbows for the TKO.

Carwin Clobbers Wellisch

Also debuting UFC heavyweight Shane Carwin (9-0) clobbered “Hungarian Nightmare” Christian Wellisch (8-4) with a right hook 44 seconds into round one.

A wrestler, Carwin established his jab from the opening bell.  Wellisch timed Carwin and grazed him with a left hook 25 seconds into the round.  Carwin popped another jab in Wellisch’s face, which Wellisch followed into a head-on collision with Carwin’s fight-ending right hook, knocking Wellisch’s mouthpiece to the mat.

Clementi Continues Streak

“No Love” Rich Clementi (32-12-1) continued his rebound with a unanimous decision over Liverpudlian Terry Etim (10-2) by scores of 29-28 on all three judges cards.

Clementi survived an all-Etim first round.

“His lankiness was hard, hard, hard to deal with,” Clementi admitted after the fight.

Clementi got tagged with low and high kicks as he closed range for the takedown.  Midway through the round, Clementi finally succeeded in taking the fight to the mat, but Etim smothered his offense, causing the referee to stand the fighters.  Six-foot-one Etim continued to exploit his reach advantage.

The second and third rounds were different entirely.  Clementi’s relentless pressure, which caused him to take some shots in the first round, began to wear on Etim.  Clementi began scoring his takedowns, mostly single-leg into half-mount.

Etim continued to smother Clementi on the mat; but, Clementi put together a pitty-pat G’n'P that scored on the judges cards and eventually opened up a gash under Etim’s right eye.

In the third round, Clementi held Etim’s left arm beneath Etim and landed hammer fists.

The accumulation of strikes on the mat won Clementi his sixth straight.

Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked lightweight “KenFlo” Kenny Florian (9-3), former UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner (32-7), and “Hammer” Mark Coleman (15-8) signed autographs and third-ranked lightweight “JZ” Gesias Calvancanti (14-2-1) was in the crowd with his smokin’ hot girlfriend.

First up to the scale was debuting UFC heavyweight Shane Carwin (8-0) weighing in at 253 pounds. Carwin fights “Hungarian Nightmare” Christian Wellisch (9-3), who weighed 230 pounds.

Wellisch said, “He’s not as big as he looked on video.”

Next to the scale was DEEP vet, UFC debuting Dong Hyun Kim (9-1-1) weighing 171 pounds and his opponent, 170-pound Liverpudlian Jason Tan (5-2).

Another UFC first-timer, tenth-ranked welterweight “Zenko” Yoshiyuki Yoshida (9-2) weighed 170 pounds, the same as his opponent, “War Machine” Jon Koppenhaver (5-1).

Antoher Liverpudlian pugilist Terry Etim (10-1) weighed 155 pounds to match his UFC 84 opponent, “No Love” Rich Clementi (31-12-1).

“Kaz” Kazurhiro Nakamura (11-7) weighed a pound over light heavyweight at 206 pounds (“Without the Easter basket,” UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan commented). His UFC 84 opponent, seventh-ranked “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2), weighed in a pound under at 204 pounds.

Brazilian Top Team’s “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (7-1) looked large at 185 pounds, which matched his Speedo-clad foe Ivan Salaverry (12-6).

UFC debuting “Samuray” Antonio Mendes (14-2) weighed two pounds under the light heavyweight limit at 203 pounds. His opponent, Thiago Silva (12-0), met the 205-pound limit. Mendes looked about as big around as one of Silva’s thighs.

Ninth-ranked “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) wore a shirt that read “Dana White Is My Bitch” and weighed 205 pounds. His opponent, third-ranked “Dragon” Lyoto Machida (12-0), shook his hand at the face-off, after matching his weight.

UFC debuting Goran Reljic (7-0) nudged his opponent Wilson Gouveia (10-4) at the face-off; but, American Top Team’s Gouveia didn’t flinch. They both weighed 205 pounds.

Tenth-ranked “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) and fourth-ranked “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-3-1) both weighed 205 pounds.

Fifth-ranked “Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (32-2-1) and fourth-ranked “Prodigy” B.J. Penn (12-4-1) both weighed 155 pounds for the UFC 84 main event title fight.

These girls didn’t weigh in; and, I didn’t think it polite to ask.

Of course, 205 king “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-6) is matched versus Griffin for July; and, we all await fireworks between the two jolly light-giants on season seven of TUF.

Third-ranked “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (12-0) and Ortiz cross paths at the end of May as their careers cross roads.

Who says UFC President Dana White doesn’t make big fights in his fighters’ last contract fights?  A win for Ortiz before his promised exit to greener pastures could reignite “The Bad Boy’s” box office appeal.

A notch in Machida’s belt may mean he has to shop for a new belt, a shiny, gold one.

Jardine and tenth-ranked “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) will tell the same tale of fighters colliding as their careers move in opposite directions.

Sixth-ranked “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) was yanked from his match-up versus “Suger” Rashad Evans(11-0-1) in London with a pulled hamstring, leaving on the table the originally scheduled UFC 85 main event between Liddell and eighth-ranked “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3), also on the disabled list, to be fought in September.

Before being bumped down the Fighters.com rankings, Sokoudjou got bumped off the televised card at UFC 84, where he’s matched versus fellow judoka “Kaz” Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-7).

The next three months could turn the 205-pound division upside down with all of the top ten action.

