Author: UFC News

Mike Swick’s long-awaited comeback to the Octagon will have to wait a little longer after he was forced to withdraw from his UFC 134 bout against Erick Silva due to injury. A replacement opponent for the debuting Silva will be announced shortly.

Brazilian Prospects Meet in Rio Next Month
With UFC 134 in Rio fast approaching, two local favorites will make their Octagon debuts at home. “Antonio Carvalho is out of his scheduled UFC 134 bout due to injury,” said UFC President Dana White. “Felipe Arantes has stepped in his place to face Yuri Alcantara. Now, two of Brazil’s most exciting featherweight prospects will go head-to-head in Rio de Janeiro on August 27th.”

Miller Rio-Bound to Fight Toquinho

“Dan Miller lives up to his motto of ‘anyone, anyplace, anytime’ by stepping up against Rousimar Palhares at UFC 134 after original opponent Alexandre Ferreira pulled out of the fight,” said UFC president Dana White today.

Miller last fought at UFC 128, where he faced Nate Marquardt on less than a week’s notice when Marquardt’s original opponent, Yoshihiro Akiyama, was unable to make the trip due to the earthquake in Japan. Last month, Miller’s teammate Charlie Brenneman fought Rick Story on less than a day’s notice when Story’s original opponent – Marquardt – was not medically cleared to fight.

Alcantara vs. Carvalho in Rio updated June 28
“Canadian featherweight fighter, Antonio Carvalho will be making his UFC debut against one of Brazil’s best prospects, Yuri Alcantara at UFC 134,” confirmed UFC president Dana White.

Jabouin vs. Loveland Added to UFC 134 Card updated June 10
A Canadian and an American will meet in Brazil on August 27th, as bantamweights Yves Jabouin and Ian Loveland square off in a UFC 134 bout.

“Ian Loveland and Yves Jabouin have verbally agreed to fight on August 27 in Rio De Janeiro,” said UFC President Dana White. “Both are exceptionally tough competitors and this will be Jabouin’s first bout in the bantamweight division.”

Swick Returns in Brazil Against Newcomer Silva

Following a year and a half long layoff, welterweight star Mike “Quick” Swick will return to the Octagon in search of his 10th UFC win when he takes on highly touted newcomer Erick Silva at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 27th.

Schaub vs. Big Nog Confirmed for Rio
The UFC 134 fight card has added a high-profile heavyweight battle, Dana White confirmed today. The 8-1 Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub and former Pride and UFC champion Minotauro Nogueria have verbally agreed to the August 27 bout in Rio.

Schaub is coming off a UFC 128 knockout of the night performance against another Pride legend, Mirko Cro Cop. The summer bout will be Nogueira’s first return to the Octagon in 18 months after an injury took him out of his planned headlining bout last October.

It’s Official – Silva vs. Okami in Rio on August 27 updated May 9
It’s official. UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will look to successfully defend his title for the ninth time when he faces the last man to beat him, number one contender Yushin Okami, at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 27th.

Barboza to Face Pearson in Rio
Verbal agreements are in for another big bout on the Brazil card. “Undefeated 8-0 Brazilian sensation Edson Barboza takes on Ultimate Fighter 9 winner Ross ‘The Real Deal’ Pearson,” said Dana White. Barboza is coming off a Fight of the Night win in his second UFC outing at UFC 128; Brit Pearson last defeated Spencer Fisher at UFC 127 in Sydney.

UFC 134 in Rio Fight Card Takes Shape updated April 17
After months of anticipation and speculation, the fight card for UFC 134 – the UFC’s first return to Brazil since 1998 – has begun to take shape, featuring several of the country’s most talented fighters.

Dana White today announced several bouts that have been verbally agreed upon for the momentous event.

Forrest Griffin shocked the world when he spoiled the heavily-favored Pride legend Mauricio “Shogun” Rua‘s UFC debut in 2007. Now Shogun will have the chance for revenge in his home country as the two will rematch August 27. “These two former world champions always give it their all and this could be one of the most exciting fights of the year,” said White.

In a dynamic lightweight matchup, Spencer Fisher is slated to take on Thiago Tavares. In light-heavyweight news, undefeated Stanislav Nedkov will take on devastating Brazilian striker Luiz “Banha” Cane.

Be on the lookout for a new beauty sitting cageside Saturday night — Chrissy Hubbard will be a Guest Octagon Girl at UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz on Saturday, August 6.

The blonde, beach-loving Hubbard was chosen from among thousands of entrants in the annual Miss TransWorld Motocross modeling search. The Floridian will not only grace the cage during UFC 133 but will also receive an extended spread in the pages of TransWorld Motocross magazine.

Hooters Girl Lindsey Way will be a guest Octagon Girl at UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber alongside Arianny Celeste, Chandella Powell and Brittney Palmer.

The Floridian college student was chosen out of 100 Hooters Girls to represent the chain at the UFC via a vote that took place on Facebook in May and June. Way also recently won the 15th Annual Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant.

UFC president Dana White awarded bonuses to headliners Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber for Fight of the Night and to Tito Ortiz for the first-round Submission of the Night scored in his first win since 2006. He also announced that Carlos Condit received Knockout of the Night for his highlight-reel flying knee KO of Dong Hyun Kim. Each bonus scored $75,000 for the fighters.

Video highlights from the fighters below will be linked below as they become available.

Carlos Condit and Tito Ortiz

Melvin Guillard and Dennis Siver

Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz

Due to injury, John Makdessi has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming bout against Brit Paul Taylor. Stepping in for “The Bull” will be Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, who’s coming off a one-sided win over Wagner Rocha at UFC 131. Dana White confirmed today that verbal agreements are in for the new lightweight bout.

