For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the term, allow me to explain what “dark horse favorite” means.

Have you ever had that one fighter that you like that not a whole lot of people know about or really care about? Do you ever find yourself consistently rooting for a fighter even if he isn’t one of the best fighters in the world, and even if he’s going up against someone that is world-ranked and popular? For me, a prime example of that type of fighter is Chris Lytle. He may never have won a UFC championship, he may not have beaten the UFC’s best, but I’ve been entertained by him on a consistent basis for very long. Chris Lytle is one of my “dark horse favorites”.

There are several other fighters I feel that way towards, but when it comes to actual Mixed Martial Arts promotions, the first promotion I ever legitimately felt that way towards was the WEC.

This has a lot to do with how I was introduced to the WEC. I had heard some rumblings about it across the internet, saying that it was a great promotion with awesome fights, but to be honest, my initial reaction to the WEC was pretty hostile. I’m not proud to admit it, but back then I had the mentality that only the larger weight classes could have entertaining fights. I wasn’t particularly interested in seeing 135-pound and 145-pound fighters fight. I thought that fighters fighting at such a small weight class wouldn’t be able to duplicate the benefits of fighters at higher weight classes: namely, KO power and cardio.

I honestly thought “these little guys” wouldn’t be able to go for three rounds without gassing themselves out and putting on sloppy, boring fights. But then I watched the WEC for the first time.

I still remember the feelings I got when I watched my first WEC show: I was shocked at the quality. I was floored at how good the fights were. And by the end of the night, I was honestly a little ashamed that I had gone into the event with so many hesitations and prejudices. The WEC instantly hooked me on that night, and from then on, I watched every single WEC event I could, as well as many of their earlier shows.

By the end of their run, I wasn’t just a converted fan… I was a super-fan. The WEC will always hold a very special place in my MMA pantheon, I consider it one of the greatest Mixed Martial Arts promotions ever. And as my appreciation of the WEC grew, so did my desire to get as many people as I could to watch the WEC. I constantly covered the WEC, and constantly urged new and potential fans to watch their programming. At times I definitely sounded like a broken record, at times it became very apparent how big of a fanboy I was. But it didn’t matter to me: the WEC was putting on amazing shows left and right, and if I had to shout it from the rooftops all day long in order for people to finally pay attention, then I’d do just that.

So, fans and friends, that’s why it’s taken me so long to find a replacement “dark horse favorite” once the WEC was folded into the UFC at the start of 2011. The WEC wasn’t just any “dark horse favorite” promotion, it wasn’t just any under-rated show I felt more people should be watching.

To put things into perspective, try to wrap your head around this: towards the end of its run, I honestly think some of the WEC’s shows were out-performing the UFC’s shows. This was a whole new level of fandom: I began to like the WEC more than the UFC. How could I replace something like that? Would anything even come close? I know I took my sweet time to pick a new “dark horse favorite”, but for me, I had to be absolutely sure that my replacement to the WEC could one day be on par with the level of respect and fandom I had for the WEC.

And now, roughly five months later, that search is at an end. Stay tuned, fans and friends, because in Part 2 I’ll detail the long battle for my next “dark horse favorite” and what finally ended the contest.

We had to MMA Weekly for the scoop. According to them, UFC President Dana White recently confirmed that the UFC’s plans for Pettis remain unchanged.

When the vastly under-appreciated World Extreme Cagefighting promotion was absorbed into the UFC at the start of 2011, it was made public that the WEC Lightweight Champion would make his UFC debut by unifying the championship with the current UFC Lightweight Champion. And after a landmark fight at the final WEC show, Anthony Pettis would end 2010 as the final WEC Lightweight Champion. But then Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard fought to a draw, with both fighters expressing interest in an immediate rematch. The UFC eventually made their third encounter official, leaving Pettis on the sidelines.

But in typical “Showtime” fashion, Anthony Pettis decided not to sit on the sidelines. He’ll be risking his shot at the UFC Lightweight Championship when he takes on Clay Guida in his UFC debut. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the winner of Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 3 would face Pettis near the end of the year, so long as Pettis does beat Guida.

In all honesty, I’m glad that the UFC has decided to keep their promise and give Pettis the next title shot if he beats Guida. You may remember, fans and friends, that I was a strong advocate of Pettis getting the next shot even after Edgar and Maynard battled to a draw. My feelings since then have remained mostly unchanged: to be the champion you have to beat the champion, and a Draw doesn’t mean you beat the champion. You came as close as possible, but you didn’t beat him. So the fair thing to do is to give the next man in line his title shot.

I know that could be taken as controversial, so here’s a little more controversy for you: I think Anthony Pettis vs. Ben Henderson was a better fight than Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 2. I loved Edgar/Maynard 2 at UFC 125, I think it’s definitely one of the best fights of the year. But Henderson/Pettis was one of the greatest fights of all time. It’s not fair to make Pettis the odd man out after such an amazing performance, after giving us “The Showtime Kick”, one of the most amazing strikes in MMA history. And just in case you haven’t had enough controversy yet, here’s something else to ponder: I think that near the end of its run, many of the WEC’s Lightweight fighters were more exciting than many of the UFC’s Lightweight fighters.

So, do I agree with Pettis still getting the next shot? Not only do I agree with it, I think it’s really the least the UFC can do. As a WEC super-fan, I know Anthony Pettis can beat Clay Guida, Frank Edgar, Gray Maynard, and anyone else put in his path. And I think we’re going to see him do just that very soon.

But what about you, fans and friends? What’s your reaction to this bit of news?

We head to Sherdog for an official report on the situation. Their article states that Nam Phan has pulled out of his upcoming fight due to an unexplained injury and will be replaced by Chan Sung Jung, better known as “The Korean Zombie”. This will be Jung’s UFC debut.

Chan Sung Jung burst onto the mainstream MMA scene with his dramatic performance at WEC 48 against Garcia, with many fiercely defending Jung as the victim of blind judges and a broken scoring system. Even UFC President Dana White sported a “Korean Zombie” shirt at a weigh-in event. After the Garcia fight, Jung fought George Roop at WEC 51 in a match that many thought Roop would be sorely unprepared for. But Roop proved two things against Jung: you can’t count him out, and no chin is unbreakable. Roop would go on to give Jung the first KO loss of his career after an utterly heinous head kick sent “The Korean Zombie” crumpling to the mat.

Since beating Jung, Garcia lost to current UFC Featherweight Championship contender Mark Hominick before making his re-debut in the UFC in December 2010 against Nam Phan. Much like his victory over Jung, Garcia would go on to controversially win against an opponent that seemed to be doing more damage. Many think that Garcia’s style, which includes “windmill” punches that lack any resemblance of finesse or technique, fools the judges into thinking that Garcia is in control and winning the round.

As much as I enjoy Leonard Garcia fight, I have to admit that I’m beginning to see why so many people have turned against him. But I will still defend him, and I absolutely think that the blame for his controversial wins lies at the feet of the judges, and not him. Garcia is not technical by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s still got a tremendous amount of fight in him, a huge heart, and he doesn’t mind ridiculously gassing himself out if it means giving the fans an exciting fight. There’s a reason many people still consider Garcia/Zombie a defining moment for the WEC despite the controversial finish: it was an excellent fight no matter who won.

And that’s something you’ll never be able to take away from Leonard Garcia: he’s entertaining to watch. I understand why the purists are taking such a strong stance against him, but I’ve always enjoyed seeing Leonard Garcia fight. I can’t wait to see this rematch, since I think it has the potential to be even better than their first fight. There’s no way I’m missing this one.

And what about you, fans and friends? What’s your opinion on Garcia/Zombie 2?

In action will be a bevy of former Zuffa castoffs, including former top middleweight prospect and former UFC fighter Jake Rosholt, three-time WEC veteran Jameel Massouh, and former “The Ultimate Fighter” competitor, Roli Delgado.

Rosholt, who’s biggest claim to fame in his career is a third-round submission win over Chris Leben back at UFC 102 in August of 2009, is a three-time UFC veteran, who compiled an overall record 1-2 in his brief stint within the promotion. He has since gone 1-1 in his last two outings, picking up a first-round submission win over Rudy Lindsey before suffering a TKO loss to fellow UFC vet Matt Horwich last November. He will be returning this on March 19, taking on John Bryant on the Bellator preliminary portion of the card, however a fighter as high-profile as Rosholt may find his way to the main-card if his performance is impressive.

Massouh, who holds a fan friendly style, will make his second appearance inside the Bellator cage on the 19th when he takes on former TUF vet Roli Delgado, who will be dropping down to the featherweight division after competing for a majority of his career as a lightweight.

Massouh fought thrice for the WEC, and despite entertaining performances, ultimately suffered decision losses to notables Raphael Assuncao, Leonard Garcia, and Erik Koch (respectively). In his debut with Bellator in September of last year, Jameel submitted Nick Mamalis with a first-round guillotine choke, and is currently riding a three-fight win streak.

Delgado, meanwhile, hopes to extend a two-fight win streak with a potential victory over Massouh. Since his stint on TUF, he was invited back to the UFC, where he scored a second-round submission win over fellow castmate John Polakowski in the finale show in 2008. However subsequent losses to Paul Kelly and Andre Winner ultimately lead to his release from the promotion. In his last outing, Roli picked up a unanimous decision win over Anthony Jones this past February.

Here is the complete fight card as it stands, courtesy of MMAJunkie.com:

MAIN CARD

Patricio “Pitbull Freire vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (featherweight-tourney quarterfinal)
Zac George vs. Wilson Reis (featherweight-tourney quarterfinal)
Kenny Foster vs. Eric Larkin (featherweight-tourney quarterfinal)
Nazareno Malegarie vs. Daniel Straus (featherweight-tourney quarterfinal)

PRELIMINARY CARD

John Bryant vs. Jake Rosholt
Jerrod Sanders vs. Jeremy Spoon
Brandon Shelton vs. Adam Snook
Roli Delgado vs. Jameel Massouh

So, MMA peeps, what do you think about the card? Sound off in the comment section below.

Originally fighting in the 155-pound class, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt originally pared down to the bantamweight class, however has found little success in the new division.

After going 2-1 in the new division, Fabiano is committed to returning to the more comfortable weight-class of 145-pounds upon his UFC debut, and hopes that he can regain some of the early success that he attained not so long ago.

In his last outing, Fabiano met with perennial contender Joseph Benavidez at WEC 52 last November, where he was surprisingly submitted with second-round guillotine choke.

Fabiano, though never says it directly, attributes the tough weight-cut to his not so impressive performances inside the cage. While he’s usually been able to submit his opponent’s, Fabiano has had difficulty doing so when he met with overmatched opponents such as Frank Gomez and Clint Godfrey, taking both men to a decision.

“That weight cut destroyed me”, said the former IFL champion who spoke with TATAME.com about his future.

“It was a hell of a sacrifice, but I can’t keep up losing that kind of weight… Not for fighting.”

Despite suffering a loss in his last outing against Benavidez during the WEC/UFC merger, Fabiano will still be part of the Zuffa fold, and hopes to return in the coming months.

“I won’t fight on the 135lbs anymore, I’m going to the 145lbs… I can’t do it anymore”.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Wagnney’s decision to move back up to the featherweight class? It is where he originally found success as a mixed martial artist, becoming the IFL’s 145-pound champion. Sound off in the comment section below.

Dominick Cruz recently picked up the UFC bantamweight title by defeating perennial contender Scott Jorgensen in his last bout under the WEC banner before transitioning to the prestigious mixed martial arts organization.

Both Brad Pickett and Miguel Torres have made a case for themselves to become the next challengers to the title, though the two 135-pound stars will be pitted against one another to create a more concise picture.

Torres, the former WEC bantamweight champion, is fresh on the heels of a dominating decision victory over perennial contender Antonio Banuelos at UFC 126 just this past Saturday. Miguel used his reach to his advantage, sticking Antonio with stinging jabs and right straights throughout the fifteen minute affair, giving the “PIT” product no choice but to fight Torres’ fight.

With the win, Miguel is now riding a two-fight win streak since a disappointing two-fight skid in the WEC, where he relinquished his title to Brian Bowles via first-round knockout, and was then submitted by Joseph Benavidez with a second-round submission. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt looks to be back in top-form and hopes to climb the 135-pound ladder once again to his shot at the title, but first he must get past American Top Team product, Brad Pickett.

“One Punch” debuted in the WEC in December of 2009 with an impressive submission victory over Kyle Dietz, which earned him the evenings “Submission of the Night” honors. A decision win over Demetrious Johnson, who recently made his UFC debut with a dominant win over Japanese legend “Kid” Yamamoto, helped hoist Pickett into contender status within the division, though he was later bested by eventual title challenger Scott Jorgensen. He bounced back in a “Fight of the Night” performance against UFC veteran Ivan Menjivar, besting the Canadian over the course of a three-round war.

Now poised to make his octagon debut, Pickett hopes to ruin the Miguel Torres party with another exciting performance, which is almost a garuantee when you pit these two men against one another.

“Got offered a fight with Brad Pickett for UFC 130,” Torres recently tweeted. “My answer was (expletive) yes, thank you, & your welcome.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the match-up? Who do you favor? UFC 130 takes place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on May 28, with a headliner matching lightweight champion Frankie Edgar against Gray “The Bully” Maynard. Sound off in the comment section below.

