Author: MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff]

Renzo Gracie protégé Ricardo Almeida is as biased as can be when it comes to breaking down his teacher’s upcoming fight with Matt Hughes at UFC 112.

Almeida, who makes his welterweight debut next month against Matt Brown at UFC 111, sneers at the idea that Hughes could make Gracie eat a ton of elbows against the cage.

But after getting smaller in the gym, Almeida told MMAjunkie.com that the Gracie statesman is himself considering a drop to the lightweight class after the April 10 fight in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, Almeida is also excited that the move could open the door for Gracie vs. B.J. Penn II.

Middleweights Ryan Jensen (14-6 MMA, 1-4 UFC) and Jesse Forbes (14-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) will meet in May at UFC 114.

A source close to one of the competitors told MMAjunkie.com bout agreements will be signed shortly and that the fight is slated for the night’s un-aired preliminary card. MMAFighting.com first reported the bout on Monday.

UFC 114 takes place May 29 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Spike TV’s one-hour “UFC Prelim” broadcast for this past weekend’s “UFC
109: Relentless” event scored a series-high 1.7 million viewers, which
topped the 1.5 million who tuned in for January’s UFC 108 event.

The one-hour broadcast, which featured two preliminary-card bouts
and aired before the night’s pay-per-view telecast, scored a 1.2
household rating overall, as well as a 1.6 rating among men 18-49 and a
1.1 among people 18-49, both of which also set records.

UFC 109 took place Feb. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

After one of the most impressive performances of his career, UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard today joins MMAjunkie.com Radio to discuss his decision victory over Ronys Torres at UFC 109.

Additionally, Joe Lauzon joins the show to discuss the status of a surgically repaired knee, his recent fight with Sam Stout, and his plans for an August return at the UFC’s planned Aug. 28 event in Boston.

MMAjunkie.com Radio begins at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. Listen to
and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

Middleweight fighter and fashion designer Matt Major has signed a deal with Bellator Fighting Championships and will compete in the organization’s season-two eight-man middleweight tournament.

The promotion today announced the signing.

Major (6-1) is currently riding a three-fight win streak, which included decision victories over UFC veteran Shonie Carter and former EliteXC fighter Jamie Fletcher.

West Linn, Ore.’s Chael Sonnen (24-10-1 MMA, 4-3 UFC) played the perfect politician on Saturday night.

After dominating anointed contender Nate Marquardt at UFC 109 on Feb. 6, Sonnen talked up his donor and picked a fight with someone across the aisle.

“I hope Anderson (Silva) wins (at UFC 112) because I think Vitor (Belfort) is a lot tougher fighter,” Sonnen said after UFC 109. “If I had to choose between the two, I’m going to take the low road and take the easier opponent to the championship.”