May Light Heavyweight Rankings

1. “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-6)

Jackson is 4-0 since bringing his “Rampage” to the cage. He’s out-wrestled Olympians Lindland and Hendo and became the only man to put Liddell on ice twice. He’s earned Fighters.com’s top rank, but losses to Rua and Silva whisper questions from the past.

2. “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-6)

To think 205 is Hendo’s other weight class is astounding. A UD to Vitor Belfort paved a path for him to hold the PRIDE belt after a KO of long-time champ Silva. Henderson came up just short of unifying titles in a slog with ‘Page.  Until next time?

3. “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (12-0)

Versus Sokou, the undefeated “Dragon” proved he could fly high and finish. His measured style is as tough for opposition to decipher as it sometimes is for fans to watch. His “W” column reads like a who’s who of MMA, but Machida needs stoppages to ascend.

4. “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-3-1)

A blip on Jardine’s record to Houston Alexander belies focused performances over Liddell and Griffin; or, is it the other way around?  Regardless, “The Dean of Mean’s” roller coaster will play bumper cars with “The Axe Murderer” this month.

5. Forrest Griffin (15-4)

The TUF 1 champ dug himself out of the “one hit wonder” abyss with an impressive stoppage of touted Rua and earned a UFC gold run versus Jackson.  But like Jardine, Griffin has proven beatable on any given night.

6. “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5)

Liddell has faced the toughest schedule the last two years, but fell consecutively to Jackson and Jardine.  He looked tough in his return to winning in the long-awaited face-off with Silva.

7. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2)

Sokou had been punching fighters out of their top ten ranking until he ran into Machida, but there’s no shame in tapping to “The Dragon”. His career has been too brief to predict whether his future is north or south of his Fighters.com #7 ranking.

8. “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3)

Whether injury, energy, or focus was the issue, Rua debuted in the UFC with a loss to then-struggling Griffin after earning the kudos of many with PRIDE wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem and Kazuhiro Nakamura.  His injured knee leaves him off active duty until a probable September date with Liddell.

9. “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-5-1)

Ortiz has served as gate keeper to the UFC gold in a win over Griffin and draw with Rashad Evans, but was unable to last three full rounds with then champ Liddell.  Machida at the end of May will show whether Ortiz is ready for another run at the top.

10. “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1)

It hasn’t been a bloody mess for “The Axe Murderer” that last two years, but he’s been the victim of two of the best light heavyweights in the world in Henderson and Liddell.

Nakamura is training with Japanese cruiserweight boxer Ryosuke Takahashi, a former Oriental & Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Cruiserweight Champion with a 17-5 boxing record.  The OPBF is a minor title under the World Boxing Council umbrella of 11 regional sanctioning federations.

Nakamura is set to battle Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight “The African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2) in an all-judo showdown on the undercard of UFC 84.

Sokoudjou posted Tuesday on his blog that he’s training with Olympic judoka’s “Shango” Hector Lombard (15-2-1) of Cuba and Pawel Nastula (1-3) of Poland, evidently expecting his fight with Nakamura to be more of a demonstration of circle theory.

1. “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-6)

Jackson is 4-0 since bringing his “Rampage” to the cage. He’s out-wrestled Olympians Lindland and Hendo and became the only man to put Liddell on ice twice. He’s earned Fighters.com’s top rank, but losses to Rua and Silva whisper questions from the past.

2. “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-6)

To think 205 is Hendo’s other weight class is astounding. A UD to Vitor Belfort paved a path for him to hold the PRIDE belt after a KO of long-time champ Silva. Henderson came up just short of unifying titles in a slog with ‘Page. Until next time?

3. “The Dragon” Ryoto Machida (12-0)

Versus Sokou, the undefeated “Dragon” proved he could fly high and finish. His measured style is as tough for opposition to decipher as it sometimes is for fans to watch. His “W” column reads like a who’s who of MMA, but Machida needs stoppages to ascend.

4. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2)

Sokou had been punching fighters out of their top ten ranking until he ran into Machida, but there’s no shame in tapping to “The Dragon”. His career has been too brief to predict whether his future is north or south of his Fighters.com #4 ranking.

5. “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-3-1)

Blips on Jardine’s record to Houston Alexander and Stephan Bonnar belie focused performances over Liddell and Griffin; or, is it the other way around? Regardless, “The Dean of Mean” has ridden a roller coaster of inconsistency the last two years.

6. Forrest Griffin (15-4)

The TUF 1 champ dug himself out of the “one hit wonder” abyss with an impressive stoppage of touted Rua and earned a UFC gold run versus Jackson. But like Jardine, Griffin has proven beatable on any given night.

7. “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5)

Liddell has faced the toughest schedule the last two years, but fell consecutively to Jackson and Jardine. He looked tough in his return to winning in the long-awaited face-off with Silva.

8. “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3)

Whether injury, energy, or focus was the issue, Rua debuted in the UFC with a loss to then-struggling Griffin after earning the kudos of many with PRIDE wins over the likes of Alistair Overeem and Kazuhiro Nakamura.

9. “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-5-1)

Ortiz has served as gate keeper to the UFC gold in a win over Griffin and draw with Rashad Evans, but was unable to last three full rounds with then champ Liddell.

10. “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1)

It has been a bloody mess for “The Axe Murderer” the last two years, but he’s been the victim of two of the best light heavyweights in the world in Henderson and Liddell.