Famed Ref ‘Big’ John McCarthy to Return to Octagon at UFC on Versus 2

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsFamed mixed martial arts referee “Big” John McCarthy will return to the UFC’s octagon for the first time since 2007 when he oversees action during the upcoming UFC on Versus 2 show.

McCarthy’s wife Elaine conf…

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Famed mixed martial arts referee “Big” John McCarthy will return to the UFC’s octagon for the first time since 2007 when he oversees action during the upcoming UFC on Versus 2 show.

McCarthy’s wife Elaine confirmed to MMA Fighting that he has been assigned by the California State Athletic Commission to officiate matches at the event, which takes place on Sunday at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif.

Elaine McCarthy said he does not yet know what specific fights he will handle during the evening, and that he would not be providing any comments or interviews about his return prior to the event.

Strikeforce to Meet With Fedor’s Reps About Next Fight, Possible Extension

Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsScott Coker has business to attend to on Friday night with the Strikeforce Challengers 9 event that’s emanating from Everett, Washington, but it’s on to other important matters this weekend for the comp…

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Scott Coker has business to attend to on Friday night with the Strikeforce Challengers 9 event that’s emanating from Everett, Washington, but it’s on to other important matters this weekend for the company CEO.

Coker is set to meet with Fedor Emelianenko‘s M-1 representatives this weekend to continue charting a path for Emelianenko’s future.

The Russian star, who lost his first fight in nearly 10 years when he submitted to Fabricio Werdum in June, has just one fight left on his current deal, and a source with knowledge of the situation said this would be the second meeting between the two sides as they address action items involving his career.

Marshall Zelaznik Believes Fedor Signing with the UFC Still Possible

Many die hard MMA fans have not fully adjusted to the post-Fedor-Can-Lose world, a place where up is down, nights is day, and fantastic tales on an unbeatable Russian fighter, are no longer fired at newcomers to the sport. You remember: ‘You think Anderson Silva is good? Dude, there’s this guy named Fedor Emelianenko who […]

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Many die hard MMA fans have not fully adjusted to the post-Fedor-Can-Lose world, a place where up is down, nights is day, and fantastic tales on an unbeatable Russian fighter, are no longer fired at newcomers to the sport. You remember: ‘You think Anderson Silva is good? Dude, there’s this guy named Fedor Emelianenko who doesn’t even fight for the UFC, and…’

Of course after Fedor’s shocking loss to Fabricio Werdum, UFC boss man Dana White declared that the promotion was no longer interested in acquiring the services of “The Last Emperor.” A stark reversal after the company reportedly tried their damndest (short of co-promoting with M-1) to sign Fedor when he was a free agent. Was Dana being serious? Or was he being more tactical? You don’t have to have taken Marketing 101 to know Fedor’s bargaining power isn’t what it used to be.

Well, in keeping with speculation as to whether or not Fedor will in fact ever step foot in the Octagon, UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik recently told British ESPN the following:

“Up until now there hasn’t been a possibility of it. I don’t know what his contract situation is, but these things don’t come down to money. Yes defeat to Fabricio Werdum has probably lowered his stock, but I don’t think we’ve ever decided not to sign a fighter due to money.”…”You never say never, and Emelianenko is a good fighter so it wouldn’t surprise me if Dana and Lorenzo [Fertitta] tried to work something out.”

Maybe Fedor had to lose to make a UFC deal workable?

Anderson Silva’s Manager Ed Soares Tells GSP They’ll Be “Waiting”

Now, depending on your personality you may have had a few different reactions to the above headline, varying from uncontrolled ‘OMG please let it be true’ ecstasy, to  the more cynical (and often we’d say more realistic attitude) ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ Of course if you didn’t read the headline you may […]

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Now, depending on your personality you may have had a few different reactions to the above headline, varying from uncontrolled ‘OMG please let it be true’ ecstasy, to  the more cynical (and often we’d say more realistic attitude) ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ Of course if you didn’t read the headline you may also be thinking ‘what the holy eff are you talking about?’

For some time now fans and pundits alike, have hoped that someday the UFC would put together a ‘super fight’ between current middleweight champ Anderson Silva and welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. In the past, UFC boss man Dana White hasn’t exactly gone out of his way to hype up the fight, arguing that St. Pierre is likely too small to compete at 185 , while Silva is probably too big for 170. Lately, however, White has acknowledged that the fans demand for such a P4P, all-star bout, may just be too hard to pass up (yeah no sh-t).

In a recent interview with MMA Weekly, Silva’s manager Ed Soares talked about the prospect of his fighter facing GSP; here is some of what he had to say:

“First of all, I think to protect both champions, I think it’s smarter to do it at a catchweight possibly, but who knows? Anderson… I don’t think he could. Maybe he could, I’m not sure, make it down to 170. I think it’s much easier and more likely that Georges goes up to 185.”… “Tell GSP to make weight, we’ll be waiting,” Soares said simply.

Yes, it’s completely okay to giggle with excited glee, however, first things first, namely two wrestling studs with the names Josh Koscheck and Chael Sonnen. After that…?

Rampage Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida in November Likely, but Not Finalized

Filed under: UFC, NewsIf signed, it would be a battle of former UFC light-heavyweight champions, but a reported Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida matchup has yet to be officially added to the UFC calendar.

That’s the word coming from UFC Pre…

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If signed, it would be a battle of former UFC light-heavyweight champions, but a reported Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Lyoto Machida matchup has yet to be officially added to the UFC calendar.

That’s the word coming from UFC President Dana White, who responded to an MMA Fighting inquiry about whether the bout was finalized with a text reading “Not yet.”

Still, at least one of the fighters has agreed to it. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to MMA Fighting that Jackson has agreed to the November bout.

Jake Shields Officially Signs With UFC, Will Face Martin Kampmann at UFC 121

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, NewsAfter a relatively short courting period that was really more formality than anything else, Jake Shields officially signed with the UFC on Monday.

Shields (25-4-1) was looking for a new promotion to call home after …

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After a relatively short courting period that was really more formality than anything else, Jake Shields officially signed with the UFC on Monday.

Shields (25-4-1) was looking for a new promotion to call home after he couldn’t reach an agreement with Strikeforce. Over the past few months, all the speculation focused on not whether he would wind up in the UFC, but when.

In April, at the WEC 48 pay-per-view, Shields was shown on camera sitting next to UFC president Dana White, who mouthed the words, “He’s mine.” Shields was also a coach for Chuck Liddell on Season 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which filmed earlier this year.

MMA Fighting reported last week that despite reports Shields had put ink to paper, the deal wasn’t signed just yet. Today, on his official Twitter account, Shields told the world he had signed a contract and confirmed, as MMA Fighting first reported last week, his first opponent will be Martin Kampmann at UFC 121 in Los Angeles on Oct. 30.