For UFC veteran Jamie Varner, it's been a longtime since he's been in the winner's column. The former WEC lightweight champion had been ousted from the from the Zuffa banner after going winless in four fights, despite having fought against some of the best fighters the promotion had to offer. Varner took the opportunity to move one step closer in getting back to the big leagues when he picked up an impressive first-round submission victory at XFO 39. ...

Jeff Curran has seen and done it all. Beginning his career as a glorified lightweight, Curran made trips to the UFC against Matt Serra before making his inception in the WEC some years later, heralded as one of the best fighters in the featherweight division. With victories over the likes of Antonio Carvalho, Wagnney Fabiano, and Rafael Assuncao, Curran made the case for a title shot against then featherweight kingpin Urijah Faber, though he succumbed to a second-round guillotine choke. Since the loss, Curran's career has seen it's ups and downs, however now Jeff may have found some stability now that he's racked up consecutive victories in his last two outings and will now look to get back to the big leagues. ...

With all of the accolades bestowed upon him in his career, UFC lightweight champion, number one ranked lightweight and featherweight fighter, you would think that those alone would be enough to cement your legacy and move on. 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. ...

Lightweight "Bartimus" Bart Palaszewski (29-11) will join the Xtreme Fighting Organization 9 August in Island Lake, north of Chicago, for his next fight, Palaszewski revealed to Fighters.com Friday. "I'm going local," said the former IFL standout. No opponent has been named. Palaszewski snapped a three-fight skid with one big thwack last month in Chicago at Adrenaline MMA. Palaszewski knocked out Jeffrey Cox (9-6) with a right high kick at 3:07 of the second round. The 9 August event will be the XFO's 25th. ...