Edgar Outscores Penn; Couture Taps Out Toney

By FCF Staff    Boston, Massachusetts: Frankie Edgar hit home tonight that he is indeed well deserving of the Ultimate Fighting Championship Lightweight Championship, as the New Jersey fighter once again worked his way to a Unanimous Decision victory over the highly renowned BJ Penn. Utilizing effective footwork, precise counter striking and his accomplished wrestling skills, Edgar was consistently one or two steps ahead of Penn throughout tonight’s five round rematch. Aside from being taken down a couple of times later in the bout, Edgar appeared to have little difficulties outscoring Penn, defending his lightweight crown with a unanimous 50-45 score from the judges.

In the other co-main event for UFC 118, as expected, the legendary Randy “The Natural” Couture had little difficulties working his way to a first round victory over boxing champion James Toney. Moments into the heavyweight tilt Couture immediately took Toney to the ground with a single leg takedown, and after punishing the MMA new comer with strikes, Couture began working for on an arm-triangle-choke. Although Toney attempted to fight through the technique, Couture eventually tightened up the submission, forcing the outspoken pugilist to tap out at just 3:10 of the first round.

Here are the results for tonight’s UFC 118 broadcast:

Frankie Edgar def. B.J. Penn via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)

Randy Couture def. James Toney via Submission (arm-triangle choke) - R1, 3:19

Demian Maia def. Mario Miranda via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Gray Maynard def. Kenny Florian via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Nate Diaz def. Marcus Davis via Submission (guillotine) - R3, 4:02

Joe Lauzon def. Gabe Ruediger via Submission (armbar) - R1, 2:01

Nik Lentz def. Andre Winner via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)

Dan Miller def. John Salter via Submission (anaconda choke) - R2, 1:53.

READ MORE - Edgar Outscores Penn; Couture Taps Out Toney

New FCF Radio with Dan Miller Posted

Dan Miller, who will fight Jon Salter tonight at UFC 118, joined host "Wombat" Meszaros and co-host James Kellaris in the latest edition of FCF Radio; check it out here.

READ MORE - New FCF Radio with Dan Miller Posted

Fighters Make Weight for UFC 118

FCF Staff   All of the scheduled bouts for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s debut in Boston tomorrow night are officially a go, as all of the card’s competitors made weight this afternoon. Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and former champion BJ Penn both came in at 154 pounds, while co-main-event competitors Randy Couture and James Toney, weighed in at 220 and 237lbs. respectively.

Here are the official weigh-in results for UFC 118.

Lightweight Championship

LW- Frankie Edgar (154) vs. BJ Penn (154)

HW- Randy Couture (220) vs. James Toney (237)

LW- Gray Maynard (156) vs. Kenny Florian (156)

MW- Demian Maia (184) vs. Mario Miranda (185)

WW- Marcus Davis (170) vs. Nate Diaz (171)

LW- Joe Lauzon (156) vs. Gabe Ruediger (155)

LW- Andre Winner (154) vs. Nik Lentz (155)

MW- Dan Miller (185) vs. Jon Salter (185)

WW- Nick Osipczak (171) vs. Greg Soto (170)

WW- Amilcar Alves (171) vs. Mike Pierce (171)

READ MORE - Fighters Make Weight for UFC 118

Strikeforce Confirms Emelianenko vs. Overeem Unlikely in 2010

By Kelsey Mowatt  Faced with the realization that Fedor Emelianenko would not be able to rematch Fabricio Werdum in 2010, the former Pride champion and his management M-1 Global announced earlier this week, that they're hoping for a bout with Alistair Overeem next. Problem is, however, that the Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion has already made commitments to compete in the upcoming K-1 tourney, likely preventing Overeem from taking another MMA bout this year.

Strikeforce’s Director of Communications, Mike Afromowitz, recently confirmed to FCF that:

“After Fabricio Werdum revealed that he had sustained injury after the Fedor fight and would be out of action for an extended period of time, Alistair asked us for permission to fight in K-1's end of year events.  We agreed to allow him to do so, so he won't be available to fight Fedor until early next year.”

Since losing by first round submission to Werdum on June 26^th, Emelianenko and M-1 have called for a rematch, however, Werdum recently underwent elbow surgery and will be unable to compete for several months.

Negotiations between M-1 Global and Strikeforce regarding Emelianenko’s next fight are ongoing.