The event, which is headlined by a middleweight title clash pitting champ Anderson Silva against former teammate Vitor Belfort, is held before a sold-out crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, in what is sure to be a ruckus crowd in attendance.

If there was any one fight that would be a good pick-me-up for those in attendance, Torres and Banuelos would be just that.

Arguably the greatest bantamweight of all time, Miguel went on an incredible 17-fight unbeaten streak before he ran into bad luck with devastating losses to both Brian Bowles and Joseph Benavidez in succession, a knockout and submission (respectively). However, Torres, the former WEC bantamweight titleholder, has since rebounded with an impressive second-round submission over perennial contender Charlie Valencia in his last outing in September. With the recent acquisition of both the 135 and 145-pound divisions into the UFC following the merger with their sister promotion in the WEC, Torres remains one of the more high profile fighters among their roster.

Great stand-up skills coupled with a world class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game, compliments of the late Carlson Gracie, Torres is a consensus top-5 bantamweight star and hopes to climb back up the ladder with a win over Antonio.

Banuelos, a product of “The Pit” in San Luis Obispo, California, is a true spitfire in the 135-pound class. Antonio might as well coin the term “fast” as he one of the most explosive fighters in the sport. In a matter of seconds, you never know whether you’re headed to the ground or remain on the feet with Banuelos, as his wrestling pedigree and heavy hands often dictate where the fight takes place. However, in Torres, is where Antonio will run into problems once again. A glorified bantamweight, Antonio could easily slide into the flyweight class, that is when the organization decides to adopt the division. With Torres standing at 5’9 against Banuelos’ 5’4 stature, it’s easy to see why the bigger man might be able to get the job done.

Banuelos won’t go out without a fight, as he has proven to be as tough and as durable as they come, but this is really Torres’ fight to lose, where I see the proud Mexican-American picking up a fun-to-watch decision win over the near 10-year vet.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the match-up? How do you see it going? Sound off in the comment section below.

Bellator Fighting Championships begin their fourth-season which kicks off this March on MTV2, which has become a new home for the upstart promotion following their stint on several other networks including ESPN Deportes, Fox Sportsnet, Telemundo, among others.

Since his departure from the World Extreme Cagefighting organization in November of 2009 following a decision loss to newcomer Karen Darabedyan, McCullough has rattled off two consecutive wins, a first-round TKO of Isaac DeJesus and decision win over UFC veteran Corey Hill, both under the Tachi Palace Fighting banner.

Rob remains one of the best entrants into the upcoming lightweight tournament, which may also feature the return of two-time finalist Toby Imada as well as season three winner Pat Curran, who has been inactive since sustaining an injury in preparation for a bout with Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez late last year.

“Razor” Rob reigned as the WEC lightweight champion for a little more then a year, defending his title once against veteran Rich Crunkilton, which he later lost to Jamie Varner in February of 2008. Since the loss to Varner, McCullough went 2-2 in his next 4 outings before being released from the promotion and later racking his recent two-fight win streak.

McCullough holds career highlight victories over the likes of the aforementioned UFC vet’s Kit Cope, Nam Phan, the aforementioned Hill and one-time PRIDE fighter Olaf Alfonso.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Rob’s recent involvement with the Bellator organization, and namely the upcoming tournament? Sound off in the comment section below.

But, the UFC being the fan-friendly organization that it is made things right, as a preliminary bantamweight bout will now be streamed live and free on Facebook. While most casual fans are still largely unaware of this Japanese star, come Saturday night everyone will know who “Kid” Yamamoto is.

The owner of one of the best highlight reels in the sport, Norifumi made a name for himself in his native Japan by defeating larger opponents in devastating fashion. Now finally in the UFC fold, the DREAM veteran will be taking on arguably one of his toughest challenges to date, ironically enough in a man dubbed “Mighty Mouse”.

The organization recently took to their Facebook account, where they officially announced the addition of the 135-pound contest, which features the aforementioned Yamamoto and budding contender Demetrious Johnson at “UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort” at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

The preliminary bout is so far the only bout that has been announced to be aired on Facebook, while other prelim fights featuring Chad Mendes vs. Michihiro Omigawa, and Donald Cerrone taking on Paul Kelly will be televised on the special “UFC Prelims Live” featurette which will be broadcasting on Spike TV.

Norifumi is recently coming off of a knockout victory, which helped snap a two-fight skid. Yamamoto finished off the unheralded Federico Lopez at DREAM 14 last May, which took all but 1:41 of the first-round. The mounting losses were close decision defeats which came at the hands of current Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren and former Sengoku titleholder Masanori Kanehara.

Demetrious, meanwhile has bounced back from his first career defeat at the hands of Brad Pickett, by racking up consecutive victories over the likes of Nick Pace and most recently Damacio Page–who at the time was a top contender to the bantamweight title before Johnson derailed the Greg Jackson product with a third-round guillotine choke. The 24-year-old went 2-1 whilst his time spent with the WEC, before the organization was assimilated with the UFC.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the upcoming bout? Trust me when I say this will not be a fight you want to miss, especially since the Japanese wrestling star is donning a new fashionable Mohawk–very sheik. Sound off in the comment section below.

Former champion Mike Brown stepped in for the injured Chan Sung Jung, and while the American Top Team product was the decided favorite, Yahya capitalized on the opportunity presented to him and earned a well-deserved decision win, capturing arguably the biggest win of his career.

Now that the future is looking bright for the Brazilian, who snapped a two-fight skid with the win over Brown, according to his coaches he is still looking forward to a potential bout with the Korean brawler.

“We have planned to fight the Korean, but the boy did a pretty good job on that fight”, said coach Ataíde Jr. who spoke with TATAME.com about Yahya’s performance over brown on Jan. 22 at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas for ‘UFC Fight for the Troops 2′.

He knew Mike could catch him so he used his Jiu-Jitsu, which is his origin, and managed to block him. I thought it was a great fight”

“Rani is on the right track, he’s a professional. He’s a UFC fighter, not a Jiu-Jitsu athlete”, explained Jr. who was referencing to Yahya’s transition from a world champion Jiu-Jitsu player to a well-rounded mixed martial artist, which was on full display in the fight with Brown when the Brazilian was able to control the distance with long jabs and kicks in succession.

However after a near full training champ dedicated to his bout with Jung, who pulled out at the last-minute due to injury, Ataíde suggests that a bout with Chan could be next for the 26-year-old.

“He was talking to Joe Silva and I think he’s on the mood for the Korean”.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the proposed match-up? How do you think Yahya will fair in his bout with the native Korean? Will he pull another submission out of his bag of tricks? Sound off in the comment section below.

The former title challenger is now 2-4 over his last six fights, recently having been knocked out by fellow “The Ultimate Fighter” veteran Mac Danzig in devastating fashion last December at UFC 124 in Montreal, Canada.

Now, instead of preempting for a fight that could implicate his stay within the worlds largest mixed martial arts promotion. Stevenson will be taken on newcomer Danny Castillo. He may be a UFC newbie, but this dynamic lightweight fighter has seen his fair share of battles inside the cage and will prove to be a difficult challenge for a Stevenson who is hoping to resurrect his career.

The two lightweight fighters will be pitted against one another coming up on March 3 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. While the two fighters will most likely meet in the preliminary portion of the card, the headliner pits former world ranked welterweights Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann opposite of one another.

Castillo is perhaps on better footing then Stevenson heading into his promotional debut in the UFC. Following a successful run in the WEC, which has since been assimilated into their sister promotion under the Zuffa banner, Danny was one of the few lightweight stars that made the transition into the “big leagues”, having won five of his last seven fights. Some of his most recent accolades include a decision win over Dustin Poirier, who’s coming off of a dominating performance over top-10 featherweight star Josh Grispi. “Last Call” also counts a knockout victory over Will Kerr last December as his final win before his transition to the UFC.

MMAJunkie.com were the first to report the bout with sources close to the event.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of this match-up? In a crowded lightweight field, will this be loser goes home, or does Joe “Daddy” have more to lose? Sound off in the comment section below.

Though he suffered a rather nasty-swollen eye, he is in good spirits. In his bout with the former WEC featherweight champion, Diego was able to land kicks successfully on the world-ranked fighter, keeping him at bay before following up the action with effective strikes.

In the end, he was awarded the decision win, in an unlikely upset for Brown’s second inception into the UFC. And like Nunes, Dustin Poirier has been doing a little over achieving of his own, handily defeating former number one contender Josh Grispi in a decision win.

Though nothing is official for these two featherweight standouts to meet, it would seem fee sable to pit them against one another. Nunes is one of the leading men in his weight class, with the victory over Brown as well as another career highlight in a decision win over top-10 fighter Raphael Assuncao. With those two wins under his belt, he could be conceived as the next contender to the title, which will next be contested when champion Jose Aldo defends the belt against Mark Hominick this April.

In the mean time, Nunes would settle for Poirier.

“They haven’t confirmed anything yet, but if everything goes the way I’m picturing it, maybe it’s Dustin Poirier”, said the Nova Uniao product who recently spoke with TATAME.com about what’s coming up next for the budding Brazilian prospect.

“We’ve won on the same night, we both are strikers, we like to go for it and we’re on the same road.

“Whatever UFC offers me is ok, but I’m alert and studying every single possible opponent.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the match-up? Nunes hasn’t received a lot of airtime in his career with Zuffa. In fact, including his time spent with the WEC before it had become assimilated with it’s sister promotion, all of Diego’s fights to date have been in preliminary action, but that could all be changing very soon. Sound off in the comment section below.

But when that man, Jens Pulver, was on the verge of ending an illustrious career on the heels of a six-fight losing streak, his heart was sunk.

Live to fight another day and get a normal job that doesn’t consist of becoming a proverbial “crash test dummy”, or give it another go and end the way you intended? Those were the kind of questions Jens has had to ask himself. But coming out on top is what Pulver did when he served headlining duties at XFO 38 and took his opponent out in less then a minute, reigniting the “Lil Evil” bandwagon.

The fan favorite former champ found it hard to leave the sport knowing that he has let not only himself, but his loyal fans down over the years since being unable to record a win in almost 4 years (not since a submission win over Cub Swanson in 2007 in the WEC).

When friend Jeff Curran took him under his wing and had him train at his school in Chicago for an entire eight-week training camp, evidence of hard work being paid off was there when the striker became the grappler, submitting WEC veteran Mike Lindquist with a 49-second rear-naked choke.

Pulver survived an early shotgun blast of strikes from Mike, who was likely trying to exploit the fact that Jens’ back was against the wall with his recent streak of misfortunes. Pulver stayed calm, weathered the storm and brought the fight to the mat before he turned things around from there.

Now, the pioneer of the lighter tier fighters will begin his rise back to the top (slowly but surely) when he returns in March to fight for the Chicago Cagefighting Championship promotion, serving headlining duties once again.

While Jens may likely never return to championship form at the age of 36, he still holds that champion spirit nonetheless, and hopes to give his fans some more good fights from here on out.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Pulver’s recent victory? Should he hang it up while he has the chance, or would you like to see the former titleholder stick around a little while longer? Sound off in the comment section below.

While the Canadian striker found some early success in his career when he nabbed a 2-0 record inside of the UFC, with victories over veterans Jorge Gurgel and Yves Edwards, things took a turn for the worse when he dropped down to the featherweight division in order to compete against the best-of-the-best in the WEC.

Consecutive losses to Rani Yahya and Josh Grispi sent him packing from the promotion. However, Mark returned just a couple of years later and lit a fire in the 145-pound division.

Now after making a successful run there and an equally impressive return to the UFC when he knocked out teammate George Roop this past Saturday, Mark is now primed and ready to go for his upcoming title fight against one of the pound-for-pound best, in Jose Aldo.

“This is huge, but the thing with me, I’ve been fighting professionally for 10 years,” said Hominick following the win which took place at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas for ‘UFC Fight for the Troops 2′. “I’ve gone through the bottom, and now I’ve got a chance to go against the top – the best of the best. Those are the guys I’ve always wanted to face.”

The Shawn Tompkins protege used a calculated array of strikes to finish Roop in just 88 seconds of the opening round during their featherweight affair. Dropping his opponent twice the canvas and following up with another blow officially put a stop the bout and also solidified Mark as the next contender to the featherweight title, which President Dana White eluded to earlier.

Mark explains the turn that his career needed to turn before he could make his rise back to the top of the division: his mental state of mind.

Mark Hominick: UFC champ Jose Aldo hasn’t faced anybody with my striking skills
by John Morgan on Jan 23, 2011 at 6:30 am ET
KILLEEN, Texas – Mark Hominick (20-8 MMA, 3-0 UFC) knew exactly what was on the line when he stepped into the cage at Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 23 event.

UFC president Dana White had made it abundantly clear that a Hominick win over friend and training partner George Roop at the Spike TV-broadcast event meant an April shot at UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

Hominick needed just 88 seconds to book his title fight.

“This is huge, but the thing with me, I’ve been fighting professionally for 10 years,” Hominick said following the win. “I’ve gone through the bottom, and now I’ve got a chance to go against the top – the best of the best. Those are the guys I’ve always wanted to face.”

Hominick swarmed from the opening bell and dropped Roop early. Roop proved game in returning to his feet but never really seemed to recover from the first flash knockdown.

