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Courtesy MMALifestyles.com

Recently, a light heavyweight tilt has now come to fruition for a 2012 tussle.

Former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has expressed his sentiments in wanting to compete in the impeding Japan venture, as the organization returns to the Land of the Rising Sun come this February.

The juggernaut mixed martial arts organization returns to Japan for the first time in more than 11 years, as they gear up for UFC 144, which features a lightweight affair pitting champion Frankie Edgar against top contender Ben Henderson.

Likely taking co-main event honors will be Jackson as he prepares to take on season eight winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Ryan Bader. UFC exec Lorenzo Fertitta recently revealed the news with ESPN.

Jackson campaigned for the Japan card thanks to his ties with the country, having cultivated his MMA career under the now defunct Pride banner, where the American was part of many memorable battles with notable opposition in Chuck Liddell, Ricardo Arona, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Wanderlei Silva.

The 33 year old hopes to make an emphatic return to the win column following his loss to current 205-pound kingpin Jon Jones this September at UFC 135, which saw Jackson succumb to a fourth round rear-naked choke finish.

In his way back to the top will be Bader, who recently snapped a two fight skid this past Saturday. The TUF alumnus returned to his winning ways when he defeated Jason Brilz at UFC 139, knocking out the touted wrestler inside of the first round, in a little over a minute.

Against these two heavy hitters, a finish seems imminent, with the winner being just a few moves away from a return back to the top of the division.

Courtesy MMALifestyles.com

President says Chael Sonnen Possible for UFC on FOX 2

Following tonight’s UFC 139 post-fight press conferences, President Dana White was reeling with new ideas for the immediate future.

While it was widely considered that Chael Sonnen would be facing champion Anderson Silva in a highly anticipated rematch come next year, it looks like “The Spider” is still on the mend from a shoulder injury suffered prior to his August tussle with Yushin Okami in Rio, where the Brazilian scored a second round TKO over the perennial contender.
Sonnen is recently removed from an impressive second round submission victory over the then surging Brian Stann. Chael wasted little time in dominating the heavy hitter early with pressure, muscling him against the cage before settling for takedown after takedown.

As the battle wore on, Sonnen continued to assert his dominance where he eventually settled for the fight ending arm triangle choke.

Following the UFC 136 victory, Sonnen called out Silva who was in attendance, in one of those most epic post-fight speeches in UFC history, stating “Anderson Silva you absolutely suck”. Sonnen called for a Super Bowl weekend fight with Silva, though the likely hood now seems bleak.

Instead, the UFC head honcho in White is now considering Sonnen for a possible slot in the impromptu UFC on FOX 2 event, which takes place this January in Chicago.

Now particular opponent has been mentioned, though White said that an answer could be reached as early as Monday.
Stay tuned to MMA Lifestyles for more breaking news.

UFC 139 Results: Dan Henderson Deserves a Shot at Jon Jones

UFC 136 Medical Suspensions: Gray Maynard Out For 60 Days

Last Saturday, the UFC took the show on the road as the organization traveled to Houston, Texas for UFC 136, which took place at the Toyota Center and featured two titles on the line.

In the main event, challenger Gray Maynard met with rival Frankie Edgar in the highly anticipated rubber match. After a shaky first round from the New Jersey native, Edgar began pouring it on in the later stages of the bout, ultimately catching Maynard with a strong uppercut. Edgar eventually closed the show with successive right’s that earned the titleholder the TKO finish.

As a result of the loss, Maynard will now be sidelined until December 8th, where he could later be cleared to fight by a doctor, but no sooner than the suggested date.

