Nunes Confirms UFC 135 Exit, Awaits Gamburyan in December
(sherdog.com)Previously scheduled to compete on the main card of UFC 135 “Jones vs. Rampage,” featherweight contender Diego Nunes will wait a little longer to return to the Octagon.
Nunes’ original opponent for the Sept. 24 event in Denver, Manny Gamburyan, announced his withdrawal from the bout on Aug. 15 due to a shoulder injury. Along with his team at Nova Uniao, Nunes decided not to accept another matchup, citing injuries and personal problems.
“I won’t fight [at UFC 135] anymore. The UFC didn’t find an opponent quickly and I also got injured in training,” Nunes explained Monday to Sherdog.com. “I’m suffering with painful tendonitis in my left arm, and I also had a problem in my hometown, where some people tried to murder my father. It was the best decision [to postpone the fight] so I can travel south to see my family.”
White: Middleweight fights remain for Silva, but GSP matchup starting to "make sense"
(mmajunkie.com)Before Anderson Silva's UFC 134 victory, UFC president Dana White mentioned Georges St-Pierre as a possible future opponent.
And following Silva's destruction of Yushin Okami in his record ninth straight title defense, White isn't changing his tune.
White said challenges remain for Silva at middleweight, but he said the time is approaching for a cross-division super fight between the UFC's two longest-reigning titleholders.
After UFC 134 win, "Shogun" Rua possibly one win away from Jon Jones rematch
(mmajunkie.com)RIO DE JANEIRO – Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua had much reason to celebrate his UFC 134 win over Forrest Griffin.
The victory served as revenge for a 2007 loss to Griffin and helped keep Rua relevant in the UFC's 205-pound title picture.
But Rua said the celebration will be only mild. Satisfaction will come only when current champ Jon Jones has been defeated.
Sam Stout withdraws from UFC 137
(mmajunkie.com)Lightweight Sam Stout has withdrawn from a fight with fellow lightweight Dennis Siver at UFC 137.
A source close to the fighter today told MMAjunkie.com of the bad news. A replacement has yet to be confirmed.
The London, Ontario, Canada native suffered a devastating blow earlier this month with the death of his brother-in-law and longtime trainer, Shawn Tompkins.
Maia vs. Santiago, Pettis vs. Stephens set for Spike TV's UFC 136 "UFC Prelims"
(mmajunkie.com)Brazil may currently be the focus of the MMA world, but the Ultimate Fighting Championship is already looking toward its October plans in Houston.
While MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first announced that October's UFC 136 would feature a "UFC Prelims" special on Spike TV, the world's biggest MMA promotion has now made the plans official.
Demian Maia (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) vs. Jorge Santiago (23-9 MMA, 1-3 UFC) and Anthony Pettis (13-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) vs. Jeremy Stephens (20-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) will be broadcast during the one-hour special...
"Bang" Ludwig goes into surgery next week, stumps for UFC's fastest-KO record
(mmajunkie.com)Duane "Bang" Ludwig would like the books corrected.
Although Todd Duffee is officially listed as the record-holder for the fastest knockout in UFC history, Ludwig said that's not so, and he's not the only one who believes the record is his.
Following UFC 134 and just before neck surgery next week, the Denver-based fighter told MMAjunkie.com Radio that he's reaching out to the Nevada State Athletic Commission to see if officials will correct the issue.
UFC president warms to possibility of Tito Ortiz vs. Rich Franklin
(mmajunkie.com)Fans are not likely to see Rich Franklin vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira rebooked for a later date.
Franklin, a former middleweight champ, is being eyed for a different light-heavyweight fight, according to UFC president Dana White.
"We do like the idea of Tito (Ortiz) vs. Rich Franklin," he said today during an official UFC video chat hosted by Ustream.
UFC Newbies Walel Watson and Joseph Sandoval Debut at UFC on Versus 6
(mmaweekly.com)The UFC welcomes to newbie bantamweights to the fold at UFC on Versus 6 on Oct. 1 in Washington, DC.
The promotion on Thursday announced via Twitter that Walel Watson and Joseph Sandoval would debut when the UFC heads to the U.S. capitol for the first time.
Watson is 8-2 in his professional career fighting predominantly for the Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico. He trains along top female fighter Liz Carmouche at Team Hurricane Awesome.
Anderson Silva Not Fighting on November 12th UFC on Fox Card
(bloodyelbow.com)Dana White did an interview with MMA Fighting today in Rio while doing the rounds to promote UFC 134, and was asked about the rumor that Anderson Silva might face Dan Henderson in the main event of the first UFC on Fox show on November 12th. White immediately shot the rumor down. Here's what he had to say (transcribed by MMA Mania):
"It's not true. I saw that rumor too, yesterday I was cruising around on the Internet and saw that, it's not true. If he goes out and wins in 13 seconds, he's not considered for the FOX show. I'm working on (the main event for that show) right now. I can't (talk about it), you know me, I have to get the deal done and I have to know that both guys are going to accept the fight. Plus, saying that, even though I say that (Silva) won't fight on the FOX card, I'm watching what happens this weekend before I decide who's going to fight on FOX."
Cyrille Diabate vs. Anthony Perosh Set for UFC 138 in England
(bloodyelbow.com)The UFC's return to the U.K. in November for UFC 138 looks nearly complete with the addition of a light heavyweight bout between Cyrille Diabate and Anthony Perosh today. Diabate reported the match-up on his Twitter account:
training for my upcoming UFC fight @ UFC 138. Anthony Perosh vs Cyrille Diabate. Grappler vs Striker. Classic !!!
UFC's Shane Carwin eyes 2012 return, promises to bring the animal back to the fight
(mmajunkie.com)When Shane Carwin felt the UFC's heavyweight title slipping through his hands, he knew something had to be changed.
Unfortunately, the slimmed-down behemoth now believes he may have gone a little too far with his plan.
Eyeing a 2012 return to the cage, Carwin now says he needs to strike a happy medium somewhere between the ripped gargantuan that gassed in a UFC 116 matchup with Brock Lesnar and the svelte cruiserweight that was battered for 15 minutes by Junior Dos Santos at UFC 131.
Immediately after amputation, one-legged Shea Taylor began prep for pro MMA debut
(mmajunkie.com)In just a five-month span, Shea Taylor underwent 12 surgeries and invasive procedures on his drastically injured lower left leg.
Ultimately, he opted to have the leg amputated, and now just nine months later, he's preparing for his pro MMA debut at the upcoming Wild Bill's Fight Night 40 event.
While Taylor will be the first state-sanctioned MMA competitor allowed to wear a prosthesis in a fight, he didn't continue his MMA career to break any barriers. As Taylor told MMAjunkie.com's Kyle Nagel, he simply wanted to feel like his normal self again.
Dana White: UFC On Fox Events Simulcast On Radio, Issue With ESPN 'Resolved'
(bloodyelbow.com)"We're going to put these fights live on the radio, which really hasn't been done since the old days before television when everyone would sit around and listen to the big fights from MSG. We're going to bring that back."
and related to the ESPN problems....
"I was supposed to do the "car wash" at ESPN…It's been resolved…someone was a bit reactionary and it got resolved."
UFC 134 prelims to air in Times Square's "Little Brazil"
(mmajunkie.com)Two fights from this weekend's UFC 134 event in Brazil will air in Times Square in New York City, officials today announced.
The two fights, which are part of Spike TV's "UFC Prelims" broadcast, will air on the digital sign above The Doubletree Hotel in the "Little Brazil" area of the iconic intersection.
UFC 134 takes place Saturday at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
