Gunnar Nelson And Mike Pyle To Reportedly Meet At UFC 160

A welterweight bout looks to be in the works for Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas as part of the upcoming UFC 160 event with the news that undefeated Icelandic fighter Gunnar Nelson (11-0-1) and Mike ‘Quicksand’ Pyle (24-8-1) have verbally agreed to meet at the pay-per-view event. News of the matchup surfaced at MMAjunkie.com […]

Gunnar NelsonA welterweight bout looks to be in the works for Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas as part of the upcoming UFC 160 event with the news that undefeated Icelandic fighter Gunnar Nelson (11-0-1) and Mike ‘Quicksand’ Pyle (24-8-1) have verbally agreed to meet at the pay-per-view event.

News of the matchup surfaced at MMAjunkie.com late Thursday night after the website learned of the bout, noting that a contract had yet to be signed by the two fighters to make the match official.

The May 25, 2013 event, UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva II is expected to take place on May 25, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout between Nelson and Pyle is expected to appear on the main card.

Nelson remains undefeated in his pro-career with two victories inside the Octagon since debuting with the promotion last September. The Icelandic fighter was in action earlier this month at UFC on FUEL TV 7, earning a decision win against Jorge Santiago at the London show. Nelson debuted in a 175-lbs catchweight bout at UFC on FUEL TV 5, picking up a first round submission over DaMarques Johnson.

Pyle is 3-1 in his last four and 6-1 over his last seven matches picking up a win in his last appearance at the TUF 16 Finale in December by stopping James Head by first round TKO. The win was Pyle’s third straight (T)KO finish with previous wins against Josh Neer (KO at UFC on FX 4) and Ricardo Funch (TKO at UFC 142).

UFC Releases Official Statement On Matt Riddle’s Dismissal

Earlier today news surfaced that middleweight Matt ‘Deep Waters’ Riddle (7-3, 2NC) had been released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship promotion after a second failed drug test. Riddle tested positive for Marijuana following a win against Che Mills two Saturday’s ago in London as part of UFC on FUEL TV 7. The promotion released an […]

Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle

Earlier today news surfaced that middleweight Matt ‘Deep Waters’ Riddle (7-3, 2NC) had been released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship promotion after a second failed drug test.

Riddle tested positive for Marijuana following a win against Che Mills two Saturday’s ago in London as part of UFC on FUEL TV 7.

The promotion released an official statement on Riddle’s dismissal, noting that the decision win by ‘Deep Waters’ had been changed to a “No Contest.”

Matthew Riddle tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his bout at UFC on FUEL TV 7 in London, England on February 16, 2013. This is Riddle’s second failed drug test for marijuana within the past seven months. Riddle previously failed a post-fight drug test due to marijuana following his UFC 149 victory over Chris Clements.

As such, the UFC organization is exercising its right to terminate Riddle for breach of his obligations under his Promotional Agreement as well as the UFC Fighter Conduct Policy. The UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents. The outcome of the bout against Che Mills was changed to a no contest and the results of the positive test will be reported to the official Association of Boxing Commissions MMA record-keeper.

Riddle departs the UFC with a record of seven wins, three losses and two “No Contests.” His last official victory took place in November at UFC 154 with a decision against John Maguire.

UFC on FX 8 To Add John Lineker vs. Azamat Gashimov

A flyweight bout between Brazilian fighter John Lineker (20-6) and Russian Azamat ‘Tough Guy’ Gashimov (7-2) appears to be in the works for this May’s upcoming UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold event. Brazilian news agency Tatame.com brought news of the matchup Wednesday afternoon. UFC on FX 8 (aka UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold) […]

John Lineker

John Lineker

A flyweight bout between Brazilian fighter John Lineker (20-6) and Russian Azamat ‘Tough Guy’ Gashimov (7-2) appears to be in the works for this May’s upcoming UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold event.

Brazilian news agency Tatame.com brought news of the matchup Wednesday afternoon.

UFC on FX 8 (aka UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold) is expected to take place on May 18, 2013 at the Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil. The main card will air live on FX television while the prelim card is expected to stream live on Facebook. The bout between Lineker and Gashimov is expected to appear on the prelim video stream.

Lineker looks to improve his record past .500 in the Octagon after going 1-1 with the top promotion. The Brazilian fighter fought last November in Macau, earning a decision against Yasuhiro Urushitani at the UFC on FUEL TV 6 event. Lineker debuted at the UFC on FOX 3 event last May, getting choked out by Louis Gaudinot in the second round in a 127-lbs catchweight bout after missing the flyweight limit.

Gashimov dropped his Octagon debut last November to Ivan Menjivar at UFC 154, tapping out to an armbar in the first round. The defeat ended a two fight win streak for the Russian who had his last win back in July 2011 in Daegestan where he earned a first round submission in the events headliner.