After an unsuccessful Roop takedown attempt, Hominick unleashed a furious flurry that saw his opponent hit the deck again, and the fight was waved off at the 1:28 mark of round one.

Referee Don Turnage was a little slow to get in, and Roop actually had recovered slightly as he tried to kick Hominick away. However, when Roop finally rose to his feet to congratulate his opponent after the stoppage, he stumbled forward, and it was obvious Turnage had correctly called the finish.

Hominick also believed the stoppage was just.

“[Roop] was looking at both sides of the crowd,” Hominick said. “He was out on his feet after the first time I knocked him down. He was fighting on instinct.

“He’s a friend of mine. I dropped him, and the fight was over. There’s no need to go in there and give him any more damage than he has to take. He was done. The ref said he was finished, and that was the end of the fight.”

Hominick now has won five consecutive fights, and four of the wins came via stoppage. It’s a far cry from the 2-3 stretch Hominick endured during a 13-month period from 2007 to 2008. But “The Machine” insists his techniques aren’t the difference. Instead, he believes a refined mental approach is responsible for his current success.

“It’s never been training,” said Mark who spoke with MMAJunkie.com following the bouts end.

“I’ve always trained hard, and I’m improving everywhere. I think it’s the mental state. When I kind of had that rough patch of win, loss, win, loss, I was going into the fight so concerned about what my opponent was doing and what they were going to do to me as opposed to what I was going to do to them.

“If I was fighting a strong jiu-jitsu guy, I was going in there thinking, ‘I don’t want to go to the ground with this guy because he’s got great submissions,’ as opposed to, ‘OK, I’m going to defend his takedowns, and I’m going to punch him and knock him out”, cotinued the 28-year-old.

“That’s the type of mentality I’ve had going in now. That’s five in a row now. I haven’t lost for two-and-a-half years. That’s what’s changed – my mental state going into the fight. I’m more confident in what I can do and what I’m capable of.”

And while it’s his dream to be fighting for his title before his own province in Toronto, Canada at “UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields” on April 30, he laments that it’s an equal on honor to be facing Jose Aldo, who some consider to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, or at the very least in the top 3.

“Nothing against Jose Aldo,” said Mark. “I think he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter, fantastic striker. But he’s never faced anybody with my striking capability. We’ll see how he does against it.

“He’s been making wrestlers look like poor strikers, and a lot of times, that’s not too hard. He’s not going to do that to me, and I’m going in there with that kind of confidence. I know he’s the best in the world, but he’s never faced anybody like me.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the Canadian’s upcoming title fight? How do you see it going down? Whatever happens, it’s a fight that screams “Fight of the Night” all over it as both men have some of the most dynamic strikes in their division, and are both equally durable opponents. Sound off in the comment section below.

Though not a contender in the talent-rich pool of 145-pounds, Roop is exciting none the less. After dropping down to the featherweight division after his brief stint as a lightweight in the UFC, Roop was competitive in the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion, earning “Fight of the Night” when he battled former title challenger Leonard Garcia. Though a point deduction given to George for a low blow inevitably cost him a win over the “Bad Boy” who went to a split-draw with the Team Tompkins fighter, he followed up the gritty performance with a vicious head-kick knockout over fan favorite Chan Sung Jung, aka “The Korean Zombie”.

Now following the WEC-UFC merger of the lighter weight classes, Roop finds himself in a vicarious position. He’s either going to be the stepping stone that Mark needs in order to secure a title shot against one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, or he’s going to cause an upset that will shoot him up the ranks.

“Of course, I’ve heard the rumors. It’s a big deal, and I think Mark deserves it if he gets past me. But that’s a big if”, said Roop who spoke to MMAJunkie.com about his upcoming bout.

“I don’t plan on losing this fight. It’d be nice for me to fight Jose Aldo, as well. We’ll see how Jan. 22 plays out.”

UFC President Dana White recently indicated that should Hominick get past Roop at “UFC Fight for the Troops 2″ this Saturday, that the Canadian will be next in line for a shot at the promotion’s 145-pound champion in Aldo, who is tentatively scheduled for a return this April for UFC 129.

While Hominick has certainly faced his fair share of adversity inside the cage, having fought the likes of Yves Edwards, Leonard Garcia among others, Roop suggests that his road back to the UFC has been equally as tough and that Mark should earn the title shot deservedly “if” he can defeat Roop.

“I don’t take it too much as disrespect,” said George. “I understand he’s the No. 1 contender, and if he can get past me – (and that’s) a big ‘can’ with a question mark on it – I do think he deserves it. But if you look at the caliber of fighters I’ve been fighting – (former champ) Eddie Wineland, (Leonard) Garcia on a week-and-a-half’s notice, and Chan Sung Jung, who (supposedly) couldn’t be knocked out – I fought top-caliber guys, and I step up and take fights.”

The event takes place this Saturday in Fort Hood, Killeen, Texas before a ruckus crowd full of our country’s finest soldiers in the remote location–the event will air live on Spike TV.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of Roop’s comments? Is he a caliber opponent that would propel anyone to a title shot, despite being 1-1-1 in his last three fights? Can Roop defeat the boxing savvy Hominick? Sound off in the comment section below.

Here’s what Pulver had to say over at MMA Fighting as he heads into his January 22 fight against Mike Lindquist: “I’m trying to put Lil’ Evil to bed, if that makes sense, so I can retire the right way… I can’t go out the way I’ve gone. Not from being a world champion to losing six fights in a row…  I’m not doing it for the financial side of it… You only live once. Can I make up for the things that I’ve done wrong, for the people I’ve disappointed? Can I still get out there and fight? That’s what I want to prove to myself.”

I understandably have my reservations, but I will say that I immensely respect Jens Pulver. I’ll go one step further: I honestly do hope that he’s able to retire on a high note, I hope he wins his upcoming fight and any future fights that he may or may not have. Pulver refuses to go quietly into the night, and whether or not you consider that the definition of a warrior or a perfect example of stupidity, you’ve just got to admire Pulver’s dedication.

But there’s a difference between what Pulver wants and what is most likely going to happen, and there’s a reason why so few comebacks of this kind end up working. The reason is quite simple, and yet it’s spelled doom for athletes since what feels like forever: the mind is willing but the body is weak.

It’s true that Jens Pulver isn’t even forty yet. But the following is also true: Pulver has competed as a professional Mixed Martial Artist for over a decade. He’s been KO’d six times and submitted seven times. His last five losses have all been first-round submissions: three of them were before the two-minute mark, and one was barely over thirty seconds. Pulver’s big comeback just isn’t happening.

Pulver can only fight the reality of his situation for so long, and to be bluntly honest, reality has winning this fight for quite some time now. While none of us truly knows what the future holds, do any of us really doubt that Jens Pulver is several fights past the point of no return? Whether he likes to admit it or not, Pulver should retire with whatever dignity he has left, rather than continue to chase the dream of making a triumphant comeback… because while it may be an undeniable cliché, it’s also an undeniable fact that that’s one dream that has most definitely turned into a nightmare.

And what about you, fans and friends? Is there any hope left for Jens Pulver? What’s next for “Lil’ Evil”, win or lose?

5. Because ring rust is very real, and a long layoff probably isn’t in Pettis’ best interests.

Anthony Pettis has fought fourteen times in three years. Pettis completed four times in 2010 and five times in 2008. Clearly, this is a man that thrives when presented with constant competition. Not only that, but long layoffs have hurt a lot of champions and championship contenders in the past. “Ring rust” is not a clever buzzword or an unsubstantiated rumor, it’s very real and a big obstacle that even the best in MMA have failed to overcome at times. And while it’ll never be known if Pettis would have been able to overcome the ring rust, I applaud him for not leaving it to chance and keeping active, rather than playing it safe to ensure his title shot.

4. Because Pettis can get any UFC debut jitters out of his system in this fight and not the one that unifies the championships.

Most major stars that sign to the UFC have to overcome a few hurdles before they find their flow and get back to their dominating ways. A chief example is Jake Shields and his UFC debut: Shields had some kinks to work out and he’s a better fighter for it. It’s not guaranteed that Pettis will have problems in the Octagon, but much like ring rust, this is a proven fact that can negatively affect certain fighters. Once again, Pettis is being smart and not leaving anything to chance when the time comes to unify the titles.

3. Because the fight has serious “Fight of the Year” potential.

Let’s forget the whole situation revolving around Pettis, Frank Edgar, and Gray Maynard for a second. Judged solely by its own merit, how can you not look forward to a fight like Clay Guida vs. Anthony Pettis? This is one of the most exciting WEC fighters the promotion ever saw facing one of the most exciting UFC fighters that has ever stepped into the Octagon. It’s going to be wild, it’s going to be frenetic, and it’s going to be an amazing fight. This is the kind of fight you build a reputation off of, so if you look at it that way, Pettis definitely made the right decision.

2. Because as much as I hate to admit it, people still aren’t all that familiar with the WEC in general and Pettis in particular.

One of the reasons I was so vocal in my support of the WEC is that the promotion struggled to bridge the mainstream gap up until it inevitably closed. I don’t like admitting that most fans probably don’t know that much about Anthony Pettis, but I also won’t deny it. By fighting Clay Guida, Pettis avoids any UFC fans asking “Who is this guy?” when Pettis challenges for the championship.

And my number one reason is…

1. Because beating Clay Guida solidifies Anthony Pettis as a championship contender.

Guida will be fighting his fortieth professional MMA bout when he steps into the Octagon against Pettis. “The Carpenter” has held his own against the best the UFC has to offer, and win or lose, he remains one of the biggest names in the UFC Lightweight division. Even better, Guida is on a three-fight win-streak and fans are once again buzzing about his potential and wondering if he can finally break the glass ceiling and emerge as a true championship contender. If Pettis beats Guida at this stage of Guida’s career, he’ll immediately prove himself once and for all as the worthy champion that every WEC fan knows he is.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Do you think Pettis made the right call, and why or why not?

The Judo specialist left the organization’s lightweight division after dropping back-to-back fights to Rob Emerson and Thiago Tavares. The move also signaled Gamburyan’s comittment to his new weight class of 145-pounds, where be became an immediate contender in the WEC’s featherweight class.

Now that the organization has merged with it’s sister promotion in the UFC, Manny will find himself in familiar territory when he returns to the organization that built his star in the mixed martial arts community. But in order to stick around, he’s going to face and defeat veteran Raphael Assuncao in his next outing.

The new match-up was officially announced by the promotion earlier this week, which is scheduled to take place the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. for “UFC 128: Shogun vs. Evans”. The bout is most likely to be featured on the un-televised preliminary portion of the pay-per-view event, which is headlined by a light heavyweight title fight pitting champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua against top contender and former titleholder Rashad Evans.

The Armenian was last seen in action when he took on division kingpin Jose Aldo for the WEC featherweight title last September in Broomfield, Colorado. Gamburyan lost via knockout in the second round. The loss squelched his dream’s of becoming champion, and also halted a three-fight winning streak with notable wins over Leonard Garcia, and a knockout victory over former champ Mike Brown.

Assuncao, a former contender in the WEC featherweight division hopes to build upon a November victory over perennial contender L.C. Davis last November. The Jiu-Jitsu specialist earned a hard earned decision victory over the veteran, which helped regain traction in his career after succumbing to back-to-back defeats to the likes of Urijah Faber and Diego Nunes. Now, Raphael will be making his run inside the octagon and hopes to build upon a his latest victory.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the new featherweight affair? Who will win? Sound off in the comment section below.

This fight is going to a decision, I want to make that clear from the start. I absolutely do not see either man being able to knock each other senseless. I also think the probability of a submission is rather slim.

My reasoning is simple: Clay Guida has one of the toughest chins in the UFC Lightweight division, and pound-for-pound, he’s got to have one of the toughest chins in the entire UFC. I’m not saying Guida would have walked through the “Showtime Kick” if it’d been him receiving it and not Ben Henderson. But like Henderson, I do think that would’ve rattled Guida but not permanently put out his lights. Pettis is an incredibly dynamic striker, but Guida’s tough chin is near-legendary.

What’s not quite so legendary, however, is Clay Guida’s punching power. This is why I think Pettis won’t be on the wrong end of a KO either. Guida is a gamer, he loves to break guys down and drain their cardio at a blistering rate. His style doesn’t lend itself to one-hit KO power, he likes to do cumulative damage in order to score points and win the favor of the judges. In fact, Guida’s last (T)KO came in 2008 against Samy Schiavo. And let’s not discredit Pettis: he’s got a pretty good chin too.

There’s also a very simple reason why I don’t see this fight ending by submission: both men are really good at submissions and they’re likely going to nullify each other. It’s very hard to submit Anthony Pettis, it’s also very hard to submit Clay Guida. Likewise, Clay Guida loves to trap people and submit them, and so does Anthony Pettis. Guida definitely has more submission wins (fifteen to Pettis’ six) but Guida has also been fighting for a lot longer. It’s not going to be a boring fight on the ground, I don’t mean that at all. In fact, I’m sure we’ll probably get plenty of close calls and amazing escapes before it’s all over. But both men are just too good at getting out of tricky situations.

So, with no KO’s and no submissions, what are we left with? Quite simply, we’re left with an awesome fight. I’m a big fan of both men, and I think that both men have earned the right to face the best the UFC has to offer. This should be an amazing encounter between two dynamic fighters that can pretty much do everything well and have done it all in the past. These two are very evenly matched, and I think this fight has serious Fight of the Year potential.

