"I finish fights," declared Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked lightweight “KenFlo” Kenny Florian (12-4) soon after losing a unanimous decision to then UFC lightweight champion “Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (33-4-1) at UFC 64 in Las Vegas in 2006. ...

Fighters.com's ninth-ranked welterweight “Outlaw” Dan Hardy (23-6) took one small step ahead in the 170-pound rankings this month after winning a three-round unanimous decision over now tenth-ranked “Quick” Mike Swick (14-3) at UFC 105 in Manchester November 14 and a giant leap into a title fight versus Fighters.com and UFC Champion "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (19-2), probably at UFC 110 in Sydney February 21. ...

A rematch between Fighters.com's second-ranked welterweight “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (16-4) and third-ranked Jon Fitch (19-3) at UFC 107 at the FedExForum in Memphis December 12 is off due to an Alves injury, according to a Five Ounces of Pain report. ...

UFC lightweight champion “Prodigy” BJ Penn (14-5-1) will defend his title from “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (21-2) at UFC 107 at the FedExForum in Memphis December 12, the UFC officially announced Tuesday. ...

Fighters.com and UFC Welterweight Champion "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (19-2) awaits the winner between ninth-ranked “Quick” Mike Swick (14-2) and tenth-ranked “Outlaw” Dan Hardy (22-6) at UFC 105 at M.E.N. Arena in Manchester November 14.  According to UFC President Dana White, St. Pierre will defend his title versus the winner in Britain. ...

"There has not been discussion on [a rematch between former UFC welterweight champions Matt Hughes (41-7) and "Terror” Matt Serra (9-6)]. I really thought all the talking was over after the fight," Hughes's manager Brian Patton told Fighters.com Monday night in response to an interview Serra gave to MMA Weekly Monday in which Serra called for a rematch. In the excrutiatingly drawn out conclusion to The Ultimate Fighter 6, Serra lost a disappointing UD to Hughes at UFC 98 in Las Vegas 23 May. "I do feel I won that fight," said Serra at MMA Weekly. "Or, at least I should have got the nod. If not, it's a draw and let's do it again." ...

Fighters.com’s top welterweight contender “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (16-3) is next in line for a shot at the UFC’s 170-pound title currently held by “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (17-2), UFC President Dana White confirmed Tuesday. Alves will face the winner of the welterweight title showdown 31 January at UFC 94 between St. Pierre and Lightweight Champion “Prodigy” BJ Penn (13-4-1). White said, “[Alves is] next in line for a title shot.  If GSP beats BJ Penn, then [Alves] fights GSP.  If BJ Penn wins, then he fights BJ.” It is a fight that St. Pierre is already expecting, should he retain his belt. Alves is on a seven-fight win streak, with a second-round TKO victory over seventh-ranked (and former UFC Champion) Matt Hughes (40-7), and most recently a unanimous decision victory over fourth-ranked Josh Koscheck (11-3) at UFC 90 in October. ...

Fighters.com’s Welterweight Champion and current UFC Champion “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (17-2) said in his blog Sunday that he may face second-ranked “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (16-3) in the Octagon soon. “I was very impressed by the performance of Thiago Alves [Saturday night at UFC 90].  He showed everybody why he belongs in the top fighters in the welterweight division,” St. Pierre wrote. “Of course, it's up to the UFC, but I think he will be one of my next opponents pretty soon.” Alves asked for this match-up after his unanimous decision victory over fourth-ranked Josh Koscheck (11-3) Saturday night, and after he TKO’d seventh-ranked Matt Hughes (42-7) in the second round at UFC 85 in June. UFC President Dana White, however, has indicated that if St. Pierre wins his next fight, versus Lightweight Champion "Prodigy" B.J. Penn (13-4-1) 31 January in Las Vegas, he will match GSP up with Middleweight Champion "Spider" Anderson Silva (23-4). ...

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. ...

Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked welterweight Josh Koscheck (11-2) has confirmed that he will still headline Fight Night 16: UFC Fights for the Troops in Fayetteville 10 December versus ninth-ranked “Zenko” Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2). Six weeks before that happens Koscheck will face second-ranked “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (15-3) at UFC 90 near Chicago 25 October.  He replaces eighth-ranked “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (19-2), who had to pull out due to injury. “Yoshiyuki 'Zenko' Yoshida is fine with fighting Koscheck even though he is taking on Thiago Alves on Oct. 25th," Yoshida’s manager Shu Hirata told MMA Weekly. "UFC only informed him that 'maybe' Sanchez if Koscheck is not healthy for Dec. 10.” Yoshida had his last fight, scheduled for September, cancelled when “The Heat” Karo Parisyan (18-5) pulled out at the last minute. ...

A torn rib cartilage has forced Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked welterweight “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (19-2) to withdraw from his bout with top contender “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (15-3) at UFC 90 in Rosemont, near Chicago, 25 October, the UFC announced Monday. Fourth-ranked Josh Koscheck (11-2) will take Sanchez’s place versus Alves. Alves said, “Josh Koscheck is a great fighter and I think he’s an even better matchup for me.  I’m looking forward to fighting him, and I’m gonna knock him out.” “I think [Alves is] a tough opponent,” said Koscheck. “He’s on a tear right now in the UFC and for me to step up and fight him, I think it’s gonna be an exciting fight.” Alves is on a six-fight win streak and most recently TKO’d seventh-ranked Matt Hughes (42-7) in round two of UFC 87's main event. Koscheck last fought in July, winning a unanimous decision over “Lights Out” Chris Lytle (25-16-5).  He was next scheduled to headline UFC Fights for the Troops in Fayetteville, NC, 10 December. ...

Fighters.com's September Welterweight Rankings was denied a potential breakout match-up in Atlanta 6 September when "The Heat" Karo Parisyan (18-5) bailed on his fight versus ninth-ranked "Zenko" Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2) with a back injury...or something. Yoshida has stoppages of Katsuya Inoue (16-6-3) and Akira Kikuchi (16-4); but, few this side of the Pacific (besides you and I) know how impressive that is. A good showing versus physically and technically tough Parisyan would've put him on North American radar too. Fighters.com has developing information that another anticipated fight, between sixth-ranked "Terror" Matt Serra (9-5) and seventh-ranked Matt Hughes (42-7), is unlikely to ever happen.  More on that as it develops. Fighters.com's Welterweight Champion "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (17-2) will fight Fighters.com's Lightweight Champion "Prodigy" B.J. Penn (13-4-1) in Las Vegas 31 January. ...

After Fighters.com's Welterweight Champion "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (17-2) defended his title from then top contender Jon Fitch (17-3) in Minneapolis 9 August, who better to challenge him next than...Fighters.com's Lightweight Champion "Prodigy" B.J. Penn (13-4-1)? On the gutsy unanimous decision loss, Fitch dropped three ranks to fifth in August's rankings.  However, to those who've called Fitch St. Pierre's "toughest challenge", Fighters.com reminds them that sixth-ranked "Terror" Matt Serra (9-5) knocked St. Pierre out in the first round in Houston 7 April, 2007. In fact, it was obvious in the stand-up exchanges between St. Pierre and Fitch that the 2007 knockout remains in the forefront of St. Pierre's mind as St. Pierre was more cautious than he had been in previous fights. But, rather than St. Pierre match-up versus Penn, Fighters.com would rather sanction a title fight between St. Pierre and the winner of the match-up between Fighters.com's new top contender "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (15-3) and seventh-ranked "Nightmare" Diego Sanchez (18-2) to be fought in Chicago 25 October. ...

The UFC welterweight chase has narrowed to the final four. Fighters.com's sixth-ranked welterweight “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (19-2) notified Fighters.com minutes after signing his latest contract to fight third-ranked “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (16-3) in Birmingham 18 October. Sanchez said, “[Alves] better be ready because I am. I feel strong. I have been working for this opportunity my whole career. The belt will be mine; Thiago will just have to be the next victim to get to it. Nothing personal, but I am the real pitbull." The fight's victor seems well-positioned next in line for the UFC welterweight title after current Champ "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (16-2) and well-deserved top contender Jon Fitch (19-2) fight in Minneapolis 9 August. Hungry Alves is coming off a brutal defeat of Matt Hughes (42-7) in London 7 June. Sanchez is coming off of two victories over David Bielkheden (12-6) and Luigi Fioravanti (13-4) in which Sanchez's raw, in-your-face strategy worked to a tee. ...

