Author: John Morgan [kingofabuelos]

MMAjunkie.com is proud to host UFC fighter Eliot Marshall’s fight-camp
blog for the upcoming UFC on Versus 1 event, which takes place March 21
in Colorado.

Marshall, a semifinalist on “The Ultimate Fighter 8,” goes for his
fourth straight UFC victory when he meets veteran Vladimir Matyushenko
in a preliminary-card matchup.

In his second blog, Marshall discusses the shift in intensity of his
camp, the need for family in the day-to-day life of an athlete, the
adjustments necessary for fighting on a Sunday, and the changes he’s
made in trying to become a stronger fighter in the mental aspect of the
sport.

Zack Micklewright (7-0 MMA, 1-0 WEC) has suffered an injury in training and has been forced out of a planned WEC 48 matchup with Alex Karalexis (10-4 MMA, 4-2 WEC).

The Boston Herald was the first to report the injury, though the exact nature of the ailment was not disclosed.

MMAjunkie.com has since confirmed that Micklewright is indeed unable to compete at the April 24 event.

Hold your horses.

Amid rabid speculation this morning that Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson
(5-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) may be James Toney’s first octagon opponent, his
manager told MMAjunkie.com on Thursday afternoon
that it’s business as usual for the bearded brawler.

Slice, who is expected to face Matt Mitrione at UFC 113 in Montreal,
Quebec, Canada, is absent from the promotion’s official event page. But
Mike Imber, Slice’s longtime manager otherwise known as “Icy Mike,”
said his client was never on the page to begin with.

Cast member of “The Ultimate Fighter” and 11-time UFC veteran Stephan
Bonnar will take over for former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir in
the the “WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz” commentating booth this weekend.

MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the change to the Versus broadcast team with WEC officials.

Mir is understandably busy as he prepares for a UFC 111 interim title
fight with Shane Carwin, which led to the change. WEC officials
insisted that Mir’s recent controversial statements regarding Brock
Lesnar – and subsequent apology – had nothing to do with the change.

The upstart Bellator Fighting Championships organization officially
added the fourth and fifth competitors in its forthcoming lightweight
tournament.

Bellator officials today announced that Chad Hinton (6-0 MMA, 0-0 BFC)
and Janne Tulirinta (12-3 MMA, 0-0 BFC) will compete in the promotion’s
second-season 155-pound bracket.

The fighters join Ferrid Kheder, Mike Ricci and Cary Vanier in the
eight-man field, and the remaining three contestants are expected to be
announced later this month.

This past weekend’s “Strikeforce: Challengers VI: Kaufman vs. Hashi”
event, which North American MMA’s second major event to be headlined by
a female matchup, peaked with 189,000 viewers on Showtime.

MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the ratings
figures – which nearly doubled as the event unfolded – with Showtime
officials.

Strikeforce Challengers VI took place on Feb. 26 at the San Jose Civic Auditorium in San Jose, Calif.