As to who I think will win it all? I’ve just got to go with “Showtime”. I’m unwavering in my support of Anthony Pettis, I’ve said this before and I’ll keep saying this until it happens: Pettis will be the next UFC Lightweight Champion. I’m more than willing and actually quite happy to go out on a limb and take that sort of stance, because I truly do think that Pettis will reach the top of the world a lot sooner rather than later.

And what about you, fans and friends? What are your thoughts on the planned Pettis vs. Guida match-up?

The World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion will now be making his UFC debut either by May or June, and it looks like Clay Guida will be part of his welcoming party.

Pettis originally earned the UFC number one contenders’ position when he earned the WEC lightweight title last December, when he bested former titleholder Ben Henderson during a rousing five-round affair. Cementing the win in the fifth-round with a flashy jumping-push-kick-off-the-cage that floored Henderson, Pettis returned cage side at UFC 125 on Jan. 1 to see who he would be fighting next in order to unify the WEC-UFC titles, however champ Frankie Edgar drew with Gray Maynard and now the two studs will fight again.

Rather then wait for the fight to play out and be sidelined for the better part of 2011, Pettis will risk his chance at the title when he meets with the Greg Jackson fighter.

“It’s a fight we’re working on,” said UFC President Dana White regarding the Pettis-Guida fight, during a teleconference earlier today, promoting “UFC Fight for the Troops 2″ which takes place on Jan. 22.

Heavy.com were the first to report the proposed lightweight affair earlier this week, though no date has been pegged yet for the 155-pound fight. UFC 130 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 28, and UFC 131 is rumored for the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C, Canada–both event’s could be home to the lightweight fight, though nothing is set in stone yet.

The trilogy to Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard is rumored to play out at the May pay-per-view event, and should Pettis be featured on the card (and beat Guida) it would be a perfect segway to a potential title fight further down the road.

Though defeating Clay is no small task. “The Carpenter” has seen a career resurgence, and has won 6 of his last 8 fights inside the octagon. He’s currently riding a three-fight win streak, having last been inside the cage on Jan. 1 opposite of former PRIDE champion and all-around mixed martial arts legend, Takanori Gomi. Clay was able to avoid big shots from the lightweight-bruiser, eventually worked the action the mat in the second round and closed out the show when he submitted the Japanese star with a tight guillotine choke.

Both Pettis and Guida set a high-tempo that not many fighters could handle, and if anything else should produce an early candidate for “Fight of the Night” wherever the bout ends up.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the future 155-pound fight? Does Pettis get the job done in his UFC debut, or will Guida spoil the show? If the fan-favorite spitfire defeats Anthony, should he earn the title shot against the winner of Gray and Frankie? Sound off in the comment section below.

Swanson, a veteran of the now defunct World Extreme Cagefighting promotion will take on Koch in a bout that could have likely happened some time ago, however their paths will now cross under the worlds largest mixed martial arts banner, the UFC.

Since the assimilation of the WEC into their sister promotion, a field of fighters have joined the UFC ranks in hopes to add to an already lavish roster, and as far as 145-pound fighters go, the fans in attendance for “UFC on Versus 3″ will be in for a treat.

MMAJunkie.com broke the news of the bout with sources close to the fighters, who say the two dynamic fighters will meet in Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center on March 3, serving as part of the preliminary card for the event, which is scheduled to feature a welterweight match up with Diego Sanchez taking on Martin Kampmann in the main event of the evening.

Koch, at 22-years-old remains to be one of the youngest but most exciting acquisition’s that the UFC has taken in since the WEC merger. The Duke Roufus product went 3-1 in the organization, with his last two victories coming in impressive fashion, when he submitted Bendy Casimir with a first-round triangle choke. He followed up the performance last Novemeber with an equally impressive first-round knockout of newbie Francisco Rivera, garnering “Knockout of the Night” at WEC 52.

Swanson, meanwhile has clocked in more time then the young up-and-comer, having fought in the world of mixed martial arts since 2004 as a lightweight. He later transitioned to the featherweight division full-time when he entered the WEC, and though he has alternated wins and losses in his last 5 outings within the promotion, Cub has never allowed himself to dissapoint the fans. The proud Palms Springs, Fl. native has earned “Fight of the Night” three times during the five-fight stretch, all in victory when he defeated the likes of Hiroyuki Takaya (the current DREAM featherweight champion), John Franchi, and Mackens Semerzier–all in barn burner classics.

So, needless to say, this fight with Cub and Erik will be anything bout boring. But, MMA peeps, what do you make of the new match up? Who do you favor heading in? Sound off in the comment section below.

One of the top 145-pound fighters in the world, Brown still has some proving to do under the big stage, though if there is anyone who could redeem themselves in a big way, it’s for sure the American Top Team product, who counts stoppage victories over Leonard Garcia, Urijah Faber, and Mark Hominick to his career highlights.

Most recently, Brown was last in action when he was bested by Brazilian Diego Nunes at UFC 125 last weekend. The two went toe-to-toe for the 15-minute affair, however the Nova Uniao protege edged Brown slightly to earn the split-decision win.

MMAJunkie.com initially reported Jung’s injury and have since been able to confirm Brown as his replacement with sources close to the organization.

Now the 35-year-old will have a chance to make his third-first impression in the UFC when he meets another Brazilian in Rani Yahya on Jan. 22.

Yahya’s original opponent, Chan Sung Jung who is more affectionately known by the fans as “The Korean Zombie” pulled out of their scheduled featherweight affair which was scheduled for the “UFC: Fight for the Troops 2″ event which takes place in Fort Hood in Killeen, Tex., due to injury.

Though Brown is now just one week removed from his last match up, he never hesitated in accepting the bout with Yahya, who is a heralded Jiu-Jitsu world champion and has recorded 14 submissions among his 15 career victories.

Rani is also looking for a strong footing inside the UFC, as the former title challenger fines himself on the heels of a two-fight skid as he now transitions to the worlds biggest mixed martial arts promotion.

His time spent in the WEC, which has since been fully assimilated into it’s sister promotion following a merger between the two in December of last year, has had it’s ups and downs. After debuting in the now defunct organization in June of 2007 with a first-round submission victory over Mark Hominick, Yahya dropped back-to-back fights against notables Chase Beebe (for the promotion’s 135-pound title) and “Kid” Yamamoto. He returned strong in 2008 when Rani rattled off a four-fight win streak, including another first-round submission over former bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland.

However, a TKO loss to Joseph Benavidez and decision defeat to Takeya Mizugaki (consecutively) has now spoiled a return to contender status for the Brazilian, and has also halted a three-peat in “Submission of the Night” honors.

A win for either man here will be detrimental for their careers here on out if they wish to continue inside the octagon.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the new match up? Can Mike Brown pull a Chris Leben and regain some traction in 2011? Or will Yahya, the more prepared fighter of the two, be able to walk away the winner? Sound off in the comment section below.

The Greg Jackson product has been tabbed as a replacement for an injured Sam Stout, and will now face lightweight standout Paul Kelly at UFC 126.

The event takes place on Feb. 5 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, and will feature a main event pitting current middleweight champion Anderson Silva against former teammate Vitor Belfort for the title.

MMAWeekly.com initially reported the change in affairs for the upcoming pay-per-view event. Cerrone enters the UFC following the merger of his previous home with World Extreme Cagefighting, following the organization’s final event at WEC 53 on December 16, where Donald picked up his second consecutive win when he defeated former IFL star Chris Horodecki with a second round triangle choke. “The Cowboy” remains one of the select few of lightweight fighters that will be transitioning the UFC’s crowded weight class, and his first test will be against Brit Paul Kelly.

The Team Kaobon fighter recently picked up an impressive win this past November when he took on “The Ultimate Fighter” veteran T.J. O’Brien at UFC 123. Kelly was able to subdue his lanky 6’2 foe, and eventually score the TKO victory inside of the second round. Paul has now won two of his last three fights, however since dropping down to the lightweight division in June of 2009, he has alternated wins and losses and is in need for consistency in the crowded 155-pound class.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the new lightweight addition? There is no word yet where the fight will be featured, whether or not it will be on the preliminary portion of the card, but all signs point to yet. If anything else, this fight should be an early candidate to either be featured on a Spike TV special or nonetheless, ION television. Who do you think will walk away the victor? My money is on an impressive debut for Cerrone, preferably triangle choke since Kelly will likely take this fight to the ground. Sound off in the comment section below.

Following a devastating loss to Anthony Pettis a little over two weeks ago at WEC 53, Henderson relinquished his title to the Duke Roufus product along with a promised number contender’s spot pending the winner of Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard III for the UFC lightweight title.

However, despite the setback Ben will move on to the worlds largest mixed martial arts organization (which has since been assimilated with the WEC promotion following the organization’s last event; both promotion’s fall under the Zuffa LLC banner) and look to reassert himself as one of the best in his weigh class.

MMAJunkie.com reports that the former champion will now meet with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu whiz, Mark Bocek. The Canadian will return to the octagon to face Henderson at UFC 129, which is expected to take place at the Rogers Centre on April 30 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For Bocek, it will mark the first time that he has competed in Canada for back-to-back events under the UFC banner.

He was last seen in action in November for UFC 124 which took place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, when Bocek took on the slick submission expert, Dustin Hazelett. Despite his success in the organization’s 170-pound division, Hazelett met his match when Bocek was able to spoil the lightweight return for Dustin when he submitted the Jorge Gurgel pupil with a triangle choke midway through the first-round. With the win, Bocek has now won 4 of his last 5 fights inside the UFC, with his lone loss in that stretch coming to top contender Jim Miller.

A win here is especially important for Henderson if he ever hopes to re-stake his claim as one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world, a moniker he was slowly gathering with his impressive stint in the now defunct WEC promotion, where he defeated the likes of Shane Roller, Donald Cerrone (twice) and former champ Jamie Varner.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the new match up? If you give the edge in submissions to Bocek, Henderson’s underrated wrestling ability cannot come into question. Who do you think will walk away the victor come April? Sound off in the comment section below.

Several sources around the internet have already confirmed it, including MMA Weekly. Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports was apparently the first man to get the scoop. According to the report, Dana White has changed his mind and opted to make an immediate rematch between Edgar and Maynard. No definitive timetable for Edgar vs. Maynard 3 has been revealed as of this report.

Make no mistake, fans and friends: if Anthony Pettis and the whole WEC Lightweight Championship situation didn’t exist, I wouldn’t just be another MMA fan calling for an immediate rematch. I’d shove my way to the front of the line, grab a megaphone, and start leading the charge. I had some high hopes for Edgar vs. Maynard 2, and even with that in mind the fight outright exceeded my expectations. I knew it was going to be good, and a lot better than many people thought it would be, but even I wasn’t fully expecting the amazing performance both men turned in. The rematch is definitely a no-brainer, especially when you consider how divided the fanbase is becoming on who they thought won and why.

The only problem with this situation is that it’s completely unfair to Anthony Pettis.

I realize that not having an immediate rematch is unfair to Gray Maynard, but Anthony Pettis has done nothing wrong and shouldn’t be forced to wait on the sidelines. What’s the alternative for Pettis? Fight in the UFC for the WEC Lightweight Championship, a championship for a promotion that no longer exists? After he gave us one of the best fights of all time and, without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, the greatest strike that’s ever landed in MMA history? Pettis has earned his shot at the UFC Lightweight Championship, and he’s fully deserving of debuting in the UFC in a main event for one of it’s major championships. The man is incredibly humble and unbelievably talented, and shoving him to the sidelines is an outright disservice to him.

In the end, I’m honestly approaching Edgar/Maynard 3 with some mixed feelings. I know it’s going to be an amazing match, and I think it should be made. I think that both men have finally proven to everyone that they’re not boring fighters, so they should definitely capitalize on that momentum by finally closing out their epic rivalry. I just don’t like the fact that Anthony Pettis has basically been shoved under the rug through no fault of his own, and is looking at quite a long layoff before he ever gets the title shot that he fully, unquestionably earned.

And what about you, fans and friends? How do you feel about the UFC Lightweight Championship situation?

The lightweight star comes into the fold following a two-fight win streak under the WEC banner, with his most recent victory coming earlier this month at WEC 53, which marked the promotion’s final show before becoming fully assimilated with it’s sister promotion following a merger of the bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight divisions.

Castillo left the organization in an impressive fashion when he was able to knockout Will Kerr in just 85 seconds of the opening round, a perfect way to cap off his inception into the worlds biggest mixed martial arts promotion.

Danny released the information earlier this week via Twitter, and MMAJunkie.com has since confirmed the news with sources close to the promotion, indicating that the Team Alpha Male product has signed a 4-fight deal with the UFC.

Castillo left the WEC with a respectable 5-3 record, with those three losses coming against top flight competition in former title challenger Donald Cerrone, contender Shane Roller, and the last WEC champion Anthony Pettis (respectively). Of his five victories inside the cage, three of them have come by way of knockout.

The heavy handed lightweight star is now in the thick of it as he transitions to the UFC where nothing but bigger and better challenges await “Last Call”.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Castillo remains one of the few guys in the WEC’s lightweight division that was asked back into the UFC, and for good reason, the guy is exciting. Who would you like to see Danny pitted against in his organizational debut? Sound off in the comment section below.