Third-ranked "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (15-3) is the big mover in Fighters.coms's June Welterweight Rankings after, of course, crashing knee-first into the side of seventh-ranked Matt Hughes's (42-7) cranium in London 7 June. Alves established himself as the top contender to the winner between Fighters.com's Welterweight Champion "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (16-2) and second-ranked Jon Fitch (17-2), to be fought in Minneapolis 9 August. Hughes finds himself at a crossroads as confidants close to H.I.T. Squad have confided to Fighters.com that Hughes didn't prepare for his tussle with "Pitbull" with the determination that's marked his storied career. The day after Alves finished Hughes, ninth-ranked "The Goat" Nick Thompson (36-9-1) finished hard-punching "Maicon" Michael Costa (9-4) in Tokyo. Thompson is negotiating to fight eighth-ranked Jake Shields (20-4-1) for the EliteXC title, but tells Fighters.com, "I would really like the fight but I am not willing to fight below my value in order to make it happen." ...

Fighters.com was live in Las Vegas 24 May to witness the fights that shook-up June's Welterweight Rankings.  What a night! 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. ...

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. ...

Friday in London, Fighters.com's sixth-ranked welterweight "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (14-3) weighed-in at 174-pounds for his bid Saturday as top contender versus fifth-ranked Matt Hughes (42-6). The weight limit for welterweight is 171 pounds; but, Saturday's main event will now be contested at the catch weight of 174-pounds, surely no consolation to Hughes who cut to 170-pounds for the fight. Add this to the lore of an event which will go down as the UFC's unluckiest, including losing the original main event matching sixth-ranked light heavyweight "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) versus eighth-ranked "Shogun" Mauricio Rua (16-3), replaced by Liddell versus "Sugar" Rashad Evans (11-0-1) when Rua re-injured his knee until Liddell also had to withdraw with a yanked hammy. Almost makes you want to tune-in just to see what other disasters strike... ...

