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Donald Cerrone vs. Rafael Dos Anjos Announced for UFC on FOX Sports 1 2

The second UFC on FOX Sports 1 card is starting to shape up quite nicely, with the news that Donald Cerrone and Rafael Dos Anjos have agreed to fight as the co-main event, according to Indystar.com and the UFC’s official Twitter.The second fight card o…

The second fight card on the soon-to-launch all-sports channel takes place on August 28 at Bankers Life Playhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

UFC on FOX Sports 1 2 will be the inaugural Wednesday-night fight card, part of the landscape of the new channel that was announced a couple months ago. Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampman serves as the main event.

Cerrone looked impressive in his last outing. He defeated KJ Noons via unanimous decision in a lopsided and bloody affair at UFC 160. It proved to be a nice bounce back into the win column for the “Cowboy” after a devastating TKO loss to Anthony Pettis at UFC on FOX 6.

Dos Anjos most recently won a controversial split decision over Evan Dunham on the UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold card, his fourth win in a row. He has won his last three by decision.

This will most likely be the toughest and most important fight in the 28-year-old Brazilian’s career. He is currently ranked No. 10 in the UFC lightweight rankings and needs a breakout win and performance to catapult him further up the list.

A loss by the No. 6-ranked Cerrone would be devastating. With TJ Grant challenging Benson Henderson for the lightweight strap, a win may very well set up a title shot or at least, perhaps, a fight vs. Gilbert Melendez to decide who faces Henderson next.

The last time the “Cowboy” was in the title-shot discussion, he was left battered and bruised by Nate Diaz at UFC 141, losing by unanimous decision. He won his next two before the loss to Pettis and needs to stay consistent to get back on the track to a title shot. Two of the top-10 ranked lightweights face off in what is known as a shark tank of a division on August 28.

Who takes it? Let Bleacher Report know in the comments below.

Michael Stets is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

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Fabricio Werdum: ‘7 Years Ago, It Was Nogueira’s Time. Now It’s My Time’

It’s been a year since Fabricio Werdum last fought in the UFC, and during his absence, the division kept moving forward without him. Since returning to the UFC last year, Werdum was able to pick up two wins, including his Fight of the Night victory ove…

It’s been a year since Fabricio Werdum last fought in the UFC, and during his absence, the division kept moving forward without him.

Since returning to the UFC last year, Werdum was able to pick up two wins, including his Fight of the Night victory over current top five heavyweight Roy Nelson, and put his name in the hat as a potential contender for the gold.

Still, 12 months have passed since then, and even Werdum admits the circumstances aren’t perfect, because, as of his last win, he seemed poised to make a run at the belt in 2012. He’s become a forgotten contender because he hasn’t been as visible, having no fights since last year.

He plans on reminding the world who he is this weekend.

“It’s not ideal. I was off for about a year, and if I could fight four times a year, I would be glad to do that. But I did it for a very good cause, which was The Ultimate Fighter,” Werdum explained to Bleacher Report. “I was able to have this great experience. I was in contact with fighting all the time. It would have been different if I was away due to a serious injury or something like that. It wasn’t like that. I was able to stay focused on my training (and) I was able to be in the fighting environment all the time. So, (it was) not ideal but for a very good reason.”

Since he won his last fight against Mike Russow in June 2012, Cain Velasquez wrestled the title away from Junior Dos Santos, and fellow Strikeforce heavyweight Daniel Cormier came to the UFC and jumped right into the mix amongst the best in the world.

Werdum is happy to make the world remember that he’s also right there in terms of title contention, and he believes winning impressively this Saturday will serve as notice to the rest of the division.

“I’ve been preparing myself for this moment, for this opportunity to fight for the belt for many years now,” Werdum said. “I think I was able to showcase in my last fight why I’m ready for it. I did my part, and of course, I have to do it again this time with Big Nog, and I hope to be able to show everyone that I am definitely ready for it. I do feel like I’m just right there, sitting in the corner, waiting for it to happen.”

To get to the precipice of a potential title shot, Werdum first has to get past an old rival this weekend when he faces Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the main event for UFC on Fuel 10. Several years ago, when Werdum was still just a young pup in the sport, he fought Nogueira in Pride Fighting Championships.

Nogueira won that fight, and it served as a valuable learning lesson to Werdum, because after that loss he went on to become one of the top heavyweights in the sport, which led him back to the rematch this weekend.

It’s a different age now, and Werdum is ready to show Nogueira that he’s learned plenty since they first met seven years ago.

“I don’t see it as a rematch. I’ve had all this experience, all these years, (and) they make a huge difference. I see it as an entirely new fight,” Werdum commented. “I respect Big Nog a lot, everyone knows that, but in there, I won’t acknowledge him. I’ll do everything in my power to get past him. It’s certainly a different time for both of us. I feel like seven years ago, it was his time, but now it’s my time.”

Nobody is fooling themselves into pretending that the two fighters in the main event aren’t at much different stages in their careers right now.