Newcomer Markes Steps in for Bonnar against Vemola updated June 17
With Stephan Bonnar sidelined by injury, 11-1 Brazilian newcomer Ronny Markes has verbally agreed to step up to the plate to face Karlos Vemola on August 14th’s UFC on Versus card in Milwaukee.

Kyle Noke vs. Filthy Tom in Milwaukee updated June 1
Two fan favorites from TUF seasons past will face off in a middleweight bout this summer. Dana White confirmed today that Aussie Kyle Noke and “Filthy” Tom Lawlor have agreed to meet at UFC on Versus 5. Both men are coming off solid wins – Lawlor decisioned Patrick Cote last fall at UFC 121, while Noke scored Submission of the Night at UFC 127 in Sydney.

“Bruce Leroy” Gets Garcia in Milwaukee updated May 25
The Ultimate Fighter 12’s Alex “Bruce Leroy” Caceres will look for his first UFC win on August 14th in Milwaukee, when he faces veteran action hero Leonard “Bad Boy” Garcia in a bout verbally agreed to late Tuesday night.

Benavidez vs. Wineland On
Two bantamweight powerhouses will go at it as Joseph Benavidez and Eddie Wineland have verbally agreed to face each other at the UFC on Versus show, confirmed Dana White today. Both WEC vets are coming off three-round battles at UFC 128 and recently sat next to one another at the UFC Fighter Summit.

Hamman Debuts at 185 Against Dollaway this August updated May 23
After back-to-back Fight of the Night awards, Jared Hamman will test the waters at 185 pounds this August 14th against former Ultimate Fighter finalist CB Dollaway.

“Two time Fight of the Night winner Jared ‘The Messenger’ Hamman has verbally agreed to face two time Submission of the Night winner CB ‘The Doberman’ Dollaway in his middleweight debut August 14 in Milwaukee,” said UFC President Dana White.

Reinhardt makes Bantam debut against Figueroa
Veteran Jason Reinhardt will test bantamweight waters this summer when he battles 135-pound prospect Edwin Figueroa on the UFC on Versus card in Milwaukee.

“Jason Reinhardt and Edwin Figueroa have verbally agreed to face each other in a bantamweight bout, August 14th in Milwaukee,” said UFC President Dana White. “With 20 wins, Reinhardt has never gone the distance and Figueroa is coming off a sensational “Fight of The Night” performance against Michael McDonald.”

Bombs Away as Lytle Faces Hardy in Milwaukee
Welterweight sluggers Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy and Chris “Lights Out” Lytle will go to war in the main event of August 14th’s UFC on Versus card in Milwaukee. The bout was verbally agreed to by both parties and is likely to be one of the most exciting of 2011.

Castillo vs. Volkmann on its way to Milwaukee
UFC President Dana White has announced another intriguing matchup for the August 14th event in Milwaukee, as two lightweight up and comers collide.

“In a battle between two top notch wrestlers, Danny “Last Call” Castillo will face Jacob “Christmas” Volkmann August 14 in Milwaukee,” said White.

Miller/Bendo, Bonnar/Vemola Coming in August
Verbal agreements are in for an August matchup between two of the top lightweights in the UFC as former WEC champion Ben Henderson takes on highly ranked Jim Miller, who is currently riding a seven-fight win streak.

Earlier in the day, White confirmed that Stephan Bonnar will try to score his third win in a row against when he battles European standout Karlos Vemola at the same event, taking place August 14 in Milwaukee.

“Verbal agreements are in for an August matchup between Karlos Vemola and Stephan Bonnar,” said UFC President Dana White. “Vemola is an extremely powerful wrestler with heavy hands while Bonnar is very well rounded and known for his incredible ability to take punishment and keep coming forward.”

Two Announced for UFC on VS Event in August
This August’s UFC on Versus event is starting to take shape, with UFC President Dana White announcing two bouts that have been verbally agreed to for the show, which will take place on a date and at a venue to be announced.

“A match that has a shot at being ‘Fight of the Night’ has been verbally agreed to for UFC On Versus this August, as Duane ‘Bang’ Ludwig and Ultimate Fighter winner Amir Sadollah will throw down,” said White. “Verbal agreements are also in for a battle of submission specialists as ‘The Spider’ TJ O’Brien will face Cole ‘Magrinho’ Miller.”

It was a card fraught with changes, including a main event revised three times, but in the end the fighters pulled off one of the best events in recent memory.

Hear from the men of the main (Cheick Kongo and Pat Barry) and co-main (Rick Story and Charlie Brenneman) events, plus Dana White and main card winners Matt Brown and Matt Mitrione at the post-fight press conference.

Dana White announced four well-deserved $50,000 bonuses. Joe Lauzon received Submission of the Night honors for his under-two-minutes win over Curt Warburton. Cheick Kongo scored Knockout of the Night after coming back from what appeared to be two flash knockouts to deliver what Joe Rogan described as “one of the craziest stoppages I have ever seen.”

Nik Lentz and Charles Oliveira took home Fight of the Night for their dynamic seven minutes in the Octagon. Oliveira was awarded the victory, but an inadvertent illegal knee started the chain of events that led to Lentz’ second-round tapout, and many expect the decision to be overturned by the commission.

Video highlights are linked below:
Charlie Brenneman, Rick Story and Dana White
Cheick Kongo, Matt Mitrione and Pat Barry