Here is the full list of combatants that have since been sidelined by the Texas State Athletic Commission

Gray Maynard – Suspended until Dec. 8
Frankie Edgar – Suspended until Nov. 23
Leonard Garcia – Suspended until Nov. 23
Mike Massenzio – Suspended until Nov. 23
Eric Schafer – Suspended until Nov. 8

UFC® HITS THE PALMS IN LAS VEGAS ON DEC. 3
WITH THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® FINALE

FIVE-ROUND MAIN EVENT
MICHAEL BISPING vs. JASON MILLER

PLUS, BANTAMWEIGHT AND FEATHERWEIGHT BOUTS
TO DETERMINE WINNERS OF SEASON 14 OF
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®

From the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nev.
Saturday, Dec. 3

Tickets Go On Sale Friday, Oct. 7 at 12 p.m. PT

Las Vegas – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® returns to the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort on Saturday, Dec. 3 just in time for Michael “The Count” Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller to settle a feud that has been spilling over for months. The middleweights, who traded verbal barbs for months as coaches on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter®, will meet in a long-awaited five-round main event in Las Vegas. Plus, the first-ever bantamweight and featherweight winners of The Ultimate Fighter® will be crowned.

“Bisping and ‘Mayhem’ spent the last few months as TUF coaches and they really got on each other’s nerves,” UFC President Dana White said. “On Dec. 3, the talking finally ends and these two will go at it inside the Octagon. There’s a lot at stake in this fight. Not only do they get to settle their feud, but they get to prove that they belong in the mix to fight Anderson Silva.”

Tickets for The Ultimate Fighter® Finale go on sale Friday, Oct. 7 at 12 p.m. PT and will be priced at $450.00, $350.00 and $200.00. Tickets will be available at the Pearl box office, online at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices do not include service charges.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. PT via the website ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Thursday, Oct. 6 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through ufc.com.

The Ultimate Fighter® Finale will be televised nationally live on Spike TV beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Winner of season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter®, Michael “The Count” Bisping (fighting out of Manchester, England) is one of the most successful products of the longest running sports reality show on television. Riding consecutive wins over Dan Miller, Yoshihiro Akiyama and Jorge Rivera, the 32-year-old now has his sights set on dominating his opponent on Dec. 3. Knowing a win puts him in contention for a title shot, the motivated Brit Bisping (22-3) seeks his fourth straight against a foe who has pushed his buttons for the last time.

“Jason is one of those guys that you either love him or you hate him,” Bisping said. “I definitely don’t like him. I think most people around him find him very, very annoying. I know people on The Ultimate Fighter did and I was no different. On Dec. 3, I’m going to kick his ass.”

A charismatic performer in and out of the Octagon®, Jason “Mayhem” Miller (fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif.) returns to the UFC on a two-fight winning streak. The 30-year-old’s next task is besting Bisping, and after months of trading verbal jabs on TUF, he’d like nothing more than to shut him up when the two collide at the Palms.

“I definitely got under his skin during the season,” Miller, who owns a record of 34-8 with one no contest, said. “We hate each other’s guts at this point and on Dec. 3, we’re going to get in the cage across from each other and settle it. I’m excited for this fight.”

To find out which bantamweight and welterweight competitors reach The Ultimate Fighter® Finale, tune in to The Ultimate Fighter® Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SPIKE.

Remaining bouts for the card will be released at a later date. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

Maximum Fighting Championship

Press Conference

Jimmo defends MFC light-heavyweight title against Sokoudjou

The Maximum Fighting Championship, Canada’s undisputed No. 1 mixed martial arts organization,
returns to Edmonton, Alberta, for a spectacular night of high-octane action with a sensational lineup
including a world-class title fight at MFC 31: The Rundown.

The official press conference for MFC 31 will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 5 at Nicholson
Chevrolet – a proud sponsor of the Maximum Fighting Championship.

On Friday, October 7, the Maximum Fighting Championship unleashes MFC 31: The Rundown at the
Mayfield Conference Centre in Edmonton, and will air live throughout North America on HDNet – the
premium U.S. cable network created by famed entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban.

At the MFC 31 Press Conference, MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich will have a special announcement
regarding two major initiatives for the Maximum Fighting Championship.

MFC 31: The Rundown features one of the most hotly anticipated title fights in MFC history has
Ryan “The Big Deal” Jimmo puts his light-heavyweight championship on the line against internationally
renowned competitor “The African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Both fighters are among the
world’s best – Jimmo ranked No. 23 and Sokoudjou ranked No. 30, according to Fight Matrix (http://

www.fightmatrix.com/mma-ranks/light-heavyweight-185-205-lbs/).

