Author: Mike Chiappetta

Famed Ref ‘Big’ John McCarthy to Return to Octagon at UFC on Versus 2

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsFamed mixed martial arts referee “Big” John McCarthy will return to the UFC’s octagon for the first time since 2007 when he oversees action during the upcoming UFC on Versus 2 show.

McCarthy’s wife Elaine conf…

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Famed mixed martial arts referee “Big” John McCarthy will return to the UFC’s octagon for the first time since 2007 when he oversees action during the upcoming UFC on Versus 2 show.

McCarthy’s wife Elaine confirmed to MMA Fighting that he has been assigned by the California State Athletic Commission to officiate matches at the event, which takes place on Sunday at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif.

Elaine McCarthy said he does not yet know what specific fights he will handle during the evening, and that he would not be providing any comments or interviews about his return prior to the event.

Tito Ortiz on Fighting Matt Hamill: ‘It Sucks, But This is Business’

Filed under: UFC, NewsWhen MMA Fighting broke the news last Thursday that Tito Ortiz’s next fight would come against Matt Hamill, many MMA fans were completely surprised, and almost in disbelief. After all, the two had struck up a strong friendship on …

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When MMA Fighting broke the news last Thursday that Tito Ortiz‘s next fight would come against Matt Hamill, many MMA fans were completely surprised, and almost in disbelief. After all, the two had struck up a strong friendship on season three of The Ultimate Fighter, where Ortiz selected Hamill with his first pick as coach, and became a mentor to him throughout the season.

The two have maintained a friendship over the years, but now they’re in each other’s way as they try to progress up the light-heavyweight ladder, and their paths will meet on Oct. 23 at UFC 121. In a video blog posted to his PunishmentFilms.TV website, Ortiz addresses the prospect of facing his friend.

Bellator Offers Disgruntled Heavyweight Dave Herman Bout vs. Ricco Rodriguez

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, Bellator, NewsHeavyweight prospect Dave Herman is currently embroiled in a breach of contract lawsuit against Bellator, but the promotion has made another attempt at reconciliation, offering him a Sept. 9 date against f…

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Heavyweight prospect Dave Herman is currently embroiled in a breach of contract lawsuit against Bellator, but the promotion has made another attempt at reconciliation, offering him a Sept. 9 date against former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez, MMA Fighting has learned.

Herman (16-2), signed with the upstart promotion nearly two years ago, yet has fought only once under their banner, earning a first-round TKO over Josh Barnes in May 2009.

Foiled Lloyd Irvin Home Invasion Gunman Suspected of Being Serial Killer

Filed under: Fighting, NewsIn October 2008, just days before he was scheduled to leave his suburban Maryland home to accompany his most famous student, Brandon Vera, to a UFC event in England, jiu-jitsu and MMA instructor Lloyd Irvin found himself in a…

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In October 2008, just days before he was scheduled to leave his suburban Maryland home to accompany his most famous student, Brandon Vera, to a UFC event in England, jiu-jitsu and MMA instructor Lloyd Irvin found himself in a fight of his own. But this one was for his life.

In the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 4, Irvin woke up on his couch at 4:30 am to find two gunmen standing over him. Taking bold action when the opportunity arose, Irvin disarmed one of the perpetrators, forcing them both to flee. No one was hurt in the attempted home invasion, but now the case has taken a chilling twist.

According to Washington D.C. news outlets including WUSA-9, police now believe that one of the men involved in Irvin’s home invasion attempt is a suspected serial killer.

Strikeforce to Meet With Fedor’s Reps About Next Fight, Possible Extension

Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsScott Coker has business to attend to on Friday night with the Strikeforce Challengers 9 event that’s emanating from Everett, Washington, but it’s on to other important matters this weekend for the comp…

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Scott Coker has business to attend to on Friday night with the Strikeforce Challengers 9 event that’s emanating from Everett, Washington, but it’s on to other important matters this weekend for the company CEO.

Coker is set to meet with Fedor Emelianenko‘s M-1 representatives this weekend to continue charting a path for Emelianenko’s future.

The Russian star, who lost his first fight in nearly 10 years when he submitted to Fabricio Werdum in June, has just one fight left on his current deal, and a source with knowledge of the situation said this would be the second meeting between the two sides as they address action items involving his career.

Strikeforce Challengers 9 Weigh-In Results

Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsAll 10 fighters involved in Friday’s Strikeforce Challengers 9 event successfully made weight for the show.

Main event heavyweights Shane Del Rosario and Lolohea Mahe each made weight without issue, with Del Rosario check…

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All 10 fighters involved in Friday’s Strikeforce Challengers 9 event successfully made weight for the show.

Main event heavyweights Shane Del Rosario and Lolohea Mahe each made weight without issue, with Del Rosario checking in at 243.6 and Mahe coming in at 264. Meanwhile, Strikeforce welterweight women’s title contestants Sarah Kaufman and Roxanne Modaferri both checked in well under the 135-pound limit, making their championship bout official. The champion Kaufman weighed in at 134 while the challenger registered 133.4 on the scale.

Below are official weights for the televised portion of the event, which takes place at the Comcast Arena in Everett, Washington, and will air on Showtime at 11 pm ET/PT.