But, Nelson knows Struve isn’t a stepping stone directly to a title shot versus the winner between UFC champion and Fighters.com’s second-ranked heavyweight Brock Lesnar (4-1) and Shane Carwin (10-0) at UFC 116 in Las Vegas July 3.

Fighters.com posed the question, “Who’s next for Nelson?” last week and matchups between Nelson and former UFC champion Frank Mir(13-4) or former UFC title challenger “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (11-5) emerged as popular fan choices.

But, Nelson has his eyes on Fighters.com’s favorite in the UFC heavyweight division “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (11-1).

“I think Dos Santos deserves [a title shot] over Cain [Velasquez] just ’cause he’s whipped some better competition,” Nelson told MMA Weekly Radion.  “I mean his very first fight was [Fabricio] Werdum. He’s beat up some really good guys. I think he definitely deserves a good chance or a good stab at it.”

And about a fight versus dos Santos, Nelson said, “I’d love it!”

But, Nelson also indicated interest in fighting heavyweight boxing champion “Lights Out” James Toney (0-0) who recently signed to fight in the UFC.

Granted, TUF 10 had Internet sensation Kimbo Slice (4-1) but TUF 11 has a crop of middleweight fighters that I feel is far superior to any season we have seen thus far on Spike TV.

According to Spike, 1.9 million viewers were watching “TUF 11″ which is an increase of nine percent over “TUF 9″

As I said earlier, I feel this season has a much better cast of prospects who seem to be more technical than those of previous seasons. However, maybe it is because I am a part of the mixed martial arts (MMA) media and at my very core a hardcore fan.

Many casual fans may not know some of the fighters appearing on the show and thus have no idea how good some of them truly are and how compelling their background stories will be once they receive air time.

One fighter in particular stands out when speaking of background stories. Court McGee (9-1) is a fighter that with the proper exposure could become an instant fan favorite. His story was something I ran across on Queen of the Cage. Court is a former drug addict who was actually declared dead from an overdose of black tar heroin. Since then he has found God and has been clean since Easter of 2006. Court hit the epitome of rock bottom and now is on his rise to the top where he hopes to talk to others about the dangers of drugs.

This story alone would be a very uplifting moment if given the time on the show and could be a positive story for MMA as a whole.

“The Ultimate Fighter 11″ on Spike TV features middleweights fighting it out for a six-figure contract with the UFC and the title of “The Ultimate Fighter”.

Coaches for this season are Fighters.com eighth-ranked and former UFC light heavyweight champion “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-7) and his nemesis, former UFC light heavyweight champion “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-7-1). Both men are coming off back to back losses inside the Octagon and are supposed to face off against one another after the season ends.

There are rumors that Tito suffered some sort of injury during the taping of the show and that his fight with Chuck may be put on the back burner but we will have to wait and see how this season unfolds before the facts actually come to light.

Stay tuned to MMA Gospel Radio each Wednesday from 8-10 PM EST/ 5-7 PT as we discuss the latest season of TUF and interview some of the top fighters in the business as well as the best new talent you may have not heard of yet. We can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/mmagospel.

Sims was TKO’d by “Dominator” Bobby Lashley (5-0) at Strikeforce: Miami January 30.  According to MMA Junkie, Profato called the matchup “non-competitive”

Sylvia’s downward spiral bottomed-out at Adrenaline MMA IV in Omaha last September when he TKO’d Jason Riley (6-2) in the first round.  He had been stopped in three consecutive losses prior to his win, twice respectably to  Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-1)  and fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1), but also inexplicably by former boxing champion “Merciless” Ray Mercer (1-1).

Sylvia and Sims actuall fought at Superbrawl 38 in Honolulu in 2004 and, as Profato allegedly described, it was non-competitive as Sylvia TKO’s Sims in 1:32.

Nelson knocked out of Brendan Schaub (3-1) at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in Las Vegas December 5, winning the TUF 10 tournament.

Struve won a majority decision over “Head Hunter” Paul Buentello (25-11) at UFC 107 in Memphis December 12.  It was an exciting slugfest narrowly pulled out by the young Dutchman!

Nelson had posted to his Twitter account that he’d fight former boxing champion James Toney, but it was apparently a prank.

White said Nelson has “the worst physique in professional sports” and complained about Nelson’s confidence throughout the competition.

But, none of the fighters on TUF 10 who actually had to step into the Octagon versus Nelson made similar critiques.  All of Nelson’s opponents dutifully promised to win, of course; and, Schaub even promised to knock Nelson out.  But, no one questioned Nelson’s confidence or called him a “fat guy.”