Jimmo (15-1) will be putting his title belt on the line as well as a 15-fight winning streak, the second-
longest streak in all of mixed martial arts. Jimmo, who defeated Dwayne Lewis at MFC 28 to claim
the championship, will have plenty of support behind him as he fights in his adopted hometown of
Edmonton, Alberta.

Meanwhile, “The African Assassin” Sokoudjou (12-8), a native of Cameroon who fights out of San Diego,
California, enters the MFC for the first time riding a three-fight winning streak and presents the biggest
test to Jimmo’s career having already captured notable victories over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Ricardo
Arona, and Bob Sapp.

The MFC 31 card also marks the return of the organization’s hottest prospect as Dhiego “Maluco” Lima
(6-0) looks to take one more step towards a shot at the MFC welterweight title when he faces iron-
tough veteran Terry Martin (21-9). Lima, who fights out of Atlanta, Georgia, and is coming off a first-
round knockout finish of Jamie Toney at MFC 30, has vowed to finish Martin faster than his brother and
former MFC welterweight champ Douglas Lima did at MFC 29.

A trio of exciting lightweight fights will anchor the MFC 31 card including the most anticipated clash
pitting devastating striker Richie “Hell Boy” Whitson (11-1) against electrifying “Ragin” Kajan Johnson
(18-11-1). Whitson, who fights out of Temecula, California, returns to the MFC following his Fight of the
Year epic at MFC 28, and he hopes a victory at MFC 31 while propel him to the top of the contender list
for the MFC’s 155-pound division title. Johnson, who is from Vancouver, B.C., has designs on the title,
too, and needs a big win over Whitson to stake his claim.

In another lightweight tussle, crowd favorite Curtis “The Demon” Demarce (11-9) squares off against
organizational newcomer and former U.S. Marine Adam Lynn (16-8). Demarce, originally from Brandon,
Manitoba, and now training out of San Diego, California, is already a two-time contender for 2011 MFC
Fight of the Year. Lynn, who hails from San Clemente, California, comes into his first test in the MFC a
winner in five straight.

Rounding out the battle of the lightweights is a showdown between two exciting up-and-comers
with blossoming sensation Sabah Fadai (7-1) taking on hometown young star Mukai Maromo (5-2).
Fadai, “The Persian Warrior” who is from Vancouver, B.C., joins the MFC following an undefeated run
of success fighting in Asia, while Maromo, who now makes Edmonton, Alberta, home is coming off a
Knockout of the Night effort at MFC 30.

Opening up the action on the HDNet Fights broadcast will be a welterweight bout between Cody Krahn
(10-4) and Ryan Chiappe (8-6). Krahn, an Edmonton, Alberta, native, will be out to avenge a loss suffered

at MFC 30. Chiappe, who is originally from Prince George, B.C., makes his organizational debut with six
career knockouts and has been the winner in four of his last five fights.

Three undercard bouts, featuring home-town fighters, complete the lineup for MFC 31: The Rundown:

*Welterweight – Dajan Kajic, Vancouver, B.C. vs. Mike Froese, Edmonton, Alberta

*Lightweight – James Haddad, Calgary, Alberta vs. Garret Nybakken, Edmonton, Alberta

*Lightweight – Dan Ring, Vancouver, B.C. vs. Neal Anderson, Edmonton, Alberta

Quick Results Dream 17:

Shinya Aoki defeats Rob McCullough via submission (neck-crank) at 4:52 of 1st round.
Tatsuya Kawajiri defeats Joachim Hansen via submission (arm-triangle) at 2:30 of 3rd rond.
Takeshi Inoue defeats Caol Uno via KO at4:17 of 1st round.
Yan Cabral defeats Kazushi Sakuraba via submission (arm-triangle) at 2:42 of 2nd round.
Satoru Kitaoka defeats Willamy Freire via split decision
Gerald Harris defeats Kazuhiro Nakamura via split decision

Dream Bantamweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinals

Antonio Banuelos defeats Hideo Tokoro via split decision
Bibiano Fernandes defeats Takafumi Otsuka via KO at 0:41 of 1st round.
Masakazu Imanari defeats Abel Cullum via submission (arm-bar) at 0:46 of 3rd round.
Rodolfo Marques defeats Yusup Saadulaev via unanimous decision

