Author: UFC News

Continuing a commitment to the health and safety of its athletes, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that all potential UFC® and STRIKEFORCE® signees will be subject to a mandatory pre-contract screening for performance-enhancing drugs. Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all incoming athletes will be tested prior to finalizing a contract with the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.

UFC and STRIKEFORCE already work closely with the most prestigious regulators and athletic commissions to ensure the healthy and safety of athletes prior to competition. This includes contestants on The Ultimate Fighter®, all of whom are pre-screened for performance-enhancing drugs prior to participating on the longest-running sports reality show on television.

All current UFC and STRIKEFORCE athletes will continue to be screened for performance-enhancing drugs, both prior to competition and at random, in accordance with athletic commission rules and regulations.

“We’re committed to the health and safety of our athletes and we take it very seriously,” UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said. “We already work closely with athletic commissions to protect our athletes and now we’re taking it one step further. We’re going to test any potential UFC or STRIKEFORCE fighter before finalizing their contract. This shows that we don’t want performance-enhancing drugs in our sport.”

This pre-contract screening policy further cements the organization’s dedication to the well-being of its athletes. In May, the organization announced that nearly 350 UFC and STRIKEFORCE independent contractor athletes would be eligible for customized accident insurance coverage, an unprecedented policy that covers accidental injuries suffered by athletes while training, as well as non-training incidents such as automobile accidents.

“The health and safety of our athletes is our top priority,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’ve seen the issues performance-enhancing drugs have caused in other sports and we’re going to do everything we can to keep them out of the UFC and STRIKEFORCE. Our athletes are already held to the highest testing standards in all sports by athletic commissions. Our new testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs only further shows how important it is to us to have our athletes competing on a level playing field.”

Due to a schedule change, the UFC will not hold an event in Montreal this March as initially announced. “We’re looking at other dates for Montreal and want to be back there as soon as we possibly can,” said Tom Wright, the Director of Operations for Zuffa in Canada.

UFC matchmakers are working to place the bouts that had been slated for the Montreal event on other fight cards.

Montreal Gets Makdessi vs. Njokuani, plus Canadian Debutant updated January 11
Two of the most exciting strikers in the lightweight division have verbally agreed to throw down in Montreal, Canada at UFC 145 as Anthony “The Assassin” Njokuani takes on John “The Bull” Makdessi.” Both men are coming off of disappointing December losses to high-level wrestlers, but should be able to show off their kickboxing chops against one another.

Also on that fight card, Canadian welterweight Chris “The Menace” Clements has verbally agreed to make his UFC debut against crafty veteran Keith Wisniewski. Clements is on a four-fight win streak that includes victories over two UFC veterans.

TUF Kings Collide in Montreal updated January 5
“Two former Ultimate Fighter winners have verbally agreed to face off  as season 8 winner Efrain ‘Hecho en Mexico’ Escudero takes on season 6 winner Mac Danzig at UFC 145,” said Dana White today. Both lightweights will be looking to get back into the win column after recent defeats.

Hominick Back in the Saddle for UFC 145 updated January 3
After a shocking knockout loss at UFC 140 in Toronto, featherweight contender Mark Hominick will waste no time in returning to fight again in his home country, this time taking on Eddie Yagin on March 24th in Montreal. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout.

Also at that event, exciting lightweights looking to move up the rankings have verbally agreed to face off in as “Handsome” Matt Wiman will take on Canadian BJJ specialist Mark Bocek.

Canada Fight Card Gets Heavyweight Addition updated December 27
Two heavyweights have verbally agreed to go to war March 24 in Montreal, Canada as Ben Rothwell will take on Brendan ‘The Hybrid’ Schaub.

Griggs Makes UFC Debut Against Browne at UFC 145 updated December 24
The UFC debut of former Strikeforce standout Chad Griggs is set, as he puts his six fight winning streak on the line at UFC 145 in March against unbeaten Travis Browne in a Montreal bout that has been verbally agreed to by both combatants.

MacDonald vs. Mills Fight Made for Montreal updated December 20
“Verbal agreements are in for an explosive welterweight matchup between ‘Beautiful’ Che Mills and Rory ‘Ares’ MacDonald at UFC 145 next March in Canada,” said UFC president Dana White.

The 22-year-old Canadian MacDonald has wowed in his four UFC outings but was forced to withdraw from UFC 140 in Toronto due to injury. The UK’s Mills made an impressive UFC debut in November at UFC 138, with a 40-second kickboxing TKO of opponent.

STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker released the following statement today regarding Muhammed “Mo” Lawal and the recent announcement from the Nevada State Athletic Commission:

“STRIKEFORCE has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any performance-enhancing drugs, including the requirement that all incoming athletes be tested and cleared for PEDs.  Therefore, we fully support the drug testing efforts of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and we will fully cooperate with the Commission regarding the matter pertaining to Mr. Lawal’s test. We also recognize that Mr. Lawal has administrative process rights under Nevada law, and we hope that he is not prejudged before exercising such rights.”    

