Georges St. Pierre Outscores Jake Shields for UD Win

By FCF Staff

UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre once again turned to his strong left jab and takedown defence, to score a unanimous decision win over challenger Jake Shields tonight in Toronto, Ontario. St. Pierre negated the takedown attempts of the renowned jiu-jitsu practitioner on several occasions, and outscored Shields on his feet, despite incurring an apparent eye injury early in the fight.

In the card’s other title fight, featherweight champion Jose Aldo utilized takedowns and leg kicks to earn a UD win over an extremely game Mark Hominick. Despite absorbing punishing leg kicks and ground-and-pound strikes from above, a grotesquely bruised Hominick battled Aldo for all five rounds, particularly in the final round, when the Canadian took the champion to the ground and battered him with strikes.

And in the card’s other feature attraction, Lyoto Machida used his elusive footwork and unorthodox strikes to keep fellow former light-heavyweight champ Randy Couture at bay, before landing a pounding front kick that dropped the legendary fighter. Before Couture could recover, Machida swarmed the decorated fighter, and finished him off early into the second round. As Couture insisted was the case heading into UFC 129, the 47 year-old fighter announced afterwards that he was retiring from the sport.

Here are the results from tonight's UFC 129 card:

Welterweight Championship

Georges St-Pierre def. Jake Shields via unanimous decision (50-45, 48-47, 48-47)

Featherweight Championship

Jose Aldo def. Mark Hominick via unanimous decision (48-45, 48-46, 49-46)


Lyoto Machida def. Randy Couture via KO (kick) - R2, 1:09

Vladimir Matyushenko def. Jason Brilz via KO (punches) - Round 1, 0:20

Ben Henderson def. Mark Bocek via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Rory MacDonald def. Nate Diaz via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)

Jake Ellenberger def. Sean Pierson via KO (punches) - R1, 2:22

Claude Patrick def. Daniel Roberts via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Ivan Menjivar def. Charlie Valencia via TKO (strikes) - R1, 1:30

Jason MacDonald def. Ryan Jensen via submission (triangle choke) - R1, 1:37

John Makdessi def. Kyle Watson via KO (spinning back fist) - R3, 1:27

Pablo Garza def. Yves Jabouin via submission (triangle choke) - R1, 4:31

READ MORE - Georges St. Pierre Outscores Jake Shields for UD Win

New FCF Radio: UFC 129 Preview and Eddie Alvarez

On this episode of Full Contact Fighter Radio, host Jeff "Wombat" Meszaros and co-host James Kellaris run down the card for "UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields" where UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre takes on former Strikeforce champion Jake Shields.  Who will win?  Listen and hear what we think!  Who is the better grappler?  Who's the better striker?  Is Shields really an underdog?  Or will the world be incredibly shocked this weekend?   Plus, what about the fight between UFC's 145-pound champion Jose Aldo and Canadian super-striker Mark Hominick?  Will Aldo stand and trade strikes with the "The Machine"?  Or will we finally see his skills on the ground?  What about Randy Couture vs. Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida?  Will Couture use his patented "Wall 'n' Brawl" techniques to crush the Brazilian karate-fighter?  Or will Machida leap in from ten feet away and knock Couture's head clean off?  Who knows?  Also, is Couture really retiring after this match?  We're not so sure. 

Tune in and hear why, then hang around as Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez stops by for a rousing talk about his last fight, his next fight and his thoughts on the rest of the lightweight division.  Catch his thoughts on the fights coming up this weekend and his opinion on him vs. Gilbert Melendez, Frankie Edgar vs. Melendez and more or less every other lightweight match up we can throw at him.  If that's not a show, we don't know what it is.  Honestly, we don't!

To listen, head here. 

READ MORE - New FCF Radio: UFC 129 Preview and Eddie Alvarez

UFC 129 Weigh-In Results

By FCF Staff

The UFC held the official weigh-ins this afternoon in anticipation of its latest event tomorrow night in Toronto, Ontario, which will feature two title fights, and possibly the last of MMA legend, Randy “The Natural” Couture.

Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre came in at 169.5 pounds for his bout with former Strikeforce champ Jake Shields, who tipped the scales at 169. Afterwards, St. Pierre told the vocal Canadian crowd “don’t blink”, when asked by UFC color commentator Joe Rogan for his thoughts on the bout.

In the other title fight, featherweight champion Jose Aldo came in at 145 while Ontario’s own, Mark Hominick weighed in at 145.25.

And in what could be the last weigh-in Couture ever undergoes, the decorated fighter came in at a slim 203.5 lbs for his fight with fellow, former champion Lyoto Machida, who weighed 204.5.

Here are the official weigh-in results for UFC 129, which will see every bout broadcast, as several preliminary bouts will be streamed on the promotion’s official Facebook page, two undercard fights will be shown on Spike TV (Rogers Sportsnet in Canada) and the main card will be available through pay-per-view.

Welterweight Championship

Georges St. Pierre (169.5) vs. Jake Shields (169)

Featherweight Championship

Jose Aldo (145) vs. Mark Hominick (145.25)

Main Card

LHW- Lyoto Machida (204.5) vs. Randy Couture (203.5)

LHW- Vladimir Matyushenko (205.5) vs. Jason Brilz (204.5)

LW- Ben Henderson (156.5) vs. Mark Bocek (155)

Spike TV / Rogers Sportsnet

WW- Nate Diaz (171) vs. Rory MacDonald (170.5)

WW- Jake Ellenberger (170) vs. Sean Pierson (170)

Facebook
WW- Daniel Roberts (170.5) vs. Claude Patrick (169.5)

BW- Charlie Valencia (135.5) vs. Ivan Menjivar (136)

MW- Ryan Jensen (185) vs. Jason MacDonald (185)

LW- Kyle Watson (155) vs. John Makdessi (155.5)

FW- Yves Jabouin (146) vs. Pablo Garza (145)

READ MORE - UFC 129 Weigh-In Results

Bellator Confirms Adam Schindler for Featherweight Tourney

By FCF Staff, photo courtesy Bellator FC

Bellator Fighting Championships has confirmed that Strikeforce veteran Adam Schindler will compete in the promotion’s featherweight tournament this summer. The tourney’s opening round quarter-finals will take place June 25^th in Hollywood, Florida.

Schindler (9-1) will return to Bellator having won six straight fights. The Air Force vet competed for Bellator last May and scored a unanimous decision win over Brian Melancon. The two-time West Virginia State Wrestling Champion is coming off a split decision win over Marc Ramirez in December, after submitting Kierre Gooch at Strikeforce’s “Houston” card last August.

“I'm just ready to get in that cage and win,” Schindler was quoted saying in the official announcement. “This is the time where I take the step from everyone around me knowing how good I am, to everyone seeing how good I am all across the country. This is my chance to shine.”

“Adam was impressive at Bellator 20, and he makes a great addition to this stacked featherweight tournament,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Our Summer Series shows are going to be great, and I can’t wait to kick things off at the Seminole Hard Rock on June 25th.”

All of Bellator's cards in 2011 are broadcast live on MTV 2.

READ MORE - Bellator Confirms Adam Schindler for Featherweight Tourney

M-1 Challenge XXV: Zavurov Defends Against Enomoto, Magalhaes Wins LHW Belt

By Kelsey Mowatt

Despite a spirited effort, M-1 Global newcomer Yasubey Enomoto was unable to unseat welterweight champion Shamil Zavurov today in St. Petersburg, Russia, as the Russian fighter utilized his wrestling to score a unanimous decision win. (Pictured: Enomoto kicking Zavurov off)

Enomoto looked to keep the bout standing and rely on his accomplished Muay Thai skills, but time-and-time again Zavurov took the Swiss welterweight to the mat. While Enomoto largely negated the top game of Zavurov with an active rubber guard and several submission attempts, the champion controlled much of the action en route to the win.

“Tonight was a great night of fights featuring rising prospects and experienced veterans,” said M-1 Global Director of Operations, Evgeni Kogan. “Enomoto put on a stellar performance in his debut outing, taking Zavurov the distance with an awesome display of Jiu Jitsu and striking. We can’t wait to see him back in the ring.”