A few years ago, Nogueira was considered the best heavyweight in the sport alongside former Pride champion Fedor Emelianenko, but as new talent developed and injuries mounted for the Brazilian legend, he was no longer a fighter in the deepest waters of title contention.

Werdum, however, is possibly one or two fights away from challenging for the belt. Still, Werdum hasn’t been tricked into thinking Nogueria will just be a pushover because he’s not in the same highly regarded position anymore.

“I think he’s always a very dangerous fighter. He’s always had this very distinct feature about him, which is he’s always able to continue losing a fight and then he’ll just completely reverse the situation and come out on top,” Werdum said. “I feel like he’s always going to be that very dangerous fighter, that (he is) always going to have very heavy hands, a dangerous boxing game (and) always have a very good ground game.

“I think he was able to show, and is still showing, that he’s doing very well physically. You cannot underestimate him.”

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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The DNA of GSP: Official Trailer for Georges St-Pierre Documentary

Already one of the most recognizable names in the sport of mixed martial arts, Georges St-Pierre’s star continues to grow in 2013. On the heels of the release of his new book, The Way of the Fight, which chronicles St-Pierre’s experiences and phil…

Already one of the most recognizable names in the sport of mixed martial arts, Georges St-Pierre’s star continues to grow in 2013.

On the heels of the release of his new book, The Way of the Fight, which chronicles St-Pierre’s experiences and philosophies on life and fighting, comes the documentary The DNA of GSP.

The first official trailer for the film was recently released—that would be the one heading this article—which gives some bare insight into what the complete product will look like.

While the general premise of the documentary can be gleaned—apparently it will be a multi-perspective narrative telling the story of St-Pierre’s life as a mixed martial artist—there doesn’t seem to be much in-depth information about it just yet.

IMDB, for example, keeps the synopsis quite plain, classifying the work as “A look at the life and career of Ultimate Fighting Champion’s welterweight world champ Georges St-Pierre, also known as ‘GSP’.”

The site also lists the cast as St-Pierre as “Himself,” and Melodie Simard as “School girl,” which perhaps infers a direction the film won’t actually take.

But, the trailer itself provides more information on the cast, as it features cameos from Freddie Roach, Dana White and Joe Rogan, as well as a pair of wolves that will likely remain unaccredited.

IMDB does, however, provide October 2013 as the release date for the documentary, which may end up being soon after his expected match with Johny Hendricks for the UFC welterweight title.

It also will be sometime near my birthday, in case you were wondering what to get me…

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B.J. Penn: ‘I Was Never the Same Fighter After I Had My Two Daughters’

B.J. Penn may one day decide to walk down the aisle and step into the Octagon once again, but for now, he is ready to admit that “The Prodigy” of old is no more.The former two-division UFC champ has been on the fence about retirement since picking up h…

B.J. Penn may one day decide to walk down the aisle and step into the Octagon once again, but for now, he is ready to admit that “The Prodigy” of old is no more.

The former two-division UFC champ has been on the fence about retirement since picking up his fourth loss in six fights in December 2012 to Rory MacDonald.

If it were up to the UFC, Penn would hang up the gloves for good. During the post-fight media scrum for UFC 160, UFC president Dana White stated that he wants Penn to retire to avoid any further damage.

Despite White’s concern, the decision to close the curtain on a near 13-year career rests solely on Penn’s shoulders.

It hasn’t been easy to come to terms with a decision, as Penn is still unsure whether or not he wishes to resume fighting. During an interview with Gulf News, he seemed to give his UFC return about a 50/50 shot:

“I might fight again, I am not actively seeking to fight again but I think I may. I fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for 13 years; the UFC does not want to see me get hurt I think… so maybe I fight again or maybe not.”

There really is nothing more for Penn to prove, outside of satiating his own appetite for competition.

Penn truly is a prodigy in every sense of the word. With only three years of training, he became the first non-Brazilian to win a World Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the black-belt level. He soon after transitioned over to MMA, where he made his professional debut at UFC 31.

Along with UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, Penn is the only fighter in UFC history to ever hold a title in multiple weight classes.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end at some point.

Penn is still a talented fighter with much to offer the sport, but deep down, he knows he isn’t the same fighter he used to be. The birth of his two daughters has forever changed him from a blood-lapping, otherworldly destroyer to a loving father, whose primary goal is putting his kids first in life:

“I would be the first to say that I was never the same fighter after I had kids, after I had my two daughters, I would say that. It’s true. But regarding the injuries and blood…it took my mother a long time to be able to bear and watch it.

But If I get injured I don’t like to go home, because I don’t want to my kids to see me hurt because they are going to get scared. In fact, it is all these things that makes me wonder if I have to step away.”

If Penn decides to put the gloves back on, he’ll most likely be returning to his old stomping grounds at 155 pounds, according to Ariel Helwani in a recent episode of UFC Tonight.

Have we seen the last of Penn? If not, would he be a viable title contender in the lightweight division?

