UFC on Fox 3!

[Swinny]

Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck Added to UFC on FOX 3

Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck added to UFC on FOX 3
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Feb 12, 2012 at 7:00 pm ET

Josh Koscheck's middleweight plans will have to wait.

UFC president Dana White today announced that Koscheck (17-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) will meet Johny Hendricks (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) at May's UFC on FOX 3 event in a key welterweight affair.

UFC on FOX 3 takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The main card, including a Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz headliner, airs on FOX, and prelims are expected to air on FUEL TV.

White did not announce the fight's positioning on the card, but it seems likely to serve as the evening's co-main event.

Koscheck returns after narrowly edging Mike Pierce at this past weekend's UFC 143 event via split decision. Koscheck, who recently split from his longtime home at American Kickboxing Academy, admitted he didn't take the fight as serious as past encounters but will now compete in a contest that has real title implications.

Meanwhile, Hendricks fights for the first time since earning a stunning 12-second knockout of Jon Fitch at December's UFC 141 event. The once-beaten former collegiate wrestling stud now boasts a three-fight win streak and is 7-1 in eight octagon contests.

With the addition to the fight card, UFC on FOX 3 now includes:

Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck
Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson
John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss
John Dodson vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish
Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola
Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker

 

[Swinny]

Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares added to UFC on FOX 3
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Feb 13, 2012 at 12:25 pm ET

A major middleweight bout between two of the division's most entertaining fighters has been added to the UFC on FOX 3 card.

UFC president Dana White today announced that well-rounded Alan Belcher (17-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) meets submission specialist Rousimar Palhares (14-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) at the upcoming event.

UFC on FOX 3 takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The main card, including a Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz headliner, airs on FOX, and prelims are expected to air on FUEL TV.

Belcher vs. Palhares is likely to be part of the FOX-televised main card.

Belcher recently returned from a 16-month layoff due to an initially career-threatening eye surgery/recovery and picked up a vicious first-round submission win (due to punches) over Jason MacDonald. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and explosive striker is now 5-1 over his past six fights, and the lone loss came to Yoshihiro Akiyama via close split decision in a "Fight of the Night" performance.

Like Belcher, Palhares also carries a three-fight win streak. Most recently, he used a trademark heel hook to submit Mike Massenzio at UFC 142 in Brazil. Aside from a brief mental lapse that prompted a loss to Nate Marquardt in 2010, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in undefeated in his past seven fights. In fact, his only other career loss came via decision to notable Dan Henderson in Palhares' second UFC fight.

The latest UFC on FOX 3 card now includes:

Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck
Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares
Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson
John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss
John Dodson vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish
Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola
Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker

 

[Catfish Billy]

The latest UFC on FOX 3 card now includes:

Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck
Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares
Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson
John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss
John Dodson vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish
Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola
Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker​

 

[Swinny]

Tavares replaces injured Hallman, faces Ferguson at UFC on FOX 3

With Dennis Hallman injured and forced to withdraw from May's UFC on FOX 3 event, Thiago Tavares (17-4-1 MMA, 7-4-1 UFC) will now face Tony Ferguson (13-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a lightweight contest.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the report, which was first published by Tatame.

Featuring a lightweight bout between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller, "UFC on FOX 3: Diaz vs. Miller" takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

Tavares looks to build on a pair of big wins over Sam Stout and Spencer Fisher. The Brazilian is now 4-1-1 in his past six fights, but the consecutive wins are his first such back-to-back results since 2007.

Meanwhile, Ferguson remains undefeated in the octagon after racking up three-straight wins over Yves Edwards, Aaron Riley and Ramsey Nijem. The winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 13" boasts six-straight wins overall and is 9-1 in his past 10 official outings.

The nature of Hallman's injury was not revealed, and a timetable has not yet been established for his return.