Las Vegas, Nev. – A highly-anticipated and exciting title fight featuring two of the world’s elite mixed martial artists will take place when STRIKEFORCE® returns to Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, March 3, when newly-crowned women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate makes her first title defense against undefeated sensation Ronda Rousey.

STRIKEFORCE®: TATE vs. ROUSEY will air live on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast), while preliminary fights will be shown live on SHOWTIME EXTREME® at 8 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast).

The March 3 fight card, which takes place on the same weekend as the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, will also feature a battle of top lightweights when former STRIKEFORCE champ Josh Thomson takes on the surging KJ Noons. Also on the card, British striker Paul Daley welcomes Japanese star Kazuo Misaki back to Strikeforce in a welterweight bout, and another former STRIKEFORCE champ, Sarah Kaufman, meets top contender Alexis Davis in a women’s bantamweight contest.  Additional fights scheduled for the event are expected to be released shortly.

“The energy in the city of Columbus is always incredible during the weekend of the Arnold and we can’t wait to get back there with this championship fight,” STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said. “Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey is the title fight fans wanted and we were happy to give it to them. Miesha made a big statement when she submitted Marloes Coenen for the title last year. Now she meets one of the fastest-rising stars in all of mixed martial arts, unbeaten judo ace Ronda Rousey. Columbus, get ready, because we’re bringing a great night of fights to your city once again.”

Tickets for STRIKEFORCE®: TATE vs. ROUSEY go on sale Friday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. ET and are priced at $125, $75, $45 and $25. Tickets will be available at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, at ticketmaster.com or 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the FOX Sports Ohio Blue Line store at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing and ticket outlets at Chiller Dublin, Chiller Easton.  Applicable service charges may apply.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, Jan. 18 beginning at 10 a.m. ET via the website www.ufcfightclub.com.

In what many might consider one of the best come-from-behind wins in MMA last year, Miesha Tate (fighting out of Yakima, Wash.) submitted then-champ Marloes Coenen in the fourth round to earn the STRIKEFORCE women’s bantamweight championship last July. Now 12-2, her path to the top of the division also included notable wins over Zoila Gurgel, Jan Finney and Hitomi Akano. Once a high school wrestler who competed on the men’s team, “Takedown” has continued training to become a complete MMA fighter and silence any critics who doubted her along the way. On March 3, she wants to end the hype of Rousey and cement her place as the best women’s bantamweight in the world.

“I feel like Ronda will definitely be a challenge for me, but not one that I can’t handle,” said Tate. “Her Olympic experience is great, but this is MMA and her MMA career has been short. She hasn’t truly been tested yet and I plan on doing just that when we meet in Columbus.” 

Ronda Rousey (fighting out of Venice, Calif.) has experienced a meteoric rise to the top of women’s MMA that will ultimately see her fight for the title within one year of her first professional bout. Currently undefeated at 4-0, the former U.S. Olympic Judo bronze medalist has won all four of her bouts in under one minute via armbar, and she shows no signs of slowing down. A fan-favorite that has quickly caught the eye of the media and fighters alike, “Rowdy” is now faced with her most challenging fight to date on the biggest stage of her MMA career. With a win, she’ll capture her first mixed martial arts world title, and better yet, the validation that her rise through the ranks was no fluke.

“Miesha is a seasoned and respectable fighter, but she’s not a dangerous fighter,” said Rousey. “If she thinks she’s going to submit me, she’s got another thing coming. She’ll have her chance on March 3 and we’ll all find out who the best female MMA fighter in the world is.”

Former STRIKEFORCE lightweight champ and UFC® veteran Josh Thomson (fighting out of San Jose, Calif.) steps back into the cage looking to make his way back to the top of the division. With a record 18-4, 1 NC, “The Punk” has defeated top stars such as Gilbert Melendez, Duane Ludwig, Nam Phan and Pat Healy. He’ll have his work cut out for him when he takes on KJ Noons (fighting out of San Diego, Calif.). At 10-3, “King Karl” is fresh off a three-round war with Billy Evangelista where he took the decision, and he is ready to get right back in the cage. The former EliteXC® titleholder owns a win over former STRIKEFORCE champion Nick Diaz and is looking to take the first step in eventually putting the STRIKEFORCE belt around his waist.