The difference between White and Nelson’s opponents is that White has to promote a phenomenal fat guy while Nelson’s opponents have to fight a phenomenal fat guy.  And, if you’re the king of the streets like “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (4-1), a Greco-Roman wrestling champion like Justin Wren (8-2), a decorated kickboxer like James McSweeney (4-4), or a former NFL football player like Schaub, after Nelson etches an “L” into your record, you just got beat-up by that same fat guy you were demeaning as just a fat guy.

White has logged a lot of hours changing the image of the UFC from gritty brawler “Tank” David Abbott (10-14) to clean-cut certified überathlete Fighters.com’s second-ranked heavyweight and UFC champion Brock Lesnar (4-1).

Nelson, his buddha belly, and his curly mohawk crash White’s party.

And, in a sense, White is right. Watching the final episode of TUF 10 with a friend who is aware of MMA, but doesn’t consider it much of a sport, I realized how Nelson turns off fans of mainstream team sports where the rules are conceived to ensure the best athlete wins.  He was appalled that Nelson had reached the finals of a supposed athletic competition.

“Roy is good,” I protested.

“But, wouldn’t he be better if he were in shape,” my friend asked.

I explained, “He is in shape.  Look, he’s training with three former NFL players, doing everything everyone else is doing, and two of those NFL players have had to sit out days of training.  Roy never has.”

My friend was skeptical, even hostile towards Nelson based wholly on Nelson’s physique compared to his confidence.  My friend was rooting for the clean-cut, former professional football player Schaub after watching just one episode of TUF 10.

But, for MMA purists like you and I, Nelson’s physique and dearth of athletic genetics combined with his deep understanding of fighting, proves that MMA, at it’s heart, is a high-skilled athletic endeavor.  Unlike football and unlike action films, fighting is skill-intensive, not based on genetics or looks.  It’s a chess game that tests your will to win by ensuring painful results when you make a bad move.

Watching Nelson knockout Schaub was similar to watching third-ranked Frank Mir (12-4) tap out Lesnar at UFC 81 in Las Vegas in 2008.  As much as onlookers outside of the sport want MMA to be a bunch of thick-headed bar brawlers trading head shots until someone falls, it’s proven time-and-again that, when athletes from other sports step into MMA, they’re quickly humbled by the volume of skills that they have to study and the intensity of training day-in-and-day-out.

On TUF 10, former Tampay Bay Bucs top draft pick “Big Baby” Marcus Jones (4-2) admitted his training in the NFL was nothing close to the intensity and effort of training to fight.

Nelson has done that training for years while also picking up all of the skills necessary to compete at a high level in MMA.  Though spectators ignorant about the sport will look at Nelson and have their misconceptions about MMA confirmed, I look at Nelson and he proves that fighting is as much about skill and heart as genetics.  That’s what attracted many core fans to the sport years ago.  It’s the promise that, even if you’re not born to succeed, you can work hard, study, and overcome your limitations to become successful anyway.

Nelson wasn’t born a 6’6″, 265- pound muscle-bound giant like Jones.  Nelson was born the way you see him today and will kick Jones’s ass with the skills he’s developed through hours of hard work in the gym.

White should spend less time being annoyed with having to now promote Nelson as a certified UFC fighter and devote his effort to promoting Nelson for the symbol of what a high-skilled, heart-testing sport MMA is.  And, whenever one of these magazine cover, chiseled athletes wants to call Nelson just a fat guy, White should serve the guy to Nelson in a clamshell box and watch Nelson descend on him like a Burger King Whopper.

Hamill, a seasoned wrestler and tough as nails fighter, came out looking strong with some of the most fluid striking we have seen from him.  Jones, a young and aggressive fighter with a strong Greco backgrond, came out in his typical fashion, throwing kicks and strikes from unusual angles.

Jones took Hamill down with a well-timed trip half way into the first round, moved to full mount, and immediately went to work with ground’n'pound elbows and strikes.

Referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the action at the 1:02 left in the first due to an illegal elbow. Mazzagatti stood Jones up and deducted a point from the fighter. When Mazzagatti returned to the still-downed  Hamill, Hamill indicated he was unable to continue.

The fight was deemed a win for Hamill by a Jones disqualification due to intentional elbows thrown from a “12 t0 6″ angle (up to down).

After the fight, Hamill also said he dislocated his shoulder which prevented him from properly defending himself from beneath Jones’s mount.

Expect a Burger King endorsement deal for the self-described “fat guy” who entered season eleven of The Ultimate Fighter as the heavy favorite and lived up to the hype right through the finale.

Schaub flicked a jab one time too many and Nelson went over top with a right hook to Schaub’s temple, dropping his Team Rashad teammate to the mat.

Referee Herb Dean jumped in and ended the fight.