MMAJunkie

 

[Swinny]

Thiago Tavares out, Tony Ferguson now meets Michael Johnson at UFC on FOX 3

Tony Ferguson (13-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) now has his third scheduled opponent for UFC on FOX 3.

UFC officials today announced that Thiago Tavares, who replaced an injured Dennis Hallman, has also withdrawn from the card.

In his place steps "The Ultimate Fighter 12" finalist Michael Johnson (10-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC), who now meets Ferguson on the UFC on FOX 3 preliminary card.

Featuring a lightweight bout between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller, "UFC on FOX 3: Diaz vs. Miller" takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

Johnson looks to build his first two-fight UFC win streak after earning a unanimous-decision win over Shane Roller at January's UFC on FOX 2 event. Prior to the win, Johnson bookended a win over Edward Faaloloto with losses to Paul Sass and Jonathan Brookins.

Meanwhile, Ferguson remains undefeated in the octagon after racking up three-straight wins over Yves Edwards, Aaron Riley and Ramsey Nijem. The winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 13" boasts six-straight wins overall and is 9-1 in his past 10 official outings.

MMAJunkie

 

[Swinny]

Title shot next for UFC on FOX 3 headliner, according to Nate Diaz

A lightweight tilt between standouts Jim Miller (21-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) and Nate Diaz (15-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) hasn't officially been dubbed a title eliminator.

Unofficially, it may be a different story.

"That's what I was told was happening," said Diaz, who on May 5 headlines UFC on FOX 3 opposite Miller.

UFC on FOX 3 takes place at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The event's main card airs live on FOX while preliminary-card fights air on FUEL TV.

Diaz said it's a simple process of elimination to arrive at the conclusion that he and Miller are next in line.

"I don't see who else would get a title shot," he said.

Of course, the UFC may be keeping its options open. Standouts like Anthony Pettis and Edson Barboza have dazzled fans with impressive recent finishes, and they could make a bid for a contender's spot.

But if Diaz is right, the winner of next Saturday's bout would meet the winner of an upcoming title rematch between champ Ben Henderson and the man he deposed, Frankie Edgar. That bout is scheduled for sometime this summer.

UFC president Dana White would neither confirm or deny the UFC on FOX 3 headliner would crown a contender, a UFC official said during a teleconference in support of the event.

Still, that's added motivation for both fighters, who nonetheless said they were focused on the task at hand.

Diaz's first run at the lightweight belt was a rocky one. He earned five consecutive wins following his turn on "The Ultimate Fighter 5" and then fell short against division standouts Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson and Gray Maynard, all of whom used wrestling to negate his strengths in boxing and jiu-jitsu.

A trip to welterweight was equally ill-fated. He went 2-2 and was outmuscled by Rory MacDonald and Dong Hyun Kim.

Returning to lightweight has proven to be the right choice. In rapid succession, he took out the once-feared Takanori Gomi and halted the rise of Donald Cerrone in a one-sided beatdown.

Miller's road has been far less bumpy. Following a loss to two-time title challenger Gray Maynard, he went on a seven-fight tear that put him one step away from No. 1 contender status. He was stopped there by Henderson, but recently rebounded with a quick submission over Melvin Guillard.

A title shot would presumably come in the fall for the winner, if Diaz's information is correct.

MMAJunkie

 

[Hoss]

The co-mains look great, but I could take or leave the rest.

 

[Swinny]

The co-mains look great, but I could take or leave the rest.

Barry vs. Johnson could be a war. Definitely looking forward to that one. Belcher vs. Palhares will be very interesting too.

 

[Swinny]

Nate Diaz, not title shot, the center of Jim Miller's pre-UFC on FOX 3 focus

Jim Miller (21-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) has reason to be quick on his feet against Nate Diaz (15-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC), and not just because a lightweight title shot could be on the line.

Diaz has a five-inch reach advantage to go with four inches of height. What's more, he's just as good as his older brother, Nick Diaz, in walking opponents down with punches.

