Sunday, May 19, 2013

5/19/13

Vitor Belfort pretty much saved an entire fight card on his own. UFC on FX 8 wasn't the most exciting fight card, that is until Middleweight Vitor Belfort delivered a nasty spinning kick KO in the main event. Belfort won over former Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold via KO at 2:32 of the first round. Also, Ronaldo Souza made a successful UFC debut defeating Chris Camozzi via arm triangle at 3:37 of round one.

After losing to Gleison Tibau at UFC on FX 8, Lightweight John Cholish announced that he will be retiring. He has lost his last two fights.

Pat Healy will have $130,00 in post fight bonus money taken away from him after testing positive for marijuana. Healy, a UFC Lightweight fighter, won the bonus money after submitting Jim Miller.

UFC Lightweight and Welterweight fighter Nate Diaz has been suspended for 90 days and fined $20,000 for his derogatory tweet referring to the Pat Healy situation.

The UFC has signed European Heavyweights Daniel Omielanczuk and Nikita Krylov.

Bellator Fighting Championship has announced that Bellator 96 will have a six fight main card. Bellator 96 marks the opening of the Summer Series. Added to the card is the Heavyweight tournament which will feature Vinicius Queiroz vs Rich Hale and Vitaly Minakov vs Ron Sparks.

UFC veteran Paul Kelly has been found guilty of heroin trafficking in the United Kingdom. Kelly was a UFC veteran of nine fights.

Bellator has now acquired former UFC welterweight fighter Matt Riddle. Riddle had initially signed with Legacy FC but Bellator has bought out his contract.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

5/12/13

The Maximum Fighting Championship hosted another great event with MFC 37 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In the main event the newly founded MFC Bantamweight division brought the house down. Anthony Birchak defeated Ryan Benoit by way of a unanimous decision in a fight that could arguably be fight of the year for 2013. Middleweight submission ace Luke Harris defeated Jason Zentgraf via neck crank at 2:21 of round one. Lightweight Kurt Southern defeated Mukai Maromo via north-south choke at 2:54 in round one. And in a highly controversial stoppage, Middleweight Sam Alvey defeated Jay Silva via TKO at 1:05 of round three.

Cage Warriors held their eighth fight night event which saw Welterweight Jack Mason get the unanimous decision win over Collin Reuter in the main event of the evening.

Spike TV announced the 32 member cast of the upcoming Bellator reality series "Fight Masters". The cast includes UFC and Strikeforce veteran Joe Riggs, and Bellator veterans Chris Lozano and Marcus Aurelio.

UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva was fined $50,000 for not showing up to a press conference. He later claimed he had no idea that there was a press conference.

Former UFC Heavyweight interim champion Shane Carwin announced his retirement.

The UFC announced the release of nine fighters including Bart Palaszewski, Leonard Garcia, and Pablo Garza.

After being released, Leonard Garcia has now signed with Legacy Fighting Championship.

Nick Newell, the XFC Lightweight champion and one armed fighter has been stripped of his belt after refusing to defend it at an upcoming XFC event. No word yet on if he is still with the promotion.   

Former UFC Welterweight fighter Paul Daley racked up another win. This one was at Dubai FC 4.


Sunday, May 5, 2013

5/5/13

It seems like Jesse Taylor has fought in every single MMA promotion possible. From the UFC to the MFC, he is definitely a veteran of the sport. Cage Warriors 54 had Taylor defending his Middleweight belt against John Phillips. Taylor won via guillotine choke at 2:43 of round one to retain the Middleweight strap.

Sergio Pettis (brother to UFC fighter Anthony Pettis) will headline RFA 8 against Bellator veteran Jeff Curran in a Flyweight fight. RFA 8 will take place on June 21.

In his first fight after being cut from the UFC, Lightweight Jacob Volkmann will fight Lyle "Fancy Pants" Beerbohm at WSOF 3.

In other news out of the WSOF, Tyrone Spong has been pulled from the WSOF 3 card due to visa issues. Also, UFC vet Tyson Griffin signed a multiple fight deal with the promotion.

Heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga's appeal for his recent KO loss to Travis Browne at the TUF 17 finale has been denied.

After his loss to Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen has announced he will not be retiring. In the process he called out Wanderlei Silva for a Light-Heavyweight fight. 

Robbie Peralta has tested positive for Marijuana following his UFC on FUEL TV 9 loss. He now faces suspension and rehab.

Multiple fights have been announced for the Bellator Summer Series kick off at Bellator 96. Michael Chandler will defend his Lightweight belt against tournament winner Dave Jansen. Also the Light Heavyweight tournament opening round will feature Muhammad "King Mo" Lawal vs Seth Petruzelli and Jacob Noe vs Renato Sobral.

Longtime UFC Heavyweight Cheick Kongo has been removed from the UFC roster. He has not been cut however, the removal was prompted by the refusal to sign a new contract with the promotion.