Nelson had also scored a takedown earlier in the round; but, Schaub was able to squirm to his feet.  Schaub threw plenty of quick, powerful punches, but hit very little for having such a big target in front of him.

Judges scores were 29-28 twice and 29-27 all in favor of Slice.

The first round was barely mentionable as Alexander circled outside and waved leg kicks while Slice stood firmly in the center of the Octagon looking for a brawl.  The two fighters clinched twice, but briefly and uneventfully.

But, round two…wow!  Alexander came out of his corner to take another walk around the Octagon; but, Slice came out like Alexander was in Kimbo’s backyard.  Slice clinched and took Alexander to the mat in full mount, landing a few shots.  Alexander wormed back to his feet; but, Slice took Alexander’s back and suplexed him.  Alexander shot for a single-leg in the scramble; but, again, Slice stood and fell atop Alexander on the mat and passed to full mount.  Alexander gave up his back after Slice began landing shots to Alexander’s dome.  Slice briefly worked a guillotine, but decided to mount Alexander and land short elbows before the bell ended the round.

Alexander’s strategy finally paid off in round three when he dropped Slice with a solid leg kick.  Slice didn’t so much stand up, as shoot for a single leg takedown directly from his butt.  But, after a lay’n'pray from both fighters, referee Josh Rosenthal compelled them to their feet.  It was obvious Slice could barely stand on his lead leg after Alexander’s kick early in the round; but, Slice engaged Alexander for an exciting, if sloppy brawl that ended when an Alexander elbow sent Slice backpedaling and bell saved both fighters.

“Marcus is a great dude,” Mitrione complimented his foe after the victory.

Early in round one, Jones lunged forward with a hanging straight right and Mitrione countered backpedaling with a duo of counter straight rights that sent Jones face first into the mat.  Referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight immediately.

Jones had won the first round with a trio of slams and a worthy guillotine choke attempt; but, Mitrione was effective getting back to his feet from beneath the man called “The Darkness”.

“Marcus is much stronger what I give him credit for.  I figured I played in the NFL, I have retard strength too,” Mitrione said.  “I thought he was going to be timid when I touched him; but, he wasn’t.”

Jones nearly retired after losing during the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter, so this loss in his official UFC debut could lead to his retirement.

Mitrione, however, made his pro MMA debut with a win in the Octagon and was impressive doing so.

Having won ten out of 11 fights in MMA is impressive enough; but, when you look at the opponents against whom Edgar has amassed this record, it puts the mark into a whole new perspective.  He holds victories over ninth-ranked “Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (33-4-1), former UFC lightweight challenger Hermes Franca (18-6), “The King” Spencer Fisher (21-4), Mark Bocek (5-2), Tyson Griffin (12-1), and Jim Miller(11-1). Had he been able to get past fifth-ranked “Bully” Gray Maynard (8-0), he would have completed a sweep of a murderers row of lightweights.

Veach brings to the Octagon more questions than answers. He has been dominating in his run to an undefeated mark, but it is difficult to place his readiness for a fighter of Edgar’s stature. Veach is best known for taking out “Wolverine” Matt Grice (9-1) in one round at UFC Fight Night 17 in Tampa February 7, but his list of opponents pales significantly to Edgar’s opponents.

Both fighters come from a wrestling background, which Edgar has used effectively to maul through a number of decision victories. Veach, despite his wrestling background has a respectable spread of knockouts and submissions on his resume.  It will likely be this disparity in ending fights that sets the tone for this one.

Veach will come out fast and hope to keep things standing for a while.  Edgar, on the other hand, will take it the ground and use his advantage in strength. After an exciting first round, experience will win out and Edgar will maintain enough control to win by unanimous decision.

SAF Warriors is a foundation to help provide assistance to care givers of those diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease.  SAF Warriors is helped in their fight by top fighters such as Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked lightwiegh “KenFlo” Kenny Florian (8-3), tenth-ranked welterweight’ “Quick’ Mike Swick ( 11-2), and fourth-ranked middleweight “Great” Nate Marquardt (26-7-2)

Join MMA Gospel as they learn more about this disease and the organization that chose to partner with mixed martial arts.

MMA Gospel Radio will air tonight at 6:00 – 8:00 PM ET. Listen to the show or join in the live chat at www.blogtalkradio.com/mmagospel and see when we will be moving.

The announcement was made on Jackson’s website Thursday.

Jackson had been matched versus fourth-ranked “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1) for UFC 107 in Jackson’s hometown of Memphis December 12 and the pair coached on the recently concluded tenth season of SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter; but, Jackson landed the role of BA Baracus in the forthcoming “A-Team” movie and pulled out of the fight.

