Author: UFC News

Las Vegas, NV (USA) –British welterweight star Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy made it no secret that he wanted his next fight to be against fellow knockout artist Chris “Lights Out” Lytle. On Sunday, Aug. 14, live from Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Hardy gets his wish, as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today its first-ever card in Wisconsin. 

Hardy and Lytle, two of the 170-pound division’s most devastating strikers, will collide in the main event, while lightweight contenders Jim Miller and Ben “Smooth” Henderson go to war in a bout that will determine which fighter moves one step closer to a shot at the title. Plus, light heavyweight star Stephan Bonnar returns to the Octagon® to battle the menacing Karlos Vemola and Amir Sadollah and Duane Ludwig engage in an exciting welterweight bout.

“Dan Hardy and Chris Lytle want to stand toe-to-toe until someone falls and that’s a recipe for an outstanding fight,” UFC President Dana White said. “This is the fight both guys wanted, so the fans in Milwaukee are in for a treat. The Miller-Henderson fight should be equally exciting since both guys love to come forward and press the action. We can’t wait to host our first event in Wisconsin this summer.”

Tickets for UFC® LIVE go on sale Saturday, June 11 at 10 a.m. CT and are priced at $250, $125, $75, and $50. Tickets are available at the Bradley Center Ticket Office, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster Outlets, or by phone at 800-745-3000. Tickets are subject to applicable convenience and service fees.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event on Thursday, June 9 at 10 a.m. CT via the website ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday, June 10 starting at 10 a.m. CT.  To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through ufc.com. 

UFC® LIVE will be broadcast live on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Originally from Nottingham, England, Dan Hardy (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) earned his stripes in the UFC thanks to his devastating power and a fearless approach inside the Octagon®. Holding wins over the likes of Mike Swick, Marcus Davis and Rory Markham, the 28-year-old finally gets his much-desired bout with Lytle in Milwaukee.

“This is the fight I’ve wanted and it’s the fight the fans wanted,” Hardy, who recently moved to Las Vegas for training, said. “Fans don’t like boring fights. They want two guys in there who are willing to go to battle. Chris Lytle always comes to fight, so this won’t be a boring fight. I can guarantee that.”
A winner of four out of his last five bouts, Chris Lytle (fighting out of Indianapolis, Ind.) has developed a reputation for giving the fans their money’s worth. Known for his heavy hands and free-swinging approach, the 36-year-old former pro boxer wanted nothing more than a knock-em-out, drag-em-out bout against Hardy this summer.

“I don’t like to take a fight unless I know it can potentially be the best, most exciting one of my career,” Lytle, who owns a record of 40-18-4, said. “This fight has the potential to be that and more. I’m on a seek-and-destroy mission and I know that Dan is, too. I’m really excited for this fight.”

Another contender in the crowded lightweight division will emerge on Aug. 14 when Jim Miller (fighting out of Whippany, N.J.) takes on former WEC champion Ben Henderson (fighting out of Glendale, Ariz.). Seven straight victories have fueled Miller’s ascension up the 155-pound ranks, including a brutal knockout win over previously unbeaten Kamal Shalorus in March. To secure an eighth victory and potential slot in a title fight, the 20-2 fighter must defeat Henderson (13-2), a well-rounded battler who soundly defeated Mark Bocek in his UFC debut in April.

One of the sport’s most charismatic stars returns on Aug. 14 as “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) hits Milwaukee for a light heavyweight bout with Karlos Vemola (fighting out of London, England). Known for his sport-defining clash with Forrest Griffin during season one of The Ultimate Fighter®, the 34-year-old Bonnar (16-7) is still making waves six years later and is riding back-to-back wins over Krzysztof Soszynski and Igor Pokrajac. To earn his third straight win, he must best 25-year-old Vemola (9-1). Originally from the Czech Republic, Vemola is fresh off a knockout victory over Seth Petruzelli at UFC 122 and has his sights set on earning the biggest win of his career at Bradley Center.