Hail the new Fighters.com welterweight king UFC Welterweight Champion "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (16-2). Many had no doubt that St. Pierre was the best at 170-pounds, but it was important for St. Pierre to win the top spot with revenge on "The Terror" Matt Serra (9-5) at UFC 83. The truth is that Serra looked no worse in defeat to "Rush" than future UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes (42-6) did in December.  Serra drops to the fourth spot. Hughes and Serra have a date to dance before the end of '08, but Hughes has been drafted into the UFC 85 main event to replace an injured "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) on the 02 Arena marquee. In London, Hughes faces sixth-ranked pup "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (14-3), who's on a St. Pierre-ish steamroll through the division with stoppages of "The Heat" Karo Parisyan (18-5), "Lights Out" Chris Lytle (25-15-5), Kuniyoshi Hironaka (11-5), and Tony DeSouza (10-4). "Kos" Josh Koscheck (10-2), who moves up a spot on Serra's stoppage loss, will get a swing at Lytle in July, a true test of the third-ranked wrestlers grit and chin. Jake Shields (20-4-1) has had his EliteXC title fight with Drew Fickett (33-5) rescheduled again, this time to July.  Shields loses ground in the rankings as his 2006 unanimous decision over WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit (22-4) falls from his two-year record. In June, "The Goat" Nick Thompson (35-9-1) returns to Sengoku versus an as-yet unnamed opponent, but told Fighters.com, "For the right amount of pay, I'll fight Fedor or Jesus himself." At the end of May in Vegas, Japan's "Zenko" Yoshiyuki Yoshida (9-2) will debut in the UFC versus "War Machine Jon Koppenhaver (5-1) after an impressive run in his homeland. "Zenko" debuts on Fighters.com's top ten after "The Heat" Karo Parisyan (18-5) drops off because his two-year record lost a 2006 stoppage of Thompson. May Welterweight Rankings 1. "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (16-2) Since "Terror" struck at UFC 69, "Rush" has had to scrape pieces of Koscheck, Hughes, and Serra off the bottom of his feet on his steamroll back to the UFC belt many believe the 27-year old will wear for a generation. 2. Jon Fitch (17-2) While louder fighters have claimed title contendership, Fitch has quietly earned it with a stoppage of Alves and decision over Sanchez, plus UDs over tough Chris Wilson and Kuniyoshi Hironaka.  The wrestler is probably next in line for a UFC title shot. 3. "Kos" Josh Koscheck (10-2) After revenge over Sanchez, Koscheck was overwhelmed with a St. Pierre bouncing back from a loss. Like St. Pierre, “Kos” has all the physical tools to be a champion and absorbs new skills like a sponge. Time and continued top competition will tell. 4. "The Terror" Matt Serra (9-5) After knocking out the 170-pound division's heir apparent, St. Pierre, Serra was outclassed in their April '08 rematch.  However, Serra looked no worse in defeat than St. Pierre's two previous victims, Koscheck and Hughes. 5. Matt Hughes (42-6) Since getting KO’d by St. Pierre for the first time since ’01, Hughes hasn’t fought the same in a throw-away decision over Christ Lytle and another stoppage by St. Pierre. One wonders if he’s getting the same quality of training since leaving MFS. 6. "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (14-3) Alves has dealt 3 big stoppages to Karo Parisyan, Chris Lytle, and Kuniyoshi  Hironaka to plant himself firmly in the welterweight top ten, and only an ’06 TKO to Fitch keeps him from Fighters.com’s top five. This juggernaut will run into Hughes in June. 7. "Nightmare" Diego Sanchez (18-2) All the hype can’t replace a loss in the Octagon, and, in Sanchez’s case, two losses to Fitch and Koschek.  An ’06 decision over Karo Parisyan in one of the fights of that year proves he has the talent, but does he have the focus? 8. Jake Shields (20-4-1) Shields may be the world’s top welterweight, but a lack of competition outside the UFC keeps him from breaking through.  Still, he’s stopped all opponents in the last two years except in a unanimous decision over WEC champ Carlos Condit. 9. "The Goat" Nick Thompson (35-9-1) "The Goat" has bucked eleven straight challengers, ten by stoppage, since leaving the UFC after a TKO by Parisyan; and, though no top tenners, it's a list including Chris Wilson, Ansar Chalangov, Eddie Alvarez, and Fabricio Monteiro, all tough welterweights. 10. "Zenko" Yoshiyuki Yoshida (9-2) "Zenko" debuts in the UFC versus Jon Koppenhaver in May without an "L" in two years, all wins by stoppage. With overseas wins over Katsuya Inoue and Akira Kikuchi, Yoshida hopes to fare better than fellow Nipponese Kuniyoshi Hironaka. ...

Fighters.com's fifth- and sixth-ranked welterweights, Matt Hughes (42-6) and "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (14-3) respectively, have stepped-up on late notice to fill the UFC 85 main event spot in London, Hughes announced moments ago on his blog. The original main event matched light heavyweights "Iceman" Chuck Liddell (21-5) and "Sugar" Rashad Evans (11-0-1).  Liddell was injured last week and UFC President Dana White pulled the fight, promising U.K. fans an adequate replacement. Hughes had aimed at former UFC welterweight titlist "The Terror" Matt Serra (9-5) after Serra's loss to "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (16-2) Saturday and has publicly and privately opposed a role as gate keeper in the UFC's 170-pound division. Alves knocked at the gate earlier this month, TKOing "The Heat" Karo Parisyan (18-5) in Denver. Hughes lost to St. Pierre by verbal submission in Las Vegas in December.  On his blog, he promised, "No matter what happens in this fight, I’ve got Serra next." ...