UFC President Dana White began criticizing Jackson for taking the acting gig over the fight versus Evans in Jackson’s hometown.  Jackson accused White of releasing false information about Jackson’s payment for the film.

On September 22, Jackson posted on his website, “I feel like my second career could be in jeopardy…so I’m done fighting.  I’ve been getting negative reviews from the dumb ass fans that don’t pay my bills or put my kids through college.  So, I’m hanging it up.”

Of course, Fighters.com never doubted Jackson was bluffing his retirement; and, what better time for Jackson to announce his return than during a big stretch of consecutive UFC events beginning Saturday in Las Vegas with The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale and followed up in Memphis, where Jackson and Evans were to settle their score.

The finalists were determined in the two semi-final fights Wednesday night on SpikeTV.

Nelson TKO’d James McSweeney (3-4) in the first round of their exhibition fight.  Nelson slammed McSweeney in a double-leg takedown and passed to half guard where he trapped McSweeney’s right arm beneath his knee and pounded McSweeney’s head until the referee stepped in.

Schaub TKO’d “Big Baby” Marcus Jones (4-1) in the first round of their exhibition fight.  Though Jones scored an early takedown, Schaub dropped Jones with an overhand right and pounded on Jones until the referee stopped the fight.

The final episode will air for two hours and feature fights that will determine the two athletes who will fight for a six-figure UFC contract at at SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in Las Vegas December 5.

The remaining heavyweights include James McSweeney (3-4), ex-NFL defensive tackle Matt Mitrione (0-0), “Big Baby” Marcus Jones (4-1), “Titties” Darrill Schoonover (10-1), “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-4),  and Brendan Schaub (3-0).

Wednesday nights episode will feature matchups between McSweeney and Mitrione and Jones and Schoonover, then the winners of those fights in semi-final matchups with Nelson and Schaub.

Though a plotline forced by the show this season has been the return of “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1) after his first round loss to Nelson,  light heavyweight “Assassin” Houston Alexander (9-4) has confirmed he’ll fight Slice December 5.

Fighters.com will post live coverage of the final fights of season 10 tonight.  Return to Fighters.com tonight for discussion of the final fights and the season.

The matchup is rumored to be held at a 215-pound catchweight.

Alexander TKO’d “Tank” Sherman Pendergarst (11-15) at Adrenaline MMA 4 in Omaha September 18 after losing three consecutive in the Octagon by first-round stoppage.

Slice was TKO’d by “Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (11-4) at EliteXC in Fort Lauderdale in October 2008 and lost again in an exhibition bout versus “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-4) on SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter 10.

Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1) coached both fighters into the semis, and commented after Schaub’s victory, “He put those hands together and…wow!  He put him down.”

Schaub’s straight right blasted off twice, the first punch causing Madsen to plant his feet and cover his head and the second spinning Madsen to the mat on his stomach.  Referee Josh Rosenthal stepped in immediately to stop the fight, propelling Schaub into the semi-finals.

Madsen arguably won the first round with a pair of Octagon-shaking slams and controlling Schaub from top position, causing Evans to doubt, “After the first round, I didn’t know if [Schaub] would be able to put it together.”

But, evidently that was Schaub’s gameplan.  After the fight, Schaub revealed he expected Madsen to wear himself out wrestling and leave himself open to Schaub’s boxing in the second round.

But, then why was Schaub grabbing the fence over-and-over on the mat, stuggling to free himself from Madsen’s mount?

Evans said, “[Schaub] probably should’ve got a point taken away.”

But, it wouldn’t have mattered in the end as Schaub made sure the fight didn’t get to the judges.

Fighters.com scored the fight a draw at 19-19; and, Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1), who coached both fighters to the quarters, said, “This is a fight that should’ve went to the third round.  This is a third round fight.”

In the first round, Wren exploded forward in flurries, consistently tagging Nelson with near-haymaker right hooks.  Nelson clinched with double-underhooks and landed knees as Wren squeezed Nelson in a bodylock.  The referee broke the fighters’ clinch.  Wren continued placing his right hook on Nelson’s head while Nelson caught Wren with a couple jabs as Wren came forward.

At the end of the round, UFC President Dana White’s opinion was clear, “Justin Wren comes out and absolutely destroys Roy Nelson.”

Fighters.com scored the round 10-9 in favor of Wren.

In the second round, Wren mixed in a leg kick to cap-off his flurries, but his punches were a little wilder, his flurries a bit more infrequent.

Evans commented, “Wren is really, really tired, hands on the hips, throwing punches that just hit nothing but air.”