Zavurov and Enomoto (right)

In the card’s other title fight, renowned jiu-jitsu competitor Vinny Magalhaes faced a game Viktor Nemkov, who gave the former “Ultimate Fighter” cast member plenty to think about in the bout’s opening two rounds. Although Magalhaes managed to get the bout to the mat on several occassions, Nemkov nicely defended the submission attempts of his opponent, and bloodied Magalhaes with strikes from above.

In round three, a fatigued looking Magalhaes once again took the light-heavyweight to the canvas, but this time finished Nemkov off with a beautifully executed mounted gogoplata, neck crank combo. With the championship win, Magalhaes is now 6-1 after exiting from the UFC in 2009.

“Nemkov did a great job in a fight no one gave him a chance of winning; he did his best to control the fight and defended several of Magalhaes’ submission attempts,” Kogan added. “But there is a reason why Magalhaes sports highly decorated BJJ credentials and he once again delivered on a win with an astonishing mounted gogoplata. It was an impressive submission victory.”

Magalhaes (right) with his championship belt

And in the card’s other feature attraction, noted middleweight Andrei Semenov returned to action for the first time since 2008, and took on fellow UFC vet Luigi Fioravanti. In an entertaining bout that was spent almost entirely on its feet, Semenov managed to outscore his American opponent for the unanimous decision win.

Here are the official results from M-1 Challenge XXV.

Official Results:

Ramazan Esenbaev def. Albert Akhmetov – 2:48 of R2 via TKO

Ramazan Emeev def. Murad Magomedov – Unanimous Decision

Juanma Suarez def. Arsen Temirkhanov – Unanimous Decision

Alexander Volkov def. Denis Goltsov – 3:06 of R2 via TKO

Maxim Grishin def. Vladimir Kuchenko – 3:11 of R3 via TKO

Mikhail Zayats def. Malik Merad - :51 of R2 via TKO

Alexander Yakovlev def. Christian Eckerlin – 3:16 of R2 via Submission (Rear Naked Choke)

Welterweight Championship Bout:

Shamil Zavurov def. Yasubey Enomoto – Unanimous Decision

Light Heavyweight Championship Bout:

Vinny Magalhaes def. Viktor Nemkov – 1:42 of R3 via Submission (Mounted Gogoplata)

Alexander Volkov hitting Denis Goltsov

READ MORE - M-1 Challenge XXV: Zavurov Defends Against Enomoto, Magalhaes Wins LHW Belt

Diego Sanchez Fighting Matt Hughes This Fall

By FCF Staff

After narrowly getting by Martin Kampmann at UFC Live 3 in March, Diego Sanchez will now turn his attention to one of the sport’s most accomplished welterweights ever, as the UFC has announced he will face former champion Matt Hughes sometime this fall. UFC President Dana White was quoted saying on the promotion’s official website:

“A matchup between two welterweight fan favorites has been verbally agreed to as Diego “The Dream” Sanchez will face former UFC welterweight champion and Hall of Famer Matt Hughes,” said UFC President Dana White. “Sanchez is coming off of a Fight of Night winning performance against Martin Kampmann and Hughes is looking to add another great victory to his incredible UFC career.”

Prior to his memorable bout with Kampmann, the 29 year-old Sanchez (23-4) scored a unanimous decision win over Paulo Thiago last October, after dropping back-to-back bouts to John Hathaway and BJ Penn.

Hughes (45-8) had his three fight winning streak brought to an abrupt end by Penn last November, who knocked out the veteran in the first round of their UFC 123, rubber match. The 37 year-old Hughes had defeated Matt Serra, Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida heading into the bout.

No date or venue has been confirmed yet for the Sanchez, Hughes fight.

READ MORE - Diego Sanchez Fighting Matt Hughes This Fall

Two More Bouts Confirmed for MFC 30

By FCF Staff

Maximum Fighting Championship continues to round out the line-up for the promotion’s upcoming June 10^th event in Edmonton, Alberta, as it has confirmed two more bouts for the “Up Close and Personal” card.