READ MORE - Strikeforce Confirms Emelianenko vs. Overeem Unlikely in 2010

Video: Diaz vs. Noons II ShowtimeTrailer

READ MORE - Video: Diaz vs. Noons II ShowtimeTrailer

M-1 Confirms Primm vs. Marunde for Sept. 18th

By FCF Staff   M-1 Global has confirmed today that UFC veteran Shane Primm will face former IFL competitor Bristol Marunde, on the undercard of the promotion’s upcoming September 18^th event in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Primm (6-4) is coming off a Unanimous Decision loss to Mike Guerin in August, eliminating the middleweight from M-1’s Americas Selection Tournament. In June, Primm tapped out Wesley Welch with a second round guillotine choke, to advance in the competition.

Marunde (10-6) will also head into the September 18^th bout having lost in his last outing; at a Throwdown Showdown event last September, Marunde was tapped out by Jordan Smith. The loss ended the veteran’s five fight winning streak and was his first since 2007.

The Americas Finals event, which will be hosted by Bally’s Casino Hotel, will feature the final bouts from the M-1 Selection Tournament Americas process.

Here is the line-up to date:

LW-Jose Figueroa vs.George Sheppard                    

WW-Tom Gallicchio vs. Len Bentley                             

MW-Tyson Jeffries vs. Mike Geurin                             

LHW-Byron Byrd vs. Daniel Vizcaya                         

HW-Kenny Garner vs. Pat Bennett                              

MW-Shane Primm vs. Bristol Marunde                                   

READ MORE - M-1 Confirms Primm vs. Marunde for Sept. 18th

Markham “Utterly Disappointed” About Missing Bellator 26

By Kelsey Mowatt   It’s a frustrating time in the career of Rory Markham, as after weeks of preparing for a fight with Steve Carl tonight in Kansas City, Bellator Fighting Championships announced earlier in the week that the punishing welterweight hasn’t been medically cleared to compete.

“The medical issue that caused me to not be cleared for the fight was due to having a bleb on my lung,” said Markham, who suffered a collapsed lung prior to his loss to Dan Hardy in February, 2009. “Basically it's a small pocket of air between the tissue and lung itself.  Luckily it will not need surgery and I can get back at it within 6 weeks.”

After suffering from injuries throughout much of 2009, and then exiting from the UFC earlier this year with a 1-2 record, Markham (16-6) was eager to make a big splash in his Bellator debut.

“I am utterly disappointed because we as fighters train for so long and hard to fight, win, and get paid,” Markham told FCF. “To not have the feeling of victory after overcoming all the hardships of training is demoralizing. Yet the best fighters are made out of overcoming trials and tribulations. I will overcome this and remain optimistic.”

Kansas City’s Power and Light District will be the host venue for Bellator 26 tonight. Tyler Stinson agreed to step in for the injured Markham and fight Carl. Some of the other bouts scheduled for the event include

Mike Hayes vs. Alexey Oleinik, Jose Vega vs. Danny Tims,  and Lisa Ward vs. Aisling Daly.

The event will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net.

READ MORE - Markham “Utterly Disappointed” About Missing Bellator 26

Updated: Emelianenko Calls for Bout with Overeem Next

By  FCF Staff     Amidst recent speculation that a bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio Silva is possibly in the works for Strikeforce, a post today on Mix Fight.ru, quotes Fedor stating he is hoping to fight Alistair Overeem next.

According to the report (which was translated by FCF via Google Translate), Emelianenko was quoted saying “I would like a rematch with (Fabricio) Werdum,” but due to the fact the Brazilian recently underwent elbow surgery, “This year, in November-December, I would prefer to meet in a cage with Alistair Overeem.”

After being submitted by Werdum in the first round of their June 26th bout, Emelianenko and his management immediately called for a rematch with the renowned jiu-jitsu practitioner, but Werdum’s aforementioned surgery will prevent that fight from occurring in 2010.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has said that both Silva and the heavyweight champion Overeem are possible opponents for Fedor's next bout, which will be the last on the former Pride champion’s current contract. While attending a M-1 Global event in Atlantic City earlier this month, Fedor was quoted saying at a press conference, that he hopes to resign with the promotion.