In a new interview, Aldo recently stated the following (courtesy of Fighters Only): “I don’t like to stop and I am never satisfied. I always think on the future. I want to fight three times in 2011 and keep my featherweight belt, then to move up to 155lbs division and battle to be the [lightweight] champion in 2012.”

While some have criticized Aldo for pulling out of his planned fight with Josh Grispi, I still consider myself an unabashed fanboy of the man. Aldo is an incredibly humble, wildly diverse, utterly destructive champion, and I think his UFC debut should be one of the bigger events of 2011. As hard as it is to imagine, I honestly believe that the best is still yet to come when it comes to Jose Aldo.

If Aldo does make good on his promise to fight three times in 2011, and he wins all three bouts, I think he should definitely try to jump up in weight and become the first-ever UFC star to hold two UFC championships simultaneously. If anyone can do it, it’s Aldo. Many fight fans already believe that Josh Grispi is the last, great threat for Aldo at Featherweight, so if Aldo beats him and then beats two other Featherweight contenders, I think a Lightweight run would be a no-brainer.

In regards to what I think Aldo’s chances at Lightweight are, there are a lot of variables that go into that equation. Aldo is a perfect fit for Featherweight, but in a promotion famous for gargantuan weight cuts, there are some monster Lightweights in the UFC and Aldo would have to deal with a size disadvantage. Plus, anyone could be the UFC Lightweight Champion by the time 2012 rolls around.

I will say one thing, though: when it comes to Jose Aldo at Lightweight, there’s one fight in particular that I’d give anything to see. I honestly think that a fight between Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis would be so utterly amazing that it may end up going down as the greatest MMA fight of all time. I have that much respect for both men’s abilities, I’ve enjoyed watching both of them compete that much. I can’t even begin to imagine the kind of all-out insanity we’d see if Aldo tangled with Pettis.

In the here and now, though, Jose Aldo faces a very real threat in the super-talented Josh Grispi. It’s fun to look forward to 2012 even as 2011 barely gets underway, but a lot can happen in a year. Jose Aldo chasing down the UFC Lightweight Championship in 2012 is a great dream, and I think Aldo has all the tools necessary to realize that dream. But in the here and now, Aldo is set to debut in the UFC in the division that made him famous, battling a competitor that many perceive as a big threat and a great opponent. While I’d love to see Aldo fight at Lightweight, I think Aldo fans are in for an amazing year as he continues to dominate the Featherweight division.

The native of Poland most recently competed at WEC 53, the promotions last show before being assimilated into the UFC fold, where he lost a close split-decision to undefeated mixed martial artist, Kamal Shalorus. The wrestling Olympian had his moments on the feet and was able to work Palaszewski to the mat several times which likely played a big part in the tight-nit decision win.

The loss snapped a four fight win streak for Bartimus under the WEC banner, however the loss has not deterred the former IFL star from being one of the few lightweight stars to transition into the UFC.

Fighters such as former WEC lightweight champion and UFC veteran Jamie Varner and Chris Horodecki are just among a few of the most recent stars at 155-pounds to have been cut from their contracts since the weight class has melted into an already stacked division in the UFC. So those who were fighting in their last days with the WEC, the sister promotion of the UFC which both fall under the Zuffa umbrella, were likely fighting for their jobs. Bart didn’t necessarily feel that way.

“I was happy obviously, but I thought that I was going anyway”, said the 27-year-old who spoke with MMAWeekly.com about the move.

“That excitement was already going since we found out about the merger, so I was kind of already excited about it.

“I don’t know if I was worried (about getting cut) I mean I had a game plan set in my mind of what I was going to need to do. At worst I thought they would ask me to get a fight outside the Zuffa organization, and maybe come back, like they had me do after my two losses. I was staying really positive and it worked out well.”

Bart, who is the only man to hold a victory over WEC lightweight champion turned UFC contender Anthony Pettis, is now a UFC fighter.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Anyone surprised that Bart stuck around but others did not? How do you think he will fare in his new home? sound off in the comment section below.

But first, MMA Mania (via MMA Diehards) reports that Tyler Toner has been released. Toner was on a two-fight losing-streak, both of which came by Unanimous Decision, although he did win his WEC debut by TKO. Toner is a five-year veteran of the sport with ten wins, three losses, and one no contest.

I think the UFC is setting an interesting, bordering-on-dangerous precedent with all the firings that have been going down lately. We all knew that not every WEC star would be able to make the transition, there’s just no way you can fully cram an entire promotion into another promotion even if you add two new weight classes. Furthermore, the UFC is perceived as the most prestigious MMA organization on the planet, so only the best should compete in the Octagon. I get that, make no mistake.

But Jamie Varner, Chris Horodecki, and Tyler Toner? I think you could make a case for all three of them to get at least one shot in the UFC. I admit that it’s not much of a case, but still, it can be made. Jamie Varner is a former WEC champion and, for a long while, was one of the WEC’s biggest stars. He’ll probably go down as one half as the bitterest rivalry in WEC history. And Chris Horodecki? He was on a two-fight win-streak and lost to Donald Cerrone, one of the WEC’s best fighters.

I think what bothers me the most about these releases is the precedent it’s setting and what it says about how the UFC is going to handle the incoming WEC stars, rather than the actual releases themselves. UFC President Dana White has gone on and on about how excited he is to sign Jose Aldo, but the WEC is not a one-man show and the world does not revolve around Jose Aldo. That’s said with absolutely no disrespect towards the man, I’m a major fan and I’ll probably never stop being one. But, at least to me, the heart and soul of the WEC, one of the key ingredients that made it all work and made the WEC so entertaining… were the tough fighters that won a few and lost a few but always put on fantastic fights.

I still look forward to seeing men like Jose Aldo, Ben Henderson, Donald Cerrone, and Anthony Pettis compete in the Octagon. I think the memory of the WEC will live on in them and I think the sky is the limit for all of them, even in the UFC. But now more than ever I realize that the promotion that I loved is no more. With this recent spat of releases, I’m once again reminded that only the best of the best of the absolute best ever get into the UFC. And the WEC was never about that, that ultra-competitive mindset, and yet they still produced some of the best fighters in the world and some of the most entertaining shows in recent memory.

But what about you, fans and friends? Is this just a bit of sour grapes on my part, or do you agree with me?

The former WEC lightweight champion recently suffered another loss when he was pitted against former top contender Shane Roller at WEC 53, the promotion’s final show which was to signal the assimilation of the lightweight, featherweight, and bantamweight into the the organization’s sister promotion, the UFC which are both under the Zuffa LLC banner.

Along with Jamie, former IFL star Chris Horodecki has also been released from his contract following a loss at the same show earlier this month, which took place at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

Horodecki was last in action against three-time WEC title challenger Donald Cerrone. “Cowboy” used his superior grappling skills to work Chris to the mat in the second round, eventually locking up a tight triangle choke. The recent defeat marked the first time that the Team Tompkins fighter has been submitted in his entire mixed martial arts career.

The recent releases of the two lightweights should come as no surprise, considering the huge influx of fighters that are now beginning to co-mingle with the preexisting UFC fighters, especially in the lightweight division. While both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions have room to grow in the UFC since the organization only recently opened up the divisions following the merger, the 155-pound weight class was already well established, so all fighters knew very well that if your a lightweight, your fighting for your job come WEC 53.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the news? Should both men have been released by the worlds largest mixed martial arts promotion? Could either men have fared well in the UFC’s lightweight class? Varner has gone winless since a controversial split-decision win over Cerrone in Jan. of 2009, going 0-3-1 in his last 4 outings. Horodecki went 2-2 inside the cage, with losses to notables Anthony Njokuani and the aforementioned Cerrone. So what do you guys think? Sound off in the comment section below.

UFC 128, which is expected to take place on March 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey will feature a championship headliner, pitting light heavyweight title holder Mauricio “Shogun” Rua as he looks to defend the 205-pound strap for the first time against former champ Rashad Evans.

Recently, a new rumored addition to the pay-per-view event will feature a special lightweight attraction that will have all fans in attendance jumping out of their seats.

UFC newcomer Anthony Njokuani will be making his octagon debut as he takes on lightweight prospect Edson Barboza at the March event.

While Njokuani will be a newcomer to the UFC, he is no stranger to the Zuffa umbrella. Anthony will be one of many fighters who will be making the transition into the UFC following the merger of it’s sister promotion, the WEC. During his stint under the World Extreme Cagefighting banner, Anthony worked his way up to contender status when he rattled off a three-fight win streak within the promotion, all by way of knockout. However after a two-fight skid against top-flight competition, the Nigerian returned to his winning ways when he picked up a much needed victory over newbie Edward Faaloloto at WEC 52 this past November.

Barboza, meanwhile has already come face-to-face with his octagon debut, having dealt with any possible octagon “jitters” when he dispatched of Mike Lullo at UFC 123 in November. The Brazilian striker worked his leg kicks early, and eventually the damage mounted and Edson recorded the TKO victory when Lullo was unable to continue. The stand up clinic Barboza displayed had many clamoring for more, even praising his striking to the likes of current UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

Both Njokuani and Edson are both proven, explosive strikers in the lightweight division. This bout will most likely go in one of two ways: a three-round brawl, or a knockout.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Most fans would be more comfortable in leaning towards Anthony because that’s who they are familiar with, but make no mistake, Edson is for real. Sound off in the comment section below.

5. The UFC 126 “Super Bowl Super-Show”.

It’s not enough that the UFC is giving us Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, oh no. In addition to the mega-fight that’s been several years in-the-making, we’ve got Rich Franklin vs. Forrest Griffin and Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader. Basically, we’ve got three fights that could each easily, and I do mean easily, headline an event on their own. And it all goes down during Super Bowl Weekend, where everyone is hosting parties and having fun anyway. UFC fans are in for a real treat with this one.

4. UFC in Brazil for the first time in over ten years.

Georges St. Pierre in Canada. That’s the kind of reaction I think the Brazilian fans will give if they get someone like Wanderlei Silva or Anderson Silva or even Renzo Gracie or Royce Gracie to compete at the upcoming UFC event in Brazil. From the beginning, from the moment the idea for the first UFC tournament popped into the head of Rorion Gracie, Brazil has been tied to the UFC. While the UFC will most likely forever be headquartered in Las Vegas, heading back to Brazil is almost like coming home. It should be an amazing show featuring an unbelievable atmosphere.

3. UFC in Toronto in front of over 60,000 fans.

But even the tentatively-titled UFC: “Rio” virtually pales in comparison to the UFC’s upcoming debut in Toronto. The UFC owes almost as much to Canada as it does to Brazil, Canada was the first major step on the road to the UFC becoming a global brand and it remains a key player in the UFC’s international development. And UFC’s debut in Toronto will be in the Rogers Centre, better known as the Toronto SkyDome, which can seat anywhere from 50,000 to 70,000 people. I can hardly begin to imagine how epic the crowd alone will be, let alone the amazing card the UFC will likely put on in order to attract the most fans possible.

2. The thirteenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”.

It’s been repeated so many times by so many fans and insiders that it’s practically a cliché, but it’ll always be true: “The Ultimate Fighter” broke the mainstream barrier and is perhaps the single most important thing to have ever happened to the UFC outside of its original founding. We’re heading into our thirteenth season of TUF, and things just keep getting better. No season is perfect, but the steady ratings and improved fight quality of Season 12 have left me incredibly pumped up for TUF Season 13. Even though I’m a bit sad that we won’t see Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva coaching against each other, there’s really no reason to miss out on Season 13.

And #1 on the list goes to…

1. Better per-event fight quality thanks in no small part to the influx of WEC talent and the addition of the Bantamweight/Featherweight divisions in general.

As a WEC super-fan, could I have really picked anything else to top this list? With two new divisions and a host of world-caliber talent, the WEC/UFC merger should begin paying out enormous dividends almost immediately. I have a great feeling that this is going to be a “best of both worlds” scenario, where we get the same great WEC action except on a much larger scale. Both the merger and the new weight divisions should give a lot of otherwise-underwhelming UFC events a big shot in the arm, especially the international events. It should be an awesome, awesome year of fights.

And that’s the end, fans and friends! My four-part “All I Want for Christmas” mini-series is now officially over and done with. I’d like to thank all my readers for their continued support, and once again I’d like to wish you all a very happy and very merry Christmas, and happy holidays in general. So, what about you? What are you looking forward to for the UFC in 2011?

5. I want to see Strikeforce back on CBS.

Strikeforce has more or less emerged as a viable alternative to the UFC, at least in my eyes. Strikeforce had a rocky 2010, but did manage to score a few key victories along the way. But one of their biggest setbacks was the post-fight brawl at Strikeforce: “Nashville” and its ensuing scandal, since it’s kept Strikeforce off of CBS since April. Strikeforce always brought their absolute best when they had a CBS show, so I’d really enjoy seeing Strikeforce back on CBS and getting the kind of exposure that comes with having a nationally-televised event.

4. I want to see Bellator grow as viable alternative to both the UFC and Strikeforce.

Bellator has drawn a lot of critical acclaim and gained a large cult following thanks to their penchant for delivering awe-inspiring (T)KO’s and submissions. Recently, however, much has been made of Bellator signing a new TV agreement with MTV2, with the prognosis honestly looking a bit grim. Nevertheless, while I and many other fans disagree with Bellator’s choice of networks, I still wish the promotion nothing but the best and hope that they can use this new deal to emerge as a major player. As we all know, competition breeds creativity and also ensures that everyone is making good money.

