Hopefully you were productive during the UFC’s mini-sabbatical, because there won’t be another one like it for awhile. But just because the Octagon was packed away, it doesn’t mean the rest of the MMA world hit cruise control. From regional fight results to potential trouble booking Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II in a Brazilian soccer stadium, catch up on this weekend’s news with the Morning Report.
5 MUST-READ STORIES TO START YOUR DAY
One Fighting Championship 2 results. Felipe Enomoto submitted Ole Laursen and Rolles Gracie made short work of Bob Sapp at One FC’s sophomore showing.
Xtreme Fighting Championships 16 results. Former WEC champ Jamie Varner inched closer to a UFC contract by smashing Drew Fickett in 41 seconds on Friday night.
UFC’s hopes for stadium show in Sao Paulo appear to be fading. A Brazilian non-profit organization, Viva Pacaembu, has successfully campaigned against the UFC hosting Silva vs. Sonnen II in Sao Paulo’s Pacaembu Stadium.
Keith Kizer details what’s next for Nick Diaz. Kizer fielded questions about Diaz’s failed UFC 143 drug test and impending suspension over the weekend.
Georges St. Pierre: MMA needs someone like Nick Diaz. As always, GSP sounded off as the voice of reason on Diaz’s potential retirement.
MEDIA STEW
UFC veterans Jamie Varner and Drew Fickett face off in the main event of XFC 16.
Georges St. Pierre anxiously tries to score Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz cageside at UFC 143.
Your obligatory video of Anderson Silva dancing to James Brown. (HT: Bloody Elbow)
Wednesday’s co-headliner Stefan Struve slaps a triangle on Chase Gormley for the UFC’s “Submission of the Week.”
Stephen Thompson + Chuck Norris’ World Combat League + Referee Cecil Peoples = Pure Video Goodness.
Photographer Dolly Clew captured this ridiculous shot of Kyle Watson’s blood getting knocked right out of his face during the main event of CWFC Fight Night 3. (via @CageWarriors)
Well played, Mr. Kennedy.
One of my dogs is named after the god of war, and the other is named after a Beatles song.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 10, 2012
Hard to forget that girl.
@OksanaGrishina Arf arf! Nice meeting you and your friend. A girl in a puppy suit is the last thing I thought I’d run into at the gym.
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) February 12, 2012
Sounds like a pretty classy Saturday night.
hey @arielhelwani, i just depantsed @jaime_kennedy at the playboy party. sometimes I’m a bit more than awesome. suck it @bigsexymccorkle
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) February 12, 2012
Too soon?
Whitney Houston visited me in my sleep last night to tell me my tweet was funny. Take that Internet.
— Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) February 12, 2012
Somebody needs to make this happen.
“@asumoff: @ttags12 @azst8er @kingsbu could Whitney be a potential walk out song?” Hell yes Whitney will be my next walk out.
— Kyle Kingsbury (@Kingsbu) February 12, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced over the weekend (Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 – Sunday, Fed. 12, 2012):
– UFC on Fox 3: Josh Koscheck (17-5) vs. Johny Hendricks (12-1)
– UFC 144: Issei Tamura (6-2) in against Zhang Tiequan (15-2)
– UFC 145: Matt Brown (13-11) vs. Stephen Thompson (6-0)
– UFC on Fuel TV 3: Dustin Poirier (12-1) vs. Chan Sung Jung (12-3) announced as main event
– UFC on Fuel TV 3: Jorge Lopez (11-2) vs. Amir Sadollah (5-3)
– UFC on Fuel TV 3: Cody McKenzie (12-2) vs. Aaron Riley (30-13-1)
– UFC on Fuel TV 3: Brad Tavares (7-1) vs. Dongi Yang (10-2)
– Frank Mir (16-5) vs. Cain Velasquez (9-1); Forrest Griffin (18-7) vs. Tito Ortiz (16-10-1) announced by Lorenzo Fertitta
– Junior dos Santos (14-1) vs. Alistair Overeem (36-11, 1 NC) confirmed for May 26th
– Bellator 65: Zach Makovsky (14-2) vs. Eduardo Dantas (13-2) announced as main event
– Bellator 65: Lyman Good (11-2) vs. LeVon Maynard (12-8)
– Bellator 65: Duane Bastress (4-1) vs. Plinio Cruz (5-4)
– Bellator 65: Tim Carpenter (8-1) vs. Ricardo Romero (11-3)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s FPOTD belongs to BE reader fightinghistorian: The time is right for a superfight, and it doesn’t involve Anderson.
Although calls for a superfight between GSP and Anderson or Jon Jones and Anderson have petered out recently, due to GSP’s knee injury and the attendant opening of the welterweight division on the one hand and the reemergence of Chael Sonnen as a title challenger on the other, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a viable superfight out there. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo.
Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Send it to @shaunalshatti and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s post.