A compelling welterweight bout pits the season seven winner of The Ultimate Fighter®, Amir Sadollah (fighting out of Richmond, Va.), against the fearless Duane “Bang” Ludwig (fighting out of Denver, Colo.). The 30-year-old Sadollah (6-2) has won two consecutive fights, while the 32-year-old Ludwig defeated Nick Osipczak by decision in his last fight on UFC 122. Given both fighters’ penchants for exciting fights, the Sadollah-Ludwig bout should deliver when the UFC arrives in Milwaukee in August.

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® returns to
Philadelphia this summer with a loaded card sure to leave the City of
Brotherly Love buzzing. On Saturday, August 6 from the Wells Fargo Center in
Philadelphia, former UFC® light heavyweight champion “Suga” Rashad Evans takes on rising star and former Penn State wrestling standout Phil Davis.

In addition, UFC fans in Philly will be treated to an exciting light heavyweight battle between former middleweight champion Rich Franklin and former PRIDE® star Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, as well as a 185-pound clash pitting former UFC world champion Vitor Belfort against Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama.

“The
last time we were in Philly, the fans were incredible so we are excited
to head back there with a card that features three former world
champions,” UFC President Dana White said. “Phil is undefeated at 9-0
and has never been more motivated for a fight, and he wants to prove
that he belongs atop the light heavyweight division. Rashad is on fire.
He wants his title back so badly he can taste it, but he knows before he
can get his title shot he has to get through Phil. He wants to win and
he wants to win impressively. This is a great fight.”

Tickets for
UFC® 133: EVANS vs. DAVIS go on sale exclusively through ComcastTIX on Friday, June 10  at noon ET and are priced at $500, $350, $225,
$150, $100, and $50. Tickets are available on line at ComcastTIX.com,
by phone at 1-800-298-4200, or in person at the Wells Fargo Center Box
Office. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person.  Tickets are
subject to convenience and service fees.

UFC® Fight Club™ members
will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event on Wednesday, June 8  at 10 am ET via the website ufcfightclub.com.
A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter
subscribers on Thursday, June 9 starting at 3 p.m. BST.  To access this
presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter by entering their
email address in the “join newsletter” field at the top of ufc.com.

Official UFC VIP packages are also available at http://vip.ufc.com. These packages include tickets to UFC 133, official event merchandise, as well as special VIP experiences with backstage tours and meet and greets with top UFC stars. Get closer to the action than ever before with this unique UFC VIP opportunity.

UFC® 133: EVANS vs. DAVIS, which is presented by Boost Mobile, will be available live on UFC.TV and Pay-Per-View at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT

“Suga” Rashad Evans (fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) has defeated some of the sport’s most recognizable names, including Quinton Jackson, Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar. Along the way, Evans (20-1-1) has captured UFC gold and the coveted title of season two winner of The Ultimate Fighter®. On Aug. 6, the 31-year-old hopes a win will put him in line for a shot at champion Jon Jones.

“My
road back to the title continues in Philadelphia against Phil Davis and
I expect this to be one of the best fights of the year,” Evans said.
“Phil is on the rise in this sport and it’s my job to put an end to
that. He’s a former national champion wrestler and he’s been impressive
thus far in the UFC, but my experience in big fights gives me the edge. I
want another shot at the belt and I’ve got to beat Phil to earn it.”

Undefeated
rising star Phil Davis (fighting out of San Diego, Calif.) returns to
his native Pennsylvania with plans to score the biggest win of his
career. A Division I National wrestling champion in 2008, the former
Nittany Lion Davis (9-0) has torn through the UFC’s light heavyweight
division. With wins over the likes of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Brian Stann, “Mr. Wonderful” believes he’ll cement his place among the 205-pound best with a huge victory over Evans at Wells Fargo Center.

“I’m
definitely glad to be back in Pennsylvania for the biggest fight of my
life,” Davis, a Harrisburg native, said. “It’s going to be good to be
able to fight in front of all my family and friends. I feel like I can
take this fight wherever I want. I can wrestle with Rashad, I can strike
with him, and I feel confident wherever this fight goes. Rashad Evans
is the most dangerous opponent I’ve ever faced, but I don’t think for a
minute that I’m outmatched. I’m going to take care of this fight and do
whatever I have to do to beat Rashad.”