British bad boy and renowned striker Paul Daley (fighting out of Nottingham, England) returns to the STRIKEFORCE cage after two successful international victories hoping to continue his success. The former UFC welterweight, who currently stands 29-11-2, has beaten the likes of Martin Kampmann, Jorge Masvidal and Scott Smith, and he always poses a threat with his one-punch knockout power. “Semtex” will take on noted Japanese striker and 2006 PRIDE® Welterweight Grand Prix winner Kazuo Misaki (fighting out of Chiba, Japan). A veteran of the sport with a 24-11-2, 1 NC professional record, “Hitman” has had his hand raised against Dan Henderson, Denis Kang, and Phil Baroni, and he plans on more of the same in Columbus, where he will return to STRIKEFORCE for the first time since his 2009 win over veteran Joe Riggs.

At just 26 years old, Sarah Kaufman (fighting out of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) has already held the most important title in her division by defeating Takayo Hashi to win the STRIKEFORCE women’s bantamweight championship. Plus, she has beaten some of the best at her weight, including Miesha Tate, Liz Carmouche and even her current opponent along the way. At 14-1, she’s hungrier than ever to take back the top spot, but will have to get past Alexis Davis (fighting out of Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada) to do so. In a rematch of their 2007 collision, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Davis is ready to turn the tables and leave with the victory. With a record of 11-4, Davis feels that a win over Kaufman would elevate her to the next title shot.
 

Two lightweights will get their chance in the UFC’s toughest division as they make their debuts next month. Anton Kuivanen will fight Justin Salas at the February 15 FUEL TV event in Omaha. The Finnish Kuivanen has finished half of his 16 wins by submission and is currently on a 9-fight win streak. He’ll look to make it ten against Colorado’s 9-3 Salas,

Undefeated Californian C.J. Keith was originally slated to face off against Kuivanen on the card; however, the same day he was signed, he also received bad news that forced him to pull out of the fight.

In a middleweight bout that same night, Sean Loeffler will take on Buddy Roberts. Roberts is an 11-2 veteran who fights out of Jackson’s in Albuquerque, NM; fellow finisher Loeffler has stopped his last six opponents.

Best of Lighter Weight Divisions Duel on FUEL TV updated January 5
Verbal agreements are in for two bouts showcasing the best of the bantamweight and featherweight divisions February 15 in Omaha, UFC president Dana White announced today.

T.J. Dillashaw will jump from the finals of last season’s Ultimate Fighter into the UFC’s bantamweight division by taking on the crafty Walel Watson on the FUEL TV card.

Also at that event, two great grapplers will battle it out as TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins takes on BJJ black belt Vagner Rocha. Rocha was originally scheduled to face Mike Brown in January; however Brown was injured and forced to withdraw from that event.

Somebody’s “0” Must Go in HW Clash on FUEL updated December 21
February 15th’s Fuel card continues to take shape with a matchup of heavyweight prospects who have a lot on the line.

“Undefeated heavyweights will collide as verbal agreements are in for 8-0 Phil De Fries versus 7-0 Stipe Miocic on February 15 in Omaha, Nebraska,” said UFC President Dana White.

The Pride of El Salvador vs. Prince updated December 20
Bantamweight contender, Ivan “The Pride of El Salvador” Menjivar will be squaring off with last season’s Ultimate Fighter alumni, John “Prince” Albert, UFC president Dana White announced today.

TUF Winner, A-Train, Omaha-Bound updated December 14
After making an impressive UFC </a>debut at light heavyweight, 12-1 Ronny Markes will move to middleweight to face powerful wrestler Aaron “A-Train” Simpson at UFC on FUEL 1, UFC president Dana White announced today.

Also at that event, verbal agreements are in for a featherweight bout between one of the best submission grapplers in UFC, Rani Yahya, and Ultimate Fighter season 12 winner, Jonathan Brookins.

Omaha Gets Another Skyscraper in February updated December 7
“A heavyweight match for UFC on FUEL February 15th has been verbally agreed to as 6’ 4” 242-pound Dave Herman will take on 6’11 235-pound Stefan ‘Skyscraper’ Struve,” said UFC president Dana White today.

Sanchez vs. Ellenberger Headline First FUEL Card updated November 29
The UFC’s first fight card to be broadcast on FUEL TV has been announced for February 15th in Omaha, Nebraska, UFC president Dana White confirmed today.

The main event for this card has been verbally agreed to as top-five ranked Jake ‘The Juggernaut’ Ellenberger takes on Ultimate Fighter winner Diego ‘The Dream” Sanchez in a three-round welterweight bout.

International broadcast partners for this event will be announced in the coming months.

Edson Barboza left the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro a very happy man. He kept his undefeated record intact, opened the UFC RIO main card with a stunning KO of Terry Etim, and earned a couple of Fight Night bonuses in the process.

Barboza earned a Knockout of the Night bonus for his spinning wheel kick that put Etim to sleep in the third round. Barboza and Etim also earned Fight of the Night honors for their exciting scrap.

Rousimar Palhares earned Submission of the Night for his first round – surprise! – leg lock of Mike Massenzio. The bonus was the second of “Toquinho’s” UFC career.

Each bonus was worth $65,000.