The world's top welterweight will be decided this weekend in Montreal at UFC 83.  What might be more interesting is what happens next.  Several fighters have legitimate claims to the winner of Serra v St. Pierre.  Who deserves it most? 1. "The Terror" Matt Serra (9-4) "If you beat the guy, you're the guy," Serra said, and "The Terror" dismantled 170’s heir apparent, St. Pierre, last April for the UFC welterweight title and Fighters.com's #1 ranking. His slim record makes it hard to predict the length of his reign. 2. "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (15-2) Barely breaking a sweat stopping Hughes twice and winning a UD over Koscheck fulfilled St. Pierre’s physical promise, but his malfunction versus Serra raises questions great fighters have had to answer before. Does his hype distract from his focus? 3. Jon Fitch (17-2) While louder fighters have claimed title contendership, Fitch has quietly earned it with a stoppage of Alves and decision over Sanchez, plus UDs over tough Chris Wilson and Kuniyoshi Hironaka.  The wrestler is probably next in line for a UFC title shot. 4. "Kos" Josh Koscheck (10-2) After revenge over Sanchez, Koschek was overwhelmed with a St. Pierre bouncing back from a loss. Like St. Pierre, “Kos” has all the physical tools to be a champion and absorbs new skills like a sponge. Time and continued top competition will tell. 5. Matt Hughes (42-6) Since getting KO’d by St. Pierre for the first time since ’01, Hughes hasn’t fought the same in a throw-away decision over Christ Lytle and another stoppage by St. Pierre. One wonders if he’s getting the same quality of training since leaving MFS. 6. "Pitbull" Thiago Alves (14-3) Alves has dealt 3 big stoppages to Parisyan, Chris Lytle, and Kuniyoshi  Hironaka to plant himself firmly in the welterweight top ten, and only an ’06 TKO to Fitch keeps him from Fighters.com’s top five. Whoever’s next for Alves will meet a juggernaut. 7. Jake Shields (20-4-1) Shields may be the world’s top welterweight, but a lack of competition outside the UFC keeps him from breaking through.  Still, he’s stopped all opponents in the last two years except in a unanimous decision over WEC champ Carlos Condit. 8. "Nightmare" Diego Sanchez (18-2) Sanchez is St. Pierre light. All the hype can’t replace a loss in the Octagon, and, in Sanchez’s case, two losses to Fitch and Koschek.  An ’06 decision over Parisyan in one of the fights of that year proves he has the talent, but does he have the focus? 9. "The Heat" Karo Parisyan (18-5) Parisyan has been criticized for his conditioning.  Maybe it’s true because the tough, exciting judoka hasn’t been able to break into the top of the division after losses to Sanchez and Alves. A TKO of Thompson shows how hot “The Heat” can get. 10. "The Goat" Nick Thompson (35-9-1) "The Goat" has bucked eleven straight challengers, ten by stoppage, since leaving the UFC after a TKO by Parisyan; and, though no top tenners, it's a list including Chris Wilson, Ansar Chalangov, Eddie Alvarez, and Fabricio Monteiro, all tough welterweights. ...