Former middleweight
champion Rich “Ace” Franklin (fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio) brings
his versatile game and supreme conditioning back to the Octagon® for a
highly-anticipated clash with former PRIDE® star Antonio Rogerio
Nogueira (fighting out Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in light heavyweight
action. The 36-year-old Franklin (28-6, 1 NC) holds key victories over
Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva and Matt Hamill
and will be put to the test against the 34-year-old Nogueira (19-5), a
crisp boxer and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who has posted wins over Vladimir Matyushenko, Alistair Overeem and Dan Henderson.

Proven
knockout artist and former UFC champion Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort
(fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) has long been touted as one of the
most devastating and explosive strikers in history. Owner of wins over
the likes of Rich Franklin, Randy Couture and Gilbert Yvel,
the 34-year-old Brazilian Belfort (19-9) now gears up for a bout with
Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama (fighting out of Osaka, Japan).
Three straight “Fight of the Night”
awards dot the record of the 35-year-old Akiyama (13-3, 2 NC) and he
expects to earn a fourth when he meets Belfort in Philadelphia. The
talented judoka, who trains alongside number one middleweight contender Yushin Okami, has defeated notables such as Alan Belcher and Melvin Manhoef.

All bouts live and subject to change.

Aaron “A-Train” Simpson has received a new opponent for his UFC 132 bout, Dana White announced today. TUF 11 semi-finalist Brad Tavares has verbally agreed to the middleweight matchup. Tavares’ last fight was at UFC 125 on New Year’s Day, where he TKOd veteran Phil Baroni.

Simpson’s original opponent, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, has been tapped to coach the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter, which begins filming in June.

Dos Anjos In for Dunham vs. Sots updated May 3
An injury has forced lightweight up-and-comer Evan Dunham to drop out of his planned July 2 fight against George Sotiropoulos. Rafael Dos Anjos has verbally agreed to fight in his place. “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Dos Anjos has won Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night awards and Sotiropoulos has won Fight of the Night twice so I expect an amazing fight,” said UFC president Dana White.

“Mayhem” vs Simpson at UFC 132 updated April 23
Longtime middleweight and welterweight contender Jason “Mayhem” Miller will return to the UFC for the first time since 2005 when he battles Aaron Simpson in a UFC 132 bout in July.

“Crafty veteran and colorful personality Jason “Mayhem” Miller has verbally agreed to make his UFC return against powerful wrestler Aaron “A-Train” Simpson in a middleweight matchup July 2 in Las Vegas,” said UFC President Dana White.

The 30 year old Miller (24-7, 1 NC) has been one of the most visible mixed martial artists in the world over the course of his decade long pro career, defeating the likes of Robbie Lawler, Denis Kang, Hiromitsu Miura, and Tim Kennedy. A WEC vet, Miller’s lone UFC appearance was a hard-fought decision loss to current UFC welterweight king Georges St-Pierre at UFC 52 in April of 2005.  Since then, he is 12-3 with 1 NC, and he is coming off a first round submission win over Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba last September.

The hard-hitting Simpson (8-2) is coming off a three round unanimous decision victory over Mario Miranda in March that broke a two fight losing streak.

Bowles to Fight Mizugaki at UFC 132 updated April 18
Cruz vs. Faber 2 won’t be the only high-octane 135-pound bout inside the Octagon on July 2, as another battle of WEC vets has been verbally agreed upon for the event. “Brian Bowles looks to regain the bantamweight championship title, but first he’ll have to take on hard-hitting perennial top-10 contender Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 132,” said Dana White.

A win for Bowles would make him a serious contender to face the winner of Cruz and Faber’s bantamweight title fight, the main event at UFC 132. Bowles lost the title to Cruz in March of 2009.

Winner vs. Njokuani Added to UFC 132 updated April 14
If names like Condit, Cruz, Wandy and Leben on the card weren’t guaranteed fireworks, the latest bout should convince you: “Get ready for what should be a standup war as verbal agreements are in for Andre Winner VS Anthony Njokuani July 2nd,” said UFC president Dana White.

Brit Winner is a TUF 9 finalist with boxing and karate roots; Njokuani is a WEC vet who brought him three Knockout of the Night bonuses in that organization before scoring Fight of the Night at his UFC debut in March.