Nelson took advantage of Wren’s waning stamina, nailing Wren with a jab as he lumbered forward and countering with his on leg kick.  Wren applied a Thai clinch, but Nelson shoved two uppercuts into Wren’s mug and pushed Wren off.  As Wren stuck out another leg kick, Nelson countered with a stiff straight punch.

At the end of the round, now-retired sixth-ranked “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) chanted, “One more round!”

And, due to TUF rules which mandate a deciding third round in the event of a draw at the end of two rounds, Fighters.com expected a third round too, scoring the second round 10-9 for Nelson.

But, the judges scored the fight a majority decision for Nelson, who predicted, “If it went three, I would’ve probably won with a KO or TKO.”

White was less certain.  He said, “Uh, yeah, you got the shit beat out of you for the first round.  The day we see Roy Nelson in an exciting fight that he made exciting, I’ll give him his props.”

Nelson advances into the semi-finals.

Wessel threw tight hooks to close distance and clinch with 6’6″ Jones, then attempted to trip the biggest fighter in the TUF 10 competition.  Jones reversed Wessel and threw him to the mat and passed to half mount.

Jones worked and Americana; but, Wessel rolled to his stomach in defense.  Jones took Wessel’s back and worked a rear naked choke.  But, Wessel again rolled into top position, sweeping Jones.

But, Jones quickly and powerfully applied an armbar causing Wessel to tap out.

Jones’s victory is Team Rampage’s, coached by now-retired sixth-ranked “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7),  first and only win in eight preliminary fights over Team Rashad, coached by Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked light heavyweight “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1).

According to a source, the matchup was originally scheduled as a light heavyweight bout, but Slice indicated he couldn’t make the 205-pound limit and the fighters agree to fight at 215-pounds.

On a media conference call in September promoting Slice’s exhibition bout versus “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-4) on The Ultimate Fighter 10, Slice indicated he would be willing to drop to 205-pounds if a promoter asked him to do.

Alexander TKO’d “Tank” Sherman Pendergarst (11-15) at Adrenaline MMA 4 in Omaha September 18.

Slice was TKO’d by “Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (11-4) at EliteXC in Fort Lauderdale in October 2008.

The matchup has been rumored, but not confirmed by Fighters.com.  The Times of Northwest Indiana has broke stories about Alexander before and Fighters.com considers the publication a good source for information about Alexander.

Team Rashad, coached by Fighters.com’s third-ranked light heavyweight “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1), has earned all seven semi-final spots and verges on a sweep of Team Ramapage coached by now-retired fifth-ranked “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7).

Seven-year Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran Jones TKO’d John Juarez (1-1) at XCF in Daytona Beach February 14.  Jones has a six-inch height advantage over Wessel.

But, Wessel has one clash in the big show already under his belt.  He was TKO’d by Antoni Hardonk (8-6) at UFC 92 in Las Vegas last December.

Fighters.com will post live results immediately following the fight next Wednesday night.

“Holy shit!  Now that’s a fight,” shouted UFC President Dana White between rounds of the two-round exhibition, and for two-and-a-half minutes it was a hot one.  White had picked the Hawai’ian Junk who lost by heel hook submission to “Hungarian Nightmare” Christian Wellisch (8-5) at UFC 76 in Los Angeles in September 2007.

But, Junk was dropped at the end of Mitrione punches four times in round one.  Junk began the round with a right kick to Mitrione’s mid-section; but, Mitrione caught the kick and countered with a straight that put Junk on his back.  Mitrione allowed Junk to stand, but quickly leveled the stocky heavyweight again with a straight right.  Again, Mitrione allowed Junk to erect himself.  Junk launched a leg kick which Mitrione again caught and countered with a straight that took Junk off his feet.

Mitirione’s advantage was his sharp punching and quick footwork no doubt honed as a defensive lineman in the NFL. 

Back on his feet, Junk shot clumsily and Mitrione dropped bomb’s on Junk’s head while Junk scrambled away on his hands and knees.  Mitrione followed, sticking a hard knee in Junk’s thick mid-section as Junk knelt at the cage.  But, again Mitrione backed off and allowed Junk to stand, feeling for good reason his advantage was on his feet.

With a hook punch, Mitrione dropped Junk for the fourth time in the round as Junk sought to clinch.  Junk stood and Mitrione teed off, though the onslaught was mostly shrugged off by Junk and marked the end of Mitrione’s gas tank for the rest of the fight.  Junk shot for a single-leg takedown, but Mitrione scooted away. Junk followed Mitrione with a trio of sweeping hooks among which Mitrione touched Junk’s chin with a straight left.  Mitrione had thrown himself out, but still landed a thudding right hook to Junk’s chin.

