Cheick Kongo vs. Paul Buentello set for March 21 at UFC on Versus 1

A heavyweight bout that could have the octagon rocking is set now that strikers Cheick Kongo (14-6-1 MMA, 7-4 UFC) and Paul Buentello (27-11 MMA, 3-2 UFC) are signed to meet at UFC on Versus 1.

The Versus-televised event is set for March 21 at The Odeum Colorado in
Broomfield (near Denver) with a headliner of Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera.

Kongo and Buentello are part of the night’s televised main card.


A heavyweight bout that could have the octagon rocking is set now that strikers Cheick Kongo (14-6-1 MMA, 7-4 UFC) and Paul Buentello (27-11 MMA, 3-2 UFC) are signed to meet at UFC on Versus 1.

The Versus-televised event is set for March 21 at The Odeum Colorado in
Broomfield (near Denver) with a headliner of Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera.

Kongo and Buentello are part of the night’s televised main card.


Leonard Garcia and Diego Nunes verbally agree to WEC 47 bout

Featherweights Leonard Garcia (13-5 MMA, 3-2 WEC) and Diego Nunes (13-1 MMA, 2-1 WEC) have verbally agreed to meet at WEC 47 in March, and bout agreements should be finalized in the coming week.

Sources close to the event today confirmed the matchup with MMAjunkie.com.

The event takes place March 6 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The main card, including a a headliner of WEC featherweight champ Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz, airs on Versus.


Featherweights Leonard Garcia (13-5 MMA, 3-2 WEC) and Diego Nunes (13-1 MMA, 2-1 WEC) have verbally agreed to meet at WEC 47 in March, and bout agreements should be finalized in the coming week.

Sources close to the event today confirmed the matchup with MMAjunkie.com.

The event takes place March 6 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The main card, including a a headliner of WEC featherweight champ Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz, airs on Versus.


WEC confirms Torres vs. Benavidez, Pulver vs. Vazquez for WEC 47 in March

After recently announcing Miguel Torres and Jens Pulver will return at WEC 47 in March, World Extreme Cagefighting officials today confirmed their respective opponents: Joseph Benavidez and Javier Vazquez.

MMAjunkie.com first reported both of the matchups last month.

WEC 47 takes place March 6 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, with a Versus-televised headliner of WEC bantamweight champ Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz.


After recently announcing Miguel Torres and Jens Pulver will return at WEC 47 in March, World Extreme Cagefighting officials today confirmed their respective opponents: Joseph Benavidez and Javier Vazquez.

MMAjunkie.com first reported both of the matchups last month.

WEC 47 takes place March 6 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, with a Versus-televised headliner of WEC bantamweight champ Brian Bowles vs. Dominick Cruz.


MMAjunkie.com Radio: UFN 20’s Evan Dunham, UFC 113’s Paul Daley, TSJ winner

MMAjunkie.com Radio kicks off a week of star-studded programming with guest Evan Dunham, who won a “Submission of the Night” bonus by defeating “The Ultimate Fighter 8” winner Efrain Escudero last week in the UFC Fight Night 20 co-main event.

Also scheduled for the show are UFC welterweight contender Paul Daley, who meets Josh Kocheck at UFC 113 in May, and this week’s winner of The Sunday Junkie, Andrew Kent.

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 show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.


MMAjunkie.com Radio kicks off a week of star-studded programming with guest Evan Dunham, who won a “Submission of the Night” bonus by defeating “The Ultimate Fighter 8” winner Efrain Escudero last week in the UFC Fight Night 20 co-main event.

Also scheduled for the show are UFC welterweight contender Paul Daley, who meets Josh Kocheck at UFC 113 in May, and this week’s winner of The Sunday Junkie, Andrew Kent.

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 show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.


Rich Franklin’s hernia surgery successful, UFC return still targeted for spring

Former UFC middleweight champion and veteran fighter Rich Franklin underwent successful hernia surgery last week and still expects to return to the octagon this spring.

J.T. Stewart, Franklin’s business manager, shared the news with the Dayton Daily News, a content partner site of MMAjunkie.com.

Franklin slotted the Jan. 12 surgery after a busy 2009 fight schedule continually forced him to postpone the procedure.


Former UFC middleweight champion and veteran fighter Rich Franklin underwent successful hernia surgery last week and still expects to return to the octagon this spring.

J.T. Stewart, Franklin’s business manager, shared the news with the Dayton Daily News, a content partner site of MMAjunkie.com.

Franklin slotted the Jan. 12 surgery after a busy 2009 fight schedule continually forced him to postpone the procedure.


Mike Ricci, GSP training partner, set for Bellator’s season-two lightweight tourney

With their featherweight and welterweight tournaments quickly filling with notable talent, Bellator Fighting Championships officials today revealed the first competitor for its lightweight tournament: Mike Ricci.

Ricci, who trains with UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre under the famed Firas Zahabi at Montreal’s TriStar gym, owns a 5-0 career mark.

Ricci competes in the eight-man lightweight tournament, which commences
in April with live Thursday-night events on FOX Sports Net Affiliates.


With their featherweight and welterweight tournaments quickly filling with notable talent, Bellator Fighting Championships officials today revealed the first competitor for its lightweight tournament: Mike Ricci.

Ricci, who trains with UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre under the famed Firas Zahabi at Montreal’s TriStar gym, owns a 5-0 career mark.

Ricci competes in the eight-man lightweight tournament, which commences
in April with live Thursday-night events on FOX Sports Net Affiliates.