Stephan Bonnar Injured, Out of UFC’s Milwaukee Debut

Filed under: UFCStephan Bonnar has suffered a training camp injury and is out of his August fight against Karlos Vemola.

The UFC announced Bonnar’s withdrawal from the fight late Friday, but did not disclose the nature of the injury.

Saturday, Bonn…

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Stephan Bonnar has suffered a training camp injury and is out of his August fight against Karlos Vemola.

The UFC announced Bonnar’s withdrawal from the fight late Friday, but did not disclose the nature of the injury.

Saturday, Bonnar told MMA Fighting the injury is a Grade II tear of his medial collateral ligament, or MCL. Bonnar said the injury will not require surgery, but will have him in a brace for six weeks. He said the injury is similar to ones that recently sidelined Rashad Evans and Kenny Florian.

Stepping in for the TUF 1 vet will be promotional newcomer Ronny Marki Sales da Silva, better known as Ronny Markes, to face Vemola at UFC on Versus 5 in Milwaukee.

Bonnar (13-7, 7-6 UFC) was looking to extend a two-fight winning streak that began with a TKO in his rematch with Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 116 last July. In December, at the TUF 12 Finale, Bonnar dominated Igor Pokrajac to win a unanimous decision.

Those two wins had put a three-fight skid in Bonnar’s rearview mirror. After returning from a long layoff from a severe knee injury, Bonnar lost to current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 94 in Jones’ second UFC fight, then lost to UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman at UFC 100. In his first fight against Soszynski, at UFC 110 in Sydney, Bonnar lost by TKO when doctors stopped the fight thanks to a cut from an accidental headbutt. That loss prompted his rematch with Soszysnki.

Vemola (8-1, 1-1 UFC), a Czech native fighting out of London, now gets Markes, from Brazil, who has nine of his 11 wins by stoppage. Markes will be fighting for the first time in the United States. His last win came in April, a unanimous decision over former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho in Brazil.

The Bonnar-Vemola fight had been booked for the main card and was to be televised live on Versus. It is not known if the Vemola-Markes fight will remain on the four-fight main card or if a bout previously scheduled for the prelims will be elevated to TV status. Top contenders to move up from the undercard would appear to be a middleweight fight between CB Dolloway and Jared Hamman and a bantamweight bout between former title challenger Joseph Benavidez and former champion Eddie Wineland.

UFC on Versus 5 takes place Aug. 14 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. It will be the UFC’s debut in Wisconsin. The card features a main event welterweight fight between former title challenger Dan Hardy and Chris Lytle, plus a lightweight bout between Jim Miller and former WEC champion Ben Henderson.

 

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Dana White Says ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Philippines’ Could Happen in 2011

Filed under: UFC, NewsOne of Dana White’s favorite mantras is that the UFC is taking the sport of mixed martial arts global and that he believes it will be the biggest sport in the world.

On Tuesday, the UFC president said on a media call that he exp…

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Dana WhiteOne of Dana White‘s favorite mantras is that the UFC is taking the sport of mixed martial arts global and that he believes it will be the biggest sport in the world.

On Tuesday, the UFC president said on a media call that he expects the promotion’s flagship program, Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter,” to soon have its first international version – perhaps even this year.

And White said the Philippines, in southeast Asia, could be the first country outside the United States to host a version of the reality competition.

“This year,” White said, “I’m pretty sure the first one’s going to be the Philippines.”

Bonnar, Phan and Garcia Among TUF 12 Medical Suspensions

Filed under: UFC, NewsFour fighters have received medical suspensions following Saturday’s live finale of Season 12 of “The Ultimate Fighter” in Las Vegas.

Co-main event winner Stephan Bonnar, Fight of the Night winners Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan an…

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Fredson Paixao gets knocked out at TUF 12 Finale.Four fighters have received medical suspensions following Saturday’s live finale of Season 12 of “The Ultimate Fighter” in Las Vegas.

Co-main event winner Stephan Bonnar, Fight of the Night winners Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan and Knockout of the Night victim Fredson Paixao were all given medical suspensions by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The NSAC reported the suspensions to MMA Fighting on Monday.

Stephan Bonnar: ‘No Hard Feelings’ to Steve Mazzagatti

Filed under: UFC, NewsDana White didn’t make an appearance at the press conference following “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 Finale on Saturday.

But even though past comments are no guarantee for what he’ll say in the future, it’s safe to assume the…

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Dana White didn’t make an appearance at the press conference following “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 Finale on Saturday.

But even though past comments are no guarantee for what he’ll say in the future, it’s safe to assume the UFC president would have been asked about Steve Mazzagatti, the referee he’s made a habit of being critical of more than any other official.

TUF 12 Finale Live Blog: Stephan Bonnar vs. Igor Pokrajac Updates

Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS – This is “The Ultimate Fighter” Finale live blog for Igor Pokrajac vs. Stephan Bonnar, the co-main event of tonight’s card at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas.

Pokrajac (22-7, 1-2 UFC), one of the main training partners …

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LAS VEGAS – This is “The Ultimate Fighter” Finale live blog for Igor Pokrajac vs. Stephan Bonnar, the co-main event of tonight’s card at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas.

Pokrajac (22-7, 1-2 UFC), one of the main training partners of Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic in Croatia, is coming off a submission win over James Irvin in August, which snapped a two-fight losing skid to open his UFC career. Bonnar (12-7, 6-6 UFC), runner-up to Forrest Griffin for the Season 1 light heavyweight title, snapped a three-fight skid in July with a TKO win over Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 116.

The live blog is below.

The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale Weigh-in Results

Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS – All but one fighter made weight on their first attempts for “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 Finale on Friday.

The weigh-ins took place at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, site of Saturday’s card, which airs liv…

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LAS VEGAS – All but one fighter made weight on their first attempts for “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 Finale on Friday.

The weigh-ins took place at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, site of Saturday’s card, which airs live on Spike starting at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Michael Johnson and Jonathan Brookins will fight for “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 lightweight title in the main event, with the winner getting a guaranteed UFC contract. Johnson weighed 156; Brookins came in a pound under at 154.