UFC NEWS: Anthony Pettis' manager says he will take a fight while Edgar vs. Maynard III happens

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Anthony_Pettis_14.jpeg

When Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard fought to a split draw at UFC 125 last Saturday, prompting UFC President Dana White to book a third fight between the two lightweights, new WEC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis was left with a choice. He could take a fight while those two battled it out, or he could wait for that fight to happen to get his shot at the title once they're finished.

It seems he's now made his decision, as MMAWeekly.com reports that he will take a fight in the UFC before getting his title shot.

The decision to fight was revealed by Pettis' manager, Mike Roberts of MMA Inc., who pointed to the length of the layoff as the reason to take a fight instead of waiting for the shot.

"Anthony was obviously disappointed in not getting the title shot but he also understands why Dana made that decision? Roberts said. ?After consulting with Anthony and Duke Roufus, we collectively decided that it would be in Anthony's best interest to take a fight in the meantime.

"A 10 month or possible year layoff was just too long. We believe with a win against a top lightweight contender Anthony will still get the title shot later in the year?.

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: As I said in yesterday's roundtable, I think this is absolutely the right move for him. He'll now have the opportunity to get his UFC debut out of the way against another contender, and prove his claim to the title shot. A big win in the UFC will help him keep his momentum going from this past year, and add more legitimacy to his title fight when it does happen. And again, if he loses, than it will simply prove that he wasn't ready for the title shot at this stage in his career anyway. He's only 23 years old, and though he's supremely talented and exciting to watch, he's still fairly unproven. A win over an established name at lightweight will help to shed that label.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_8085.shtml

Tra Telligman Ivan Titenkov Sylvester Terkay Harout Terzyan James Thompson

BELLATOR NEWS: Brent Weedman named third participant in season four welterweight tournament

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Brent_Weedman_pic.jpg

Bellator Fighting Championships continues to confirm the field for their season four welterweight tournament this week, as the organization on Friday announced that 23 fight veteran Brent Weedman will take part in the tournament.

Weedman is a five year veteran of the sport, and holds an impressive career record of 17-5-1. He's appeared three times for Bellator during seasons two and three, winning all three fights to extend his current winning streak to nine fights. All nine of those victories were by stoppage, and in fact all 17 of Weedman's career wins have seen him finish his opponent.

"Brent has put on some incredible performances for us over the last two seasons, he?s earned the right to be added to the Season 4 Welterweight Tournament," said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Brent has the raw talent and potential to do big things in the tournament, which will be one of our most competitive to-date."

"I'm always looking to finish the fight,? said Weedman. ?That's something I feel very strongly about. I'm a finisher. I've always had that mentality in any sport I've ever played. I play to win decisively."

Despite that mentality, Weedman will come into the tournament as an underdog and a lesser known name in the field, but Weedman said that won't affect him at all during the season.

"It's an absolute fact that people are sleeping on me going into this tournament,? said Weedman. ?This tournament is filled with big names in the welterweight division, and a couple other guys. I happen to be one of those other guys. But that doesn't affect my end of the deal. I'm still bringing it. Whether or not they know it?s coming or not is up to them."

Season four for Bellator begins this March on MTV2, and is expected to feature tournaments in the featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and light heavyweight divisions.

Penick's Analysis: Weedman's a good addition to the field. He's picked up impressive first round stoppage wins each time he's stepped into Bellator's cage, and he completely earned an opportunity to go through this field. He's a hard man to stop as well, as his five career losses feature three of the four decisions he's gone to, the other being a draw in his debut fight, a triangle choke loss and a stoppage due to a cut. But he hasn't been beaten in three years, and could absolutely do some damage in this tournament.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Bellator/article_8087.shtml

Brad Imes Enson Inoue Takeshi Inoue Tokimitsu Ishizawa Wallid Ismail

UFC VIDEO: Dana White's UFC 125 video blog part two

WhiteDana_WK150_111.jpg

Dana White's video blogging for UFC 125 continues with part two. This episode goes through this week's pre-fight press conference and the weigh-ins for tonight's New Year's Day event from Las Vegas, Nevada. Check it out below (App users video available at MMATorch.com):

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_7999.shtml

Anthony Pettis Nam Phan Mike Pierce Mike Plotcheck Ross Pointon

Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Nate Marquardt penciled in for UFC 128

An exciting middleweight match-up between Yoshihiro Akiyama and Nate Marquardt appears to be set for a spot on the card at UFC 128 this March in Newark, New Jersey. Though both men are coming off losing performances in their previous bouts there is little doubt the pairing should provide fans with a good deal of [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/01/07/yoshihiro-akiyama-vs-nate-marquardt-penciled-in-for-ufc-128/

Hiroyuki Abe Cyril Abidi  Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah  Terrance Aflague

Strikeforce Champ Marloes Coenen Promises A Spectacular 2011, A Converted Fan Agrees

2010 was a very interesting year for MMA, for several reasons. The sport continued to grow at an unparalleled rate, several challengers to the UFC continued to set themselves apart and grow both their fanbase and as a business, and the phrase ?anything is possible in MMA? took on an entirely new meaning as countless [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/01/03/strikeforce-champ-marloes-coenen-promises-a-spectacular-2011-a-converted-fan-agrees

Musse Hasselvall Daiki DJ taiki Hata He Peng David Heath Delson Heleno

Looming legal issues earn Chael Sonnen UFC suspension

Chael Sonnen?s self-imposed troubles worsened this week when Dana White announced the outspoken middleweight?s contract had been frozen in hopes of allowing Sonnen to straighten out his personal life. While it is believed he will eventually return to the divisional fray in the future, the decision to suspend Sonnen is certainly another blow to the [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/01/05/looming-legal-issues-earn-chael-sonnen-ufc-suspension/

Gary Myers Chris The Pitbull Myra Jason MacDonald Cory MacDonald Matt MacGrath