"There are things that I'm good at," Miller said. "So that's where I'm going to try to keep the fight."

Miller and the younger Diaz headline UFC on FOX 3, which takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Main-card fights air on FOX while preliminary-card fights air on FUEL TV.

Miller, of course, is a vastly improved striker since his UFC debut four years ago, but his wrestling and submission skills are still considered his forte. They helped him notch a first-round submission over another opponent with a scary striking game, Melvin Guillard.

Out of 21 career victories, 12 of Miller's have come by way of submission.

Diaz, however, is no slouch in the submission department. In addition to being a rangy boxer, his long limbs aid him in finding his opponent's appendages. Ten of his 15 career wins come by way of submission.

That leaves wrestling, where Diaz has shown a historic disadvantage. Past opponents Gray Maynard, Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson controlled him on in close and on the mat while staying out of submissions.

For Miller, that's a blueprint to success. But he's still expecting a tough fight.

"The guys that have been able to beat [Diaz] have used their wrestling, but I expect him to have gotten better and learn from those defeats, just like I learned from my defeats," Miller said. "It's just one aspect of the game and it's all how I end up using it.

"Really, it's using everything to beat him - using strikes, wrestling and the grappling and fight where I have advantages. It's going to be a tough fight."

But he admits there are simple things he can do to help his case. Diaz is here because red-hot prospect Donald Cerrone got drawn into the type of standup slugfest that the Diaz brothers do so well. Takanori Gomi, who Diaz submitted after a boxing beatdown, made the same mistake.

"Not stay on the outside," said Miller of the most basic part of his plan. "Yes, he's got the reach advantage. I train with a lot of guys that do have a reach advantage on me and it's about getting inside and fighting where I can land the strikes and not get jammed up. Cerrone and I, we don't have that many similarities to be honest. To think the fight will go the same way as of now is a little silly."

In fact, Miller is one of those chronically practical fighters that put themselves in the best position to win, not the ones that prove a point. It earned him seven consecutive victories in one of the UFC's deepest divisions, and after a setback to current champ Ben Henderson, he hopes it will earn him a shot at the title.

Nothing has been promised in that department, but Miller is used to waiting and pressing on anyway.

"I'm just focused on our fight and whatever happens after that is of no concern to me right now, but if I could win impressively then really who else are they going to put in there?" he said. "But, yes, like I said I'm not even focused on it. It's really the last thing on my mind right now. I'm just focused on fighting Nate and getting a win."

MMAJunkie

 

[Swinny]

Saturday's UFC on FOX 3 lineup finalized with televised bouts and dark matches

Saturday's UFC on FOX 3 event will feature a mixture of both televised fights and dark matches.

The event, which takes place at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., features four main-card bouts on FOX national, six preliminary-card fights on FUEL TV, and two dark matches.

Lightweights Jim Miller and Nate Diaz headline the event.

The UFC occasionally has dark matches that aren't televised or streamed on Facebook. In this case, bantamweights Roland Delorme (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) vs. Nick Denis (11-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and middleweights Karlos Vemola (8-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) vs. Mike Massenzio (13-6 MMA, 2-4 UFC) can only been seen in person. The dark matches begin at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT), and FUEL TV prelims begin an hour later.

Then, at 8 p.m. ET, the main card goes live on FOX.

The full UFC on FOX 3 card includes:

MAIN CARD (FOX)

Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck
Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares
Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson

PRELIMINARY CARD (FUEL TV)

Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Johnson
John Dodson vs. Tim Elliott
John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss
Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker
Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish
Dennis Bermudez vs. Pablo Garza

PRELIMINARY CARD

Roland Delorme vs. Nick Denis
Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola

MMAJunkie

 

[Kushikimi]

I hope Dodson does win

 

[Hoss]

Actually, I very much look forward to this card in general. Even Dodson vs. Eliott, which has a strange appeal.

 

[Swinny]

It's a very solid card, especially for a free one. Looking forward to it.