Bellator’s highly-anticipated Season 5 Preview Show

Bellator’s highly-anticipated Season 5 Preview Show
Airing on MTV2 and Spike.com all this week

CHICAGO, Ill. (September 7, 2011) — Before Bellator Fighting Championships kicks off its talent-laden fifth season this Saturday at 9 p.m. EST, MTV2 and Spike.com are airing a Season 5 preview special that gives an in-depth look at the promotion’s upcoming welterweight, middleweight, bantamweight and heavyweight tournaments and uncovers the stories behind these world-class athletes competing for their shot at the title.

The preview special is scheduled to air three times on MTV2 before Saturday’s season opener from Caesars in Atlantic City, N.J.:

Wednesday, September 07- 2:30 p.m. EST on MTV2
Friday, September 09- 2:30 a.m. EST on MTV2
Saturday, September 10- 8:30 p.m. EST on MTV2

The Season 5 preview show can also be viewed on Spike.com, which will also stream LIVE undercard fights throughout the 12-week season. The video can be seen here: http://bit.ly/r4BxMU
Bellator’s fifth season will feature tournaments in the welterweight, middleweight, bantamweight and heavyweight divisions, a number of championship fights and a host of special feature fights. The full list of tournament matchups can be found below.

Welterweights (Sept. 10 – Caesar’s / Atlantic City, N.J.)
Douglas Lima vs. Steve Carl
Dan Hornbuckle vs. Luis Santos
Ben Saunders vs. Chris Cisneros
Brent Weedman vs. Chris Lozano

Middleweights (Sept. 17 – Seminole Hard Rock / Hollywood, Fla)
Bryan Baker vs. Jared Hess
Alexander Shlemenko vs. Zelg Galesic
Vitor Vianna vs. Sam Alvey
Brian Rogers vs. Victor O’Donnell

Bantamweights (Sept. 24 – Canton Civic Center / Canton, Ohio)
Joe Warren vs. Alexis Vila
Eduardo Dantas vs. Wilson Reis
Ed West vs. Luiz Nogueira
Marcos Galvao vs. Chase Beebe

Heavyweights (Oct. 1 – L’Auberge du Lac / Lake Charles, La.)
Mark Holata vs. Ron Sparks
Neil Grove vs. Mike Hayes
Blagoi Ivanov vs. Thiago Santos
Eric Prindle vs. Abe Wagner

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator

Company’s Offerings Feature Highly Anticipated Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®3, Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure™ and PROTOTYPE® 2 Invitation-Only Public Beta Test for Groundbreaking New Online Service Call of Duty® Elite Expected to Begin July 14, 2011

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) is proud to present the latest in immersive entertainment at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 7 — 9, 2011. Activision’s newest innovations will be on display in booth number 647 in the South Hall.

Headlining the company’s lineup are four key offerings:

The blockbuster Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3, the most anticipated game of 2011.
Call of Duty Elite, an innovative online platform built from the ground up for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 that will unite and ignite more than 30 million Call of Duty players worldwide.
Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure™, an entertainment breakthrough that brings the world of toys, video games and the Internet together in an unprecedented way.
And PROTOTYPE® 2, the sequel to 2009′s best-selling open-world action video game that continues the experience of becoming a deadly shape-shifting weapon, this time following the game’s all-new protagonist Sgt. James Heller as he pursues his ultimate goal — to destroy Alex Mercer!

As the follow up to the biggest opening entertainment launch in history twice, and the most anticipated release of the year, pre-order reservations for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 have already kicked-off at a record-setting pace. Stated Bob McKenzie, senior vice president of merchandising, GameStop, “Last year, Call of Duty: Black Ops became the most pre-ordered title in our history. Already, this year, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is significantly ahead of that pace. Our customers’ response to the reveal of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has been amazing.”