Condit and Kim Agree to UFC 132 Showdown updated April 8t
Undefeated Korean Judo specialist Dong Hyun Kim has verbally agreed to face former WEC champion Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit at UFC 132 in Las Vegas on July 2nd.

“A win over Condit would break Kim into the top ten and a win over Kim would bring Condit another step closer to a world title shot,” said UFC President Dana White.

Koch vs. Swanson Slated for 132 updated April 8
Two of the most exciting fighters in the featherweight division have verbally agreed to face each other on July 2nd at UFC 132.

“Rising star Erik Koch, who took home Knockout of the Night at the stacked UFC 128 event, will take on Cub Swanson, who earned Fight Of The Night honors in his last outing,” said Dana White.

WEC talent will also be showcased at the main event of  UFC 132, a bantamweight title fight – the first to be held in the UFC’s Octagon – between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber.

Wanderlei Gets Leben updated April 4
The 4th of July fireworks will kick off early in Las Vegas when “The Axe Murderer” faces “The Crippler” in a UFC 132 bout almost guaranteed not to last the three round distance.

“Two fan favorites will go to war as Chris ‘The Crippler’ Leben has verbally agreed to face Wanderlei ‘The Axe Murderer’ Silva in Las Vegas July 2nd,” said UFC President Dana White.

Wanderlei has been actively campaigning for this matchup on his Twitter page, writing that he thinks it’ll be a tough fight against a good opponent.

Fitch Injured, out of Penn Bout – updated March 30th
UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch was injured during training for his upcoming rematch with BJ Penn and forced to withdraw from the UFC 132 bout on July 2nd. Stay tuned to UFC.com for any further developments.

Cruz vs. Faber II on July 2 – updated March 26th
UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will get an opportunity to avenge the lone loss of his career at UFC 132 on July 2nd, as he has verbally agreed to face former featherweight boss Urijah Faber in what is slated to be the main event.

“This is the biggest bantamweight title fight ever, as UFC 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz has verbally agreed to face Urijah Faber at UFC 132 in July,” said UFC President Dana White. “Cruz is unbeaten at bantamweight, but he’s looking for revenge against the only man to beat him at 145 pounds, former champ Faber.”

Ortiz vs. Bader at UFC 132 – updated March 22nd
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, who pulled out of his
March 26th headlining bout against Rogerio Nogueria due to injury, has
recovered and is back in fighting shape. “This MMA legend will meet top
UFC contender Ryan Bader at UFC 132,” said UFC president Dana White,
confirming that Ortiz and Bader have verbally agreed to a July bout.
Bader is looking to rebound from a loss to newly crowned champ Jon Jones at UFC
126.

Wiman vs Siver Agreed to for UFC 132
updated March 17th
It will be a battle of 155-pound division hot streaks, when Matt
Wiman puts his three fight winning streak on the line against Germany’s
Dennis Siver, who has won three in a row as well, including a UFC 127
win over George Sotiropoulos. This UFC 132 matchup was agreed to today.

Said UFC President Dana White, “Lightweights coming off of
impressive wins face off in Vegas as Matt Wiman and Dennis Siver have
verbally agreed to fight July 2nd.”

Fitch vs. Penn 2, Dunham vs. Sots On For 132 updated March 16

Reports of The Prodigy’s retirement have been greatly exaggerated:
Dana White confirmed today that BJ Penn and Jon Fitch have verbally
agreed to rematch at UFC 132.

The welterweights first met in the main event of UFC 127, a
number-one contender bout that ended in a draw. “Both fighters look to
keep it out of the hands of the judges this time,” said White.

The stacked lightweight division will also see two of its
fastest-rising stars meet over Fourth of July weekend: White confirmed
that Evan Dunham and George Sotiropoulos have verbally agreed to a bout
at UFC 132.

Dana White started by awarding $70,000 bonuses to four fighters on the card. Fight of the Night went to Brian Stann and Jorge Santiago for their full-force, two-round battle. Submission of the Night went to Gleison Tibau for following up his knockdown of Rafaello Oliveira with a fight-ending choke. And KO of the night went to Travis Browne for his highlight-reel toppling of the Skyscraper, Stefan Struve.