At lightweight, Robert Washington (9-3) will take on Curtis Demarce (10-9). Washington will be looking to end a two fight losing streak; at MFC 28 he dropped a split decision to Tyrone Glover, and more recently at MFC 29 earlier this month, he was KO’d by Hermes Franca.

Demarce is also coming off back-to-back losses, as he has lost by split decision to Richie Whitson and Marcus Davis in his last two outings. Prior to that Demarce had won seven straight.

In a middleweight bout, Andreas Spang (5-1) will meet Cody Krahn (10-3). Pang is coming off a submission loss to Ali Mokdad at MFC 29, after knocking out Chaun Sims at Ring of Fire 38 last June.

Krahn last competed in November, when he earned a TKO victory over veteran Shannon Ritch, who was forced to retire in the bout due to injury. Krahn’s only loss in his last five bouts came at Heat XC 6 last October, when he was stopped by Eliot Duff.

MFC 30 will be broadcast live on HDNet and will be headlined by a lightweight bout between Drew Fickett and Hermes Franca for the vacant MFC title.

READ MORE - Two More Bouts Confirmed for MFC 30

Report: Fan Expo Canada Launches Suit Againt Zuffa LLC

By FCF Staff

The UFC’s first venture into Toronto, Ontario may not go off without a hitch after all, as a report from Canada News Wire today, has revealed that the organizers of the Fan Expo Canada event have launched a lawsuit against Zuffa LLC and Reed Exhibitions Limited for trademark infringement.

According to the report, Hobby Star Marketing is claiming that Zuffa’s use of “UFC Fan Expo”, is “confusingly similar” to the registered trademark “Fan Expo Canada”, a name which is used by the sci-fi, comic book and gaming event. Hobby Star Marketing is seeking an “immediate injunction” to prevent Zuffa from using the name “UFC Fan Expo” and the slogan “Ultimate Fan Experience” in Canada.

UFC Fan Expo is an event promoted by Zuffa LLC and organized by Reed Exhibitions Limited, which includes autograph sessions, training seminar and other activities featuring competitors and personalities from the UFC. The latest UFC Fan Expo is coinciding with UFC 129 in Toronto, and will take place on April 29^th and 30^th.

The UFC has not offered any official comment on the lawsuit.

READ MORE - Report: Fan Expo Canada Launches Suit Againt Zuffa LLC

Video: Return of Andrei Semenov Trailer

By FCF Staff

Former UFC competitor Andrei Semenov will fight for the first time since November, 2008, tomorrow at M-1 Challenge XXV in St. Petersburg, Russia. The 33 year-old will take on fellow middleweight veteran, Luigi Fioravanti.

Below is a video trailer from M-1 Global, promoting the return of the 29-9-2 fighter.

READ MORE - Video: Return of Andrei Semenov Trailer

Bellator FC Signs Rene Nazare to New Contract

By FCF Staff, photo courtesy Bellator FC

Following his stoppage win over Luiz Azeredo at Bellator 39 earlier this month, Bellator Fighting Championships has announced that it has signed undefeated lightweight Rene Nazare to a new contract.

“The addition of Rene to our lightweight division, makes a stacked division that much stronger,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Rene had a great performance at Bellator 39, and I’m really looking forward to his next step into our cage.”

According to the official announcement, the 7-0 fighter will “vie for a spot” in the promotion’s next lightweight tournament. Nazare, who originally hails from Brazil, resides in Ithaca, New York and is the BJJ instructor for Team Bombsquad.

“If you want to become a top MMA fighter, you have to be complete,” said Nazare, who has is a four time, BJJ world champion. “You have to be dangerous both standing and on the ground. My background is jiu-jitsu and I feel very confident on the ground – even when I'm in bad situations – but I feel really dangerous with my striking as well.”

“I want to fight the best guys in the world,” Nazare added. “That's my goal. I want to fight the Bellator Champion I want to become the best. If you want to become the best, you have to fight the best, and I want to fight the best so badly. I want Patricky Pitbull, I want Eddie Alvarez, I want all those guys.”

READ MORE - Bellator FC Signs Rene Nazare to New Contract