Update-ish: Fret Not, Chael Sonnen WILL Be Fighting at “Fight Night 26? or Whatever It’s Called

(“I’m tha muthaflippin’ Chaelnocerous, my insults are bottomless, poppin off tha top-of-this esophagus. Yes, sometimes I am know to be quite sexist, but you lovely bitches n’ hoes should know I’m trying to correct this.” Photo via UFC.com)

Another Culinary Union powerplay denied, Potato Nation! Let’s go to the scoreboards:

MMA: 438 and counting CU: 1 (but it’s a big one)

Earlier today, we reported that Chael Sonnen was having a little trouble getting licensed for his fight with Mauricio Rua at Fight Night 26 (or as some of the CP old guard call it, UFC on FOX Sports 1) based on his poor “moral turpitude.” Being that Chael couldn’t fall back on his classic counterpoint, “I don’t speak ghetto,” it seemed as if The American Gangster would be facing some legitimate opposition less than two weeks out from what is primed to be a major event for both the UFC and the FOX Sports network.

Well fret not, Bostonians, because according to Sonnen’s manager — who we are going to assume is just Sonnen wearing a top hat and monocle — the panel that gathered at this afternoon’s closed-door meeting ultimately voted in Sonnen’s favor. He spoke with MMAJunkie:

They had a panel, we had a meeting with them, and as far as we know, they’re going to license him. As far as we know, it will be just like everybody else’s license.

Maybe it’s just us, but there’s something about Chael P.nut Sonnen’s emphasis on “as far as we know” that makes us uneasy here. You know, kind of like how Chael used to say “As far as we know, your house needs $70,000 in plumbing repairs.”

–J. Jones

Another Culinary Union powerplay denied, Potato Nation! Let’s go to the scoreboards:

MMA: 438 and counting CU: 1 (but it’s a big one)

They had a panel, we had a meeting with them, and as far as we know, they’re going to license him. As far as we know, it will be just like everybody else’s license.

–J. Jones

Dan Hardy Worried Anthony Johnson Won’t Make Weight

It may be a stretch to call it MMA’s “March Madness,” but over the next few weeks there’s more than a few bouts scheduled to satisfy the fight diet of any avid fan. Maybe that’s why that the upcoming UFC Fight Night bout between Dan Hardy and Anthony Johnson has been getting lost in the […]

It may be a stretch to call it MMA’s “March Madness,” but over the next few weeks there’s more than a few bouts scheduled to satisfy the fight diet of any avid fan. Maybe that’s why that the upcoming UFC Fight Night bout between Dan Hardy and Anthony Johnson has been getting lost in the mix a little bit.

Granted, sales on Dan Hardy Mohawk replicas may have dipped some because of his KO loss to Carlos Condit in October, but if you can’t understand why one might be excited about “The Outlaw’s” upcoming fight with Johnson, maybe it’s time to pick a new sport huh? After all, until Johnson got worked over by Josh Koscheck, the massive welterweight was quickly rising up the rankings with a head kick here and a night ending punch there. In other words, this fight could, repeat, could be a striking barnburner.

While speaking to Middleeasy.com, however, Hardy is apparently concerned about Johnson’s ability to make weight for the UFC Fight Night card. Johnson has missed weight in the past, and according to Hardy at least, the fighter may be looking to redefine the meaning of “oversized welterweight.”

“I saw him a few months ago, he was about 235 lbs. Even if it was nine months ago, to lose 65 lbs is a push. It’s going to be tough on his body. He struggles to make weight anyway when he’s fighting regularly, so coming down from that weight — I don’t know. I’m a little concerned because I don’t want a percentage of his purse, I want the win bonus.”

We’re concerned too buddy; here’s hoping both dudes can bring it come March 26^th, as this one could be FOTN. To bet on the bout head here.

UFC Fight Night Marquardt vs Palhares

UFC Fight Night Main card * Middleweight bout: Nate Marquardt vs Rousimar Palhares – Bad matchup for Marquardt if this gets on the ground. With both their skillsets I like Palhares. * Lightweight bout: Efrain Escudero vs Charles Oliveira – Charles Oliveira wins this. * Lightweight bout: Jim Miller vs Gleison Tibau – Interesting fight […]

UFC Fight Night Main card

* Middleweight bout: Nate Marquardt vs Rousimar Palhares – Bad matchup for Marquardt if this gets on the ground. With both their skillsets I like Palhares.

* Lightweight bout: Efrain Escudero vs Charles Oliveira – Charles Oliveira wins this.

* Lightweight bout: Jim Miller vs Gleison Tibau – Interesting fight here. If there is going to be a TKO its coming from Tibau’s hands. Miller could out point Tibau, but Gleison has been doing well is last couple of outings and really concentrating. I like Tibau here he will be bigger and more powerful – slower though.

* Lightweight bout: Ross Pearson vs Cole Miller – I don’t think Miller has an answer to anything that Pearson will be throwing. Pearson has looked great on his feet in his two fights vs Aaron Riley and Denis Siver. These two fighters are known for pushing the pace and steamrolling their opponents. Pearson handled them with relative ease. I think Miller will have trouble the whole fight so the odds of Miller slapping on a triangle or RNC I think are slim. Pearson has showed a laser like focus sticking to a fight plan against both Riley and Siver. I like Pearson to win.

UFC Fight Night Prelims card

* Lightweight bout: Yves Edwards vs John Gunderson – As much as I’m fan of Gunderson. I think Yves has the speed and all the ability to stifle Gunderson. Yves by decision.

* Light Heavyweight bout: Jared Hamman vs Kyle Kingsbury – Kingsbury has been looking better lately, and Hamman has that tough zombie style. I like Hamman because he is unbreakable.

* Middleweight bout: Tomasz Drwal vs Dave Branch – Dave Branch wins this.

* Middleweight bout: Rich Attonito vs Rafael Natal – Pass

* Welterweight bout: Anthony Waldburger vs David Mitchell – Pass

* Welterweight bout: Brian Foster vs Forrest Petz

Alan Belcher May Never Fight Again

(Video courtesy PureFight)When it was announced that Alan Belcher was forced to pull out of his headlining September 15 UFC Fight Night bout with Demian Maia due to a detached retina he suffered in training, the news was met with a collective, "Th…

(Video courtesy PureFight)

When it was announced that Alan Belcher was forced to pull out of his headlining September 15 UFC Fight Night bout with Demian Maia due to a detached retina he suffered in training, the news was met with a collective, "That sucks. Hopefully when he heals up, the UFC will match them up again."

According to Belcher, he may never get the opportunity to fight Maia again, or anyone else for that matter.

In an interview he did with PureFight this week, the 26-year-old Biloxi, Mississippi fighter who revealed that he suffered irreparable vision loss as a result of the freak injury said that there is a chance he may never fight again.

Belcher says that he won’t know the extent of the injury or the success of the surgery for at least a couple of months and only then will he be able to assess whether or not continuing to fight will be an option for him or if he will have to walk away from the sport he loves.