Update: In a press release sent out this afternoon by M-1 Global titled “We Want Overeem”, Emelianenko was quoted saying:

“This is an important match for me and something that I personally want to happen,” says Fedor. “There have been conversations about putting this match-up together in the past and now is the time to begin making this bout possible.”

The release also stated that “roadblocks”, which had been apparently hindering negotiations regarding an Overeem and Fedor bout, “seem to be disappearing.”

READ MORE - Updated: Emelianenko Calls for Bout with Overeem Next

Nick Diaz vs. KJ Noons II Confirmed for Oct. 9th

 By FCF Staff    Following his stoppage victory over Jorge Gurgel last weekend, KJ Noons stated that he was more than willing to face Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz for a second time, and today the promotion has confirmed that the two will meet again, October 9^th. (pictured above: Noons rocking Gurgel at "Strikeforce Houston")

Noons and Diaz have feuded publicly ever since the two fought for the first time in November, 2007, including an in-cage incident in June, 2008, that saw each fighter’s camp nearly come to blows. In their first meeting at Elite XC’s “Renegade” card, Diaz was not allowed by doctors to continue into the second round, due to the cuts Noons had opened over the veteran’s eyes.

Diaz (22-7) has gone on to win 7 straight bouts since the loss, and is coming off a first round, submission victory over Hayato Sakurai in May.

Noons (10-2), who was the 160lb. champion with the now defunct Elite XC, has also gone undefeated since their first fight, winning four straight bouts.

The championship bout will headline the October 9^th event, which will also feature Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Champion Sarah Kaufman versus Marloes Coenen.

The event, which will be hosted by San Jose’s HP Pavilion, will be broadcast on Showtime.

READ MORE - Nick Diaz vs. KJ Noons II Confirmed for Oct. 9th

Stinson Replaces Markham at Bellator 26

By FCF Staff    Bellator Fighting Championships has announced that the promotion’s Season 2 open try-out winner, Tyler Stinson, will fight Steve Carl instead of Rory Markham, August 26^th. According to a press release sent out by the promotion today, Markham was not medically cleared to compete on Thursday’s card, which will take place in Kansas City. Markham could not be reached by FCF for comment.

Stinson (18-6) last competed under the Bellator banner in June, when he tapped out Leonardo Pecanha in the first round with a rear-naked-choke. Carl (10-2) is coming off a submission loss to Dan Hornbuckle in May (who also tapped out Stinson in April); prior to that the welterweight scored a Split Decision victory over Brett Cooper at Bellator 15.

“Tyler’s skills and development as a fighter have consistently impressed me.  He was preparing for a qualifier scheduled a month from now, but Tyler is always in fighting shape and was totally prepared to take this fight,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney was quoted saying in a press release from the promotion. “Both of these guys have put on great fights for us and I expect nothing different on Thursday night.”

This Thursday’s Bellator 26 card will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net.

READ MORE - Stinson Replaces Markham at Bellator 26

White Says Rematch Between Silva and Sonnen in the Works

By Kelsey Mowatt    While appearing on ESPN’s Sports Center, UFC President Dana White has confirmed that he is “looking towards” an immediate rematch between middleweight champion Anderson Silva and challenger Chael Sonnen. While discussing this weekend’s upcoming UFC 118, White acknowledged “that’s the fight that fans want to see. The way that I see my job is my job is to give the fans what they want,” when asked if Sonnen would indeed receive an immediate rematch. (pictured above: Silva with his BJJ instructors, the Nogueira brothers)

No date was mentioned for the fight, although it is widely expected that Silva is several months away from returning, due to a rib injury the champion incurred while preparing for his August 7^th bout with Sonnen. After being dominated by Sonnen throughout their memorable bout at UFC 117, Silva caught the number one contender with a late, fifth round triangle choke, to win his 13^th straight fight.

White also confirmed that light-heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will face Rashad Evans in his first title defence, when he returns from knee surgery in mid-spring, early summer.

READ MORE - White Says Rematch Between Silva and Sonnen in the Works

Full Card Announced for MFC 26

By FCF Staff    Maximum Fighting Championship has announced the full card for the promotion’s upcoming “Retribution” event, which will take place September 10^th at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch, Alberta. The event will be televised live on HDNet. (pictured above: Ryan Ford)

MFC 26 will feature two main attractions; lightweight champion Antonio McKee (23-3-2) will face challenger Luciano Azevedo (16-8), while in the other co-main event, rising welterweight Ryan Ford (12-2) will take on American Top Team’s Douglas Lima (14-4).