Additionally, Activision announced today that the invitation-only public beta for its innovative new online service Call of Duty Elite is expected to begin July 14, 2011. While the full capabilities of the service will not be on display until the launch of Modern Warfare 3, the beta will give users a taste of the experience and allow the service to be tested by gamers currently playing Call of Duty®: Black Ops multiplayer. In its five days since announcement, the beta has already surpassed over 1 million registrants. For more information about Call of Duty Elite, players can visit www.callofduty.com.

Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, said, “We are putting more focus, creativity and investment into every game we make than ever before. By developing deep, connected and engaging experiences we are staying ahead of the innovation curve and offering players unique entertainment experiences. We are particularly excited about our new service Call of Duty Elite, which we believe will reset the bar for multiplayer and create a connected entertainment community around Call of Duty like nothing else in the industry. Many of the service’s key features are free to players of all supported Call of Duty titles, which will elevate fans’ multiplayer experience beyond anything currently available in the market.”

McKenzie added, “GameStop’s customers are constantly looking for new and exciting ways to enhance their game playing experience. The Call of Duty Elite service is a win for gamers with new services like social networking components and access to great DLC, but without changing key game functionality like multiplayer access. We are pleased to have an additional Call of Duty product for our customers during the Nov. 8 launch of the highly anticipated sequel Modern Warfare 3.”

Activision’s E3 Slate Includes:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – Co-developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, Modern Warfare® 3 is set in a world on the edge of annihilation as Makarov and his terrorist organization unleash destruction and chaos across the globe. Playing as a member of several special-forces units and armed with the most advanced weaponry, players work with Delta operators and reunite with familiar characters to enter a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse as they race across the globe to stop a mad man before it’s too late. Modern Warfare 3 advances the 60 fps Modern Warfare tech to deliver exhilarating, action-packed experiences across Single Player, Special Ops and Online Multiplayer modes.

Call of Duty Elite — Designed from the ground up to integrate with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty Elite gives players unprecedented control over their multiplayer experience, transforming it into a true social experience. The innovative online service ups the ante of any online service by offering a range of innovations on well-established multiplayer features, such as leaderboards, heat maps, and rich player data. Several other Elite features are completely new to the industry. For example, with Elite’s new Groups feature players can join custom groups based on their likes, interests, or affiliations, and then have those groups follow you directly into the game. Additionally, players can customize weapons, attachments and perks and push them directly into the game menu. Those gamers who want to continue to play multiplayer out of the box, or purchase downloadable content a la carte throughout the year can continue to do so.

Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure — Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure is an innovative new universe that brings the world of toys, video games and the Internet together in an unprecedented way. Through an inventive use of technology, players use the Portal of Power™ to bring their toys to life in a mystical new universe called Skylands. The Skylanders come to life inside the game across multiple gaming platforms including console, handheld and mobile devices and on the web, remembering achievements and level-ups wherever they go. The starter pack will include the game, three Skylanders figures and the Portal of Power™. The starter pack lets players experience the full adventure but there will be more than 30 other characters which further expand and enhance the experience. (Developed by Toys for Bob; Wii™ and Nintendo 3DS™, Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Windows PC, mobile devices; not yet rated by the ESRB).

PROTOTYPE 2 – PROTOTYPE 2 takes the unsurpassed carnage of the original PROTOTYPE and continues the experience of becoming the ultimate shape-shifting weapon. As the game’s all-new infected protagonist — Sgt. James Heller — players will cut a bloody swath through the wastelands of post-viral New York Zero (NYZ) as they build up a genetic arsenal of deadly biological weapons and abilities, and hunt and consume their way toward the ultimate goal…to kill Alex Mercer. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/Prototype. (Developed by Radical Entertainment for Xbox 360™, PlayStation®3 system and Windows PC; not yet rated by the ESRB.)

Spider-Man™: Edge of Time – Playing the roles of Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Man: Edge of Time propels gamers on a high-octane, adrenaline-fueled adventure in which the two versions of the heroic web-slinger must urgently work together across time to save each other and prevent a disaster that ultimately leads to the death of Amazing Spider-Man. Against the backdrop of a rich, tightly crafted narrative by acclaimed Marvel veteran Peter David, the game features two individual timelines evolving in parallel and narratively-driven “cause-and-effect” moments, uniquely utilizing “picture-in-picture” moments where the actions of one Spider-Man have immediate effects on the other Spider-Man and his surroundings. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/HeroHQ. (Developed by Beenox for Xbox 360™, PlayStation®3 system, Wii, and Nintendo 3DS™; developed by Other Ocean for Nintendo DS™; not yet rated by the ESRB.)