3. I want the rumored Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix to happen.

It’s such a ridiculously simple concept (an eight-man tournament), yet I can barely contain my excitement at the thought of it happening. With just one tournament Strikeforce could give us the “dream fights” many of us have been waiting years to see. Strikeforce’s best division by far is its Heavyweight division, and the thought of seeing everyone step into the cage and battle it out sounds amazing and fills me with a not-insignificant amount of nostalgia for the glory days of PRIDE FC, where that was commonplace. If this idea comes to fruition, it may be the thing that puts Strikeforce over the edge and into full mainstream acceptance.

2. I want the UFC to hold a Bantamweight and/or Featherweight season of “The Ultimate Fighter”.

Please, please, please… give us this season. Just imagine it: a cast of lighter-weight fighters determined to permanently blast back the stereotype that smaller fighters can’t produce entertaining fights. It would have all the drama of a regular season of TUF, but the fight quality would probably be much higher, given how a ridiculous number of lighter-weight fighters have very impressive cardio while retaining some nasty KO power and serious submission skills. This idea has been tossed around for some time, but with the WEC/UFC merger, I think the time is now to finally make it happen.

But of course, my #1 just has to be…

1. I want MMA legalized nationwide, but especially in New York.

New York… oh New York. New York has become the rallying point for MMA legalization; the fight to legalize MMA in New York has spawned countless interviews, videos, controversies, opinions, and even a short film. By no means am I alone in thinking that New York stands as one of the last, great obstacles in legalizing MMA nationwide. It’s been a long, hard battle, but I can’t imagine anything having more impact in 2011 than if MMA was finally legalized in New York. While I really, really want all the entries on this list to happen, this one stands easily above all the rest on my wish list.

So that’s part one, fans and friends. Stay tuned as Parts 2-4 are revealed one by one. And what about you? What do you hope happens in 2011 throughout the MMA world?

In fact, Brown has been inside the octagon once before, but only before his accolades as a consensus top-10 fighter we’re well established.

Now, back on the biggest stage, the pinnacle of any man’s mixed martial arts career, Brown will have a chance to once again become a champion in 145-pound division, but he hopes that he won’t be bitten by the ‘octagon jitters’ for a second time.

“I was like a deer in the headlights,” said Brown of his first run in the UFC, while speaking with MMAJunkie.com. “I had a chance; I still swung hard and did my best, but I wasn’t thinking out there like I should be.”

Mike met the now retired famed Japanese star in Genki Sudo in 2004, and while he battled valiantly throughout the lightweight affair, Brown met with his end when Sudo locked up a fight ending arm-triangle choke.

The loss was only the second of his career at the time, however it signaled the end of his UFC career, at least for the time being.

“I was definitely outgunned and overmatched back then,” said the 35-year-old. “I was small for the weight. I was still training in Maine back then. I was way outgunned. I was brought in to lose. I think that was the decision made by good management on Genki (Sudo’s) part.

While his one-fight stint inside the UFC was daunting in of itself, it was his WEC experience that really raised the bar for Brown, especially here on out in his career in the UFC. Up next, top contender Diego Nunes at UFC 125 on Jan. 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“The UFC didn’t prepare me because I was on the undercard,” Brown said. “What prepared me was those big fights in the WEC.

“When I fought in Sacramento against Urijah (Faber), there was like 16,000 people there. It was packed. It was going crazy. That’s the same as the UFC. The crowd was same when Chuck Liddell fought Tito Ortiz the first time; the crowd was going bonkers. That’s how it was when I fought Urijah.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of Brown’s comparison’s to a WEC versus UFC crowds? Will octagon jitters be a problem for the WEC imports? Sound off in the comment section below.

Also on the card will be a pivotal middleweight match up as Jorge Rivera takes on fellow “The Ultimate Fighter” alumni in Michael Bisping.

However, possibly the most exciting bout of the night will be un-televised, but here’s hoping that this fight will not go unnoticed.

As the Ultimate Fighting Championship makes its second trip to Sydney at the Acer Arena on Feb. 27, exciting lightweight’s Maciej Jewtuszko and Kurt Warburton will meet one another on the pay-per-views preliminary card.

Maciej is one of the remaining lightweight imports from the now defunct WEC promotion, which has since been assimilated into the UFC fold following the organization’s final event last Thursday at WEC 53.

Jewtuszko made his WEC debut when he defeated former contender Anthony Njokuani. The fight was a major upset, as Maciej was able to knockout the proverbial knockout artist in Njokuani, inside of the first round of their August meeting.

The Polish Muay Thai specialist was scheduled to reappear in the WEC before it’s demise at it’s final show last week opposite of Ricardo Lamas, however Maciej bowed out due to injury.

Warburton though may not have as much leeway as Maciej as the two lightweight’s enter their February tussle. Kurt debuted within the organization this past October against former top contender Spencer Fisher. In an exciting 15 minutes spent inside the cage at UFC 120 which was an early candidate for “Fight of the Night” honors, Warburton lost a close decision loss to “The King”.

Both men will likely be battling for a spot within the promotion, as lightweights in particular are kept on a short leash following the WEC/UFC merger.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the 155-pound affair? Who do you have pegged as the favorite? Sound off in the comment section below.

Recently, World Extreme Cagefighting has since merged with it’s sister promotion the Ultimate Fighting Championship, both promotion’s fall under the Zuffa LLC. banner. Among the acquisition of both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions, a stacked 155-pound class has since been assimilated into the UFC.

With the high influx of fighters, many have since found themselves fighting for their jobs in most recent events, with the lightweight class being atop of the chopping block.

But for Varner, it looks like that his accolades within the WEC have saved him for the time being. According to MiddleEasy.com, Jamie has yet to be released from his contract from Zuffa.

The UFC veteran claimed the WEC title in February of 2008 when he TKO’d then champion Rob McCullough, a kickboxing specialist, inside of the third round.

From there, Varner made two successful defenses of his title against top contenders Marcus Hicks and Donald Cerrone, albeit the fight with “Cowboy” was mired in controversy when in the final round, Varner caught an illegal knee to the eye and claimed he was unable to continue.

After his fight with Cerrone, Varner was on the mend due to multiple injuries for one year and returned to action when he faced top contender and then interim champ Ben Henderson. The two fought in order to unify the titles, and Henderson reigned victorious, submitting Varner in the third round in January of this year.

The loss snapped a five-fight win streak. Jamie has gone 0-3-1 in his past four bouts, drawing with Kamal Shalorus, losing a decision in a rematch with Cerrone, and finally at WEC 53 (the last ever WEC event) Varner was submitted by Shane Roller inside of the first round. An overzealous “C-4″ could not capitalize on an early opportunity when he knocked down Roller in the opening moments of the fight. He was next taken down and back-mounted quickly which prompted the rear-naked choke finish.

Of the Arizonan’s five losses, three of them come by way submission.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Do you think Varner should get cut, or do his accolades in the WEC keep him under contract? Sound off in the comment section below.

Here are the highlights from an article first seen on Yahoo Sports, featuring several interesting quotes from Harris: “The UFC bought PRIDE and the WFA [World Fighting Alliance], too, but we’re the only one they allowed to put on fight cards. I like to think it’s because we did things the right way. It’s great, because now we go forward and our guys get to be part of the biggest show in the world. They fought their way to get into this position and it’s a credit to all of these guys who fought for us. I’m happy to see this day come, because it’s like a celebration of [the history of] the WEC.”

Just for the sake of clarity, fans and friends, I’d like to point out that the UFC did try very hard to put on PRIDE shows after acquiring the promotion in 2007. In fact, at one point it was even planned to keep the promotions separate and only bring the two together on rare occasions for high-value super-cards. In the end, a hostile Japanese public resulted in the UFC abandoning its plans for PRIDE and folding the organization into the UFC. I hate to rain on Harris’ parade like that, but the PRIDE fanboy in me just had to do it.

I agree with virtually everything else Harris said, though. The more and more I think about it, the more and more I realize just how badly I’m going to miss the WEC. I’m glad that the WEC’s best and brightest are heading to the UFC for more recognition and better paydays. But there will only be one WEC, and while the stars will be the same, the soul of the show will be entirely different.

The WEC could simply afford to take risks that the UFC can’t. In the WEC, I could go into a fight having no earthly clue who was fighting who, and in one fight I could become a fan of a fighter I previously had little to no information on. The WEC gave countless fighters their shot at relevancy, and the fighters repaid that debt by putting on amazing performances. The UFC just can’t do that: while there are some exceptions, you generally have to already be relevant and established in MMA before ever getting invited into the UFC.

But at the end of the day, I remain incredibly optimistic when it comes to the future of the WEC’s stars as they make their way into the UFC. Depending on who is officially brought in, the UFC’s per-event fight quality stands to increase drastically. I have that much faith in the WEC’s stars. And of course, we’ll always have the memories. I’ll certainly miss the WEC, but I fully believe that the best is yet to come.

And what about you, fans and friends? What do you make of Reed Harris’ recent sentiments?

Here are the highlights from an interview Pettis recently had with MMA Weekly: “I’m going to go back home Monday and we’ll figure out both styles and whoever wins the [Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard] fight, I’m going to have to fight either one of them, I think I’ll fight both of them eventually. I want to be the best in the world. That’s the place to do it at.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I really do think that Anthony Pettis will emerge as the UFC Lightweight Champion once all is said and through. And it’s not just because I find him so entertaining, which of course I do. It’s because he has the uncanny ability to entertain while still approaching his fights with a very cerebral, technical mindset. He may have tried something crazy, but the reason he tried it was sound: he knew he had to do something big in order to definitively win the fight. And Pettis did have the courage to try something big: he landed something that’s usually only seen in movies and video games. Pettis seems to grow by leaps and bounds on a per-fight basis, and I think this win over Henderson was a massive learning experience for him.

Looking forward, the toughest tests of his young career certainly do lie ahead, and that’s said with absolutely no disrespect meant towards the talented men “Showtime” has beaten in the past. Whether it’s Gray Maynard or Frank Edgar, Pettis is in for a long fight against a fantastic wrestler. Frank Edgar truly is “The Answer”, he’s not particularly amazing at one thing but manages to mix everything together so well that he’s emerged as the undeniable best Lightweight on the planet. Meanwhile, Gray Maynard is an incredibly dominant wrestler who’s shown outright disdain for his opponent’s strengths and has fully lived up to his nickname “The Bully” in the countless fights he’s had where he completely shuts down his opponent’s offense and literally bullies them around the Octagon.

So, can Anthony Pettis really beat Gray Maynard and Frank Edgar? The possibility certainly exists. His ground game is very good, he nearly submitted Ben Henderson several times. It just so happens that “Smooth” seems to be a human Gumby. Against stocky wrestlers like Frank Edgar or Gray Maynard, Pettis may be able to grab hold of something whenever the fight inevitably winds up on the ground. And the “Showtime Kick” proves that we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Pettis’ potential as a striker. I think big, big things are in store for Anthony Pettis, and I can’t wait to see him debut in the UFC.

But what about you, fans and friends? How do you feel about Anthony Pettis and his chances in the UFC?

Courtesy of an interview Cerrone recently had with MMA Junkie: “I wanted to beat him at his own game. I got the win, so I can’t complain … (but) a couple of things I did wrong I need to go back and look at… In the gym, I have no problem getting going and putting combinations together. In the fight, I just can’t seem to put them together. That’s something I need to work on… I guess I need to go back and start working on my striking again… Cole Miller is the guy I’m chasing down… It’s a fight I’ve wanted since as long as I can remember.”

According to the report, Cerrone has been hunting for a fight with Miller for years, ever since Miller fought and beat his friend and teammate Leonard Garcia back in 2007. Most recently, Miller is on a two-fight win-streak of his own, with impressive submission victories over both Ross Pearson and Dan Lauzon. Both submissions earned him “Submission of the Night” awards.

Personally, I think Donald Cerrone’s striking is just fine. It’s certainly come a long way, that’s for sure. In the end, I think what held him back in the Horodecki fight is the simple fact that Horodecki is the better striker. Cerrone’s best asset has always been his ground game, that’s why he ultimately made his opponent tap out. Horodecki’s strength has always been striking, he’s got seven (T)KO wins on his record. It’s true that Cerrone’s striking could always stand to improve, but every fighter’s everything could always stand to improve.

I think a fight with Cole Miller would be a fantastic first fight for Donald Cerrone in the UFC. Both men are submission experts with wicked ground games: combined, they have over twenty wins via submission. They’ve shown an incredible amount of resiliency in the past, so I think it’s very possible that both men would rather be choked out than tapped out. And they’d be fighting to get out of it every step of the way, up to and including the moment when they inevitably lose consciousness.

All in all, I’m really excited to see Donald Cerrone debut in the UFC, and I hope that the UFC finds him a good opponent sooner rather than later, even if it’s not Cole Miller. Cerrone ended his WEC career by once again proving why he was one of the WEC’s biggest stars, so I think he has an incredible amount of potential as he heads into the Octagon and into the shark-tank that is the UFC’s Lightweight division.

And what about you, fans and friends? How do you feel about Donald “The Cowboy” Cerrone in regards to both his most recent performance and his chances in the UFC?

Now that, doesn’t suck.