Junk clinched and the two spent heavies rested on each other for 45 seconds before Mitrione dipped away from the cage and landed a leg kick.  But, with Mitrione’s hands at his waist, Junk grazed Mitrione with three right hooks before the first round bell dinged.

Fighters.com scored the round 10-9 for Mitrione after Junk salvaged the second half of the round with right hooks.  Otherwise, it could’ve been a 10-8 round for Mitrione.

Mitrione opened round two winging dinky, but quick scoring shots.  Junk countered with a heavy right hook that just grazed Mitrione.  Mitrione scored again with a leg kick.  Junk grazed Mitrione with another right hook, then shot for a double-leg takedown, landing in Mitrione’s full guard.  Junk landed right hooks to Mitrione’s body and nose before referee Josh Rosenthal stood the pair for playing patty-cake on the mat.

Mitrione unleashed a brief second wind after the rest on the mat, scoring with a stinging 1-2 combo and a teep kick.  A Junk right hook backed up Mitrione, who countered with a right cross that jerked Junk’s chin.  Junk followed up with a pair of grazing right hooks.  Mitrione continued scoring with winging shots from all angles while Junk loaded up right hooks.  The pair traded leg kicks before the end of the second round.

Fighters.com again scored the round 10-9 in favor of Mitrione, but the second round was much tighter than the first.

White was generous after the fight, saying, “Those two stood in front of each and threw bombs.  Both took some big shots.”

After the decision was announced for Mitrione giving Team Rashad coached by Fighters.com’s third-ranked light heavyweight “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1) a 7-0 lead in the contest over Team Rampage coached by now-retired fifth-ranked “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7), Jackson dismantled a door at the UFC gym with his bare hands and bare head.

The final exhibition bout of round one between Team Rampage’s last hope “Big Baby” Marcus Jones (4-1) and Team Rashad’s Mike Wessel (8-3) will be fought next Wednesday on SpikeTV.

Also confirmed is a previously reported welterweight fight between “Superman” Dennis Hallman (41-12-1) and “Doomsday” John Howard (12-3) and a lightweight matchup between Mark Bocek (7-2) and Matt Veach (8-0).

Fighters.com broke the news of the UFC’s signing of Wallace and followed him as he prepared for Vendetta FC’s eight-man tournament and eventual victory in Aruba September 5 when he tapped out “Juggernaut” Antwain Britt (11-3) in an armbar in the tournament’s finale after disposing of Gregory Milliard (1-2) by decision in the first round and Team Quest’s Aaron Stark (9-5) by decision in the semi-final.

Former WEC champion Stann won a unanimous decision over “Robot” Steve Cantwell (7-2) at UFC Fight Night 19 in Oklahoma City September 16 in the third iteration of a trilogy that began in the WEC in 2007.

Hallman returns to the Octagon four years after losing a UD to “El Conquistador” Jorge Rivera (16-7) at UFC 55 in Uncasville. He tapped Justin Davis (11-10) in a rear naked choke in just 27 seconds at Strikeforce Challengers in Seattle 19 June.

Howard won a split decision over “Barncat” Tamdan McCrory (11-3) at UFC 101 in Philadelphia 8 August, his second Octagon win in as many outings.

Heavyweight “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1) is all but confirmed to make his UFC debut at the event, but his opponent remains a mystery.

The two finalists from the current season of SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter 10 will also fight for a six-figure UFC contract.

The showdown between TUF 10 house’s two wallflowers gave Team Rashad, coached by Fighters.com’s third-ranked light heavyweight “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1), an unprecedented 6-0 lead over Team Rampage, coached by now-retired fifth-ranked “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7).

Schoonover ate a Jensen cross as he rushed to clinch at the fight’s opening, but walked through the shot to wrap double-underhooks around his 263-pound opponent at the cage.  Jensen quickly pummeled to an over-under and turned Schoonover to the fence, but Schoonover reversed away from the fence and tagged Jensen’s midsection with knees.  Jensen retreated; but, Schoonover followed, teeing off with 1-2 combos.

In desperation, Jensen shot for a single-leg takedown and landed in Schoonover’s full guard.  Schoonover walked his guard up into a leg triangle, but Jensen lazily defended by walking out to the side.  The pair traded hammerfists as Jensen languished with room to squeeze out of Schoonover’s triangle choke.  Finally, Schoonover locked his left ankle tight beneath his right knee, yanked Jensen’s arm, and squeezed until Jensen’s lights went out and the referee stopped the fight.

UFC President Dana White gave the 6’10″ three-time UFC vet, Sims, the advantage, but neither Sims’s six-inch reach advantage nor his 35-fights worth of experience came into play in the short contest.