Rounding out the MFC 26 main card are two middleweight bouts, as Tom “Kong” Watson (12-3) will meet Jesse “JT Money” Taylor (15-6), and Solomon Hutcherson (11-6) will take on David Heath (15-6). At light-heavyweight, Mike Nickels (8-3) will step in for the injured Wilson Gouveia, and will fight Dwayne Lewis (11-5).

In the opening bout of the television broadcast, lightweight veteran Curtis “The Demon” Demarce (10-7) will face the undefeated Tyson “The Man Of” Steele (6-0).

Bouts that have been confirmed for the MFC 26 undercard include:

Middleweight - Steve Fader (2-1) vs. Ford Robertson (2-0)

Light Heavyweight – Adam Rabidoux (1-1) vs. Taylor Bull (2-2)

Catchweight – Ryan Ballingall (3-3) vs. Aaron Berke (4-2)

Lightweight – Theo Brisley (3-2) vs. Chad Freeman (5-3)

READ MORE - Full Card Announced for MFC 26

More Bouts Confirmed for Bellator 26

By FCF Staff    Bellator Fighting Championships has confirmed several more bouts for the promotion’s upcoming August 26^th event, which will take place at the Kansas City Power & Light District in Kansas City.

In the “local main event”, Rudy Bears (11-5) will rematch fellow veteran Zak Cummings (10-2), who tapped out Bears in the third round at a FM Productions event in February, 2008. Bears is coming off a submission win over Brian Green at Bellator FC 22, while in Cummings’ last outing in June, he dropped a Unanimous Decision loss to Elvis Mutapcic at Midwest Cage Championships 27.

Other bouts that have been confirmed today for the Bellator 26 card include Brian Davidson (5-2) vs. Kevin Croom (1-1), John Ott vs. Brian Imes, and Jeb Chiles (5-1) vs. Demetrius Richards (5-4).

The previously announced Bellator 26 main card includes a welterweight bout between Rory Markham (16-6) and Steve Carl (12), Joe Vega (8-3) vs. Danny Tims (9-2) in opening round action from the promotion’s bantamweight tourney, Mike Hayes (12-3-1) vs. Alexey Oleinik (27-5-1) in a first round heavyweight tournament fight, and Aisling Daly (9-0) versus Lisa Ward (12-5) in women’s tournament competition.

Bellator 26 will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net.

READ MORE - More Bouts Confirmed for Bellator 26

Nick Diaz Confirmed for October 9th Strikeforce

By FCF Staff    Strikeforce has confirmed that its welterweight champion Nick Diaz will attempt to defend his title for the first time, at the promotion’s upcoming October 9^th event in San Jose, California. Diaz (22-7) won the belt in January, at Strikeforce’s “Miami” event, when he stopped Marius Zaromskis in the first round. The BJJ black belt under Cesar Gracie has competed just once since then; at Dream 15 in May, Diaz tapped out accomplished veteran Hayato Sakurai in the opening frame. (pictured above: Diaz (right) in his memorable bout with Takanori Gomi)

No opponent has been determined yet for Diaz.

Another Strikeforce title will be up for grabs October 9^th, as the promotion has confirmed, that as expected, women’s 135lb. champion Sarah Kaufman will face Marloes Coenen (17-4). The undefeated Kaufman (12-0) is coming of a KO slam victory over Roxanne Modafferi in July, while in Coenen’s last outing in January, she was stopped by Strikeforce 145lb. women’s champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos.

Strikeforce has also confirmed that rising middleweight prospect Luke Rockhold (7-1) will fight renowned veteran Matt Lindland at the event. In February, Rockhold stopped Phil Bradley in the first round to run his winning streak to 6, while Lindland (22-7) is coming off a third round TKO victory over Kevin Casey in May.

READ MORE - Nick Diaz Confirmed for October 9th Strikeforce

Video: KJ Noons "I'm Not a Dirty Fighter"

READ MORE - Video: KJ Noons "I'm Not a Dirty Fighter"

Video: KJ Noons Calls Out Nick Diaz

READ MORE - Video: KJ Noons Calls Out Nick Diaz

Video: Rafael "Feijao" Discussing His Championship Win

READ MORE - Video: Rafael "Feijao" Discussing His Championship Win