Bellator Champ Pat Curran Now Meets Shahbulat Shamhalaev On April 4th

After an injury to Season Six Bellator Featherweight Tournament winner Daniel Straus, the Bellator promotion has found a new opponent for it’s 145-lbs champion Pat Curran (18-4) to face come April 4th. Stepping in will be recent Season Seven Tournament winner Shahbulat Shamhalaev (12-1-1) who just earned his title shot last Thursday with a win […]

Shahbulat Shamhalaev

Shahbulat Shamhalaev captures the Bellator Season Seven Featherweight tournament

After an injury to Season Six Bellator Featherweight Tournament winner Daniel Straus, the Bellator promotion has found a new opponent for it’s 145-lbs champion Pat Curran (18-4) to face come April 4th.

Stepping in will be recent Season Seven Tournament winner Shahbulat Shamhalaev (12-1-1) who just earned his title shot last Thursday with a win over fellow finalst Rad Martinez.

Curran and Shamhalaev will headline Bellator 95 which is expected to take place on April 4, 2013 at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The two will headline the Spike TV broadcasted main card.

News of the matchup was announced by Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney on Wednesday afternoon after he Tweeted (@BjornRebney) the news to the world.

Great news @assassinshah vs @PatCurranMMA for World Title April 4th on @SpikeTV live at @RevelResorts. KO artist vs. KO artist. Don’t blink!

Curran defended his title for the first time last month at Bellator 85 by winning a split decision over Brazilian Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire. The win was Curran’s fifth straight victory. Previous to that he stopped former champ Joe Warren to capture the 145-lbs title and earned wins over Marlon Sandro, Ronnie Mann, and Luis Palomino to win the 2011 Summer Series Tournament.

Shamhalaev has a long undefeated streak as well, having gone 10-0-1 in his last eleven dating back to November 2009 where the Russian went 3-0 in one night and 3-1 in that month. Shamhalaev won three straight (T)KO finishes in the Bellator cage to win the tournament, having KO’d Martinez last Thursday, Mike Richman at Bellator 79 and finished Cody Bollinger by TKO at Bellator 76.

Jeremy Stephens Drops To Featherweight, Faces Estevan Payan At UFC 160

California fighter Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens (20-9) will attempt to end a three fight losing skid fought at 155-lbs by dropping down to the featherweight division when he takes on Estevan ‘El Terrible’ Payan (14-3, 1NC) this May at UFC 160. The announcement was made early this morning (@UFCTonight). – #Breaking: Featherweight Bout between @az_kid2002 […]

Jeremy Stephens

Jeremy Stephens

California fighter Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens (20-9) will attempt to end a three fight losing skid fought at 155-lbs by dropping down to the featherweight division when he takes on Estevan ‘El Terrible’ Payan (14-3, 1NC) this May at UFC 160.

The announcement was made early this morning (@UFCTonight).

#Breaking: Featherweight Bout between @az_kid2002 and @LiLHeathenMMA set for #UFC160 at @mgmgrand on Memorial Day Weekend!

UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva II is expected to take place on May 25, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be headlined by a rematch between UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez and opponent Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva.

Stephens is certainly fighting for his job after three losses in a row and will look to re-invent himself at 145-lbs. ‘Lil Heathen’ fought this past December in Seattle, suffering a first round knockout loss at the hands of Yves Edwards at the UFC on FOX 5 event. The other two losses include a decision to Donald Cerrone at UFC on FUEL TV 3 and a split decision loss to Anthony Pettis at UFC 136.

Payan will make his Octagon debut at the Memorial Day weekend event and is riding an eight fight undefeated streak. The former Strikeforce fighter went 2-0 with the former promotion, picking up a second round TKO win over Mike Bravo last month at the final event. Previous to that, he won a decision over Alonzo Martinez in January 2012 in a 160-lbs catchweight bout.

Sam Sicilia vs. Maximo Blanco Added To TUF 17 Finale Event

A pair of featherweights were announced as opponents for the TUF 17 Finale on Tuesday in TUF Live alumni Sam Sicilia (11-2) and Venezuela’s Maximo Blanco (8-4-1, 1NC). Officials made the announcement online at UFC.com. The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale is expected to take place on April 13, 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center […]

Maximo Blanco

Maximo Blanco

A pair of featherweights were announced as opponents for the TUF 17 Finale on Tuesday in TUF Live alumni Sam Sicilia (11-2) and Venezuela’s Maximo Blanco (8-4-1, 1NC).

Officials made the announcement online at UFC.com.

The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale is expected to take place on April 13, 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event has a new headliner in bantamweights Urijah Faber vs. Scott Jorgensen.

Sicilia dropped his first Octagon appearance last October seeing a six fight win streak stopped by Rony Mariano Bezerra at UFC 153. The bout ended in the second round via TKO. Sicilia debuted at the TUF 15 Finale in his first featherweight pro-fight, stopping opponent Cristiano Marcello by second round knockout.

Blanco has yet to win under Zuffa having dropped his UFC debut by split decision at UFC 145 to Marcus Brimage and his Strikeforce debut to Pat Healy by second round submission at the Barnett vs. Kharitonov event. Prior to that Blanco had six straight.