"KenFlo" Kenny Florian (9-3) finished fellow Bostonian lightweight "J-Lau" Joe Lauzon (16-4) in a vicious pounding from the full mount at 3:28 of round two in the main event of Ultimate Fight Night Live in Denver tonight. The former title challenger from Sityodtong, Florian, dominated the quirky computer tech. "KenFlo" opened a gash on the back of Lauzon's head with elbows from his full guard in the first round, but was warned by referee Herb Dean for striking behind the head. It was a call Dean missed while refereeing a lightweight fight between "Cleat" Rich Crunkilton (16-2) and Sergio Gomez (7-2) at last week's Las Vegas WEC event. After the stand-up, Lauzon clinched for a takedown and stepped over Florians body in half-guard for a knee bar that turned into a Achilles lock that Florian yanked free from. Lauzon snatched an ankle again and reclined into a heel hook that Florian was again able to wriggle free from to end the round. The frantic mat work and elevation exhausted "J-Lau" for the second round and Florian was able to score a takedown into full mount that Lauzon never bucked free from. Florian poured on a cocktail of elbows, straights, and hammerfists from the mount, but Lauzon defended.  Dean called an end to the fight after it was clear Lauzon was to spent to transition out of the bad spot. In a grueling war game between undefeated wrestlers, "The Bully" Gray Maynard (5-0) won a decisive unanimous decision over "The Answer" Frank Edgar (8-1). Maynard set the pace in the first round by stuffing Edgar's takedown attempts and deciding when he'd take the inevitable wrestling match to the mat. Edgar made it a scrap in the second round with crisp 1-2 combos that scored, but Maynard continued to stuff "The Answer's" shot and score his own powerful takedowns, though neither fighter did much more than molest the other on the mat. Edgar was gassed by round three and the bigger "Bully" slammed Edgar three times to convince all three judges he was dominant. Earlier in the night, "Rumble" Anthony Johnson (5-1) pummeled TUF finalist Tom Speer (9-3) over 51 seconds, knocking home the stoppage "W" with a clean straight right that slumped Speer against the cage. "I'm crunk right now, I'm real crunk," said Johnson after the fight. Johnson began the end with a left kick to Speer's head as the wrestler attempted to shoot, followed by a knee that backed Speer to the cage.   Speer was out on his feet when he absorbed the death blow. In a welterweight clash, "The Pitbull" Thiago Alves (14-3) crumpled "The Heat" Karo Parisyan (18-5) with a left knee strike to Parisyan's head in the second round as Parisyan sought the clinch. At 34-seconds of the round, referee Steve Mazzagatti dove across the downed fighter as he defended Alves's follow-up pounding. "The referee did a good job," Alves claimed after Parisyan disputed the stoppage.  "He was out!" Parisyan had won round one with deft, one-off striking versus the American Top Team trained kickboxer, who appeared wary of Parisyan's takedowns.  In his UFC debut last February, "The Barbarian" Tim Boetsch (7-2) surprised David Heath (7-3) with an onslaught ending in a first-round Boetsch TKO. Tonight, "The Hammer" Matt Hamill (4-1) weathered Boetsch's first round avalanche of strikes to reveal "The Barbarian" couldn't continue his barrage passed the first five minutes. Hamill began the fight with a powerful double-leg takedown, but couldn't capitalize before the referee stood the fighters. Boetsch proved effective with a repeating knee strike that split Hamill's lip like a ripe peach, splashing blood across Hamill's chest. In round two, Boetsch heaved heavily from his corner.  He shot for a single-leg takedown and held Hamill's leg as the champion wrestler hovered over him hammering punches.  Boetsch rolled into guard, but had nothing left as "The Hammer" finished him at 1:25 with undefended plugs to Boetsch's face. Fast-rising Nathan Diaz (9-2) submitted Kurt Pellegrino (11-4) in an air-tight leg triangle choke in the second round of their undercard match, flashing double middle fingers in the air as Pellegrino tapped helplessly. Diaz was cut on his right eyelid by Pellegrino punches in a first round controlled on the mat by Pellegrino. Pellegrino dumped Diaz at will and hammered punches and elbows inside Diaz's full- and half-guard.  Pellegrino passed to side control and pinned Diaz's arms, hammering Diaz's unprotected face to open the cut. But, durable Diaz escaped a lost first round. The second round continued as the first, with Diaz getting dumped to the mat by Pellegrino.  This time, Diaz ran his guard up Pellegrino's back and submitted the lightweight in a leg triangle at 3:06 of the round. "He shouldn't have pinned me down like that," Diaz scolded Pellegrino after the hard-won "W".  In the televised card's first fight, "The Assassin" Houston Alexander (8-3) got touched by "The Sandman" James Irvin (14-4) in the first exchange of their light heavyweight match. Alexander was beaten to the punch by a right Superman punch from Irvin as Alexander launched his own right cross. Alexander fell to the mat and Irvin followed with a right exclamation point to Alexander's noggin as referee Steve Mazzagatti dove to Alexander's rescue at :08 of the fight, tying a UFC record for quickest KO. "I was still conscious," Alexander repeated after the stoppage. Amidst boos, Irvin challenged, "We can do it again right now.  If you want to go out into the parking lot, we can do it right now."  In untelevised fights, "The Dentist" Josh Neer (24-6-1) won a unanimous decision over "Dinyero" Din Thomas (20-8), who was returning from a knee injury in his last outing.  "Maximus" Marcus Aurelio (16-5) submitted lightweight Ryan Roberts (8-3) 16 seconds into the fight. "Pitbull" Manvel Gamburyan (8-2) submitted Jeffrey Cox (9-5) in guillotine choke at 1:41 of the first round. "The Carpenter" Clay Guida (23-9) TKO'd lightweight Samy Schiavo (10-5) at 4:15 of round one. Finally, welterweight George Sotiropoulos (9-2) TKO'd Roman Mitichyan (5-2) 2:24 into round two. ...