Wren, a Greco-Roman wrestler – “Whatever the fuck that is,” as “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson (3-1) put it – shot on Sims to open the fight, then climbed a level to press Sims against the cage with double underhooks.  Sims defended himself well with a body lock and knees to Wren’s gut before Sims rolled away from the cage.

With some distance between him and Wren, Sims extended a long teep kick that he followed into the Thai clinch.  But, Wren muscled Sims to his back, then passed effortlessly from side control to full mount.  Wren wrapped his meaty arm around Sims for an arm triangle then stepped to the side to finish the choke.

Referee Herb Dean shook Sims’s arm three times until it went limp on the final shake and Dean pulled Wren off and revived Sims.

“I underestimated him,” Sims admitted after the fight.  “You saw what happened.  If I could remember, I’d tell you.”

White ate crow, saying, “I don’t know what happened to Wes Sims since he fought in the UFC.”

Wren’s victory gives Team Rashad, coached by Fighters.com’s third-ranked light heavyweight “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1), an astounding 5-0 lead over Team Rampage, coached by now-retired fifth-ranked “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7).

After the fight, Evans confronted Jackson in a tense exchange about Jackson not entering the Octagon to support his fighters after they lose.  Jackson contended that he supports his fighters in the locker room after their loss.

The fight was recorded months ago and broadcast Wednesday.  Rogers’s loss left Team Rampage coached by now-retired fifth-ranked 205er “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) 0-4 in the tournament versus Team Rashad coached by third-ranked “Sugar” Rashad Evans (13-1-1).

Rogers controlled most the fight from top position inside Schaub’s open guard.

At the opening bell, Schaub rattled his jab at Rogers before Rogers dove beneath Schaub’s fists for double-leg shoot, but Schaub sprawled adeptly.  Schaub launched a flurry of hook punches and again Rogers shot beneath the attack, the second time scoring the takedown.

Rogers scooted Schaub to the cage and landed a pair of looping lefts and a pair of elbows before hopping into side control.  Schaub flailed in defense.  But, as Rogers attempted to pass to full mount, Schaub swept in Rogers’s guard and passed to side control.

Rogers rolled to his stomach and Schaub hooked in an anaconda choke and walked to the side to crank the choke until Rogers tapped.

As Schaub and Teamp Rashad celebrated, Rogers sat alone in his corner as his coach, Jackson, walked away from the cage in dismay.

Something Slice said on Wednesday night’s episode of TUF 10 was even more illuminating than his fight versus “Big Country” Roy Nelson (13-4).  In a conversation with Marcus Jones (4-1) in the TUF 10 house, Slice commented about MMA, (and I’m paraphrasing a bit) “The flips, the kicks, the armbars, there’s too much going on.”

Jones comforted Slice, telling him he’s picking up the ground skills he’ll need to compete at the top of the heavyweight division, but is Slice really learning those skills?

During another scene, Team Rashad sat around the pool while Nelson described his gameplan for beating Slice.  He told his teammates how he would take Slice down, put him in the crucifix position, and count off the unanswered shots he would score to the referee.

And, during the first round of the Slice/Nelson showdown, Nelson took Slice down, put him in the crucifix position, and counted off the unanswered shots to referee Herb Dean.  Some will argue Dean should’ve stopped the fight after Nelson’s undefended punches entered double-digits.  But, Dean gave Slice the benefit of the doubt.

Then, in the second round, Nelson again took Slice down, put him in the crucifix position, and counted off the unanswered shots he scored.  That time, Dean had little choice but to end the fight.

Nelson is a genuine UFC-quality heavyweight with a ground game that gave Fighters.com’s tenth-ranked heavyweight “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7)  trouble before Arlovski knocked Nelson out at EliteXC in Fort Lauderdale in October 2008.  But, with all due respect to Nelson, he didn’t do anything particularly spectacular on the ground versus Slice.  It was all pretty basic MMA, though effective.

Now, what’s troubling for Slice is that he was absolutely clueless in his defense of Nelson’s strategy…twice!  Slice has been training mixed martial arts full-time for two years, getting personal attention with quality training partners at EliteMMA, which is a good gym run by former UFC champion “El Guapo” Bas Rutten (28-4-1), and getting intensive training on his ground game in particular.

Think of it in this context: Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked middleweight “Ace” Rich Franklin (26-5) learned the basics of the ground game from video tapes in a garage before refining his grappling with Jorge Gurgel (13-5).

Slice has been given opportunities to improve his skills that no other heavyweight on The Ultimate Fighter 10 has been given and few fighters have ever been given.  Yet, Slice still thinks “there’s too much going on” in MMA?   If Slice hasn’t at least been able to put together a mental framework of the sport that allows him to understand what’s going on, will he ever be able to?

