Official MMA News/Rumours Thread

[The Nicker]

UFC Pros/Cons

Just like WWE and TNA Pros/Cons. I'll start it off.

"The Crippler" Chris Leben

 

[Ben]

Chris Horodecki and Tyler Toner released by the UFC

Nick Diaz signs a new multi year deal with StrikeForce.

source: mmamania.com

 

[Rush]

Jamie Varner also got canned.

disappointed Diaz isn't looking to try and get into the UFC again.

 

[Ben]

I still think Diaz might end up back in the UFC....Strikforce is a mess, and if they have another year like 2010, they very well might not make it past this year.

 

[Ben]

It looks like fight fans are going to have yet another long wait to see the new UFC heavyweight champion in action.
That's because Cain Velasquez has apparently suffered a shoulder injury and is looking at six to eight months on the shelf.
From an MMAFighting.com report:

That sucks, especially considering they where going to try to throw is match with Dos Santos on the Toronto debut.

 

[Ben]

Chuck Liddell Officially Retires

That's a wrap.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion, hall-of-fame inductee and dancer with the stars, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, has officially retired from the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA).
But he's not leaving the cage empty handed.
UFC President Dana White today announced that Liddell has accepted an executive position within the world's largest fight promotion, becoming the new UFC Vice President of Business Development.

The guy was done, and it's nice to see him not try to hang on and still fight, prob could of went to SF and got some paydays, but this is honestly the better choice.

 

[Rush]

thats terrible. must have really fucked up his shoulder if he's out for that long. fuck.

edit: torn rotator cuff

Trainer: UFC champ Velasquez out a minimum of 6-8 months with torn rotator cuff
Heavy speculation that UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (9-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) would make his first title defense against Junior Dos Santos in Toronto came to naught today with news that Velasquez is on the bench with an injury.

American Kickboxing Academy trainer Javier Mendez today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the champ injured his right shoulder during a winning bid for Brock Lesnar's title at UFC 121, though he declined to disclose it at the time because the severity of the injury was unknown after an initial MRI.

When a second MRI this past week revealed a badly torn rotator cuff which could bench Velasquez for a minimum of 4-6 months – if not longer – a defense in April became unrealistic.

News of the injury was first reported today by MMAFighting.com, who confirmed the injury with UFC president Dana White.

Although disappointed, Velasquez is optimistic about his recovery and wants to undergo surgery as soon as possible, Mendez said. Velasquez's rotator cuff is 90 percent torn and will need extensive physical therapy.

"That's the fight game," the trainer said. "You've got to expect that in this trade."

The UFC was made aware of the injury following UFC 121 and put the brakes on a Velasquez vs. Dos Santos showdown. Dos Santos manager Ed Soares could not be reached for comment on the injury development, and it's unknown at this time whether the UFC will forge ahead with another bout for the challenger.

An interim title situation would also seem premature at this point. White anticipated Velasquez would return in summer 2011.

Mendez, however, thinks that timeline might be a bit too charitable.

"They say the rehab on that type of injury is going to take anywhere from 4-6 months," he said. "Then from there he's got to get fight-ready."

So for now, the top of the heavyweight division is in flux. Meanwhile, a welterweight title match between reigning champ Georges St-Pierre and challenger Jake Shields could headline the UFC's first trip to Toronto, possibly UFC 129, in April at the Rogers Centre.

Unbeaten inside the octagon, Velasquez stormed his way to a title shot with six consecutive victories and took the belt from Lesnar with a first-round beatdown.

credit: www.mmajunkie.com

 

[PHX]

Re: Chuck Liddell Officially Retires

Was pretty much waiting for this to happen after his last fight. Seemed like he was a done deal even before that though. As far as going to Strikeforce it wouldn't shock me if they tried to get him.

 

[Rush]

Re: Chuck Liddell Officially Retires

good to hear really. he could've done some damage to himself otherwise.

 

[Ben]

HW Div is kind of fucked at the moment, champ on the shelf, Roy not being able to fight, and if you believe the rumors Lesnar possibly trying to get out.

There's really not a ton of big time or even great match ups they could pull out. They could get Struve a big time opponent and see if the guys ready for the next level.

 

[Rush]

McCorkle gave Struve trouble, as much as i <3 McCorkle, he's not an elite opponant. Can't see Struve doing much for a little while.

Big Nog is also on the shelf with a knee injury. Mir needs a fight, there's a lot of lower guys available to fight though. Fight for the troops has a couple of good young HW's

 

[Ben]

Wouldn't mind seeing them doing Dos Santos/Mir, would be a solid fight, and I don't see Santos not fighting and waiting for Cain to come back.

 

[Ben]

Couture vs Machida at 129 in Toronto

Hold your horses, whippersnappers; nobody's retiring just yet.
MMAFighting.com reports that former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champions Lyoto Machida and Randy Couture have verbally agreed to throw down at UFC 129 on April 30.
A cryptic Twitter post seemed to indicate that "Captain America" had packed his bags for Hollywood, but he later clarified that he would gladly accept a fight with either "Shogun" Rua or the previously mentioned Machida.
Looks like he may be getting what he wanted.
"The Natural" is coming off a submission win over bloated braggart James Toney back at UFC 118 and has won three straight as his career winds to a close.
Can he slay "The Dragon" before he leaves for good?

Fight doesn't really interest me, Randy has had some cupcake opponents his last few fights, and Machida seems like he's been figured out for the most part and wasn't nearly as dominant as he was.

It's a big fight on paper, so I guess it makes sense to throw it on what's going to end up being there biggest show in terms of possible attendance.

 

[Ben]

Dana announced today on Yahoo sports that Shields/GSP is officially for 129. Expect another GSP win here easily...after this he either needs to move up to 185 or do a catch weight fight with Silva. He's beat everyone at 170.

 

[Ben]

Strike Force HW Tourney Announced

With the recent announcements of booked match-ups including Fedor Emelianenko vs Antonio Silva and Alistair Overeem vs Fabricio Werdum, that left two fights and four competitors to be sorted out.
According to MMAFighting.com, the final two bouts will see Josh Barnett vs Brett Rogers and Andrei Arlovski vs Sergei Kharitonov.
It looks like Strikeforce may have put together the tournament that many thought impossible.
There are certainly a few hurdles still to overcome. The Barnett vs Rogers match-up is contingent on "The Baby-Faced Assassin" getting licensed to compete. His re-scheduled hearing with the California State Athletic Commission is set for next month.


Starts Feb 12th with Silva/Fedor

If Strike force manages not to fuck this up it should be awesome, they stacked the one side of the bracket, but they set themselves up for either Fedor/Werdum rematch or Reem in there which are 2 fights I'd want to see.