For five rounds, Cruz coasted a seemingly easy, but hard fought decision victory over the always tough Scott Jorgensen. With his wrestling and boxing credentials on full display, Dominick, did everything short of finishing the fight in order to wow the crowd at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

With eight straight wins bolstering his recent success in the professional world of mixed martial arts, Cruz now has a one track mind: beat Urijah Faber.

Those eight straight came on the heels of Cruz’ lone loss in his career, a first-round submission loss to “The California Kid” in March of 2007. The bout was contested as a featherweight affair when Cruz challenged Faber for his 145-pound title. His fancy footwork and lightning quick strikes were on display early, however Urijah moved in for the kill, took Cruz to the ground and eventually locked in a tight guillotine choke to seal the deal, and defend the title.

Now after Faber has since relinquished the title and successfully debuted in Cruz’ 135-pound division with a submission win over Takeya Mizugaki at WEC 52, Dominick has put Urijah back on his hit list for the immediate future.

Though Urijah may have had the edge on Cruz in 2007, Dominick suggests that with his newly improved skill set, not even the “California Kid” could hang with him at this point.

“When I first came in, I have no excuses,” said Cruz following his one sided win over Jorgensen. “[Faber] beat me fair and square that day. He was a better fighter than me that day, but it’s been three years. That was my very first training camp I ever had with my coach, Eric Del Fierro. Before that fight, I was still working a full-time job, and now I can devote every ounce of energy into fighting to become the best fighter I can.

“I just know that I’m a completely different fighter than I was then. My ground game is better. My wrestling is better. My standup is much better. I have weapons everywhere. I just know I’m on another level than him.”

A rumor that has been circulating recently is the possibility of both Faber and Cruz taking the next coaching slots on the new season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, though no word has been made of such a possibility.

Personally, I think Cruz can hang with Urijah–that is, if he’s at 100 percent. Heading into his title clash with Jorgensen, Dominick discussed a lingering hand injury that has been plaguing him for some time now, and while lumps and bruises are the side affects that come along with a brutal sport like mixed martial arts, fighting Urijah Faber at anything less than your best is a bad, bad idea.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Sound off in the comment section below.

In the main event of the evening, Anthony Pettis shocked the world when he displayed devastating arsenal of striking techniques which culminated in a highlight reel head kick knockdown executed by “Showtime” launching himself from the cage and landing the maneuver mid-air on former champion Ben Henderson, before a ruckus crowd in Glendale, Ariz.

While Pettis’ star shined the brightest in his lightweight title clash with the hometown favorite in Henderson, several others displayed a varied array of skills that netted them an additional ten thousand dollars for their efforts.

While Henderson was dethroned at WEC 53 before his fellow Arizonians, himself and the newly minted WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, 23, picked up “Fight of the Night” honors for their five-round war of attrition, and added an additional ten-thousand to their total purse. The victory also helped Pettis cinch the number one contender’s spot for the UFC’s 155-pound title.

Former bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland may not have been featured on the nights televised portion of the event, however the 135-pounder made a lot of noise with another knockout victory to add to his already impressive résumé when he took care of newcomer Ken Stone inside of the first round. Although it wasn’t a traditional Wineland knockout culminating with his fist punching face, however when push came to shove, Eddie slammed Stone when the opportunity presented itself. The impact of the slam left the WEC newbie his Ken unconscious and as a result, Eddie picked up “Knockout of the Night” for his work.

Finally, former WEC lightweight contender Shane Roller made an impressive finish in his final bout with the UFC sister promotion when he submitted former champion Jamie Varner. The Marc Laimon protege in Roller, was able to survive an early scare when he was knockdown by Varner. Immediately, Shane went back to his wrestling roots, eventually taking Jamie to the mat and quickly secured back mount, and eventual the rear-naked choke finish. In under four minutes of the opening round, Roller picked up arguably the biggest win of his career, as well as the event’s “Submission of the Night” award.

So, MMA peeps, what did you think of the final WEC show? Memorable at worst, and all in all a great way to cap off these spitfires ascension into the UFC, where they were surely face stiff competition, though will definitely hold their own. Sound off in the comment section below.

5. Donald Cerrone’s Hunt for the Triangle.

Donald Cerrone has always had an expert ground game, it’s one of the things he’s most well-known for. I along with many others thought that it would only be a matter of time before he locked something in on his WEC 53 opponent, Chris Horodecki. What I didn’t expect was for Horodecki to fight so hard not to get submitted. Cerrone hunted for and ultimately got his submission, a Triangle Choke, but he had to adjust position countless times and stay active off his back in order to finally get Horodecki to tap out. It was a prolonged, hard-fought submission battle that really displayed Horodecki’s heart and Cerrone’s vaunted ground game.

4. Dominick Cruz’s 5^th Round Performance.

Cruz’s entire performance at WEC 53 was memorable, but the fifth round in particular honestly had me thinking “What the hell does it take to get this guy tired?” Cruz set a brisk and frenetic pace, and his opponent Scott Jorgensen met him every step of the way. But while Jorgensen seemed to slow down just a tad (which is still remarkable) in the later rounds, Cruz continued to practically dance around the cage up until the final bell (which is even more remarkable). Dominick Cruz once again proved how well-rounded he is and how ridiculous his cardio is at WEC 53, and his performance in the fifth round was the clearest indication of both.

3. The Fourth Round Submission War Between Anthony Pettis and Ben Henderson.

It’s hard to describe how fast these two moved in the fourth round when they both struggled to get top position and lock in some type of fight-ending submission. To best summarize: it was a long series of “blink and you’ll miss it” moments. First Henderson gets the takedown, then he gets back mount. Then Pettis rolls out, gets into Ben’s guard, and then he has back mount. They stand back up, Henderson shoots for a takedown, Pettis tries a guillotine. Henderson moves to side control, and just when you think Henderson is in the clear, Pettis regains guard and nearly secures the choke. It was one of those moments where you were out of breath just watching it, and it was far and away one of the best moments of the night.

2. The “History of the WEC” Tribute Video.

This was something for WEC fans new and old: a wonderful highlight video that beautifully chronicled the decade-long history of “the little promotion that could”. From humble beginnings all the way up to a shockingly successful Pay-Per-View event, the WEC delighted fans across the country and permanently changed perceptions around the world. The WEC’s influence on modern-day MMA cannot be understated, and this tribute video really showed just how great this promotion was. I hope it appears online, because I’d love to watch it again and again.

But of course, as if there was any doubt, the best moment of WEC 53 was…

1. The Ninja Kick from Hell.

Everyone’s debating what to call this, but I think one word sums it up perfectly: insanity. This move was pure insanity. I practically leaped out of my chair the moment I saw it happen. There’s really no way to accurately describe seeing a grown man wall-walk a cage, kick another man right in his face, and nearly KO a man many thought simply couldn’t be knocked out or even come anywhere close to being knocked out. You simply have to see this move to believe it, and trust me: you won’t regret it for a second. Far and away it’s one of the best strikes that’s ever landed in a professional MMA fight.

So there you go, fans and friends: five big reasons to watch and even re-watch what was a night filled with many memorable moments. And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on the new series or WEC 53 in general?

Next for Kamal Shalorus: Look for Kamal to be given a slow start in the UFC. His WEC 53 fight was by no means his best fight or the clearest indication of his skills. Kamal actually might have to work a preliminary card or two before he gets a shot at the main stage. I think Kamal will be tested out as a gatekeeper in the UFC, but if he shirks off that label quickly, we’ll begin to see him on TV and PPV more and more often.

Next for Donald Cerrone: I think this latest win proved once and for all that Cerrone is ready, willing, and able to fight the best in the UFC. In particular, I’d love to see Cerrone tackle someone like Kenny Florian. Those two just match up so well: Florian has good hands and an under-rated ground game (most of the time), while Cerrone has a good submission game and under-rated stand-up (again, most of the time).

Next for Chris Horodecki: Another slow starter here, but I do think Horodecki will be invited into the UFC. Right now I think a drop down to Featherweight would be the best thing for Chris Horodecki to do. If he insists on fighting at Lightweight, I think he will get one or two good matches with some of the UFC’s best… but only to be served up as cannon fodder. Someone’s got to play the role of “sacrificial lamb”, and Horodecki’s entertaining style suits that role perfectly. Like Shalorus, it’ll be up to him to quickly throw off that shackle, and proving that he can will be one of Horodecki’s earliest and toughest tests in the UFC.

Next for Dominick Cruz: The man wants Urijah Faber. He’s been calling him out all the time, the second he beat Scott Jorgensen he stormed across the cage and tried to get in Faber’s face. I say: give this man the fight he wants. I think Urijah Faber vs. Dominick Cruz is an amazing fight on paper, and would sell a lot of tickets if booked in Faber’s backyard. And it’s not like Faber hasn’t been thrust back into title contention after only one win in the past.

Next for Ben Henderson: I think “Smooth” is ready for the top of the top and the best of the best. I actually think Henderson’s next opponent will be the loser of the upcoming Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard match-up. While ultimately it was “Showtime” that ended WEC 53 by carrying the gold, Ben Henderson once again proved why everyone should be taking him seriously as a top-division Lightweight. I fully believe that last night was just a temporary bump in the road. Ben Henderson is going to do great things in the UFC.

Next for Anthony Pettis: I hate to say this so soon, but I feel so strongly about it that I just have to: I think Anthony Pettis will become the UFC Lightweight Champion. Regardless of if it’s Edgar or Maynard, I think Pettis is going to unify the belts and emerge as the best Lightweight in the world. The man just mixes it all so well, his style is so entertaining and yet he’s also immensely skilled. He sets an incredible pace, has ridiculous cardio, and pulls out amazing moves on a per-fight basis. I’m a firm believer, and I’ve got both feet planted squarely in his bandwagon. Anthony Pettis is going to rule the UFC.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? What do you think the future holds for the big winners and losers of WEC 53?

Anthony Pettis defeats Ben Henderson via Unanimous Decision to become the new and final WEC Lightweight Champion. Dominick Cruz defeats Scott Jorgensen via Unanimous Decision, retains his WEC Bantamweight Championship, and is crowned the first UFC Bantamweight Champion. Donald Cerrone defeats Chris Horodecki via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 2:43 of Round 2. Kamal Shalorus defeats Bart Palaszewski via Split Decision. Shane Roller defeats Jamie Varner via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:55 of Round 1. Brad Pickett defeats Ivan Menjivar via Unanimous Decision. Eddie Wineland defeats Ken Stone via KO (Slam) at 2:11 of Round 1. Yuri Alcantara defeats Ricardo Lamas via KO (Strikes) at 3:26 of Round 1. Danny Downes defeats Tiequan Zhang via Unanimous Decision. Danny Castillo defeats Will Kerr via KO (Strikes) at 1:25 of Round 1. Renan Barao defeats Chris Cariaso via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:47 of Round 1.

I think this event got off to a bit of a slow start, but my oh my did it all end up paying off in the end. I think a combination of factors led to the opening Palaszewski/Shalorus fight not living up to all of its expectations. For one, I think Kamal’s vicious leg kicks really hampered Bart’s style of starting out slow but getting into a great groove in the later rounds. Secondly, Kamal’s efforts to end the fight in the first ended up gassing him out. And finally, I think the pressure to secure a win in order to secure a position in the UFC also contributed to these two mostly playing it safe. But that’s not to say this was a bad fight. It was certainly underwhelming, but I remained more or less entertained throughout a majority of the fight.

Things quickly picked up when Cerrone and Horodecki had their entertaining and wild two-round scrap. As I predicted, Chris Horodecki is a good fighter, but he’s just not ready for a top-division star like Cerrone. And speaking of top-divisions stars, Dominick Cruz continues to put on amazing performances showcasing his utterly ridiculous cardio. I thought that the fact that he was fighting with a bum hand would’ve played a factor, however small, in this fight, but it appears that I was dead wrong. After this fight, I don’t think I’ll be picking against Dominick Cruz again for quite some time.

And in the main event, I honestly think we as MMA fans were treated to one of the best MMA fights of all time. The first three rounds saw all kinds of excitement, close calls, near misses, and almost-finishes, but the fourth and fifth rounds are practically without compare. Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, and absolutely without hyperbole, I think the late-round wall-walk kick Anthony Pettis somehow miraculously managed to pull off, a move that seemed to be pulled right out of “The Matrix”, will go down as one of the most amazing strikes ever successfully pulled off in Mixed Martial Arts. I have absolutely, positively no earthly idea how that strike did not KO Ben Henderson. Both men seemed to have steel in their chins and a fire in their hearts that is virtually unequaled.

Is it too soon to call Henderson/Pettis one of the best fights of all time? Maybe. But, hell, right now I don’t care. I’m calling it: Henderson/Pettis is one of the best MMA fights of all time. Note to any and all future promotions: this is how you end a show. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the WEC’s best and brightest, and make no mistake, the WEC name is going to live on for a long, long time.

And that’s my opinion, fans and friends. Now that all is said and done, what did you think about WEC 53?

5. Leonard Garcia vs. “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.

While I think it’s debatable that this fight was one of the year’s best, it’s certainly one of the wildest brawls I’ve ever seen. I know that MMA purists like to point out that it’s a guilty pleasure at best, considering that it was basically two iron-chinned strikers throwing sloppy punches for fifteen minutes. Plus you had the outright robbery of Jung courtesy of a ridiculous call by the judges. But none of that matters to me: for fifteen minutes I got to see an amazing fight by my standards, one that might not have been masterfully technical, but one that I was glued to my screen for. It’s a bout I won’t be forgetting for a long, long time.