X-Men™ Destiny – In X-Men Destiny, players control the fate of one of three brand-new mutant characters forced to choose between saving humanity or ensuring its destruction. The game allows players to customize the path, powers and development of their character and to decide their role in the mutant cause alongside, or against, some of Marvel’s greatest X-Men franchise characters. Gamers will evolve their mutant skills through a unique upgrade system that allows them to choose how they will mix and match the powers from their favorite X-Men and Brotherhood characters, then engage in fast and furious combat against a variety of opponents bent on defending their beliefs. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/HeroHQ. (Developed by Silicon Knights for Xbox 360™, PlayStation®3 system, and Wii; developed by Other Ocean for Nintendo DS™; not yet rated by the ESRB.)

The Transformers™: Dark of the Moon video game thrusts players directly into an original prologue storyline to experience the epic battles on Earth that will shape the events of the upcoming blockbuster film. Armed with a new gameplay mechanic called Stealth Force™, fans will be able to instantly convert to a third, hybrid state that combines the weapons and firepower of Robot Mode with the agility and maneuverability of Vehicle Mode. Set in unique environments around the world such as the Jungles of Central America, Siberian military facilities, Urban Cityscapes and more, the game lets players assume the roles of a diverse roster of favorite TRANSFORMERS characters from the movie through a heart-pounding campaign to save mankind. (Developed by High Moon for Xbox 360™ and PlayStation®3 system; developed by Behaviour Interactive for Wii, Nintendo 3DS™, and Nintendo DS™; rated “T” for Teen on Xbox 360™ and PlayStation®3 system and “E10+” on Wii, Nintendo 3DS™, and Nintendo DS™ by the ESRB.)

Wappy Dog – The next evolution of virtual pets arrives on the Nintendo DS™ family of handheld systems this holiday season in Wappy Dog, a toy puppy that interacts with the player through the Nintendo DS. Wappy Dog engages young gamers to raise their very own puppy in both the real and virtual worlds and teach it cool tricks, play mini-games together and even converse! Each pet is a fully personalized experience, enabling players to determine their pet’s constantly evolving skills with every interaction and customize both the in-game version and physical dog with different colors and accessories. For more information, please visit www.WappyDog.com. (Developed by SEGA TOYS for the Nintendo DS™; not yet rated by the ESRB.)

For assets and more information on Activision’s E3 videogame line-up, please visit www.activision.com/presscenter.

The Maximum Fighting Championship has terminated the contract of Hermes Franca as a fighter with the organization.

An immediate search is underway to replace Franca who was slated to fight Drew Fickett on Friday, June 10 at MFC 30: Up Close & Personal. Fickett’s new opponent is expected to be announced shortly.

“Mr. Franca’s legal situation is a matter in the hands of law enforcement officials and soon to be going before the courts and because of that there will not be any further comment on those allegations, but I have taken immediate action to indicate that he is no longer going to be part of my organization,” stated MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.

“We were informed about his arrest and pending trial, and as of 10:30 a.m. MT today, he has been released. These are serious allegations that he is facing and I do not want the Maximum Fighting Championship associated in any way with these matters.”

On top of legal difficulties that were revealed today, Franca twice fought outside of the MFC while under contract with the organization.

“Mr. Franca breached his contract by fighting outside of the organization only 15 days after his bout at MFC 29, and then he fought again six days after that in Brazil and lost,” said Pavelich.

“I find his these actions to be incredibly disrespectful to my company and Mr. Franca is no longer welcome as part of the Maximum Fighting Championship.”

At UFC 130 two of the best fighters at 155 pounds meet in the octagon to settle the score!

