It wasn't all that long ago that Thales Leites was a fixture in the UFC's middleweight division. He beat some tough guys in his career with the worlds largest promotion, including former King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt. The tough Brazilian submission specialist battled his way to his shot at the title at UFC 97 in April of 2009, however a subsequent loss to Alessio Sakara signaled his release from the promotion. Now Thales finds himself nearly two-years later on the outside looking in, and now looks to rebound after a 3-1 run last year with an even better 2011, and who better to help him then former opponent and UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva. ...

A bout originally scheduled for UFC 118 this Saturday, has been pushed off till November, for the UFC's second trip to Germany, and it's first since it's inception last year for UFC 99, which was headlined by former champions Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin. Said bout, a middleweight affair against Jorge Rivera against fellow banger Alessio Sakara has stayed alive. The bout will mark a true push for each competitor, as one another will look for contenders' status in a crowded 185-pound division, dominated by Anderson Silva--though Chael Sonnen might argue the point. ...

The winner of the co-main event fight that pits "Great" Nate Marquardt (29-8-2) against Chael Sonnen (23-20-1) at UFC 109 will get a title shot according to UFC President Dana White. While I believe Nate deserves a shot at the title I shiver at the thought of Sonnen getting a title shot. ...

Former UFC and PRIDE fighter and Abu Dhabi world submission grappling champion “Boogey Man” Dean Lister (11-6) has signed a multi-fight deal to compete in the largest Canadian MMA promotion Maximum Fighting Championship, MFC accounced Friday. Lister will debut versus former UFC title challenger Thales Leites (14-3) at MFC 23: Unstoppable on Friday at River Cree Resort and Casino outside of Edmonton December 4. ...

Former UFC middleweight title challenger Thales Leites (14-3) and welterweight “Barn Cat” Tamdan McCrory (11-3) will remain in the UFC, UFC President Dana White told Yahoo!Sports Thursday. "They won’t be cut," White said. After split decision losses at UFC 101, both fighters were informed their respective stints in the Octagon had ended. ...

Former UFC middleweight title challenger Thales Leites (14-3) and welterweight “Barn Cat” Tamdan McCrory (11-3) have been released by the UFC after split decision losses at UFC 101 in Philadelphia Saturday, according to multiple sources. “Legionarius” Alessio Sakara (14-7), who should've amounted to busy work for the Brazilian, upset Leites in a three-round split decision, rendering him with consecutive disappointing losses. Leites paired with UFC middleweight champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (25-4) at UFC 97 in Montréal 18 April to engage in the most disappointing Octagon main event of the year. Leites refused to engage MMA's most feared striker and several times fell to his back inviting the champion into his guard, which Silva refused. ...

The undercard of UFC 101 in Philadelphia Saturday saw two split decision upsets, one in the middleweight division and one at 170.

"Legionarius" Alessio Sakara (14 -7) upset recent UFC middleweight title challenger Thales Leites (14-3) in a three-round split decision, rendering Leites with consecutive disappointing losses.

And, "Doomsday" John Howard (12-3) won a three-round split decision over "Barn Cat" Tamdan McCrory (11-3), Howard's second SD in the Octagon with no losses.
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Fighters.com will post real-time results after each UFC 101 Declaration fight Saturday night. Post your predictions here before the fights. Logon often tonight and chat about the fights immediately after they end. The fight card from Philadelphia includes: "Prodigy" B.J. Penn (13-5-1) v "KenFlo" Kenny Florian (11-3) for the UFC lightweight strap Fighters.com's third-ranked light heavyweight Forrest Griffin (16-5) v UFC middleweight champ "“Spider” Anderson Silva (24-4) in 205-pound matchup ...

Fighters.com's Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (23-4) won by TKO at UFC 90 in Chicago Saturday night when "Predator" Patrick Cote's (13-5) knee popped at 39 seconds of round three. Top welterweight contender "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (16-3) easily beat fourth-ranked Josh Koscheck (11-3) by unanimous decision. Scores were 30-27 twice and 29-28 once. Fourth-ranked heavyweight "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum (11-4-1) was devastated by fellow Brazilian, but virtual unknown "Cigano" Junior dos Santos (7-1) via first-round TKO at 1:21. Fifth-ranked lightweight "Muscle Shark" Sean Sherk (33-3-1) won a unanimous decision over Tyson Griffin (12-2) by judges' scores of 29-28 twice and 30-27 once. Thales Leites (14-1), "Bully" Gray Maynard (6-0), "King" Spencer Fisher (22-4), Dan Miller (10-1), "Drago" Pete Sell (8-4), and Hermes Franca (19-7) were all winners inside the Octagon. ...

Croatian middleweight Goran Reljic (8-0) has suffered a back injury in training that will force him off the UFC 90 card, 25 October near Chicago, reported MMA Fighting Sunday. His manager said that Reljic would likely be out two to four months. Reljic was scheduled to fight Brazil's Thales Leites (13-1), who told Fighters Only that he is now expecting to face “Massacre” Drew McFedries (7-4). McFedries lost his last fight in September, when Mike Massenzio (11-2) submitted him with a kimura at 1:28 of the first round. Leites won a split decision against Nate Marquardt (26-8-2) in June. ...

Brazilian Thales Leites (13-1) and Croatian Goran Reljic (8-0) have signed to fight at UFC 90 just outside Chicago 25 October, reported MMA Weekly Thursday. Leites has four straight wins; he won a split decision over Nathan Marquardt (26-8-2) in June. Reljic won his UFC debut in May with a second-round TKO over Wilson Gouveia (10-5). ...

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

Fighters.com checked-in quickly with UFC middleweight contender Nathan Marquardt (26-7-2) as he prepares to tangle with Thales Leites (12-1) in London at UFC 85 in June. Fighters.com: When does training become the only thing you focus on?  When do you start dieting and shedding weight? Nathan Marquardt: Six weeks out is when training gets serious.  Then more so at three weeks out.  I dont worry about weight until last week. Fighters.com: Your fight with Leites has been rescheduled twice.  Can you over prepare or get complacent with too much time to think about a particular opponent? Nathan Marquardt: Maybe you can get complacent.  I will watch out for that.  You can't be too prepared though. Fighters.com: As a fighter, when you review a loss, what's the psychology? Nathan Marquardt: You have to figure out why he beat you.  Yes, he got lucky, but it wasn't unlucky for me.  I did something wrong.  The fighter who wins was always better on that night, but you cannot ever think that he is a better fighter period. Fighters.com: How do you analyze the crop of prospects coming up at 185-pounds in the UFC: "Count" Michael Bisping (15-1), "Cachorrao" Ricardo Almeida (9-2), and Demian Maia (7-0)? Nathan Marquardt: They are all tough, all present their own challenges.  I'm just the best! ...

After two false starts, Brazilian Thales Leites (12-1) and American Nathan Marquardt (26-7-2) will clash horns at UFC 85 on 7 June in London. The two middleweights were originally matched for 77, but Leites failed to score a visa for the fight.  Then, Leites pulled out of the second matchup at 81 last month with a broken hand. Marquardt fought on with late replacement "Gumby" Jeremy Horn (79-17-5) and survived a first round near-gogo to guillotine choke Horn to submission at 1:37 of round two. Leites hasn't fought since last August when he tapped Ryan Jensen (11-3) 3:47 into the first set. ...