Fighters have to fight; and, as I said, Slice is a fighter.  But, mixed martial arts isn’t the best sport for every fighter to express their need to fight.  Though his only loss was at the end of a punch from “Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (11-4) at EliteXC in Fort Lauderdale, Slice is certainly talented on his feet.  Perhaps Slice could compete succesfully as a professional heavyweight or cruiserweight boxer.  Perhaps Slice could score some wins as a K-1 kickboxer in Japan.  But, at 35-years old with two years of high-level, intensive training and little percievable improvement in crucial skils to be a successful mixed martial artist, Slice should consider how his need to fight is best expressed.

The Ultimate Fighter 10 was taped in June and I don’t know the outcome.  I could be forced to eat crow if Slice is given a second chance in the contest and is fighting in the final in Las Vegas December 5.  But, from the first YouTube-broadcast backyard brawl to the loss to Nelson on Wednesday night’s TUF 10 broadcast, Slice’s slow progress in MMA hasn’t matched the time, effort, and devotion he’s invested and the time, effort, and money that’s been invested in Slice by others to make him a top heavyweight.  Maybe it’s time for Slice to cut his losses in MMA.

“I feel like shit,” Slice admitted after the loss, though an “L” won’t show on his record.

At the opening bell, Nelson waved a jab in Slice’s face as Slice sized up “Big Country”.  The first hard shot was a leg kick landed by Slice to Nelson’s lead leg.  Nelson bent over to snatch-up a leg and got tagged again with a Slice uppercut.  But, Nelson bullied Slice to the cage and tripped him to the mat and mounted.  Nelson landed a left punch and passed to side mount and pinned Slice’s right arm beneath his knee in the crucifix position.  Nelson counted off 10s of unanswered pats on Slice’s noggin as referee Herb Dean urged Slice to work.  The round ended in that predicament.

Slice exited his corner with urgency for round two.  He landed a straight right flush to Nelson’s jaw; but, Nelson bum rushed through Slice’s assault and ran right over the street fighter as Slice launched a knee strike.  From side control, Nelson smothered Slice with his “big ass belly”, as coach “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-7) called it.  Nelson again pinned Slice’s arm beneath his knee in the crucifix position and patted on Slice’s skull.  This time, Dean stepped in an ended the fight.

Nelson celebrated his “W” by ordering a Burger King Whopper with cheese from UFC President Dana White, who said Nelson hit like his daughter after the fight.

Fighters.com has kept intentionally out of the loop about who wins the fight that occured in June and will air Wednesday, but Monday on a UFC media conference call, Slice seemed to tip his hand about the outcome when he answered a question about fighting the tournament favorite, Nelson, saying, “If I have to lose, I want to lose to the best.”  However, Slice also commented that, “This is my best fight so far.”

As has been Slice’s legacy, the hype around him has overshadowed a five-year veteran mixed martial artist with an impressive record.  Though Nelson enters the fight on the only two-fight losing streak of his career, the losses have been in impressive performances versus top heavyweights “Snowman” Jeff Monson (28-8) in a three-round decision and tenth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-7) by second-round KO.  Like Nelson said on TUF 10, episode 1 after Slice was announced in the tournament, “I thought I was the big announcement.”

Slice fights for the first time since his nationally broadcast first defeat, a 14-second TKO by “Silverback” Seth Petruzelli (11-4) at EliteXC in Ft. Lauderdale in October 2008.

Since the loss, Slice has switched training camps from “El Guapo” Bas Rutten‘s (28-4-1) EliteMMA in Los Angeles to American Top Team in Miami.  Monday, Slice said, “I’m in camp now.  I’m just planning for my fight in December.”

The fight card is headlined by former WEC welterweight “Beast” Mike Campbell’s (6-2) return to the WCF versus Mike Medrano (5-3).

Campbell tapped in a triangle choke to “Showtime” Anthony Pettis (9-0) at WEC 41 in Sacramento 7 June. In his last WCF cameo, Campbell TKO’d Rich Moskowitz (10-5) in Wilmington in June 2008.

Medrano won a three-round decision over “Wicked” Phillip Wyman (4-3) at Elite Fighting Challenge in Norfolk, VA 27 June.
On the undercard, featherweight Dan Bonnell (6-5) will take on Bellator vet Josh LaBerge (3-4).

Undefeated WCF prodigy Kevin Corrigan (2-0) and fellow undefeated prospect Saul Almeida (4-0) will fight to keep their zeros intact.

Welterweights Dennis Olsen (7-1) and Ryan Schieding (5-1) will also square off.

Tickets starting at $40 can be purchased at Tix.com or by calling 800.595.4849.