October 11, 2008
UFC 90 is just around the corner and mixed martial arts fans are just waiting in anticipation over some of the brawls that will transpire at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The event, which will commence on October 25, will feature middleweight champion Anderson Silva facing off against Patrick Côté in the main event. While that fight alone is enough reason to tune in to UFC 90, there's another explosive match up fans are looking forward to: Marcus Aurelio versus Hermes Franca.
Both from Fortaleza, Brazil, Aurelio and Franca have many similarities between them. They are both masters in jiu-jitsu, they both presently live in Florida and they are both in their mid 30s. But perhaps the biggest connection between these two fighters is the fact that Franca was a student and Aurelio was his teacher.
October 4, 2008
UFC has finally extended its arm to the third largest island in Europe. It was recently announced that the mixed martial arts organization will kickoff next year with a star-studded UFC 93 card at the O2-Dublin in Dublin, Ireland on January 17, 2009.
According to the press release, former two-division world champion Dan Henderson will come to blows with former UFC middleweight king Rich Franklin in three-round war in the light heavyweight main event.
September 26, 2008
UFC has officially added a lightweight title fight between Alvin Robinson and Mark Bocek to what is expected to be the biggest UFC event in history. UFC 91, which is scheduled to take place on November 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, will see both fighters as they get back on the Octagon after losing to their respective opponents from their most recent bout. While Bocek is coming off from a loss to Mac Danzig at UFC 83 - Serra vs. St. Pierre II, Robinson lost his last fight to Nate Diaz at UFC Fight Night 12.
Born in Canada, Bocek successfully entered the mixed martial arts scene as he won against Mark Colangelo at TKO 15 – Unstoppable in 2004. This was followed by three consecutive victories, which saw the 26-year-old fighter beat Kevin Manderson, John Mahlow and Garett Davis. In July 2007, however, Bocek got his first taste of defeat as he lost to Frank Edgar at UFC 73 – Stacked. He then bounced back at UFC 79 – Nemesis to beat Doug Evans only to lose again at the hands of Mac Danzig in April this year.
September 24, 2008
UFC has just welcomed Ivan Serati, Italian mixed martial artist who currently fights in the United Kingdom, to its light heavyweight division. An aggressive warrior in UWC and Cage Rage, he currently holds the record of 10 wins and two losses, winning nine times within the first minute of the fight by either TKO or submission.
“It has always been my dream to fight for the best promotion in the world and now it has become a reality,” Serati said. “I feel very excited to bring my skills to the UFC. This means everything to me and everything to my country.”
September 19, 2008
Tomorrow, mixed martial arts fans can finally grab a hold of tickets for what is expected to be the biggest UFC event in history. According to the press release, the public sale will start at 11am PT and tickets will be priced at $1000, $750, $500, $300, $150 and $75.
“Our estimates project that UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar will be the highest grossing UFC pay-per-view event in history,” UFC president Dana White said.
September 14, 2008
Evan Tanner, former UFC Middleweight and USWF Heavyweight champion with a professional record of 32 wins and eight losses, passed away at the age of 37 on September 8.
The mixed martial arts fighter went on a camping trip in the Palo Verde mountain area and had not answered friends' text messages since last Wednesday. He was officially reported missing last Friday and was found dead by an Imperial County Sheriff's Department Deputy on Monday.
September 3, 2008
The past year has been laden with nothing but legal battles for Randy Couture, who previously claimed that UFC lacked the support he needed in order to further his career with them. On Tuesday, however, UFC and Couture announced that they have finally come to terms regarding their previous disagreement. In fact, the 45-year-old fighter is set to return to the wrestling battlefield on November 15th in Las Vegas, Nevada. There, he will finally get to defend his title against Brock Lesnar.
“We've resolved them all,” Dana White said of the differences UFC had with Couture. “He's always been the heavyweight champion of the UFC. ... All I care about is that [Couture] is back and fighting.”
August 26, 2008
Last July 15, Quinton Rampage Jackson lived up to his name when he figured in a high-speed, three-car collision, and car chase, prompting the police to arrest him. He now faces multiple felony charges, including felony evading, reckless driving, and hit and run. According to a police witness, Jackson weaved in and out of traffic while talking on his phone. He plowed into the sidewalk narrowly avoiding pedestrians. The ensuing car chase had him evading the authorities, who report that he was involved in at least two more collisions before that one.
One of those who were in Jackson's path during the rampage, Holli Griggs, 38, of Huntington Beach, California, was 16 weeks pregnant during the time of the incident and suffered a miscarriage. She filed a civil suit against Jackson for hit-and-run.