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Asks for B.J. Penn Fight

Rising Russian star Khabib Nurmagomedov has a new target in his sights after turning in a record-breaking performance during his last outing, a win over Abel Trujillo. Nurmagomedov scored more takedowns than anyone else ever has in a single U…

Early morning, June 5, Nurmagomedov tweeted:

I heard that the legend returns .. I will be glad to meet him @danawhite @bjpenndotcom @ufc @arielhelwani

Nurmagomedov currently sits at 4-0 inside the Octagon and continues to look more and more impressive with each passing fight. If he gets his way and is matched up with the legendary Penn, he will have an opportunity at a signature victory that would perhaps launch him into the title picture.

Of course, a victory over Penn doesn’t mean what it once did, yet the veteran remains a very recognizable fighter and one capable of turning in good performances—especially at 155.

“The Prodigy” hasn’t competed in the lightweight division since August 2010, but his lack of success at welterweight lately seems to signify a dead end for him there. Should he indeed choose to return to the Octagon one more time, it would more than likely be at 155.

In Nurmagomedov, Penn would find a quick road back to relevancy. “The Eagle” has established himself as one of the top youngsters in the sport, and his bounty continues to rise with every impressive performance he turns in.

It’s unlikely either fighter could earn a title shot from a victory, but victory would mark a significant step towards that goal.

What do you say? Is Nurmagomedov vs. Penn a fight you want to see? Or should the Russian direct his attention at those currently stationed above him on the lightweight ladder?

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Veteran Jeff Curran to Retire If He Loses to Sergio Pettis at RFA 8

Jeff Curran likes his chances at flyweight. But at the end stage of a 15-year career, the veteran of just about every major promotion in the sport’s history is a lot less fond of the farm-league grind. That explains both his confidence heading in…

That explains both his confidence heading into his tangle with teen phenom Sergio Pettis and his announcement that he’ll leave the cage for good if he doesn’t net a victory June 21 at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 8.

“I will retire after my next loss, unless it’s in the UFC,” Curran said in an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report. “I don’t have any interest in treading water outside the UFC and trying to draw out my career.”

The 35-year-old Curran (34-15-1) has drawn paychecks from more than 20 different MMA promotions during his career, including Pride, Bellator, the WEC and Strikeforce. The popular veteran has taken multiple runs in the granddaddy of them all, but despite Curran’s three attempts, a referee has never raised his hand in the UFC Octagon.

Curran’s last UFC fight—a May 2012 decision loss to bantamweight Johnny Eduardo—came only a few months after the promotion announced it would create a flyweight division. Following that loss, Curran stepped away from the sport for a while, but the UFC’s newest weight class presented an open window in a room of closed doors, and as such was too strong a lure to ignore. Almost exactly one year to the day after the Eduardo fight, Curran resurfaced as a flyweight. In his debut and fighting on short notice, Curran defeated Josh Killon in the Extreme Challenge promotion.

Now with fresh momentum, Curran said he’s feeling strong at 125 pounds and suspects this fourth weight class could be the charm. His only goal these days when it comes to combat is stringing together enough success for a crack at the UFC’s flyweight stable. Curran started his career as a lightweight and is unquestionably large for the UFC’s lightest division.

“Back when I fought Eduardo, I went ‘my God, he’s huge,’” Curran recalled. “I had a hard time getting near him. It’s been the same with other guys throughout my career. But now, being at 125 pounds, it changes things. I’m not going to run into the height or size problems.”

From a fighting perspective, Curran and Pettis (7-0) could not be more different if they tried. Curran has more than eight times as many fights as Pettis and is almost twice Pettis’ age (he made his pro debut when Pettis was only four). Curran’s bread and butter is grappling; Pettis prefers precision striking in the vein of his famous older brother, Anthony. Curran has more than twice as many submission wins (19) as Pettis does total professional fights.

Curran knows all of this. He knows he’s being used as a measuring stick for the exciting young buck, one of several on the RFA roster, which has positioned itself as a successful UFC feeder league.

“There’s a lot of hope for [Pettis] in the sport, and I’ll tell everyone where he stands,” Curran said. “I think I have the tools to beat him.”

Curran’s passion for the sport has never been in doubt. He counts several pro fighters—including his cousin, Bellator featherweight champ Pat Curran—as clients in his Illinois gym, Team Curran MMA. He’s known to fans as a consummate gamer, the veteran who, in 60 contests, has been stopped on only five occasions despite not having unparalleled skills.

So why the advanced decision to retire with another loss?

“I have a lot of responsibilities on the business front for my gym and my classes,” Curran said. “I have two little boys. If I’m not at the top of the sport, I want to focus elsewhere.”

First, though, it’s time to saddle up for one final ride at that last elusive windmill.

“This is one last chance to make something special happen at the end here,” Curran said. “I’ve had some rough runs. It was my dream to win in the UFC and make everybody feel proud about being my fan.”

Scott Harris is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. Follow him on Twitter @ScottHarrisMMA. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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