4. Urijah Faber and Miguel Torres.

You knew when it was time for Urijah Faber or Miguel Torres to fight. The mood changed, the air seemed to positively crackle with electricity. These two were the best of the best for a long, long time, and I immensely enjoyed watching them blast back competition again and again. Their numerous wars and hard-fought victories will always be an integral part of the WEC’s success.

3. The Ascension of Jose Aldo.

The first time I saw Jose Aldo, I had no idea what to think about him. I generally feel that way about any debuting star I’ve never heard of. Then, of course, Aldo immediately changed my perceptions. In an era where once-dominant champions continue to fall, Jose Aldo looks to be one of the rare cases of a dominant champion remaining dominant no matter who is put against him. Aldo is a phenom inside the cage, and I’ll likely never forget the way he ran straight to the top with reckless abandon and destroyed everyone in his path.

2. Seeing the WEC on Pay-Per-View.

This show was a success on so many levels. First and foremost, it was one of the best cards of the year. And if you believe the reports, the show did surprisingly well. Here’s a comparison that just might floor you: at anywhere from 150,000 to 200,000 estimated PPV buys, WEC 48: “Aldo vs. Faber” beat out both PPV shows held by the short-lived Affliction promotion, both of which featured Fedor Emelianenko. WEC’s first PPV was an incredible achievement and an incredible night of fights.

And my #1 memory just had to be…

1. My First WEC Show.

Here’s something you may not know about me, fans and friends: for the most part, I have a terrible memory. I say this because I honestly can’t remember what my first WEC show was, it’s all a happy blur to me. But I can say that I remember my exact feelings the first time I ever saw two men fight in that fancy blue cage. My initial thoughts were very hesitant, then I saw my first fight and thought “Well, that was pretty good.” After another few fights, my thoughts shifted to “Wow, those were even better.” And when I saw my first WEC main event, my final thoughts of the night were “Holy crap, that was amazing. I need to see more.” And ever since then, I was hooked. I’ll never forget the feeling I had after watching my first WEC show, because all it took was one WEC event to permanently change my opinion on lighter-weight fighters.

So that’s my list, fans and friends. What about you? What are your fondest memories from your time as a WEC fan?

Bart Palaszewski vs. Kamal Shalorus: As a fan of the short-lived, briefly-televised, and surprisingly-impactful (considering how many of its top stars have gone on to sign with major promotions) International Fight League promotion, I’m a fan of Bart Palaszewski. I think “Bartimus” has finally found some stable ground in the WEC after an up-and-down start, and I look forward to seeing him ratcheting up a fifth straight win. Based on experience and the quality of opponents beaten, I’m predicting Bart Palaszewski wins by TKO in Round 2.

Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki: As harsh as this sounds, I don’t think Chris Horodecki will ever fully emerge out of the shadow of his humiliating TKO loss to Anthony Njokuani. There’s a chance that Horodecki could beat Cerrone, but any fighter has a chance in any bout no matter what anyone says. But I just have to go with the favorite here, Donald Cerrone just got done putting on a brilliant performance and he’s proven in the past that only the best of the best can ever hope to put him away. Donald Cerrone wins by submission in Round 1.

Dominick Cruz vs. Scott Jorgensen: I have a feeling that this is going to be a benchmark-setting brawl. Both men have big punching power and the chins necessary to land shots at will without too much fear of reprisal. I think it’s very, very likely that this fight will go all five rounds. And despite the fact that Cruz swears that it won’t change anything, I think the fact that he’s fighting with a bum hand will end up costing him as the fight drags on. For those unaware, Cruz is out for four to six months after this fight, regardless of whether or not he retains his championship, in order to get surgery for a lingering hand injury. Based on his impressive skills and the fact that his opponent may end up fighting with only one arm before the night is through, I’m predicting that Scott Jorgensen takes a Split Decision.

Ben Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis: Of all the fights of WEC 53, this one is the hardest one to call. Both men are just so versatile, tough, and exciting. No matter who wins, I think this fight will be a surefire entry into the “Fight of the Year” competition. My head favors the champion, but my heart and my gut tells me that “Showtime” will find a way to win. And what fun would it be if I just went with the most logical choice all the time? I’ve got tons of respect for both men, but I’m picking Anthony Pettis to take a Unanimous Decision.

So that’s what I think, fans and friends. What about you? Who do you think will win at WEC 53, and why?

The Event: WEC 53: “Henderson vs. Pettis”, scheduled for December 16 at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The main card will be broadcast live in the Versus network starting at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET.

Why You Should Care: This is the last chance to get in on the “WEC craze” before all the good fighters wind up in the UFC. I’ve supported the WEC for quite some time, I’ve basically taken up the role of town crier because of their penchant for putting on amazing shows featuring the top lighter-weight fighters in the world. The final WEC show looks to continue the trend with two amazing title fights and an undercard filled with talent.

What to Look Forward to in the Main Event: Constant, blistering action. WEC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s the best Lightweight in the WEC, but challenger Anthony Pettis is a close second. Both men have shown a penchant for setting a ridiculously fast pace and having the cardio to keep it going for a long, long while. Plus, both men are so well-rounded that this fight could conceivably end anywhere at any time. It’s going to be an amazing fight.

What to Look Forward to in the Co- Main Event: Five rounds of two talented men duking it out and trying to crumble each other’s granite chins. Both WEC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and his opponent Scott Jorgensen are good in all the areas of the game, but far and away they’re known as good strikers with impressive cardio that know how to dominate their opponents. Considering how resilient both men have proven, this one could go all five rounds and nobody would be complaining, because both men would be looking for the KO in every round. If WEC 53 was not the WEC’s last hurrah, this could easily be headlining a show of its own.

Why You Should Watch This Card: Normally I give an entire paragraph as to why fight fans should watch this card, but for “Henderson vs. Pettis”, I only need two sentences. So here they are. One, this is the WEC’s final show. Two, this is one of the best cards the WEC has put together in a year filled with the WEC putting on amazing, fantastic shows. That’s really all you need to know. Tune in or miss out.

Why You Shouldn’t Watch This Card: This will happen very rarely in “Crash Course”, but for today’s edition I’m taking the road far less traveled: I’m not going to give any reason to not watch this card. There may be a few reasons, sure, but ultimately I think they pale in comparison to how important this card is and how much it means to all involved. The WEC deserves a fond farewell and one last big ratings bump before all is said and through, and it’s up to us as MMA fans to give it to them. Point blank: watch this card.

Closing Thoughts: I hate to see the WEC go, but I know I’m going to love its final show. I only wish I had become a fan of the WEC sooner. That’s literally my only regret in the many months I’ve spent avidly following and practically preaching about this company. I’ll be watching this one with my eyes glued to the screen, and no matter what your preferences are as an MMA fan, you should be doing the same on December 16.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any final thoughts on the WEC’s final show?

MMA Weekly reports that Omigawa has re-signed with the UFC and is expected to face Chad Mendes sometime in 2011. Omigawa competed in the UFC twice before, once in 2007 and then again in 2008, and lost both fights. After returning to his native Japan and dropping down to Featherweight, Omigawa has managed to most recently string together five straight victories since November 2009, three of those victories being first-round stoppages. Mendes, his scheduled opponent, is on a four-fight win-streak in the WEC alone, and boasts an impressive 9-0 undefeated record since making his debut as a professional MMA fighter in September 2008.

MMA Weekly also reported on the signing of Norifumi “KID” Yamamoto, who was one of Japan’s premier “bad boy” fighters for quite some time. Yamamoto famously went on an amazing fourteen-fight unbeaten streak from 2002 to 2007 that included twelve stoppage victories, a vast majority of those coming by way of (T)KO. After taking over a year off, Yamamoto would return to Japan in May 2009 and lose two straight fights. His most recent fight did see him return to form, however, as he was able to KO Federico Lopez in under two minutes at the recent “DREAM.14” event. Yamamoto is currently pegged to face Demetrius Johnson at UFC 126 in February. After losing his WEC debut, Johnson most recently won back-to-back fights in the famed blue cage.

And finally, Five Ounces of Pain reports that LC Davis will not be one of the many WEC fighters making the transition to the UFC once the promotion is folded into the UFC in early 2011. Despite making his WEC debut by winning three straight fights (all by decision), Davis most recently lost two straight, including a first-round submission loss to Josh Grispi.

I’m honestly looking forward to both Omigawa’s and Yamamoto’s fights, and while I am a bit sad to see Davis let go, I can understand the reasoning behind it. I think Omigawa has earned another shot in the UFC, and I think Yamamoto’s international status as a star will help the UFC as it continues to stretch its borders. I think both Japanese-born fighters can be very entertaining given the right opponent, and they do seem to be getting good opponents. In regards to LC Davis… it is what it is. He did lose two straight, and he was unable to finish anyone in the WEC. I think you could make a case for him getting at least one fight in the UFC, but in the end, I knew from the get-go that not every WEC fighter would be getting their invitation into the UFC, so the continued release of under-performing WEC fighters prior to the merger doesn’t surprise me in the least bit.

And what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on these two new signings or the firing?

Here’s what the current top 135-pounder in the world had to say regarding the situation over at MMA Weekly: “The doctors told me you’re going to need surgery, you’re going to need to get [your hand] fixed, and you’re going to be out for six months at least… I just did not want to be out that long. I don’t want to be the kind of champion that just sits out over and over and over, so I just decided to tough it out and take another fight and get the surgery right after this fight… It’s one of those things I’ve been putting off… I’ve been able to do everything I need to do to be 100-percent prepared, and now I’m ready to go into this fight and just do what I’ve got to do.”

I already have a ton of respect for Dominick Cruz thanks to his penchant for putting on fantastic performances, but now I think that Cruz is a true class-act for opting to fight through the pain and end his WEC career as a fighting champion rather than by sitting on the sidelines. Cruz is all heart, and Cruz/Jorgensen should be an amazing fight. Cruz swears that he’ll be good to go, but it’s going to be very interesting to see if this lingering injury plays a factor in the match itself.

I think there’s a strong possibility that this match will go into the later rounds. While both men do have some good finishes on their records, they’re also incredibly tough. If it does end up going into the fourth and fifth rounds, that’s going to be a lot of punches thrown by Dominick Cruz, a lot of pressure being put on that bad hand. Cruz’s punching power might be diminished, or he might start swinging with only one arm. Jorgensen is a good enough fighter to capitalize on any opportunity given to him, so this may help Jorgensen win the match.

Then again, it’s not a guarantee. Dominick Cruz has had a good run as WEC Bantamweight Champion, and he’s unquestionably the best Bantamweight in MMA. It’s just that Jorgensen has been on an equally stellar run lately. This is going to be a super-close battle between two true warriors, so I can’t wait to see it go down live.

And what about you, fans and friends? Do you believe Cruz when he says that this won’t hinder his performance, or do you think the fact that he’s about to take six months off to get surgery on his hand indicates that the hand is a lot worse than he says it is?

In a recent interview with ESPN UK, Marshall Zelaznik, one of the main men behind the UFC’s continuing European expansion, said the following: “When you add these lower weight belts, you’re not running the risk of the boxing terrain, because you’re not splitting weight classes to create new ones…  It would be a bigger concern if we had created a 195 weight class or something… What these new divisions do is give a platform to some of the most exciting lighter weight fighters in the world. It will bolster our fight cards.”

Both in theory and in practice, I believe that too many weight divisions can dilute the value of a championship. I hate to take a jab at boxing, because I know how easy it is to get everyone riled up when the whole “boxing vs. MMA” debate gets resurrected, but honestly… how many weight divisions are there in boxing? It seems like every other day there’s a new weight division. Can you imagine if the UFC started promoting a “Junior Welterweight” or “Super Light Heavyweight” or even a “Heavy Middleweight” division?

I hate the idea of splintering a division once… I can’t even imagine the type of damage it would do to the UFC if they splintered their divisions twice. In boxing, it seems like dividing up a weight division is nothing more than a cheap ploy to keep an undefeated fighter’s record intact by serving him up tailor-made opponents in a tailor-made weight division. And not only does holding a championship mean little since there’s so many divisions, even being a multi-division champion brings little credibility since, again, there are just so very many weight divisions.

A dominant fighter is a dominant fighter, the belt should be secondary to that fact. This is why I’m glad that the UFC won’t be splitting their divisions anytime soon. By forcing fighters to sink or swim in firmly-established divisions, you create a more-or-less equal playing field that doesn’t cater to anyone or protect anyone’s undefeated record. In MMA, nobody is unbeatable, no undefeated streak lasts forever. And that’s honestly one of the best things about this sport: anything can happen, so every event is worth watching.

I think the UFC has made a smart move in adding these two new championships, however. I’m a huge advocate of the WEC, and I think any and all preconceived notions about these two new titles devaluing all the other titles will be permanently erased in very quick fashion once UFC fans get a taste of all the great WEC stars making their way into the Octagon. And while I’m a fan of the occasional catchweight bout, I firmly believe that the UFC is making a very smart decision in not splintering any of their pre-existing weight divisions.

But what about you, fans and friends? Any thoughts on this particular situation?