Michael Chandler (6-0) and his Bellator 40 opponent Lloyd “Cupcake” Woodard (11-0) have many similarities going into their semifinal fight on Saturday night LIVE on MTV2. Both fighters ended their Lightweight Tournament quarterfinal fights with authority at Bellator 36 – Chandler by first round arm triangle choke of Polish Prodigy Marcin Held and Woodard by second round TKO of the Greg Jackson trained Carey Vanier. Both overcame adversity in their fights – Chandler in the form of a tight kneebar attempt by Held and Woodard in the form of relentless takedown attempts by Vanier. Both fighters maintained their undefeated records.

But after all is said and done on Saturday night one of these lightweights will walk away with their first professional defeat and one will walk into the Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament finals.

Former Division I All-American wrestler Michael Chandler, who has finished all six of his six professional fights, believes it will be him that walks away with the victory and his ticket to the finals.

“I give Lloyd [Woodard] a lot of credits for stopping the takedown attempts from Carey Vanier, but I don’t think he’s going to be able to stop my Division I takedowns if that’s what I decide to do,” said Chandler. “Against a guy like Lloyd Woodard, I feel like I’m literally going to have to go out there and tear his heart from his chest to beat him. I want to go out there and send a message. I’m winning this tournament, and I will be the next Bellator Lightweight World Champion.”

“Cupcake” begs to differ, stating that Chandlers wrestling pedigree actually plays to his advantage.

“Just knowing that Michael Chandler is a really good wrestler makes it easier for me to stuff his shots. I’m able to anticipate that he will be trying to take me down at some point in the fight,” said Woodard. “The plan is to defend the takedowns and knock him out. I want to beat him up. I know that he’s never gone the distance so I want to put him through a battle and see how he reacts. . I’ve been counted out before and I haven’t lost yet. I don’t see this fight being any different.”

“Both of the guys are undefeated, both had great performances in their quarter-final fights and both believe 110% that they will walk away Saturday night with a ticket to the finals. This should be a great fight,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

Seizing the opportunity to jump to the main card after Josh Bacallao was forced to withdraw due to an injury, Beau ‘Blackjack’ Baker now finds himself kicking off M-1 Global’s debut event on Showtime against a much tougher opponent, undefeated, top-ranked European prospect Alexander ‘The Tiger’ Sarnavskiy. Fans can catch the battle between these two rising stars LIVE on SHOWTIME on Friday, March 25 at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
A well-sized lightweight standing 5’9″, Baker has had good success fighting up a division but prefers to leverage his natural advantages as a 155’er. A former division-one collegiate wrestler from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Baker made his successful professional MMA debut in 2007 and quickly went on a tear to win four in a row, three by way of crafty submissions; favouring to venture to the mat versus standing up, the 31 year old freestyle fighter out of the MMA Institute in Harrisonburg, Virginia now boasts a respectful 8-3 as a pro with notable wins over Ran Weathers and Ron Foster and.

Baker began wrestling at the age of 10 and went on to become a two-time state high school champion. It wasn’t until he and his younger brother Kyle, who is also a professional fighter, watched Bas Rutten’s collection of instructional DVDs that he learned many of the skills he would use throughout his fighting career. The two started in the basement where Baker went on to develop his self-trained abilities. After only three months of diligent ‘basement training’, ‘Blackjack’ took his first amateur fight and after a year on that circuit he made the decision to go pro. Four years later he and his brother have a 6000 square foot gym with over 50 members and managed to win over 75% of the 100+ fights their athletes have competed in

Having great respect for Russian fighters, especially Fedor Emelianenko, Baker feels the Europeans ‘bring a unique stand-up element to MMA… a different technique in how they throw hooks, turn their hands over and loop their punches in addition to melding the different styles together.” Respecting Sarnavskiy’s striking and kicks and knowing he is good on the ground, Baker’s methodical and tactical aggressive style can be leveraged as an advantage over his opponent’s wild exchanges. Baker’s wrestling and scrambling ability could prove to be a big asset if he uses this to take Sarnavskiy down, use a relentless ground and pound to subdue his undefeated opponent and set up a submission or TKO victory.

Known for his lethal grappling ability, fast hands and iron chin, Baker has faced high calibre competition throughout his career; although he hasn’t won all his fights against recognizable names, he continues to build his experience and he’s ready to peak against Sarnavskiy.