Author: Matt Erickson [matt-erickson]

A little more than a year after the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first venture onto network television, the promotion and FOX may be happy enough with the pairing to renew their vows, so to speak.

The UFC in 2011 signed a seven-year broadcast deal with FOX that officially took effect at the start of this year. But on Nov. 12, 2011, UFC on FOX 1 gave viewers a taste of what was to come.

Now almost a year into the official deal, UFC President Dana White said once again the two sides are happy with the path they’re on.

Six weeks after a convincing knockout victory, Andrei Arlovski is set for a December return.

Arlovski will meet Mike Hayes on Dec. 16 in Moscow in the main event of “Battle of Moscow 9” under the Fight Nights banner. The heavyweight announced the news on his Twitter account.

A native of Belarus in the former Soviet Union, Arlovski will compete in Russia for the first time since his third professional fight.

Most fighters who lose by split decision believe they won the fight, and Ricardo Tirloni is no exception.

Tirloni this past Friday dropped a split call to Dave Jansen at Bellator 81 in the semifinals of the promotion’s Season 7 lightweight tournament.

His dream of winning a Bellator tournament and fighting for a title will have to wait, but he said walked away with the confidence that he won the fight – and will hope to build off that, despite a loss on his record.

Episode No. 27 of the Co-Main Event Podcast is now available for streaming and download.

MMAjunkie.com/USA TODAY columnist Ben Fowlkes and ESPN.com MMA writer Chad Dundas host the weekly show (also dubbed the “CME,” if you nasty).

This week, the fellas discuss Georges St-Pierre’s successful return, the possible superfight with him and Anderson Silva, Ronda Rousey in the UFC and more. Check it out at www.comaineventpodcast.com.

Two fights have been added to Cage Warriors’ year-end card in Ireland.

On the main card of Cage Warriors 51, a 120-pound women’s catchweight fight between Aisling Daly and Katja Kankaanpaa has been booked. And set for the prelims is a bantamweight bout between Liam James and Alan Philpott.

Cage Warriors 51 takes place Dec. 31 at The Helix in Dublin. The event’s main card streams live on MMAjunkie.com following prelims on Facebook.

The UFC returns to FOX next month for its first title fight on the network in more than a year.

Lightweight champion Benson Henderson defends his title against Nate Diaz in the UFC on FOX 5 main event. It will be Henderson’s second title defense since winning the belt in February.

Check out a video preview of the Dec. 8 card.