Travis Browne, Rick Story, Demetrious Johnson, Matt Hamill, Roy Nelson, Brian Stann and Rampage Jackson attended the press conference. Frank Mir, who won the co-main event, was unavailable, having been transported to the hospital for a routine checkup.

Video highlights from the press conference will be linked below as they become available:
Rampage and Hamill
Stann and Browne
Story and Johnson
Nelson

Watch the full event here:  http://www.ufc.tv/ufc/event/rampage-vs-hamill/509

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® officially announced today the launch of the UFC® Octagon Nation Tour™, a multi-stop, nationwide tour happening throughout the summer. Utilizing a new, fully-customized 18-wheeler truck and two Octagon-sized tents containing the UFC’s ultimate fan experience, the UFC® Octagon Nation Tour™ will be present at this summer’s top events, including the Bonnaroo Music Festival, Summer X Games and the Quicksilver Pro.

It will also hit major cities such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C.  The Octagon Nation will make a special stop at Times Square, where special activities and surprise fighters will be making appearances to celebrate UFC’s visit to the intersection of the world.  

The tour, which kicked off in April prior to UFC’s first-ever event in Toronto, features autograph signings with top UFC stars, a UFC Xbox station, and a pop-up retail store where fans can purchase the latest UFC merchandise. In addition, fans have the opportunity to visit an exhibition truck dedicated to showcasing rare UFC memorabilia such as Royce Gracie’s autographed Gi and Georges St-Pierre’s fight shorts.

What’s more, UFC® Octagon Nation Tour™ hosts physical fitness tests for fans (weigh-in, high jump, pull-up bar and a punch strength station) where each visitor receives a fight card with their results which can be instantly shared on their Facebook page. Participants achieving top results will be posted to UFC.com/tour following each stop, making UFC® Octagon Nation Tour™ one of the most interactive of its kind.

“I’ve always said that the UFC live experience is the best in all of sports,” UFC President Dana White said. “With the Octagon Nation Tour, we are going to bring the fastest-growing sport in the world to some of the best events of the summer. We’re excited to hit the road and give fans the opportunity to check it out.”

To find out when the UFC® Octagon Nation Tour™ will be hitting your town, visit www.ufc.com/tour. To track the tour and to get the all of the latest news and stops, follow the UFC® Octagon Nation Tour™ on Twitter at www.twitter.com/octagonnation.

MAY
Thurs   5/26     Las Vegas, NV           Preview of UFC Personal Trainer at Fry’s Electronics          
Fri        5/27     Las Vegas, NV           UFC 130 at MGM Grand Garden Arena      
Sat       5/28     Las Vegas, NV           UFC 130 at MGM Grand Garden Arena      
Sun      5/29     Las Vegas, NV           Miller’s Ale House     
                                   
JUNE            
                                   
Wed    6/1       Phoenix, AZ                Tilted Kilt      
Fri        6/3       Las Vegas, NV           Weigh in @ Palms     
Sat       6/4       Las Vegas, NV           TUF 13 Finale – Buffalo Wild Wings
Thu      6/9       Chattanooga, TN        Bonnaroo       
Fri        6/10     Chattanooga, TN        Bonnaroo       
Sat       6/11     Chattanooga, TN        Bonnaroo       
Sun      6/12     Chattanooga, TN        Bonnaroo       
Sat       6/18     Waldorf, MD              Country ThrowDown Tour    
Mon     6/20     Washington DC          Marine Week  
Tue      6/21     Baltimore, MD            Marine Week  
Sat       6/25     New York, NY           Times Square              
Sun      6/26     Pittsburgh, PA            UFC Fight Night Arena Tailgate       
Thu      6/30     Las Vegas, NV           Vans Warped Tour

*All dates and stops subject to change*     

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Who will prevail when Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt “The Hammer” Hamill collide in the main event of UFC® 130 this Saturday, live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas? While fans across the globe debate the highly-anticipated light heavyweight bout between the two fighters, as well as a co-main event battle between former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir and The Ultimate Fighter® season 10 winner Roy “Big Country” Nelson, some of the world’s most recognizable fighters served up their predictions for the Memorial Day weekend UFC extravaganza.

Below are some of the thoughts and predictions for the main event and co-main event of UFC® 130: RAMPAGE vs. HAMILL:

JON JONES, UFC light heavyweight champion
Predictions: RAMPAGE, MIR
“I really can’t predict a winner for Rampage-Hamill. It depends on what mental attitude Rampage comes in with. If I had to make a pick, I’d probably go with Rampage because of the level of success he’s had.

“I’ll go with Frank Mir. He’s a personal friend of mine and he’s more well-versed with his techniques.”

FRANKIE EDGAR, UFC lightweight champion
Predictions: HAMILL, MIR
“I know Matt pretty well so I’m a little biased, obviously, but I’m going to go with him. I think his will to win and takedown ability will give fits to Rampage.

“On Mir versus Nelson, that’s a true toss-up for me. If I had to go with anybody it would be Frank just because of where he’s been and what he’s accomplished.”

CAIN VELASQUEZ, UFC heavyweight champion
Predictions: RAMPAGE, NELSON
“I’m picking Rampage.”

“Watching ‘Big Country’ (Nelson) versus dos Santos, I saw the kind of heart that Roy had to gut it out. I just see him doing the same with Frank for the whole fight, making it a tough fight for Mir. So I’m going to go with Big Country by decision.”

ANTHONY PETTIS, former WEC champion and top UFC lightweight contender
Predictions: RAMPAGE, MIR
“I think Rampage will be too much for Hamill on his feet. I see a second-round stoppage and I’m going to go with Mir in a decision.”

MARK MUNOZ, UFC middleweight contender
Predictions: HAMILL, MIR
“I see Hamill pressing forward on Rampage and Rampage covering up and looking to throw bombs with his left hook. If Hamill can get him to the ground, he can do very well on top. If it goes to the ground, I’m going with Hamill, if it stays on the feet I’m going with Rampage. I think it’s going to go to the ground and Matt Hamill will have the edge there. I see him winning a decision.
“I’m taking Frank Mir because he’s more versed on the ground and his standup has improved a lot and he’s got the heavier hands. Frank Mir by unanimous decision.”

CARLOS CONDIT, UFC welterweight contender
Predictions: HAMILL, MIR
“I’ll go with Matt Hamill by decision. He’s younger and I think he’s the hungrier fighter right now.

“With the heavies, I’ve got Frank Mir. I think he’s the better fighter. Big Country is crafty and a good fighter, but I think Mir wins.”

PAT BARRY, UFC heavyweight
Predictions: HAMILL, NELSON
“The main event is a tough one because I feel Rampage is a lot meaner, but Hamill is more durable. I think it comes down to the last round and that Hamill wins it in the end.

“Frank Mir is more experienced so this one depends on which Frank Mir shows up. If the right one shows up he’s close to unbeatable. Roy Nelson is ridiculously athletic for his appearance. If this fight stays standing Roy Nelson wins it; if it goes to the ground then Frank Mir wins. I think it’s gonna stay standing. I don’t know if Frank will be able to get it to the ground. I think it will be Roy Nelson via strikes, but again, it depends on which Frank Mir shows up.”

RENZO GRACIE, UFC competitor and famed Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor
Predictions: HAMILL, NELSON
“That’s going to be very tough fight, but I see Hamill winning. Rampage is very dangerous, but the difference will be Matt’s toughness and his ability to take his opponents down.

“I really believe Roy Nelson can beat anyone on any given day. He’s extremely and unbelievably tough. Mir is a very tough guy but I see Roy Nelson winning. Roy has the ability to push the fight and finish it.”

MICHAEL BISPING, UFC middleweight who fought Hamill and trains with Rampage
Prediction: RAMPAGE
“Hamill is very tough and is very hard to set yourself against. He’s improved a lot since we fought, too, and I actually like it when he does well. He’s very strong, very physically powerful, but I’ve never felt any strength like Rampage. He’s freakishly powerful. I know people are worried about Rampage being in shape, but I was in LA training with him and he’s in the best shape he’s been in for maybe four fights. Hamill is very tough and it will be a good fight, but I think Rampage wins this.”

RANDY COUTURE, UFC Hall of Famer
Prediction: HAMILL
“Hamill has the tools to beat Rampage. I think his wrestling base gives him an advantage and he can exploit holes in Rampage’s game.”